The King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was established in 1905 and has earned recognition for its commitment to excellence in medical education, mental health, research, and clinical care. In 2025, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) awarded the University an A++ grade, recognizing its outstanding contributions to medical education, research, and healthcare delivery.

The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) recognizes KGMU’s MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil in Clinical Psychology) program, confirming that it meets the regulatory requirements for professional training in clinical psychology.

Psychology Programs Offered by KGMU Lucknow

KGMU Lucknow offers the following programs in clinical psychology:

• MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology)

MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology)

The MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) program at KGMU, Lucknow, includes supervised clinical training, assessment, and therapeutic intervention. Successful completion of the program makes graduates eligible for an RCI license, allowing them to work as clinical psychologists in India.

Course Duration and Number of Seats for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at KGMU Lucknow

The number of seats available and the duration of the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program are as follows:

• Duration of the Program: 2 Years
• Total Seats: 8 (Eight)
  • UR/General: 3
  • OBC: 2
  • SC/ST: 2
  • EWS: 1

NOTE: Seats shown above are from last year’s [2025-26] seat matrix for KGMU’s MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) program. The number of seats is subject to change every year. Seats will be reserved in accordance with the Central Government’s Reservation Policy.

Eligibility Criteria for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at KGMU

Candidates need to meet the following criteria to get admission into the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program at KGMU, Lucknow:

• The Applicants must be citizens of India.
• Applicants must have their Bachelor’s in Psychology (4 Years) or Bachelor’s in Psychology (3 Years) + Master's (1 Year) in Psychology/Clinical Psychology/Applied Psychology or other relevant specializations for admission into the course, from a UGC-recognized university.
• Minimum Marks
  • General/UR: 55% aggregate
  • SC/ST: 50% aggregate
• Mode of Study
  • Full-time; On-campus

Method of Selection for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at KGMU

Selection in KGMU’s MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) program will be based on an Offline Entrance Examination.

• Selection is based on the merit list from the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Entrance Exam.
• The university will prepare the merit list based on marks obtained in the entrance examination. Both combined and category-wise merit lists will be prepared.
• Qualified candidates will be called for category-wise counselling.
• Tie-breaking rules (if two candidates have the same marks):
  1. The older candidates will get preference.
  2. If ages are the same, selection will be based on alphabetical order of candidates’ names.
• Fee Payment: Qualified candidates must pay the prescribed fee on the notified date. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of admission.
• Joining the Course: Candidates must join within the specified period.

Exam Pattern for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at KGMU

• The written exam will include 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
• The questions will be based on different topics in psychology.
• The total time allotted for the written exam will be 90 minutes.
• Every correct answer will give +1 mark. There’s no negative marking.
• The medium of the exam will be English.

Application Process for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at KGMU

• Candidates must apply online through the Official Application Submission Portal. The university will not accept any offline or postal submissions.
• Candidates need to create a login ID first, using their registered email ID and mobile number.
• After verification and account creation, log in with the credentials you created, complete the form, and pay the fee (the application fee is non-refundable).
• Candidates must complete the application with all necessary details and documents and submit it online to the university before the deadline. The university will immediately reject incomplete or late submissions.
• Employed candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) obtained from their employer. The NOC must follow the format prescribed by the University. The university will grant admission only if the candidate secures approval for study leave for the entire duration of the program.
• All eligibility documents, such as a degree, a caste certificate, etc., will be verified in the original at the time of counselling/admission. Only scanned copies of the required documents need to be uploaded with the online application form.
• After the submission, the candidate will receive an acknowledgement email from KGMU. Also, the filled application form can be downloaded as a PDF. Do that and save a copy of it for future reference.

ALSO READ: NIMHANS MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) and PhD Clinical Psychology Admissions 2026

Important Information to complete the application form

To successfully fill out the application form, please keep the following documents and details ready:

1. Personal Information:
   • Personal E-mail ID (all communications will be sent to this registered email)
   • Name and address as per a valid government or institutional document
2. Date of Birth:
   • As per your Matriculation (10th) Certificate
3. Identification Details:
   • Aadhaar number
4. Payment Details:
   • Debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI details for online fee payment
5. Academic Records:
   • Certificates, mark sheets, and other relevant documents
6. Work Experience (if applicable)
7. Scanned Documents:
   • Passport-size photograph (max 50 KB)
   • Signature in black ink (max 50 KB)
   • Sample sheet for handwriting verification (as per specified format, max 50 KB)

Note: Each scanned document should not exceed 50 KB.

Important Dates for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI)

• [Online] Application Start Date: September
• Last date to submit the application form: October
• Release Date of Admit Card: October
• Date of Entrance Exam: October

NOTE: The dates mentioned above are tentative & subject to change.

Recommended Books to Prepare for MA Clinical Psychology

Students preparing for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) entrance exam at KGMU, Lucknow, may find the following books helpful. These texts cover core areas such as psychopathology, assessment, research methodology, statistics, and clinical theories.

• Introduction to Psychology (8th-10th Edition): Rita Atkinson and Hilgard
• Social Psychology: Baron Robert
• Human Development: Papalia and Sally Olds
• Cognitive Psychology: Robinson-Riegler / Sternberg and Sternberg
• Statistics: Quinn McNemar / Minium
• Biopsychology: Arvind Otta
• Research Method: James Goodwin / Lewin & Fox / A. K. Singh
• Psychological Testing: Ronald Jay Cohen and Mark E. Swerdlik
• Abnormal Psychology: Sarason and Sarason / R. Comerc
• Clinical Psychology: Alan Carr / Hecker and Geoffrey
• Psychology Question Bank: Arvind Otta

Given the limited number of seats and the competitive nature of the entrance, early, structured preparation is strongly recommended.

Sample Questions for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Entrance Exam

1. Conversion disorder differs from hypochondriasis in that:
A. Conversion requires delusions, hypochondriasis requires hallucinations
B. Conversion involves neurological-like symptoms without organic basis, while hypochondriasis involves fear of having a serious illness
C. Conversion involves somatic preoccupation; hypochondriasis does not
D. Hypochondriasis is always associated with depression; conversion is not

2. Cyclothymia is best defined as:
A. Alternating manic and depressive episodes of equal severity
B. A single hypomanic episode without depression
C. Recurrent dysthymic episodes lasting 6 months
D. At least 2 years of fluctuating hypomanic and depressive symptoms not meeting criteria for bipolar disorder

3. Gestalt psychology emphasizes:
A. Reinforcement and punishment
B. Neurotransmitter balance
C. Cognitive distortions
D. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

4. A researcher finds a correlation of r = - 0.85 between stress and sleep quality. This indicates:
A. A weak negative relationship
B. A strong positive relationship
C. A strong negative relationship
D. No relationship

5. Which of the following is most likely to reduce prejudice?
A. Segregation
B. Minimal contact
C. Competition
D. Intergroup contact and cooperation

6. The Crespi effect in learning experiments refers to:
A. Loss of previously learned behavior due to retroactive inhibition
B. Increase in motivation when the magnitude of reinforcement increases
C. Decrease in response strength after extinction training
D. Sudden improvement in performance due to insight

7. The ability to adjust to new experiences by changing one's way of thinking is called:
A. Assimilation
B. Conservation
C. Accommodation
D. Habituation

8. Which therapy focuses on changing maladaptive thought patterns?
A. Humanistic therapy
B. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
C. Psychoanalysis
D. Play therapy

9. Multicollinearity occurs when:
A. Predictors are highly correlated
B. Dependent variable is categorical
C. Variances are equal
D. Assumptions are violated

10. A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory impairment, language difficulties, and visuospatial deficits, with an insidious onset and gradual progression, is:
A. Lewy Body Dementia
B. Vascular Dementia
C. Alzheimer's Disease
D. Frontotemporal Dementia

ALSO READ: How Much Time Does It Take To Prepare For Psychology Entrance Exams? A Realistic Guide for Students

Need More Help?

For more details about the program or information about different psychology entrance examinations, you can contact us at UPS Education using the details below:

Contact no: +91-9990717772

Website: upseducation.in

UPS Education’s Students Who Got Admission into KGMU Lucknow

• Neeti Kaushik, 2018
• Gunjan Joshi, 2019
• Anunka Mondal, 2020
• Jennifer Mazumder, 2025

Classes by Arvind Sir had helped me clear my basics very thoroughly. His lectures are very detailed. The mock tests are well constructed and helped me to keep track of my progress. The helpline numbers are very active, and they’ve always helped me in times of need. They’ve been an integral part of my M.Phil. prep journey. I’d highly recommend it to the students who are preparing for M.Phil.
- Jennifer Mazumder

References

1. Education, U. (2025, October 23). KGMU MPHil Clinical Psychology Admissions 2025. UPS Education. https://www.upseducation.in/update/kgmu-mphil-clinical-psychology-admissions-2025/