National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, is one of India’s premier institutions for mental health, neurosciences, and behavioural sciences. Recognized globally for its excellence in academics, advanced clinical services, and pioneering research, NIMHANS holds a unique position as the country’s leading center for psychological and neuropsychiatric training.

For psychology aspirants across India, NIMHANS represents the highest standard of psychology education, clinical exposure, and research opportunities. With consistently rigorous programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and interdisciplinary training, it has become one of the most sought-after institutions for Postgraduate and PhD-level courses in Clinical Psychology and related fields. As India’s premier center for mental health and neurosciences, NIMHANS offers a range of psychology-focused programs, including MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology), PhD Clinical Psychology, Fellowship programs, and Short-term Courses.

About NIMHANS

NIMHANS has played a defining role in shaping the field of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health in India. In 1974, the Mental Hospital, Bengaluru, merged with the All India Institute of Mental Health (AIIMH), inaugurated by the Government of India in 1954, paving the way for a unified center for mental health services, training, and research, which resulted in the creation of NIMHANS.

NIMHANS, declared an Institution of National Importance (INI) by an Act of Parliament in 2012, enjoys full academic, administrative, and financial autonomy, placing it alongside premier institutions such as AIIMS, IITs, and IISc. All degrees and certifications issued under the NIMHANS Act, including those in medicine, psychology, nursing, and allied fields, are automatically recognized, regardless of provisions in the MCI Act (1956), RCI Act (1992), Indian Nursing Council Act (1947), or UGC Act (1956).

Psychology Programs offered by NIMHANS

NIMHANS does not offer any undergraduate psychology programs, such as BA or BSc Psychology. Instead, it focuses more on advanced and professional-level training. As of now, it offers postgraduate programs in psychology, like

• MA Clinical Psychology (MClinPsy) RCI (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology)
• PhD Clinical Psychology,
• Fellowships such as the Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology and the Fellowship in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy,
• as well as several Short-term certificate-based courses, including Child & Adolescent Therapy and Family Therapy; Positive Psychology Perspective: Research, Education and Communication for Health; and the Diploma in Community Mental Health-Psychologist.

 

MA Clinical Psychology (MClinPsy - RCI)

The MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) at NIMHANS offers rigorous, supervised training that blends theory, clinical practice, and research. It is a 2-year program offered in regular mode that is recognised by the Rehabilitation Council (RCI) of India to get a license as a clinical psychologist.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) program at NIMHANS, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Applicants must have their Graduation in Psychology (4 Years) or Graduation in Psychology (3 Years) + Master's (1 Year) in Psychology /Clinical Psychology /Applied Psychology or other relevant specializations for admission into the course.

Candidates applying for the program must be 32 years of age or below on the date of course commencement.

Course Duration and Number of Seats

The MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology) program at NIMHANS spans 2 years and offers a total of 32 seats (subject to change every year).

• Institute Stipendiary Category (All India): 23 seats
• Institute Stipendiary Category for Karnataka Domicile: 06 seats (subject to submission of valid domicile proof)
• Foreign or Sponsored applicants: 03 seats

NOTE: Indian nationals who are permanent employees of State/Central Government departments, PSUs, or Government-supported Institutions/Universities may apply under the Sponsored Category, with appropriate sponsorship documents.

Method of Selection

Admission in MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology), for all the categories, is based on an Entrance Test, followed by verification of original certificates on the day of admission. There will be no interview for admission.

Exam Pattern for MA Clinical Psychology

Candidates will answer 100 multiple-choice questions within 90 minutes in the entrance test.

• Each correct answer: +1 mark
• Each incorrect answer: –0.25 mark (negative marking)
• Unanswered questions: No deduction

Application Process

Eligible candidates can apply online through the official NIMHANS admission portal.

Applicants are advised to:

1. Register on the portal using a valid email ID and mobile number.
2. Fill out the online application form carefully, including accurate academic and personal details.
3. Upload the required documents (as per the prescribed format).
4. Pay the application fee through the online payment gateway.
5. Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.

Applications must be submitted online only. Incomplete or offline applications will not be accepted

Important Dates for MA Clinical Psychology (formerly M.Phil Clinical Psychology)

There is no fixed time for the MA Clinical Psychology entrance for every year, but tentative dates are:

• Applications Open: 02 March 2026
• Application Deadline: 31 March 2026
• Entrance Exam: 29 May 2026 - 31 May 2026
• Result & Counselling (if any): 10 June 2026
• Course Commencement: 01 July 2026

Prospectus Link for session 2026: Click Here

Registration Link for session 2026: Click Here

A Complete Roadmap for your MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Preparation

Stipend for MA Clinical Psychology in NIMHANS

• NIMHANS offers a stipend of Rs. 25,000 per month, along with an additional Rs. 15,000 per annum as a contingency grant to candidates admitted under the Institute Stipendiary Category.
• Applicants admitted under the Sponsored/Deputed Category, or those already drawing a salary from their employer, do not qualify for any stipend from NIMHANS.

Fee of MA Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS 

The total fee for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program at NIMHANS is Rs. 24,800.

Cut-off Trends for MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) at NIMHANS

NIMHANS is one of the best institutes for the MA Clinical Psychology, so obviously, thousands of students appear in the exam. You can use the following data for your MA Clinical Psychology entrance preparation:

 

Sample Questions for NIMHANS MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) Entrance Exam

Q1. In behavior therapy, the patient is taught the methods of progressive deep relaxation based on the work of:

A. Wolpe

B. Skinner

C. Jacobson

D. Ivan Pavlov

Correct Option: C. Jacobson
(Progressive Muscular Relaxation = Edmund Jacobson; Wolpe used it in systematic desensitization, but the method originates from Jacobson.)

Q2. Which of the following measures is to make research more ethical?

A. Informal Consent

B. Pilot Study

C. Government Regulation

D. All of the above

Correct Option: C. Government Regulation
(Informed consent, not “informal consent.” So only C is correct.)

Q3. The auditory nerve, which transmits information from the ear to the brain, is an example of an:

A. Afferent Nerve

B. Efferent Nerve

C. Autonomic

D. Analgesic

Correct Option: A. Afferent nerve
(Auditory nerve carries sensory info → afferent.)

Q4. Which one of the following areas of the brain is involved in controlling the movements of the body?

A. Primary

B. Secondary

C. Supplementary

D. All of the above

Correct Option: D. All of the above
(Primary, secondary, and supplementary motor areas all contribute to movement.)

Q5. Which of the following secondary tasks is thought to affect the central executive in terms of working memory?

A. Continually Repeating a word

B. Remembering a Spatial Configuration

C. Listening to Irrelevant Speech

D. Random Number Generation

Correct Option: D. Random Number Generation
(This heavily loads the central executive component of working memory.)

Q6. Which among the following is not included within the classification of the structure of temperament given by Rothbart and Bates:

A. Extraversion

B. Inhibition of the Unfamiliar

C. Negative Affectively

D. Effortful Control

Correct Option: B. Inhibition of the Unfamiliar
(This is from Kagan’s temperament theory, not Rothbart & Bates.)

Q7. Which of the following is a proposed criterion set in the current DSM that involves cutting, burning, or otherwise intentionally hurting one’s own body without the intent to kill oneself?

A. Internet gaming disorder

B. Attenuated psychosis syndrome

C. Persistent complex bereavement

D. Non-suicidal self-injury

Correct Option: D. Non-suicidal self-injury
(Proposed condition retained in DSM-5 Section III.)

Q8. A person dressed in a gorilla suit walked unnoticed through a group of students playing basketball. How can this phenomenon be described?

A. Change of attention

B. Attention loss

C. Inattention blindness

D. Attention lapse

Correct Option: C. Inattentional blindness
(The classic “gorilla experiment.”)

Q9. Transactional analysis is concerned with four major areas of analysis. Which of the following does not come under the same?

A. Structural Analysis

B. Hypnotic Analysis

C. Ground Analysis

D. Game Analysis

Correct Option: C. Ground Analysis
(Transactional Analysis includes: Structural, Transactional, Game, Script.)

Q10. A researcher is interested in studying the effect of noise on the problem-solving abilities of elementary school students. She uses two classes of fourth-grade students and tests them on a 10-problem test. When one class takes the test, she turns on a radio, keeping it off for the other class. This is an example of:

A. True experiment

B. Quasi-experiment

C. Correlational study

D. Naturalistic observation

Correct Option: B. Quasi-experiment 
(Pre-existing groups → no random assignment → quasi.)

Recommended Books for Preparation

Students preparing for the MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) exam at NIMHANS, the following books could be of big help in their preparation. 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

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

 

NIMHANS PhD Clinical Psychology

The PhD in Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS is a three-to-five-year full-time doctoral program that combines advanced clinical training with intensive research.

Eligibility Criteria

To get admission into NIMHANS’s PhD Clinical Psychology program, the applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must have an MPhil degree in Clinical Psychology or in Mental Health and Social Psychology from a UGC recognized university.
• Applicants with a two-year Master’s degree in Applied Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Psychological Counselling, or Psychology are also eligible to apply.
• Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 55% aggregate marks in their qualifying degree from a UGC-recognized university.
• Applicants who have appeared for their qualifying examination and are awaiting results may also apply. However, they must provide proof of passing the examination in writing before the admission process.
• A relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks will be granted to candidates belonging to the SC, ST, and PwBD categories.

Method of Selection

Selection in the PhD Clinical Psychology program at NIMHANS will be based on the Offline Entrance Examination, consisting of a Written Test & Interview.

• Weightage for selection: 70% for the entrance test, and 30% for the interview
• Eligibility for Interview: minimum 50% marks in the Entrance Test. (The interview will focus on the candidate’s area of research interest, proficiency in their subject, and any research experience, presentations, and or publications)

Exam Pattern

Candidates will answer 100 multiple-choice questions within 90 minutes in the entrance test.

• Each correct answer: +1 mark
• Each incorrect answer: –0.25 mark (negative marking)
• Unanswered questions: No deduction

Number of Seats & Course Duration

• For the PhD in Clinical Psychology program, a total of 19 seats are available for the January 2026 session.
• The duration of the PhD Clinical Psychology program is 3 to 5 years.

Application Process

Eligible candidates can apply online through the official NIMHANS admission portal.

Applicants are advised to:

1. Register on the portal using a valid email ID and mobile number.
2. Fill out the online application form carefully, including accurate academic and personal details.
3. Upload the required documents (as per the prescribed format).
4. Pay the application fee through the online payment gateway.
5. Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.

Applications must be submitted online only. Incomplete or offline applications will not be accepted

External Fellowship & Sponsorship Categories

• Indian Nationals may apply under the following categories:
  • Candidates holding an external fellowship (JRF/SRF) from recognized government funding agencies such as UGC, CSIR, ICMR, DBT, or AYUSH.
  • Permanent employees of NIMHANS, government institutions, universities, or public sector undertakings who are sponsored or deputed for PhD studies.
  • Candidates funded by research projects at NIMHANS.
• Foreign Nationals sponsored or deputed by government organizations, recognized universities, or national scholarship programs are also eligible.

Stipend

For PhD in Clinical Psychology, the stipend begins at Rs 37,000 per month for the first two years and increases to Rs 42,000 per month from the third year onwards (up to a maximum duration of five years). Additionally, candidates also receive an annual contingency grant of Rs 20,000. Candidates under the Sponsored category, such as those deputed by government institutions or universities, continue to receive support from their respective employers, but do not qualify for any stipend or grants from NIMHNAS. 

Also Read: Everything About CIP Ranchi Psychology Entrances

 

Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology

This Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology is designed to equip trainees with the essential knowledge, hands-on skills, and contemporary perspectives required to work competently in this evolving field.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at NIMHANS, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• MPhil in Clinical Psychology (2-year program) from an RCI-recognized institute.
• Candidates applying for the Fellowship Clinical Neuropsychology program must be 45 years of age or below on the date of course commencement.

Number of Seats & Course Duration

The duration of this Fellowship program is 1 year.

• Total number of Seats available for the Fellowship in Clinical Psychology: 04 seats
• Seats Under Institute Fellowship: 02 seats
• Seats Under Sponsored/Deputed categories: 02 seats

NOTE: Indian nationals who are permanent employees of the State or Central Government departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Government-supported Institutions/Universities may apply under the Sponsored/Deputation category (a sponsorship/deputation certificate is required at the time of application).

Method of Selection

Admission in both categories is based on an Entrance Test, followed by verification of original certificates on the day of admission.

Stipend

Candidates enrolled under the Institute Stipendiary Category receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 25,000 for the duration of the fellowship.

Fee Details

The total fee for the Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology program at NIMHANS is Rs. 18,350.

 

Fellowship in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

This fellowship offers specialized, clinically focused training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Fellowship in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy at NIMHANS, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology (2-year program) from an RCI-recognized institute.
• Candidates applying for the Fellowship Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program must be 45 years of age or below on the date of course commencement.

Number of Seats & Course Duration

The duration of this Fellowship program is 1 year.

• Total number of Seats available for the Fellowship in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: 04 seats
• Seats Under Institute Fellowship: 02 seats
• Seats Under Sponsored/Deputed categories: 02 seats

NOTE: Indian nationals who are permanent employees of State/Central Government departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of the State/Central Government, Government-supported Institutions/Universities may apply under the Sponsorship/Deputation category, provided they submit the required sponsorship documents.

Method of Selection

Admission in both categories is based on an Entrance Test, followed by verification of original certificates on the day of admission.

Stipend

Candidates admitted through the Institute Stipendiary Category are provided a monthly stipend of Rs. 25,000 during the fellowship period.

Fee Details

The total fee for the Fellowship in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program at NIMHANS is Rs. 26,350.

ALSO READ: How To Start Preparing For Psychology Entrances 

 

 

Students’ Reviews

• Vrinda Ruparelia cleared the M.Phil Clinical Psychology Entrance at NIMHANS. She took coaching from UPS Education and was enrolled in Online mode. The mode offered expert lectures, the best e-learning portal, an entrance-focused syllabus, more specifically doubt sessions and topic-wise test series. Throughout the journey, the specialist mentorship at UPS Education provided the strategic support needed to succeed. (Vrinda Ruparelia, NIMHANS Bangalore)
  
  

 

• I would like to thank Arvind Sir and UPS Education because everyone has always been very kind to me and motivated me every day to do my best. Arvind Sir gave us individual attention, and I think that's what truly inspired me—he saw potential in me and pointed out where I was lacking and what I should work on. In that sense, I believe Sir has been a great mentor to me personally. (Soumya Sadana, NIMHANS Bangalore)
  
  

 

• I am immensely thankful to UPS Education for helping me throughout my preparation process. Their materials cover vast areas of psychology in the most understandable and crisp way. It goes without saying the power of their mock tests, which helped me a lot in gaining speed, accuracy, and even concept clarity. I am grateful, and I owe a part of my success to UPS Education. (Aysha Nimiya, NIMHANS Bangalore)
  
  

   

• I have recently cleared M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology NIMHANS.UPS Education helped me a lot. Arvind Sir's classes helped me a lot. And the tests that he used to take,Or He used to take weekly tests.He used to take surprise tests. So, the practice helped me a lot in that.Because, when you take regular classes, you get results. So, I would definitely recommend UPS Education to everyone. I would say that if your purpose and intention is right, then it is enough. (Ankita Tyagi, NIMHANS Bangalore)
  
  

 

• I recently cleared the M.Phil in Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS, Bangalore, securing the 1st rank in the All India category—thanks to UPS Education! I enrolled in their distance learning program, and a large part of my preparation was based on the study material and notes they provided. I also practiced extensively on the UPS e-Learning portal, taking mock tests to assess where I stood and identify areas I needed to revise. 
  I sincerely thank Arvind Sir and the entire UPS Education team for their efforts in helping make my dream a reality. (George Felix, NIMHANS Bangalore)
  
  

 

• (Marjyada Medhi, NIMHANS Bangalore)
  
  

• UPS Education made all the difference. Thank you, Arvind Sir, for your constant support and guidance. Your love for psychology shines through in your teaching, making concepts simple and easy to grasp. The well-structured classes, detailed notes, and online mock tests were invaluable. I sincerely thank the entire team for your support and efforts. (Piyetoli Yeptho, NIMHANS Bangalore)

•  The MCQ's and the materials are very helpful. (Anuska Das, NIMHANS Bangalore)

 

Need More Help?

If you need more information regarding the application process, dates, or any other aspect of the program, or require guidance with preparation, application strategy, or interview readiness, you can connect with UPS Education using the details below:

Contact no: +91-9990717772

Website: upseducation.in

 

References

1. History and milestones | NIMHANS Bangalore. (n.d.). https://www.nimhans.ac.in/about-us/history-and-milestones
2. Department of Clinical Psychology | NIMHANS Bangalore. (n.d.). https://www.nimhans.ac.in/departments/clinical-psychology
3. Results | NIMHANS Bangalore. (n.d.). https://www.nimhans.ac.in/academics/results
4. Education, U. (2026, April 16). NIMHANS MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) and PhD Clinical Psychology admissions 2026. UPS Education. https://www.upseducation.in/update/nimhans-clinical-psychology-admission-2026/