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 the advanced and professional-level training. As of now, it offers postgraduate programs in psychology, like

• MA Clinical Psychology (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 (formerly M.Phil Clinical Psychology)

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: March-April
• Application Deadline: April-May
• Entrance Exam: May-June
• Result & Counselling (if any): June-July
• Course Commencement: July-August

Stipend for MA Clinical Psychology in NIMHANS

• NIMHANS offer 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.

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

 

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

Unlike certain other PhD programs at NIMHANS (such as the PhD in Clinical Neurosciences), the PhD in Clinical Psychology does not offer a stipend. Candidates under the Sponsored category, such as those deputed by government institutions or universities, continue to receive support from their respective employers.

Fee Details

The total fee for the PhD in Clinical Psychology program at NIMHANS is Rs. 32,000.

NOTE: Applicable Tuition fees will be collected annually from the 2nd year onwards.

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, 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 

 

Contact Details of NIMHANS Clinical Psychology Department

 

UPS Education's Students Who Got Admission into NIMHANS

 

Need More Help?

Contact us at UPS Education or reach out using the contact details provided 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. Prospectus | NIMHANS Bangalore. (n.d.).
   https://nimhansbkt.demo-appiness.com/prodnimhans/documents/pdf_documents/Prospectus-march-new-2025.pdf
5. Education, U. (2023, November 30). NIMHANS MPHil Clinical Psychology Entrance Sample Questions. UPS Education. https://www.upseducation.in/update/nimhans-mphil-clinical-psychology-entrance-pattern-sample-questions/
6. Education, U. (2025, October 31). NIMHANS PhD Clinical Psychology Admissions 2025. UPS Education. https://www.upseducation.in/update/nimhans-phd-clinical-psychology-admission-2025/