In recent years, Psychology has become one of the most demanding subjects in India, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As online education has gained popularity, many students also look for online psychology programs for various reasons.
Under the new guidelines rolled out by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Psychology, along with other allied healthcare courses, offered under the Online & Distance Learning (ODL) Mode, has been discontinued.
After this decision, the way students in India study Psychology has changed. Students must understand how this decision will affect their education and career.
UGC on Online & Distance Learning Psychology Courses
On August 19th, 2025, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a notification, officially ending all Allied Healthcare Programs, including Psychology, offered through the Online and Distance Learning Mode.
Why did UGC impose this ban?
- Working in the Health sector as a healthcare professional, including working as a psychologist, requires hands-on training, practical exposure, and supervised guidance, which online courses can not provide adequately.
- To maintain the academic quality and professional standards in healthcare setups.
- To make sure that the person working in health sectors as a psychologist, including clinical psychology, counselling psychology, etc., has proper training and support.
Implications of the Ban? It means that, now, no university in India can offer Psychology under online and distance learning mode legally.
What about the already existing online psychology courses?
Despite the UGC’s discontinuation of psychology, under the allied healthcare programs, you will still come across various “Online Psychology Courses” advertised. Let’s look at what they actually mean:
- Certificate & Skill-based Courses: Courses like this are good for skill-building and personal learning, but they’re not recognised degrees.
- UGC-approved bachelor’s & master’s in Psychology (ODL): Earlier, before the ban, the universities offered them, but now they’re no longer valid and are subject to discontinuation. Students must carefully check and verify on the UGC portal before applying. Note that this restriction applies mainly to the clinical, counselling, and allied healthcare psychology programs, while some non-clinical branches of the subject, like Organisational and Industrial Psychology, may still be available online through the UGC-approved institutions.
- Clinical Psychology Programs (MA Clinical, PsyD, etc.): Clinical Psychology programs were never online. For RCI registration as a clinical psychologist, students must complete a full-time regular clinical psychology program approved by the Rehabilitation Council of India.
Impact on Students & Careers
- Students who were hoping to pursue the psychology course in an online or distance learning mode must now opt for the regular full-time psychology degrees.
- If the students want to go for clinical practice, they must do so through a valid, full-time, regular, RCI-approved program.
- If you want to build extra skills and knowledge, the online certificate courses are fine, but students must remember that they don’t count as officially recognised degrees.
ALSO READ: How to Prepare for Psychology Entrances from 2026 onwards
How to verify whether Psychology Courses are Valid or not offered by any University/College?
- Always check the UGC Official List of approved online/ODL programs.
- Verify the University’s Accreditation (NAAC grade, AIU membership).
- Cross-check with RCI for any course claiming to lead to Clinical Psychology practice.
- Reach out to UPS Education to get clarity.
Conclusion
So, are the online courses of psychology valid in India?
The clear answer is: No, Psychology (as an Allied Healthcare program) cannot be pursued in Online or Distance Learning mode anymore. However, a student can pursue Non-Allied Healthcare Programs in Psychology, like Industrial or Organizational Psychology, Online from a UGC-approved institution.
If you are serious and want to build a career in Psychology, you must choose a full-time, recognised program from a UGC-approved university or college, and for clinical practice, from an RCI-approved institution.
FAQs
1. Are online psychology courses valid in India?
No. Psychology courses under the Allied Healthcare programs are no longer valid in online or distance learning mode after the UGC’s 2025 notification.
2. Can I pursue Organizational & Industrial Psychology online?
Yes. Non-clinical branches like Organizational & Industrial Psychology may still be offered online by UGC-approved institutions.
3. Are certificate courses in psychology recognized as degrees?
No. Certificate and skill-based courses are useful for personal learning and skill-building, but do not count as officially recognized degrees.
4. Can I become a clinical psychologist through online courses?
No. To register as a clinical psychologist with RCI, you must complete a full-time, on-campus, RCI-approved program.
5. How can I verify if a psychology course is valid?
Check the UGC-DEB official list, verify the university’s NAAC accreditation or AIU membership, and cross-check RCI for clinical psychology programs. You can also reach out to UPS Education to get proper understanding and clarity.
6. What should students do if they want to study psychology online?
Students should now enroll in full-time, recognized programs from UGC-approved universities or colleges, while using online certificates for additional skill-building only.
