Mastering UGC NET Psychology: A Complete Guide

Thinking of becoming a Psychology professor or research scholar?
Then UGC NET Psychology is your golden ticket! Whether you dream of lectures halls, PhD programs or government fellowships — this exam opens the door. This blog is your one-stop guide for understanding everything about UGC NET Psychology.

What is UGC NET Psychology ?

UGC NET (National Eligibility Test) is a national-level exam. If you qualify, you become eligible for roles like Assistant Professor, can win the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) (with a monthly stipend) or secure direct entry to PhD programs—no separate entrance needed. It’s conducted by National Testing Agency(NTA) twice a year (usually in June and December) and is now completely computer‑based (CBT).

Eligibility Criteria

Master’s Degree: You must have a Master’s in Psychology (or related field) from a recognized university with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Transgender).
Final-year students can also apply, but must show proof of the required marks within two years of the result.
JRF Age Limit: Under 30 years
Assistant Professor: No age limit

Exam Pattern

Paper	Subject	Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper I	General Aptitude (Teaching & Research)	50	100	3 Hours Combined
Paper II	Psychology	100	200

No negative marking
All questions are multiple choice
Exam is held online (CBT) mode
Language: English or Hindi

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Syllabus

Paper I

Subjects covered include –

Teaching Aptitude
Research Aptitude
Comprehension
Communication
Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
Logical Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
People, Development and Environment
Higher Education System

There will be 50 questions in Paper I. Each question carries 2 marks. Paper I is worth 100 marks. There is no negative marking in this paper.

Paper II

Emergence of Psychology
- Psychological thought in some major Eastern Systems
- Western Systems
- Essential aspects of knowledge paradigms
Research Methodology and Statistics
- Research: Meaning, Purpose, and Dimensions
- Paradigms of Research
- Statistics in Psychology
- Correlational Analysis
- Experimental Designs
Psychological Testing
- Types of tests
- Areas of testing
- Applications of psychological testing in various settings
Biological bases of behavior
- Sensory systems
- Neurons
- Methods of Physiological Psychology
- Muscular and Glandular system
Attention, Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting
Thinking, Intelligence, and Creativity
- Theoretical perspectives on thought processes
- Concept formation
- Problem-solving
- Decision-making
- Metacognition
- Intelligence
- Creativity
Personality, Motivation, Emotion, Stress Management
- Determinants of Personality
- Approaches to the study of personality
- Basic motivational concepts
- Approaches to the study of motivation
- Emotions and theories of emotions
- Conflicts, Stress, and Coping
Social Psychology
- Traditional theoretical perspectives
- Social perception
- Group and Social Influence
- Applied Social Psychology
Human Development and Interventions
- Developmental processes
- Theories of development
- Psychotherapies
- Guidance in schools and Counselling
Emerging Areas
- Issues of Gender, Poverty, Disability, and Migration
- Peace psychology
- Wellbeing and self-growth
- Health
- Psychology and technology interface

For more information

UGC NET Cutoff 2025

Category	JRF	Assistant Professor	PhD
Unreserved (UR)	248	226	200
OBC (NCL)	238	208	180
EWS	240	208	170
SC	228	194	166
ST	220	190	158

Top Tips

Know the Syllabus & Pattern: Download the official syllabus and go through past question papers.
Use Standard Books: Suggested texts include titles by Hilgard, Baron, Alan Carr, Sarason, and others.
Practice Previous Year Papers: This helps you spot question trends and strengthen weak areas.
Revision & Mock Tests: Focus on revision in the last month, and simulate the exam environment with mock tests.
Manage Stress: Stay calm and confident—mindfulness and short breaks help a lot!