Many individuals drawn to the field of psychology aspire to become clinical psychologists. Clinical psychologists are trained to conduct assessments, make diagnoses, and offer psychological interventions. In India, practicing legally and ethically in this field requires licensure from the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), the statutory body responsible for regulating and monitoring mental health services.

About Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)

The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) is the statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which regulates and monitors education, training, and professional services in the fields of rehabilitation, special education, and clinical psychology.

• Maintains a Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) of certified professionals.
• Standardizes and approves training programs and curriculum.
• Recognizes institutions offering rehabilitation and psychology-related courses.
• Protects the rights of individuals by ensuring only licensed professionals can offer services.
• Promotes research, training, and development in the field.

M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology

The Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Clinical Psychology is a two-year RCI recognized postgraduate program designed to train individuals to become licensed clinical psychologists. It focuses on building skills in assessment, diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation for individuals with mental health issues.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should possess a two-year M.A. or M.Sc. degree in Psychology from a university recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), with at least 55% aggregate marks. For candidates belonging to the SC/ST category, a minimum of 50% marks is accepted, as per the norms of the Government of India.

Important Update

According to the RCI notice dated 2nd November 2024 and UGC notice dated 29th January 2024, the 2025 admission cycle may be the final intake for the M.Phil. Clinical Psychology program. The course is scheduled to continue only up to the 2025–2026 academic session.

List of RCI approved colleges for M.Phil (Clinical Psychology)

Hospitals and Medical colleges Recognized by RCI for M.Phil Clinical Psychology

No.	Institution Name	Location	Seat Intake
1	Indlas Hospitals	Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh – 520002	6
2	LGBRIMH (Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Institute of Mental Health)	Sonitpur, Assam – 784001	12
3	Govt. Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Dept. of Psychiatry	Chandigarh – 160030	10
4	Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS)	New Delhi – 110095	11 + 1 (PwD)
5	Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital	New Delhi – 110001	10
6	Govt. Medical College	Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir – 190003	8
7	Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (RINPAS)	Ranchi, Jharkhand – 834006	2
8	Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP)	Ranchi, Jharkhand – 834006	21
9	Dharwad Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (DIMHANS)	Dharwad, Karnataka – 580008	6
10	National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS)	Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560029	21
11	Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre	Kochi, Kerala – 682041	10
12	Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS)	Kozhikode, Kerala – 673008	12
13	Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS)	Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh – 453555	6
14	Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health (MIMH)	Pune, Maharashtra – 411008	4
15	Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)	Imphal, Manipur – 795004	6
16	Mental Health Institute, SCB Medical College & Hospital	Cuttack, Odisha – 753007	12
17	Dayanand Medical College & Hospital	Ludhiana, Punjab – 141001	6
18	Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 302022	10
19	Pacific Medical College and Hospital	Udaipur, Rajasthan – 313024	10
20	Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research	Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600116	10
21	SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre	Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu – 603203	12
22	Institute of Mental Health	Chennai, Tamil Nadu	10
23	Thakur Hari Prasad Institute of Research & Rehabilitation	Hyderabad, Telangana – 500060	12
24	Institute of Mental Health and Hospital	Agra, Uttar Pradesh – 282002	10
25	Santosh Medical College & Hospitals	Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh – 201009	6
26	Post Graduate Institute of Behavioural & Medical Sciences (PGIBMS)	Raipur, Chhattisgarh	20
28	Vinayaka Mission’s Research	Puducherry	6

Government Universities Recognized by RCI for M.Phil Clinical Psychology

No.	Institution Name	Location	Seat Intake
1	National Forensic Science University (NFSU)	New Delhi – 110085	10 + 1 (EWS)
2	National Forensic Science University (NFSU)	Gandhinagar, Gujarat – 382007	13
3	Rashtriya Raksha University	Gandhinagar, Gujarat – 382305	12
4	Gurugram University	Gurugram, Haryana – 122003	6
5	National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD)	Muthukadu, Tamil Nadu – 603112	13
6	King George’s Medical University (KGMU)	Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 226003	8
7	Gautam Buddha University	Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 201308	10
8	National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD)	Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001	8
9	Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta	Kolkata, West Bengal – 700009	12

Private Universities Recognized by RCI for M.Phil Clinical Psychology

No.	Institution Name	Location	Seat Intake
1	Amity Institute of Clinical Psychology, Amity University	Patna, Bihar – 801506	8
2	Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Amity University	Raipur, Chhattisgarh – 493225	4
3	Amity University Haryana	Manesar, Haryana – 122413	8
4	Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentary (SGT) University	Gurugram, Haryana – 122505	10
5	Om Sterling Global University	Hisar, Haryana – 125001	10
6	Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies	Faridabad, Haryana – 121004	10
7	Manipal University (SOAHS)	Manipal, Karnataka – 575104	14
8	J.S.S. Medical College (Deemed University)	Mysuru, Karnataka – 570004	10
9	Kateel Ashok Pai Memorial Institute of Allied Health Sciences	Shivamogga, Karnataka – 577201	12
10	S. S. College	Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh – 462042	4
11	Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Amity University	Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh – 474020	8
12	Man College of Special Education & Psychological Studies	Guna, Madhya Pradesh – 473001	10
13	Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Amity University	Panvel, Maharashtra – 410206	8
14	Amity University	Mohali, Punjab – 140306	8
15	Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Amity University	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 303002	10
16	Apex University	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 302020	10
17	Shri Khushal Das (SKD) University	Hanumangarh, Rajasthan – 335801	12
18	Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 303103	12
19	OPJS University	Churu, Rajasthan – 331303	10
20	Madhav University	Sirohi, Rajasthan – 307026	6
21	Shyam University (Department of Special Education)	Dausa, Rajasthan – 303511	10
22	Suresh Gyan Vihar University	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 302017	17
23	NIMS School of Humanities and Social Sciences, NIMS University	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 303121	10
24	Sweekar Academy of Rehabilitation Sciences	Secunderabad, Telangana – 500003	12
25	Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Amity University	Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 201313	14
26	Amity University	Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 226028	10
27	Nai Subah Institute of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences	Akhari, Uttar Pradesh – 221011	10
28	Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Amity University	Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 201308	8
29	Amity Institute of Behavioural & Allied Sciences, Amity University	Kolkata, West Bengal – 700135	10

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology- RCI Regulated Programme

Starting from the 2025–26 academic session, the current M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology program will be discontinued in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the latest guidelines by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

As a result, all M.Phil. programs across are being phased out. In its place, the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has introduced a new program titled:

“M.A. in Clinical Psychology” – a 2-year RCI-regulated postgraduate course

This new program is designed to maintain the same professional standards, clinical training, and licensure eligibility as the M.Phil., ensuring continuity for students who aim to become clinical psychologists.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• A 4-year B.A./B.Sc. degree in Psychology from a UGC-recognized university with at least 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST candidates as per Government of India norms).
• Candidates with a 3-year undergraduate degree in Psychology must either:
  • Complete a 4th-year Bridge Course, or
  • Complete the first year of an M.A./M.Sc. in Psychology with a minimum of 55% marks.

New Batch Begins | Enroll Now

List of RCI approved colleges for M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

S.No.	Name of the Institution	Location	Seat Intake
1	Amity University Haryana	Manesar, Haryana – 122413	10
2	Gurugram University	Gurugram, Haryana – 122003	10
3	Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (Dept. of Clinical Psychology)	Faridabad, Haryana – 121004	10
4	GD Goenka University	Gurugram, Haryana – 122103	10
5	J.S.S. Medical College (Deemed to be University)	Mysuru, Karnataka – 570004	10
6	Christ (Deemed to be University)	Bengaluru, Karnataka – 560029	10
7	Global University	Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh – 473665	10
8	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University	Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra – 410206	10
9	Savitribai Phule Pune University (Dept. of Psychology)	Pune, Maharashtra – 411007	10
10	Desh Bhagat University	Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab – 147301	10
11	Lovely Professional University	Phagwara, Punjab – 144411	10
12	Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (Faculty of Medicine)	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 302022	10
13	Apex University	Jaipur, Rajasthan – 302020	10
14	Shyam University (Department of Special Education)	Dausa, Rajasthan – 303511	10
15	Tantia University	Ganganagar, Rajasthan – 335002	10
16	Medhavi Skill University	Gangtok, Sikkim – 737134	10
17	Amity Institute of Behavioural (Health) & Allied Sciences (AIBHAS), Amity University	Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida	10
18	Amity University	Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 226028	10
19	Amity Institute of Behavioural (Health) & Allied Sciences (AIBHAS), Amity University	Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 201308	10
20	Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University	Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – 208024	10
21	Rama University (Faculty of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences)	Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – 209217	10
22	National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD)	Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001	10
23	Shekhawati Teachers Training Institute	Jaipur Road, Sikar, Rajasthan-332001	10
24	Kateel Ashok Pai Memorial Institute of Allied Health Sciences	Durgigudi, Shivamogga, Karnataka – 577201	10
25	Ashtavakra Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences & Research	Rohini, Delhi – 110085	10
26	Amity Institute of Clinical Psychology (AICP)	Patna, Bihar-801506	10

Want to know which clinical psychology exams are the toughest in India? Read our full analysis here.