If you’re hearing that “MPhil Clinical Psychology no longer exists” and are confused about what MA Clinical Psychology really means—this blog is for you.

WHAT IS MA CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY?

MA Clinical Psychology is the new name for the earlier MPhil Clinical Psychology program, introduced after recent regulatory changes. It remains a professional clinical training degree, regulated by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

About RCI

The Rehabilitation Council of India(RCI) was set up as a registered society in 1986. On September 1992, the RCI Act was enacted by Parliament, and it became a Statutory Body on 22 June 1993. The Act was amended by Parliament in 2000 to make it more broad-based. The mandate given to RCI is to regulate and monitor services given to persons with disabilities, to standardise syllabi and to maintain a Central Rehabilitation Register of all qualified professionals and personnel working in the field of Rehabilitation and Special Education. The Act also prescribes punitive action against unqualified persons delivering services to persons with disabilities.

Key Details on the Transition – from M.Phil to M.A. Clinical

The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) is replacing the MPhil in Clinical Psychology with a 2-year MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) program, effective from the 2025-26 academic session. This change means that admissions from 2026 onwards will focus on the new Master’s program as the entry point for licensing.

• When: The official changeover applies to the 2025-26 academic session onwards.
• Why: This shift is based on the National Education Policy (NEP) guidelines, which aim to phase out the MPhil degree.
• Replacement Title: The new qualification is formally known as M.A. or M.Psy in Clinical Psychology (RCI approved).
• Status of MPhil: MPhil Clinical Psychology remains valid for those who enrolled or completed it up to the 2025-26 academic year.
• Impact: From 2026, the MA Clinical Psychology will be the primary qualification for RCI registration as a licensed clinical psychologist.

If your goal is clinical practice, assessment, diagnosis, and therapy—this is the route that matters!!

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• 4-Year Bachelor’s: A 4-year B.A./B.Sc. (Honours) in Psychology with at least 60% aggregate (55% for SC/ST).

• 3-Year Bachelor’s + Bridge: A 3-year degree in Psychology plus a 1-year Bridge Course.

• 3-Year Bachelor’s + Master’s: A 3-year B.A./B.Sc. in Psychology plus a 2-year general M.A./M.Sc. in Psychology (any branch) with minimum 60% marks.

Admission and  Examination

• Selection Process: Based on an entrance examination and an interview ( Check the specific university’s website, as each has different criteria)
• Timeline: The entire course is of a duration of 2 years.

UGC NOTIFICATION!

Seats vs Aspirants: 

• Most institutes offer 6–20 seats
• Even top private institutes rarely exceed 25–30 seats
• Every year, thousands of psychology graduates apply nationwide

The selection ratio at top institutes can be as low as 1–3%

Out of 100 eligible applicants, only a few may get selected

Which institutions offer an MA in Clinical Psychology?

S.No.	Institute Name	Location	Institution Type	Intake
1	National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS)	Bengaluru, Karnataka	Govt/ Autonomous	23
2	Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS)	New Delhi	Govt-funded	10
3	Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP)	Ranchi, Jharkhand	Central Govt Institute	21
4	King George’s Medical University (KGMU)	Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh	Govt Medical University	10–15
5	Gautam Buddha University (GBU)	Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh	State-supported University	10
6	National Forensic Science University (NFSU)	Gandhinagar & New Delhi	Central University	13
7	Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU)	Gandhinhagar, Gujarat	Govt-supported University	12
8	Gurugram University	Haryana	State University	10
9	NIEPMD / NIEPVD	Tamil Nadu & Uttarakhand	Central Govt Institutes	6
10	University of Calcutta	Kolkata, West Bengal	State University	12

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

Professional Registration

Upon successful completion, graduates must apply for registration on the Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) through the RCI Official Website to practice legally as a Clinical Psychologist in India.

REGISTRATION LINK– https://rciregistration.nic.in/index_registration.html

COMMON MYTHS

• “MA Clinical Psychology is not recognised”

• “Private colleges don’t give a license”

• “Only NIMHANS matters”

• “You can practice after MA Psychology alone” ❌

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ( FAQ’S)

Does MPhil Clinical Psychology still exist in India?

No. MPhil Clinical Psychology has been discontinued as a degree name.
It has been replaced by MA Clinical Psychology under updated RCI and UGC regulations.
The training, licensing, and clinical scope remain the same.

Is MA Clinical Psychology the same as MPhil Clinical Psychology?

Yes, in terms of professional value and licensure.
MA Clinical Psychology is the new nomenclature for the earlier MPhil programme and is RCI-regulated.

Can I practice as a Clinical Psychologist after MA Clinical Psychology?

Yes.
After completing the programme, you must register with the Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) under RCI to legally practice as a Clinical Psychologist in India.

Is MA Clinical Psychology recognised by RCI?

Yes, only if the programme is RCI-approved.
Always check:

• RCI official website
• Institute approval status
  before applying.

What is the duration of the MA Clinical Psychology?

The programme is of 2 years duration, including intensive supervised clinical training.

Do government institutes provide a stipend?

Yes, many government and public institutes provide a monthly stipend, but:

• Amount varies
• Not guaranteed across all institutes

Can I pursue a PhD after an MA in Clinical Psychology?

Yes.