PhD in Psychology Degree in India {Part Time & Regular}-2026

Want to do a PhD in Psychology Degree in India? This guide will show you how. Find out about eligibility, entrance exams, part-time availability, top universities, and real student experiences all here.

What is a PhD in Psychology?

A PhD in Psychology is the highest degree you can earn in Psychology. You will study about human behaviours, mental health and emotional patterns and other aspects of human psychology. PhD psychology is research-based degree. You will research under a guide also known as supervisor, conduct independent research, and publish your findings in the form of a thesis.
If your are looking for a part time PhD in Psychology in India , Contact us for admission guidance, best colleges with flexibility and support. 

PhD Psychology Duration

The duration of PhD Psychology degree is below.

Regular/Full Time : Minimum 3 years, maximum upto 6 years depending on the institution.

Part-Time:  Part Time PhD in Psychology takes minimum 4 years and maximum 7 years. 

Types of Psychology PhD Programs

Feature Full-Time PhD Vs  Part-Time PhD.

Essentially, an undergraduate degree can be completed in a minimum of 3
years. The time duration can be extended from 3 years to 5 years or more.
Hence, an undergraduate degree can be done in a shorter time period while a
postgraduate degree takes longer as it is more complex and requires more
in-depth knowledge about the subject.

Full-Time PhD

• • Requires regular attendance

• • Ideal for students with no full-time job

• • Short duration, normally 3 years (extension allowed by university as per UGC rules)

Part-Time PhD

• • Best for working professionals

• • Current working expereince and an NOC from the current employer is required

• • Duration – 4 years (extension allowed by university as per UGC rules)

• • Best for people working in the psychology areas to earn a PhD without quitting their job.

If your are looking for a part time PhD in Psychology in India form a NAAC A + grade university , Contact us for admission guidance, best colleges with flexibility and support. 

 

Why Do a PhD in Psychology in India?

The demand of Psychologists is increasing day by day due to the mental health issues . A PhD degree in Psychology will help you in many ways.

1. Growing Career Opportunities

• • Teaching in colleges & universities

• • Working in hospitals or private clinics

• • Research roles in NGOs and government bodies

• • You will be able to affix “Dr” before you name

2. Academic Growth

• • Many universities /colleges require a PhD degree for promotion

• • Guide future PhD students

• • Publish in international journals

• • Apply for post-doctoral fellowships

3. Financial Benefits

• • Assistant Professors earn Rs 60,000–Rs 1,20,000/month

• • Clinical psychologists can charge Rs1,500+ per session

• • Government fellowships cover tuition and living cost.

    Also Read: Part Time PhD in Psychology in Chennai

How to Do PhD in Psychology in India?

The eligbilty for a doctorate in Psychology is below.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

• • Master’s Degree in Psychology or Applied Psychology

• • Minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD)

• • MPhil holders may get course work and 1 year exemption subject to UGC rules

Step 2: Clear Entrance Requirements

Most universities follow two paths:

• • UGC NET/JRF: Those who clear these exams are exempted from other entrance tests of the institutes.

• • National level exam conducted twice a year.

• • Qualifying JRF will make you eligible for a monthly stipend and access many PhD programs. (stipend not applicable for Part time PhD programs)

• • University Entrance Exam: Many universities conduct their own entrance for PhD. Applicants withut UGC NET/JRF etc can attend the university/college entrance to become eligible for the interview.

Step 3: Find a Research Guide

• • You need to find a supervisor (In some universites , guide allotment process is done after the admission)

Step 4: Find a Research Guide

• • Submit your application to the university.

• • Fill the application form.

• • Submit documents, test scores, research proposal.

• • Attend interview.

Step 5: Begin Coursework.

The first stage is PhD Course work. The course work duration is normally 6 months. Some universities requre Part time PhD scholars stay in the university campus for course work period. All PhD students must finish course work in the first year including.

• • Research methodology.

• • Quantitative and qualitative methods.

• • Psychology theories and ethics.

Step 6: Submit Application

• • Fill the application form

• • Submit documents, test scores, and research proposal

• • Attend interview

Step 7: Begin Coursework

All students must complete coursework in the first year, including:

• • Research methodology

• • Quantitative and qualitative methods

• • Psychology theories and ethics.

Top Colleges for PhD in Psychology in India

some of the top colleges offering a PhD degree in Psychology are below.

University Name	Course Fee	Mode of Study
Delhi University (DU)	Rs 25,000	Full-time
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)	Rs 30,000	Full-time
TISS	Rs 80,000	Full/Part-time
Christ University	Rs 1,20,000	Full-time
Bharat University Chennai	Rs 50,000	Full / Part-time
SRM University Chennai	Rs 75,000	Regular / Part-time
Kerala University Kerala	Rs 15,000	Regular / Part-time
Amity University Noida	Rs 80,000	Full/Part-time
Lovely Professional University	Rs 1,20,000	Full-time/Part-time
Vels University Chennai	Rs 50,000	Full / Part-time
MGR University Chennai	Rs 75,000	Regular / Part-time
Madurai Kamaraj University	Rs 15,000	Regular / Part-time

 

Part-time PhD in Psychology in India

What is a Part-time PhD?

You can do a PhD without resigning from your job. It’s ideal for:

• • School/college teachers

• • NGO professionals

• • Clinical psychologists

UGC Guidelines for Part-time PhD

• • NOC & Expereince from the current employer

• • Research area must align with your job

• • Meet your guide regularly and submit research details once in every six moths.

Pros

• • Work + Study opportunity

• • No need of quitting the job

Cons

• • More self-discipline needed

• • No stipend for part time PhD programs

• • longer duration

Specializations in PhD Psychology

Specialization	Description
Clinical Psychology	Study of mental illness, therapy, diagnosis
Counseling Psychology	Deals with personal, social and work-related issues
Organizational Psychology	Workplace behavior, HR and performance
Neuropsychology	Brain-behavior relationship
Educational Psychology	Learning patterns in children and adults & more…

Scholarships & Fellowships

Below are the details PhD scholarships and Fellowships granted for full time PhD scholars. Part time PhD Scholars are not eligible for shcolarships and grants.

UGC JRF & SRF

Fellowship	Amount/Month	Duration
JRF	Rs 31,000–Rs 35,000	First 2 years
SRF	Rs 35,000–Rs 40,000	3rd to 5th year

Other Options

• • ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship

• • Maulana Azad Fellowship

• • University merit scholarships

• • State government fellowships

How to Apply

• • Appear for UGC NET and qualify for JRF

• • Apply to universities that accept JRF holders

• • Submit research proposal during application

• • It’s always good to prepare for UGC NET much in advance. It’s held in June and December.

Research Stages

Given below are the steps involved in a doctorate program in Psychology in India. Research stages vary depending on the institution.

• Step 1: Research Committee Formation: Once a scholar is admitted, the institution will constitute a research committee consisting of a supervisor, an external subject expert, and the scholar.
• Step 2: Guide Allotment: The institute will send the guide allotment letter to the scholar.
• Step 3: Research Topic Selection: The scholar and the guide will discuss the topic and finalize the research topic.
• Step 4: PhD Coursework Starts
• Step 5: Preparing a Research Proposal
• Step 6: Approval of Research Proposal
• Step 7: Conducting Research and Collecting Data
• Step 8: Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions
• Step 9: Writing Your Thesis
• Step 10: Defending Your Thesis (Viva Voce)
• Step 11: Awarding Your Doctorate Degree

Career Options After PhD in Psychology

1. Academic Field

• • PhD holders can become Assistant/Associate Professor

• • Become a Research Guide

• • Journal Editor in Pscyhology research publications

2. Clinical Field

• • Licensed Psychologist

• • Mental Health Therapist

• • Neuropsychologist

Note: RCI registration is required for Clinical Psychologists.

3. Corporate Sector

• • HR Consultant

• • Behavioral Analyst

• • Training Specialist

4. Research & NGOs

• • NIMHANS

• • ICSSR

• • WHO India

• • UNICEF, CRY, Save the Children

Common Challenges & Solutions

1. Time Management

• • Use a calendar

• • Block daily writing/research time

2. Finding the Right Guide

• • Read faculty papers

• • Contact early

3. Proposal Rejection

• • Make it specific

• • Add updated references

• • Get feedback from mentors

FAQs

• • Is UGC NET required for PhD Admission?
    Not always, many universities conduct their own PhD entrance exams.

• • Is MPhil necessary? No, UGC removed it as a requirement in 2022.

• • Can I do part-time PhD?
    Yes, if approved by your employer. Many universites offer part-time options.

• • What’s the cost of PhD degree in Psychology in India ?
    PhD Psychology course fee in India ranges between Rs 15,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh/year. With JRF or SRF, it’s almost free, but only for regular PhD programs.

• • Is there any grant for Part time PhD?
    No. No grant /scholarship is given for part time PhD programs.

• • Part time PhD valid in India?
    Yes. Part Time PhD programs are fully valid in India. Correspondece/Online PhD in Psychology are not valid in India.

     

  • Should the PhD scholar need to stay in the university during a part-time PhD program in Psychology?
    No. Usually, a part-time PhD scholar is not required to stay on the university campus. But some universities ask the scholars to stay on campus during the coursework period (usually 6 months).
  • What is coursework in PhD?

    The coursework is a preparatory course designed for PhD students, which involves how to do a doctorate program, ethics to be followed, teaching methods, and research methods, etc.

  • How many times does a part-time scholar have to visit the university?
    It depends on the institution. Some universities/colleges ask the scholar to visit the department once every month. Some institutions require students to visit once every six months. There are no fixed rules for this.

Summary

If you are looking for a PhD in Pyschology degree in India, key points are below

• • Must ha e a Master’s in Psychology (55%+)

• • Prepare for UGC NET/JRF /Univeristy exams

• • Choose full-time or part-time based on your goals

• • Apply to DU, JNU, TISS, Christ, Amity, Bharat, VIMHANS,  etc.

• • Select your specialization carefully

• • Find the right research supervisor

• • Apply for JRF, SRF, ICSSR for funding.

• • Explore careers in academia, therapy, research, and corporate HR.

     

Are you a working professional looking for a flexible part time PhD in Psychology in India form a NAAC A + grade university ?

Call/Whatsapp for details of  flexible Part time PhD Psychology Programs in India, best colleges with flexibility and other support.