Master of Philosophy [M.Phil]

NIMHANS, Bengaluru offers two 2-year master’s programs under the MPhil designation family: Masters in Clinical Psychology (MClinPsy) and Masters in Psychiatric Social Work (MPSW). Each program has 32 seats, total fees of INR 24,800 for the full 2-year duration, and institute support emoluments of INR 25,000 per month plus INR 15,000 per year as contingency grants. Admission is through the NIMHANS National Entrance Exam (NEE) held at Bengaluru.

📋 Admission Status: Admissions expected to open March 2027 (Tentative).

Key Points

• MClinPsy is recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), making graduates eligible to practice as licensed clinical psychologists in India without any additional registration requirement.
• Students receive a monthly emolument of INR 25,000 plus an annual contingency grant of INR 15,000 from the institute, effectively converting the program into a funded training position.
• Supervised clinical postings span nine distinct sub-specialties including Behavioral Medicine, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Addiction Medicine, giving trainees broader exposure than most standalone psychology departments offer.
• MClinPsy students are eligible for the Dr. M. V. Govindaswamy Memorial Prize and the Prof. V. Kumaraiah Award, both exclusive to this program at NIMHANS.

NIMHANS MPhil Fees 2026

Both programs carry an identical fee structure. The total fees for the 2-year program are INR 24,800 (NIMHANS fee schedule, 2026-27 prospectus). All admitted students additionally receive institute support emoluments of INR 25,000 per month and INR 15,000 per year as contingency grants, which more than offset the nominal fees.

• Fees are subject to change. Verify with official sources before admission.

NIMHANS MPhil Admission 2026

Important Dates

The 2026-27 admission cycle is now complete. All key dates listed below are for reference.

• All 2026-27 dates are now past for reference only.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• MClinPsy: 4-year BA/BSc in Psychology (UGC-recognized), OR 4-year BSc in Clinical Psychology (RCI-recognized), OR 3-year BA/BSc in Psychology with a 1-year Bridge course and minimum 55% marks, OR a Master’s in any branch of Psychology.
• MPSW: Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from a recognized university, OR 4-year BSW with Honours (UGC-recognized) with minimum 55% marks.
• Age limit: Maximum 35 years on the date of course commencement.
• Qualifying cutoff in NIMHANS NEE: minimum 50% for UR/OBC/EWS candidates and minimum 45% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.

Admission Process

• NIMHANS releases an advertisement in March each year through its official website inviting applications for both programs.
• Candidates apply online through the NIMHANS admissions portal within the notified window in March.
• All eligible applicants appear for the NEE, conducted at Bengaluru over 2 to 3 days in late May.
• Results are declared in June and a merit list is prepared separately for each program based on NEE scores.
• Admission is completed in late June, ahead of the July 1 commencement date.
• Seat distribution: 22 All India seats, 7 Karnataka Domicile seats, and 3 Foreign/Sponsored seats per program.

NIMHANS MPhil vs Other Colleges

Here is how NIMHANS MPhil programs compare with similar colleges on fees, entrance exams, cutoff, and career outcomes.

✓ Opt for this if

• You want RCI registration without any additional exam after graduation
• A monthly stipend of INR 25,000 is critical to fund your studies
• You aim to work in government psychiatric hospitals or NIMHANS itself
• Multidisciplinary clinical exposure across nine sub-specialties matters to you
• You are applying from outside Karnataka and want a nationally competitive seat

✗ Skip if

• You prefer private practice in metros over institutional clinical careers
• Relocating to Bengaluru for 2 years is not feasible for you
• You want a program with structured corporate or organizational placements

NIMHANS MPhil Scholarships 2026

NIMHANS does not award conventional external scholarships for these programs. All admitted students receive mandatory institute support that functions as a funded training position. Students may additionally apply for government-of-India scholarships based on category and income.

• Institute emoluments are sourced from the NIMHANS 2026-27 prospectus.
• Government scholarships are subject to annual notification and quota availability.

NIMHANS MPhil FAQs

Ques. How does the NIMHANS NEE differ from CUET PG and other national psychology entrance exams?

Ans. The NIMHANS National Entrance Exam is an institute-specific test conducted solely for NIMHANS programs, focused on clinical and applied psychology competencies. Unlike CUET PG, it is held only at the NIMHANS campus in Bengaluru over 2 to 3 days, with no online or remote center option.

Ques. What is the difference between the old MPhil designation and the new MClinPsy and MPSW program names at NIMHANS?

Ans. From 2026, NIMHANS renamed MPhil in Clinical Psychology and MPhil in Psychiatric Social Work to MClinPsy and MPSW respectively. The curriculum, duration, seat structure, emoluments, and RCI recognition remain exactly the same.

Ques. Can a candidate with a 3-year BA Psychology apply for MClinPsy at NIMHANS, and what is the Bridge course requirement?

Ans. Yes, a candidate with a 3-year BA or BSc in Psychology can apply, provided they have completed a recognized 1-year Bridge course in Psychology and hold minimum 55% marks. The Bridge course must be completed independently before the application deadline, as NIMHANS does not offer it.

Ques. Do MClinPsy and MPSW graduates from NIMHANS qualify directly for government hospital positions?

Ans. Yes. MClinPsy graduates with RCI registration qualify for Clinical Psychologist posts in government hospitals under the 7th Pay Commission at Level 10, with a basic pay of INR 56,100 per month. MPSW graduates qualify for Psychiatric Social Worker posts at equivalent levels.

Ques. Is Karnataka domicile mandatory to apply, and how does the seat split work?

Ans. Karnataka domicile is not mandatory. The seat matrix per program is 22 All India seats, 7 Karnataka Domicile seats, and 3 Foreign/Sponsored seats, totalling 32 per program. All India candidates compete for the 22 general seats regardless of state.

Ques. What clinical sub-specialties will an MClinPsy or MPSW student be posted to during the 2-year training?

Ans. Students complete supervised postings across nine areas: Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Family Psychiatry, Behavioral Medicine, Clinical Neuropsychology, Addiction Medicine, Community Psychiatry, and Neurological Rehabilitation. This breadth is unique to NIMHANS as a full-service neuro-psychiatric institute with dedicated wards in each specialty.