It is a well-planned course that includes a required internship, research project, and term-end examinations (TEE). According to some practicing psychologists, the study material appears to be on par with regular university courses.

The main difference is that you can complete the course over a 5-year period, with exams held twice a year. As a result, you can write exams for 2-3 subjects each term and finish the course while working full-time.

IGNOU has two points of contact for you:

• SC Study Centre: This is where lectures and practicals will be held, assignments must be submitted, and course-related questions will be answered. There are two in Mumbai: Hansraj College in Khar and Seva Sadan in Ulhasnagar.

• Regional Centre RC: This is your administrative point for receiving books, issuing ID cards, making changes to exam centers, and so on. This is the IGNOU's general office in Mulund West, Mumbai, for all courses.

IGNOU PROBLEMS

The RC is sometimes unresponsive, and with a low student-to-administrative representative ratio (IGNOU has no upper limit on the number of students it can admit), it is difficult to get questions answered. To receive a response, students must send emails in bulk.

IGNOU (or RC) appoints teachers to give IGNOU lectures in addition to their regular teaching duties.

IGNOU urgently needs to address these concerns in order to maintain and improve students' trust in the system.

IGNOU is better recognized for distance courses. So, pursuing a correspondence course in MA Psychology will be better. However, if possible try to do a regular course in counseling, clinical or industrial psychology. Psychology is practical oriented subject, and you will need to do dissertations, practicals, and internships as a part of coursework. Being a practical-based course, the career outcomes of correspondence degrees in Psychology are somewhat limited.

It will be difficult to choose between Annamalai University and Chandigarh University, just as it is difficult to choose where to study when there are so many options. I recommend that you look into Chandigarh University's distance learning program. Chandigarh University's distance education department is relatively new, but it is very promising.

The Institute of Distance & Online Learning at Chandigarh University is UGC-DEB accredited, making it an approved distance learning program. Moving on, the facilities and support in distance programs are very helpful and student-friendly. First and foremost, you will receive all study materials and have free access to their online content, which includes videos, e-courses, SLM, and quizzes. Aside from multimedia and course materials, the CU LMS (Learning Management System for distance learners) includes features such as rubrics, teacher and instructor-facilitated learning, a discussion board, a course tracker, download and submit assignments, interact with faculty, and a virtual programming environment and e-library.

Furthermore, despite being a distance learner, you will be able to visit the campus, participate in numerous workshops and seminars, and gain first-hand experience with industry tools. With a curriculum that meets international and industry standards, you will also have access to the university's placement drive, which means you can even be placed via distance education.

One of my friends completed his MA in Industrial Psychology through IGNOU. According to him, it is a well-thought-out course with a term-end examination, compulsory internship, and research projects. My friend also consulted with some practicing Psychologists regarding the study material. According to them, the course is at par with the regular university courses. 

The advantage of this course is that you can complete the course over a period of 5 years and examinations are taken twice each year. So, you can take examinations for 2-3 subjects each term and complete the course easily along with a full-time course or job. Study Center and Regional Center are two points of contact for IGNOU. 

Lately, there have been some issues regarding RCs and teachers in IGNOU. Going forward they need to address these issues. 

My friend is an MA Psychology student at Chandigarh University. In her opinion, it is one of the best MA courses offered in India. She justified her opinion through a number of reasons some of which I have listed below

• The university offers not one but two courses in psychology - MA in Psychology and MA in Clinical Psychology.
• The university offers necessary practical exposure to prepare students to excel in the field of psychology.
• The teachers are fully experienced and also experienced in the area of research studies and publications. 
• All the electives are distributed throughout the semesters with adequate practical knowledge.
• Additional exposure is offered in the form of field visits, expert talks, experiments, and field training.
• Another major highlight is the foreign exchange program wherein students are sent to foreign universities and get certified for the respective section from the respective country.
• The gap between theoretical knowledge and practical approach is filled through internship opportunities.

Overall, the quality of teaching is a major USP that students consider while choosing this university.