Doctor of Philosophy or Ph.D. in Psychology is a 3-year full-time doctorate degree in Psychology. Candidates need to have a postgraduate degree in Pyschology from a recognized educational board as a minimum eligibility criterion to apply for the course. Admission to Ph.D. in Psychology is entrance exam based. Some such exams held in the country are RAT (Research Aptitude Test) and JRF (Junior Research Fellowship). 

The academic field of Psychology encompasses:

• Research- through which enrolled students are taught about human and nonhuman animal behaviour on an advanced level
• Practice- through which scholars are trained to apply such learning to solving problems and promoting healthy human development

Some of the top institutes which provide admission to Ph.D. (Psychology) are: 

• Amity University, Lucknow
• Allahbad University, Allahbad
• Punjab University, Chandigarh
• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
• Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra

In the discipline’s subfields, Psychologists work primarily as researchers, practitioners, and in some cases, scientists and practitioners. Psychology is a tremendously varied field, in that Psychologists conduct both basic and applied research, serve as consultants to communities and organizations, and teach other prospective psychologists. Many of them may even work as professional health care providers.

Psychologists traditionally study both normal and abnormal functioning of the human mind, and treat individuals with mental and emotional problems. They also study and treat behaviours that affect mental and emotional health and mental functioning of healthy human beings.

They work with patients to help them change behaviours that are negative for physical health and wellbeing. They also work with performers, business executives, and athletes to reduce stress and improve performance.Psychology professionals may work independently, or team up with other professionals such as scientists, lawyers, physicians, school personnel, engineers, policymakers, managers, and computer experts, to contribute to every area of society.

Psychologists are needed in hospitals, laboratories, courtrooms, community health centres, schools and universities, prisons, and corporate offices.The average annual course fee in India ranges between INR 20,000 and 2 lacs, depending upon the institute offering the course. The average annual salary offered in India to successful postgraduates of the course ranges between INR 1 and 12 lacs, depending upon the candidate’s expertise in the field.

Ph.D. in Psychology: Course Highlights

Tabulated below are some of the major highlights of the course.

Ph.D. in Psychology: What is it about?

Psychology as an academic discipline encompassing a wide range of studies including attention, perception, comprehension, emotions, intelligence, personality, relationships, behaviour, and even the subconscious. Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. Psychologists examine both individual behaviours and the behaviour of groups, working towards understanding human activity, treating mental disorders, and counselling people to help them achieve emotional stability.

Being concerned with social behaviour, Psychology in many ways is related to the social sciences and humanities, such as Anthropology and Philosophy. They use similar research techniques as these disciplines, including conducting interviews and observing behaviour. Psychologists assess behavioural and mental function and well-being, and study how human beings relate to each other and also to machines, and work towards improving such relationships.

With the world everyday undergoing sizable change in terms of population and thought processes, they provide important knowledge and skills to help better understand diverse cultures and mindsets. Psychology essentially relies on very scientific methods, using carefully designed experiments to produce reliable data about behaviour, emotions, and brain chemistry. Psychologists determine ways to test for emotional stability or mental illness, and develop counselling techniques to encourage mental development, ease emotional pain, and promote healthy behaviour.

Top Institutes offering Ph.D. in Psychology

Some of the top institutes offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by the respective colleges are listed below.

Ph.D. in Psychology Eligibility

Aspiring candidates for Ph.D. in Psychology program need to meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• Postgraduate degree in Psychology, completed from a recognized institute/university
• A minimum aggregate score of 55% (50 % for SC/ST candidates) or equivalent grade at the level of post-graduation
• At least 5 years of teaching/ industry/ professional experience at a senior level
• In some cases, M.Phil. in Psychology is also preferred

Ph.D. in Psychology: Admission Process

Admission to the course in India is done on the basis of the candidate’s performance in a relevant written test and/or a round of Personal Interview and/or performance in a relevant qualifying examination. Candidates are shortlisted based on both academic record and performance in a relevant nation-wide screening test, such as:

• RAT (Research Aptitude Test)
• JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)

Ph.D. in Psychology: Syllabus and Course Description

A year- wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated below.

Ph.D. in Psychology: Career Prospects

On successful completion of Ph.D. in Psychology course, candidates have a wide array of options to choose from. They can opt for a career in Social Service and Mental Health which are two of the most popular career fields for psychology graduates. There is a strong demand for professionals in these fields, they can expect to earn a decent income and have the opportunity to work directly with patients struggling with mental illness and other ailments.

A master’s degree in psychology is the minimum requirement for most entry-level career positions; most of the best jobs are reserved for psychologists with a doctorate in psychology.

Some of the top most professional avenues open to such postgraduates are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Candidate applying in PH.D program should have pass in Master’s Degree in Tamil with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA) or in an examination recognised as equivalent thereto.