Can I Do an MA in Psychology as per the New RCI Rules? – Know more details here.
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) released a notice in August 2024 regarding the introduction of a new MA Clinical Psychology course, which is set to replace the existing M.Phil in Clinical Psychology course from 2026. This announcement has led to confusion among many students, particularly those who wish to pursue a master’s in psychology.
In this article, we will clarify the details of the new course, address the common misconceptions, and explain who is eligible to enrol in different MA/MSc Psychology programs.
The RCI’s New MA Clinical Psychology Course
The new MA Clinical Psychology course aims to streamline clinical psychology training according to the National Education Policy (NEP) and updated RCI guidelines. Unlike the traditional MA/MSc Psychology programs, this specialized course has a more rigorous eligibility requirement.
Eligibility as per the new RCI guidelines:
- Eligibility for MA Clinical Psychology: Students will need to complete a 4-year honours degree in psychology to be eligible for this course.
- This MA in Clinical Psychology will serve as a replacement for the M.Phil in Clinical Psychology, which is one of the popular routes to becoming an RCI-registered clinical psychologist.
This change has raised concerns among psychology students, especially those from non-psychology backgrounds, who fear they may not be eligible for any master’s program in psychology after the new rules come into effect. But that is not correct, let’s understand how.
The Existing MA Psychology Programs: Still Open to All
Here’s an important distinction: The new RCI guidelines only apply to the specific MA Clinical Psychology course designed for those who wish to work as Clinical Psychologists in future. It does not affect the traditional MA/MSc Psychology programs that many universities in India offer such as Delhi University, TISS Mumbai, etc, with specializations such as:
- Counselling Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuro Psychology and more.
Most of these programs do not require a 4-year honours degree in psychology. However, any student with a 3-year bachelor’s degree can still apply for these courses via CUET PG or Institute-specific entrance tests. Many universities continue to accept students from various backgrounds, including those with bachelor’s degrees in subjects other than psychology.
Click here to see the list of universities accepting Non-Psychology students for MA/MSc in Psychology
What This Means for You
If you are a student from a non-psychology background or do not have a 4-year honours degree in psychology, you can still:
- Apply for MA/MSc Psychology programs with diverse specializations, as these courses are still being offered by various universities.
- Pursue a career in psychology in fields of clinical psychology, such as counselling, organizational behaviour, or forensic psychology.
However, if you aspire to become a clinical psychologist, the new RCI rules will require you to complete the newly structured MA Clinical Psychology program, which will only be available according to the new eligibility criteria from 2026 onwards.
The Key Facts: RCI MA Clinical Psychology Course
- The New Rules or RCI Guidelines are yet to be finalized. Hence, do not take any decision in a hurry and wait until the final notice is available.
- The new RCI MA Clinical Psychology course will replace the M.Phil in Clinical Psychology and require a 4-year honours degree in psychology.
- Traditional MA/MSc Psychology programs offered by universities with various specializations will continue to admit students from diverse academic backgrounds.
- Students can still pursue an MA in Psychology without an honours degree in psychology, except for the new MA Clinical Psychology course.
For more detailed insights on the recent RCI guidelines and changes in clinical psychology training, refer to our previous posts here and here.
