IGNOU MA Psychology Admission 2026 will commence soon for the January session from 20th December 2025*. Students can apply for the master of Arts in Psychology programs offered for a duration of 2 years at the postgraduate level. This program is best for individuals who want to learn and study human behavior, emotion, and mental health. IGNOU MA Psychology is offered in ODL mode in English medium. To be eligible, students have to complete their bachelor’s or any higher degree from a recognized university. The IGNOU MA psychology program syllabus will include lab-based practicals, research-based projects, and field-based internships. Students have to pay the MA psychology course fee of INR 10,500 per year at IGNOU. Students will have full access to program study material in both printed and digital formats. It must be noted that IGNOU MA Psychology is no longer approved by NCAHP. Students must check out the NCAHP Act (2021)for a better understanding. Online registration for the MA Psychology program will be done on the IGNOU SAMARTH portal @ignou.samarth.edu.in till 15th January 2026*.
IGNOU MA Psychology Admission Overview
- About the Course—This is a PG degree in distance mode provided by the IGNOU School of Social Work. Through this course, students learn about the Psychology of various areas, such as Health and care, Education, and aviation.
- Duration – The duration of this program is the same as a regular MA in Psychology, which is 2 years.
- Application process: Students who want to pursue an MA in Psychology from IGNO in distance mode can visit the university’s official website.
- Age: Most institutes, including IGNOU, do not have any upper age limit for the MA Psychology degree.
- Eligibility Criteria: The IGNOU MA Psychology program requires 10th and 12th board exam mark sheets from a recognized board like CBSE, ICSC, or any other state board, as well as a bachelor’s degree in any subject.
- Learning Flexibility- This course is flexible in many respects, including timing, fees, and study material. Students can attend and listen to the recorded video lectures at their own time and location.
- Affordable- This course is designed for those students who can not afford a regular MA psychology course. By enrolling in this course, students can complete the course for just INR 21,000 total fee/ 10,500 per year, and the registration fee is INR 300.
- Career Paths – Students who hold an M.A. Psychology degree can work in various fields such as career counseling, social work, Teaching, case management, and many more.
- Administrative Support: Students are responsible for resolving their own administrative challenges and contacting their regional center when necessary.
- Flexibility: The MA programme in Psychology at IGNOU is conducted through distance education, allowing students to study from anywhere and at any time. Course material is available online, making it easier to balance education and personal and professional commitments.
IGNOU M.A. Psychology Admission 2026 Highlights
| University | Indira Gandhi National Open University ( IGNOU) |
| Course Name | M.A. Psychology |
| Mode of learning | Distance Mode |
| Admission status | Open |
| January session | 20 December 2025* |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Fees | Total INR 21,000/ 10,500 per year |
| Medium of instruction | English |
| Eligibility | 10+2 mark sheet and a graduation degree in any subject. |
| Official Website | https://www.ignou.ac.in |
IGNOU MA Psychology Admission 2026
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology program through its School of Social Sciences. Candidates can pursue this program in distance mode of education which allows students to continue their studies at their own pace, without attending any regular classes. Before applying for the program candidates need to meet eligibility requirements such as they need to hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 45% marks from a certified university. IGNOU cannot require any entrance exam of MA Psychology program, applicants take direct admission on the basis of their merit score.
This 2 year PG program covers key subjects like Life Span Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Memory, Advanced Social Psychology, Psychodiagnostics and many more. A registration fee of INR 300 is made payable online through their portal, candidates must pay the registration fee for completing the application procedure.
IGNOU M.A. Psychology Eligibility
Educational Qualification:
Applicants must have completed their Class 12 or an equivalent examination from any recognized education board. This is the basic qualification required before applying for the MA Psychology program.
Minimum Marks:
IGNOU does not set any strict percentage requirement for admission. But, having around 50% marks in 10+2 is generally considered helpful. Candidates who belong to SC, ST, OBC, and PwD categories are provided a 5% relaxation in the qualifying marks criteria.
Entrance Exam:
The program does not require any entrance test. Students who fulfill the educational criteria can apply directly, and admission is usually based on the performance in their last qualifying examination.
Age Limit:
There is no age restriction for admission. Anyone meeting the academic eligibility, can pursue this course. There is no additional requirement for pursuing a Master’s degree in Psychology.
Documents required for IGNOU M.A. Psychology
- Fresh Photo and signatures of the candidates
- 10th and 12th board marksheet.
- A graduation degree in any subject from a recognized university.
- Scanned copies of all the academic certificates.
- Caste certificate if applicable.
- Character certificate.
- Original ID proof can be Aadhar or a Card.
IGNOU MA Psychology Admission Process
Students who want to make a successful registration have to follow certain steps-
- The very first step is to visit the official website of IGNOU https://www.ignou.ac.in
- Go to the admission page and click on new admission.
- After clicking on the new admission, students have to select their desired program, IGNOU M.A. Psychology.
- Log in with your registration number and start uploading all the documents and personal details carefully.
- After uploading all the documents, students have to pay a registration fee of INR 300 through online mode, and IGNOU will only accept the application forms once the students have made the fee payment.
- Click on the submit button and take a hard copy of the submitted application form for future reference.
If students wish to submit the IGNOU MA Psychology application form in person, they can do so at their nearest IGNOU regional centre. There, they can contact the student support cell, which will assist them in the offline admission process of IGNOU MA Psychology 2026.
IGNOU MSc Psychology Syllabus:
| 1st Year | ||
| Course Code | Title of the Course | Credits |
| MPC 1 | Cognitive Psychology, Learning and Memory | 4 |
| MPC 2 | Life Span Psychology | 4 |
| MPC 3 | Personality: Theories and Assessment | 4 |
| MPC 4 | Advanced Social Psychology | 4 |
| MPC 5 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| MPC 6 | Statistics in Psychology | 4 |
| MPCL 7 | Practicum in Experimental Psychology & Psychological Testing | 8 |
In the second year, students are given 3 groups of subjects. They have to choose 1 group from the given 3 groups of subjects for the second year.
| 2nd Year | ||
| Clinical Psychology: Group A | ||
| Course Code | Title of the Course | Credits |
| MPCE 11 | Psychopathology | 4 |
| MPCE 12 | Psychodiagnostics | 4 |
| MPCE 13 | Psychotherapeutic Methods | 4 |
| MPCE 14 | Practicum in Clinical Psychology | 6 |
| MPCE 15 | Internship | 8 |
| MPCE 16/46 | Project/Applied Positive Psychology** | 6 |
| Counselling Psychology: Group B | ||
| Course Code | Title of the Course | Credits |
| MPCE 21 | Counselling Psychology | 4 |
| MPCE 22 | Assessment in Counselling and Guidance | 4 |
| MPCE 23 | Interventions in Counselling | 4 |
| MPCE 24 | Practicum in Counselling Psychology | 6 |
| MPCE 25 | Internship | 8 |
| MPCE 26/46 | Project/Applied Positive Psychology** | 6 |
| Industrial and Organisational Psychology: Group C | ||
| Course Code | Title of the Course | Credits |
| MPCE 31 | Organizational Behaviour | 4 |
| MPCE 32 | Human Resource Development | 4 |
| MPCE 33 | Organisational Development | 4 |
| MPCE 34 | Practicum in Industrial and Organisational Psychology | 6 |
| MPCE 35 | Internship | 8 |
| MPCE 36/46 | Project/Applied Positive Psychology** | |
IGNOU MA Psychology Admission Status
After the MA Psychology admission process is complete at IGNOU University, students can check their admission status on the IGNOU portal. Students can check the admission, fee, and submission process on the university.
Students can follow these steps to check their MA Psychology admission status.
Step 1: Open the official website of IGNOU
Step 2: Click on Student Services
Step 3: Then click on Know Your Status
Step 4: Then click on “Check Your Registration Status.”
Step 5: Fill in the blank details and then click on the submit button
Step 6: You will be directed to the admission receipt
How IGNOU Conducts Exams
IGNOU conducts its Term-End Examinations (TEE) in offline, pen-and-paper mode at designated exam centres. Although some online features have also been introduced, such as online question paper distribution, online proctoring and uploading of answer sheets for some courses, the format of the main examination remains traditional. The exams are usually held twice a year, in June and December. The Indira Gandhi National Open University has recently released the datesheet for the MA Psychology program for the December 2025 term-end examination. IGNOU MA Psychology exams will start from 01 December 2025 to 14th January 2026.
Career Scope of IGNOU M.A. Psychology
The average salary of MA in Psychology in India is Rs 4.5 LPA, and for the post of Training Manager, it can go up to Rs 8.5 LPA. Consider your specific career goals. Although IGNOU’s MA in Psychology is a valid degree, certain specialisations or further studies may be required for specific career paths, such as clinical psychology.
- Teacher- It is a master’s degree, and the first requirement for the teaching field is a master’s degree. Students with this degree can work as psychological teachers in the government and private sectors. With a salary of Rs 3.5 lakh per annum.
- Mental Health Worker- Psychology is the study of human mental behavior. IGNOU M.A. Psychology graduate students can work as mental health workers in Hospitals, NGOs, and Organizations with a salary of INR 602706/Pr year.
- Social Worker- Many people face social problems such as domestic violence and unemployment. An M.A. psychology degree holder can solve these social problems and can earn around INR 24150 per month.
IGNOU MA Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology is a 2-year specialization in the IGNOU MA Psychology Admission course at Indira Gandhi National University. This course focuses on using psychological concepts and behavioral science to identify and treat mental illnesses.
Conclusion
Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University is a 2 year postgraduate (PG) program which can be pursued in open & distance learning (ODL) mode. This program covers core topics like Advanced Social Psychology, Life Span Psychology, Psychodiagnostics, Practicum in Clinical Psychology and many more. IGNOU takes admission on the basis of merit score without any entrance exam. To pursue the master’s degree in Psychology, candidates generally need to hold a Bachelor’s degree from a certified university with at least 45% aggregate marks. This program is offered in a very affordable fee range in ODL mode which allows students to continue their education from anywhere at any time without attending any regular classes.
FAQs
Q 1. What will be the available career options for MA graduates from IGNOU?
Ans. MA graduates from IGNOU can get various career opportunities in the government and private sectors.
Q 2: What is the scope of the MA in Psychology from IGNOU?
Ans: After completing the MA psychology course, you can make your career in these fields: Mental Health Researchers, Rehabilitation Forensics, Counselors, Government Officials, Human Resource Specialists, Clinical Psychologists, and Social Workers.
Q3: How can I get admission to the MA Psychology?
Ans: Candidates take admission to the MA Psychology programme. You will need to complete an undergraduate degree in Psychology or a related field. You will not have to give any entrance exam for admission.
Q4: Is the distance MA Psychology a Valid course?
Ans: Yes, Students can do an MA psychology course in a distance mode. IGNOU provides this course in distance learning mode and is approved by the UGC.
Q5: Is an M.A. in Psychology from IGNOU valid?
Ans: Yes, MA in Psychology from IGNOU is valid. IGNOU is a university recognized by UGC (University Grants Commission) and UGC-DEB (Distance Education Bureau). IGNOU is a central university of India.
