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Course Details

DEGREE COURSES - PSYCHIATRIST

Degree Course Type 

Bachelors, Masters, Diploma, Certificate

Entry Level Qualification 

Class 10+2

Degree Course Duration 

1 Year, 4 Year

Course Fields 

Medical

Degree Course Entrance Exam 

AIIMS MSC, AIIMS BSC

Average Course Fee 

10000 - 2500000

Average Salary Offered 

300000 - 1800000

Course Highlights 

Some of the important highlights of psychiatry courses in India for applicants to consider are as follows:

Particulars

Details

Course 

Psychiatry 

Degree Level

Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate 



Duration 

Certificate: 3-12 months 

UG Diplomas and PG Diplomas: 1-2 years 

Bachelor’s: 3-4 years 

Master’s: 2 years 

Doctorate (PhD): 3-4 years 

Exam Type 

Semester-based 


Minimum Qualification Requirement

Diploma/UG: Class 12 from a recognized board with Psychology as a mandatory subject

PG Diploma/PG: Bachelor’s course from a recognized university in a relevant field of study.

Doctorate: Master’s course from a recognized university in a relevant field of study.

Average Salary 

INR 3-18 lakh per year 

Average Fees Incurred 

INR 10,000-INR 25,00,000 

Selection Process 

Entrance + Merit-based 

Popular Entrance Exams 

NEET, AIIMS, NEET PG, AIIMS PG, JMIEE, AMUEE, the University of Delhi Entrance Exam, etc.

Top Psychiatry Specialisation 

Addiction Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Emergency Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry

Minimum Aggregate Percentage Required for Admission 

50%-60% 

Top Recruiters 

Wellness Centres, Government and Private Hospitals, Government and Private Clinics, Universities and Institutes, etc

Career Prospects 

Forensic Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychiatrist, Staff Psychiatrist, Child Psychiatrist, Addiction Psychiatrist, Neuropsychiatrist, etc.

About Course 

Psychiatry is an exciting and vital branch of medicine owing to its nature of science. Psychiatry courses deal with identifying and treating mental illnesses with the help of in-depth psychiatric knowledge. Studying this course would enable students to assist people working in disciplines related to psychiatry or themselves to treat psychiatric illnesses frequently. Psychiatry, in other words, is the medical speciality concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental diseases. Psychiatry courses are appropriate for medical and other health aspirants who want to get an in-depth understanding of contemporary psychiatry practices. There are various psychiatry courses available at different study levels, such as certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate courses. Thus, applicants can pursue these courses immediately after finishing their class 12 or after completing their bachelor’s studies. Depending on the type of course, the average duration to complete these courses is three months to four years. Admission to a psychiatry programme is based on candidates' class 12th/bachelor's/master's results.

Why Choose Course And Required Skills 

Mental sickness may be equally debilitating as physical disease, if not more so. As medical students, candidates learn about medical specialities and get to experience them all during rotations. Owing to its emphasis on mental health, psychiatry is a subspecialty of medicine. There is now a nationwide scarcity of psychiatrists around the world and the demand is high.

Aside from a thriving job market, medical students on the verge of deciding their fields and applying for a residency should consider psychiatry for a variety of reasons, including its incredible flexibility, sense of reward, ability to become more empathetic, and overall usefulness in a fast-paced world.

Let us look at some of the most essential reasons to study psychiatry in this day and age:

1. Ability to Help People/Patients: The ability to impact people's mental health and well-being is one incentive to consider studying psychiatry and becoming a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists can assist their patients in overcoming trauma, destructive behaviours, or mental diseases that may impair their capacity to function successfully in society.

2. Higher Earning Potential: Another reason to consider taking psychiatry courses is the possible income opportunities. Private practitioners can determine their charges and typically make a decent livelihood.

3. An Exciting Field of Study: Students studying to become psychiatrists learn about the many mental, behavioural, and emotional illnesses that might impact their patients. They learn to identify and treat these diseases, as well as attempt to enhance patient functionality and health whenever possible. Psychiatry may be a very intriguing profession for people who are interested in the human brain and mental diseases.

4. Graduates Can Set Up Their Practice: Psychiatry courses graduates may opt to start their practices. This allows them to create their schedules, choose which patients to visit, and work anywhere they choose. The independence and flexibility of owning a firm might be compelling reasons to become a doctor.​​​​​​​

Eligibility  

Psychiatry courses at different levels of study have varying eligibility criteria for admission.

The table below highlights the general admission or eligibility criteria for aspirants to study psychiatry courses in India: 


Programme/Study Level 

Basic Eligibility Criteria 

Certificate 

Candidates must have passed (or must be studying in) class 12 from a recognised board.

Diploma

Students must have cleared class 12 from a recognised school board, with at least 50%-60% aggregate marks.

Undergraduate 

Students must score at least 50-60% aggregate in class 12 board exams and sit for an entrance exam as well.

PG Diploma 

Students must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study from a recognised university.

Postgraduate 

Students must have a bachelor’s degree in psychiatry or any other relevant field of study from a recognised university with at least 50%-60% aggregate marks and entrance exam qualifying scores. 

Doctorate/PhD

Students must have a master’s degree in psychiatry or any other relevant field of study from a recognised university with at least 60% aggregate marks and entrance exam qualifying scores. Practical experience may be required.

Entrance Exams Details 

One of the key admission or eligibility requirements for candidates to pursue psychiatry courses (particularly postgraduate degrees) in India is passing entrance examinations with minimal qualifying grades.

Here are a few well-known psychiatry entrance exams used by leading universities and institutes to screen qualified/eligible students for their programmes:

1. Aligarh Muslim University Entrance Exam

2. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Entrance Exam

3. All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AIIPMR) Entrance Exam

4. Central Institute of Psychiatry Entrance Exam

5. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

6. Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) Entrance Exam

7. Institute of Medical Sciences Entrance Exam

8. Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam

9. Karnataka University Entrance Exam

10. Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Entrance Exam

11. Manipal Academy of Higher Education Entrance Exam

12. National Council of Educational Research and Training Entrance Exam

13. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences Entrance Exam

14. Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Entrance Exam

15. Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Entrance Exam

16. The Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) Entrance Exam

17. The Indian Institute of Technology - Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE)

18. University of Delhi Entrance Exam

19. University of Rajasthan Entrance Exam

Degree Course Syllabus 

Psychiatric courses in India have different course curriculums based on the degree, level of study, university, and other criteria.

The following are the key subjects that applicants will study while studying psychiatry courses in India:


Clinical Psychiatry

Physiology 

Child Psychiatry

Community Psychiatry

Basic Sciences as applied to Psychiatry

Human Anatomy

Biochemistry of the Brain

Neurology and Neurosurgery

Approaching to Psychiatric Diagnosis and Classification

Social Psychiatry

Forensic Psychiatry

Preventive Psychiatry

Behavioral Therapies

Anxiety Disorders

Psychotherapy

Organic Delusional, Mood and Personality Disorders

Psychology 

Preventive Psychiatry and practical training at a mental asylum

General Psychiatry

Psychiatry specialities including psychosomatic medicines and consultations

Top Colleges 

Popular Colleges in India for Psychiatry Courses

Some of the most renowned colleges in India that are offering psychiatry courses to aspirants are tabulated below: 


Name of the College/Institute 

Location 

Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College

Pune 

Aryabhatta Knowledge University

Patna

Osmania Medical College

Hyderabad 

Jamia Hamdard University

New Delhi

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

New Delhi

Christian Medical College

Tamil Nadu 

Lady Hardinge Medical College

New Delhi

Kasturba Medical College

Karnataka 

King George's Medical University

Uttar Pradesh 

Maulana Azad Medical College

New Delhi 

MGR Educational and Research Institute

Chennai

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research

Pondicherry

Armed Forces Medical College

Pune 

SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Chennai

MS Ramaiah Medical College 

Karnataka 


Popular Colleges Abroad to Study Psychiatry Courses

Since mental health is a global issue, many international institutions are also pioneering in promoting Psychiatry courses.

Here is a list of some of the most renowned international universities and colleges for aspirants to study psychiatry courses abroad:


Name of the College/Institute 

Location 

Harvard University 

United States 

Stanford University 

United States 

Columbia University 

United States 

Yale University

United States 

University of Oxford 

United Kingdom 

King’s College London

United Kingdom 

University College London 

United Kingdom 

University of Cambridge 

United Kingdom 

University of Toronto

Canada 

University of British Columbia 

Canada 

McGill University

Canada

McMaster University

Canada

University of Amsterdam

Netherlands 

Karolinska Institute 

Sweden 

University of Melbourne 

Australia 

Catholic University of Leuven 

Belgium 

University of New South Wales 

Australia 

The University of Queensland 

Australia 

University of Sydney 

Australia 

The University of Auckland 

New Zealand 

Course Fees 

The fees for psychiatry courses are determined by a variety of factors, including the type of course, level of programme, type of university, location, and others.

The following are the estimated fees for psychiatry courses in India at various levels of study:


Programme/Study Level 

Average Annual Estimated Fee Range in INR 

Certificate 

2,000-30,000

Diploma

10,000-80,000

Undergraduate 

20,000-1,50,000

PG Diploma 

30,000-2,00,000

Postgraduate 

40,000-12,30,000

Top Recruiters And Salary 

Job roles

Average Annual Pay Range (in INR)

Addiction Psychiatrist

2-5 lakh 

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

4-14 lakh 

Forensic Psychiatrist

3-16 lakh 

Professor/Lecturer

2.6-7 lakh 

General Adult Psychiatrist

3.5-15 lakh 

Rehabilitation Psychiatrist

3.5-8 lakh 

Neuropsychiatrist

3-17 lakh 

Clinical Psychiatrist

3.5-12 lakh

Staff Psychiatrist

2.5-6 lakh 

Course Scope And Career Options 

​​​​​​​Some of the most well-known job roles, along with their job descriptions, are included below:

Job Roles

Job Description

Addiction Psychiatrist

Addiction Psychiatrists treat persons of all ages who have addictions to illicit substances, alcohol, and prescription medications that are exacerbated by concurrent mental health illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, among other things.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Doctors in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry deal with children, adolescents, and their families. They address a wide range of mental health issues and ailments, such as autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

Forensic Psychiatrist

A Forensic Psychiatrist is someone who works with the mental health of prisoners, criminals, and others. They are in charge of diagnosing and treating convicts, criminals, and so on.

Professor/Lecturer

A professor or lecturer is someone who strives to deliver the necessary information and abilities to students who want to become competent psychiatrists in the future by utilising various strategies.

General Adult Psychiatrist

In instances involving substance abuse, a general adult psychiatrist consults with and treats patients aged 18 and up.

Rehabilitation Psychiatrist

A Rehabilitation Psychiatrist is a clinician who helps patients overcome mental illnesses and regain their maximum level of functioning.

Neuropsychiatrist

A neuropsychiatrist treats patients who have mental imbalances as well as emotional and mental disorders.

Clinical Psychiatrist

A clinical psychiatrist helps patients cope with mental health issues by medicating, counseling, and providing treatment.

Staff Psychiatrist

Staff psychiatrists operate in clinics and institutions that provide comprehensive psychiatric treatment and report to higher-level psychiatrists.

Admission Process 

Aspirants must know that admission to psychiatry courses is strictly based on the aggregate marks obtained in class 12th/bachelor's degree/master's degree. Besides this, many universities and institutes in India also conduct different entrance exams to screen eligible students for admission to psychiatry courses. Having said that, candidates can begin their application process for psychiatry courses both online and offline.

Here are some important points to remember before applying:

1. Students must go to the university's or college's website and correctly fill out all of the essential information/personal data in the student application form. Applicants must wait for any necessary letters from the college/university after enrolling.

2. Following online registration, applicants must appear at the university premises with all necessary papers, including all previous academic transcripts, mark sheets, certificates, ID verification, and pictures.

3. Candidates who choose to apply offline must obtain an application form from the college campus and submit it after correctly filling it out with the necessary information.

4. Students will be admitted to their chosen colleges/universities based on their past academic results, performance and entrance exam qualifying scores. It is also important to note that admission will be granted only to those eligible students who fulfil all the eligibility criteria and clear the cut-off marks set by the college/institute. 

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