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MA Counselling psychology: Admission 2025, Eligibility, Colleges, Syllabus, Scope, Salary

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Updated on Mar 26, 2025

Akangsha Das

MA Counselling psychology is typically a 2 year PG degree offered in colleges such as TISS, Loyola College of Social Sciences, etc. MA Counselling psychology eligibility criteria is met if students have a bachelors degree in a relevant field with minimum 50% aggregate marks from any recognized university. MA Counselling psychology is designed to understand Clinical and Counselling Psychology along with theoretical knowledge and field practice.

Most colleges offer a MA Counselling psychology admission through entrance exams such as TISS NET or CUET-PG while a few colleges may also give merit based admissions. MA Counselling psychology course fees start from INR 15,000 and can go up to INR 1,00,000 annually in private colleges such as Manipal Academy of Higher Education. The job profiles after completion of a MA Counselling psychology are Student Counsellor, Clinical Therapist, etc. The average annual salaries for MA Counselling psychology freshers are INR 2 - 8 lacs depending on skills and expertise. 

MA Counselling psychology : Course Highlights

Given below are the highlights of a MA Counselling psychology course:

Feature Details
Course Name M.A. in Counselling Psychology
Course Level Postgraduate (PG)
Duration 2 Years
Eligibility Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with at least 50% marks from a recognized university
Admission Process Entrance-based (TISS NET, CUET-PG) or merit-based (varies by college)
Top Colleges TISS, Loyola College of Social Sciences, Christ University, University of Madras, etc.
Job Profiles Student Counsellor, Clinical Therapist, Mental Health Counsellor, School Counsellor, HR Counsellor
Average Salary ₹2 – ₹8 LPA (varies based on experience and skills)

What is an MA in Counselling Psychology?

MA in Counselling Psychology is a 2-year PG program aimed at imparting theoretical information and practical techniques in clinical and counselling psychology. The program is aimed at understanding human behavior, psychological disorders, and intervention in mental health. It addresses field training, research methodology, and direct exposure to the practice of counselling in preparing graduates for professional employment in mental health and allied areas.

Why choose an MA in Counselling Psychology?

Given below are the benefits of pursuing an MA in Psychology: 

  • Increasing interest in mental health has created a strong requirement for professional counsellors in various fields.
  • Professionals can work in schools, hospitals, NGOs, corporate HR, as well as private practice.
  • Fieldwork and internship are also part of the course to ensure practical counselling practice.
  • The program is more affordable compared to other professional programs that provide adequate returns on investment.
  • Graduates of MA Counselling Psychology can also practice abroad with proper license hence increasing prospect for potential higher income.

MA Counselling psychology: Eligibility

To fulfil the MA Counselling psychology eligibility, the students must have completed Bachelors in Counselling psychology or related fields from a recognized university. Entrance exams are conducted by most institutes during MA Counselling psychology admissions. The institutes and their requirements determine the students' selection criteria.

MA Counselling psychology: Admission Process

MA Counselling psychology admission process is procedural as per the respective colleges’ selection criteria. For example, MA Counselling psychology admission process is as given below for Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences:

  • Application Form Submission: Offline/online application form submission to the desired college.
  • Merit-Based Selection: Direct admission on merit is provided by some colleges.
  • Release of list of selected students on the official college website.

Apart from that, colleges such as TISS and BHU conduct entrance tests for MA Counselling psychology admissions. Below is the list of entrance tests for MA Counselling psychology admissions:




Entrance Exam Conducting Body Application Deadline Exam Date
CUET-PG  National Testing Agency (NTA) 8th February 2025 13th to 31st March, 2025
BHU PET  Banaras Hindu University(BHU) 8th February 2025 13th Mar to 1st Apr, 2025
TISS NET Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) 28th February 2025 31st March 2025
DUET  National Testing Agency (NTA) Mar 24, 2025 May last week, 2025
Christ University Entrance Test Christ University Apr 4, 2025 May 9, 2025

MA Counselling psychology: Colleges in India

Given below is a list of MA Counselling psychology colleges along with their location and course fees:

NIRF Ranking (2024) College Name Location Annual Fees (INR)
98 (University Category) Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, Maharashtra 50,000
14 (Research Institutions) University of Delhi (DU) New Delhi 20,000
16 (Research Institutions) Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 15,000
Not Ranked Christ University Bangalore, Karnataka 70,000
Not Ranked University of Madras Chennai, Tamil Nadu 20,000
Not Ranked Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences  Noida, Uttar Pradesh 80,000 
23 (Research Institutions) Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Manipal, Karnataka 95,000
Not Ranked Loyola College Chennai, Tamil Nadu 30,000

MA Counselling psychology: Syllabus

The MA Counselling psychology is a 2-year postgraduate program that provides in-depth knowledge of Counselling and Clinical psychology, etc. Given below is the MA Counselling psychology syllabus at TISS, Mumbai:

Semester Subjects
Semester 1 Foundations of Psychology, Research Methodology in Psychology, Theories of Personality, Psychological Assessment I, Ethics and Professional Standards in Psychology, Fieldwork Practicum I
Semester 2 Psychopathology, Psychological Assessment II, Counseling Theories and Techniques, Statistics in Psychology, Fieldwork Practicum II, Elective Course I
Semester 3 Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, Human Development Across the Lifespan, Group Therapy and Process, Advanced Research Methods, Fieldwork Practicum III, Elective Course II
Semester 4 Contemporary Issues in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Psychotherapeutic Interventions, Organizational Behavior and Development, Dissertation/Research Project, Fieldwork Practicum IV

MA Counselling psychology: Job Profiles

Given below is an overview of career opportunities and starting salary ranges for professionals post the completion of a MA Counselling psychology:

Job Profile Job Description Annual Salary (INR)
Counseling Psychologist Provides therapeutic support to clients dealing with emotional and mental issues. ₹3 - ₹8 LPA
Clinical Psychologist Diagnoses and treats mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. ₹4 - ₹8 LPA
School Counselor Assists students with academic, career, and personal development. ₹2.5 - ₹6 LPA
Rehabilitation Counselor Helps individuals cope with physical, emotional, or mental disabilities. ₹3 - ₹7 LPA
Marriage and Family Therapist Provides counseling to couples and families to resolve relationship issues. ₹3 - ₹7.5 LPA
Career Counselor Guides individuals in making career decisions and developing career plans. ₹2.5 - ₹6.5 LPA

MA Counselling psychology: Future Scope

Upon the completion of MA Counselling psychology, students can follow the below given career paths:

  • One can pursue a PhD in Counselling psychology for further in depth knowledge in this field.
  • Certification courses such as CRC or CBT can also be done for upskilling.
  • Some colleges offer M.Phil in Counselling psychology and related fields that can help with specialisation.

MA Counselling psychology: Frequently Asked Questions

Do MA Counselling Psychology students have any scholarships available to them?

Yes, certain government universities have reservation or merit-based scholarships. Some of them like TISS, Delhi University, and JNU provide financial assistance to MA Counselling Psychology students too.

Can students who are not studying Psychology apply for an MA Counselling Psychology?

Yes, some colleges also provide the course to other discipline students if they have studied psychology as a subject at undergraduate level.

What are some of the effective tools for MA in Counselling Psychology?

Statistical programs like SPSS, R, TheraNest, SimplePractice and NVivo are being used by students and professionals employed and seeking MA in Counselling Psychology to undertake statistical research and studies.

Is age a cap on seeking an MA in Counselling Psychology?

No maximum age is fixed to apply for MA in Counselling Psychology programs. All the universities accept applicants on merit of academic performance and entrance exam.

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