Psychiatrist Courses in India: Types, Online, Subjects, Jobs, Skills, Distance, Admission 2026

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Ishika Ray

Updated 3+ months ago

A Psychiatrist is a person who Studies, treats and cures Mental Disorders. They are experts in Mental health. Psychiatrists have a deep understanding of physical and mental health and how they affect each other. They help people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and addiction.

There are many colleges that offer Psychiatry and are some of the best Institutes in India. These are AIIMS, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Medical College, etc.

These courses are offered in Offline as well as Online mode. Psychiatrist courses are offered at Graduate, Postgraduate, Doctorate as well as at the Diploma level presently. Apart from that, there are plenty of Psychiatry offered by colleges as well as online websites like Coursera, Udemy and edX.

A fresh Graduate in Psychiatry can earn upto INR 4,00,000 per year and after gaining experience and knowledge a Psychiatrist can earn upto INR 15,00,000 to 20,00,000 per annum.

Certificate Programs
  • These courses are mostly opted by students who want to complete the course in minimum possible time.
  • Provided by many Institutes both offline as well as online.
  • Major streams opted for Certificate courses in Psychiatry – An overview, Foundations of International Psychiatry etc.
Diploma & PG Diploma Courses
  • Top Diploma and PG Diploma courses in India include Diploma in Psychiatric Medicine, Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing, Post Graduate Diploma in Community Based Rehabilitation, Post Graduate Diploma in Psychiatric Social Work.
  • Diploma is done by those who want to get a knowledge of Psychiatric whereas post graduation is done as a specialization.
Bachelor Psychiatry Courses
  • The Duration of this course can be 3-4 years but to be Specialized in Psychiatry one has to do MBBS. After completing MBBS one can choose MD/ MS or BSc in Psychiatry.
  • Major specialization opted is Bachelor of Science in Psychiatry.
Master Psychiatry Courses
  • Pursued by those students who look for additional specialization in a particular field.
  • Courses like Master of Science in Psychiatry, MD in Psychiatry etc
Doctorate Psychiatry Courses
  • Multiple universities offer PhD courses to students looking for research and teaching opportunities.
  • The Specializations offered are PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Psychiatric Nursing, PhD in Psychiatric Social Work.
  • The duration of above courses varies from course to course i.e. Certificate courses can take from hours to years that is a Bachelor Degree can be of 3 years (4 years in some cases), Master’s can be of 2 years etc.
  • Certificate Courses can be availed offline as well online and can be provided by institutes, universities, etc.
  • After Graduating from Psychiatry Specialization, a person can go on to become a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Forensic Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychiatrist, Staff Psychiatrist etc.

Psychiatrist Courses: Highlights

There are many ways to choose a career in Psychiatry from Certificates to PhDs which helps in making a person employable as well help him move up to a higher Position in the same company. Below are Highlights of courses offered in Psychiatry.

Popular Courses
  • Certificate: Certificate in Mental Health, Certificate Course in Perinatal Mental Health etc.
  • Diploma & PG Diploma: Diploma in Psychiatric Medicine, Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing, Post Graduate Diploma in Community Based Rehabilitation, Post Graduate Diploma in Psychiatric Social Work.
  • UG: Bachelor of Science in Psychiatry.
  • PG: Master of Science in Psychiatry, MD in Psychiatry, etc.
  • Doctorate: PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Psychiatric Nursing, PhD in Psychiatric Social Work.
Duration
  • Certificate: 3 months to 1 year (for Offline)
  • Few days to 6 months (for Online)
  • Diploma & PG Diploma: 1& 2 years Respectively
  • UG: 3 years
  • PG: 2 years
  • Doctorate: 3 years
Eligibility
  • Certificate: Pass in Class X or XII from a recognized board.
  • Diploma: Pass in Class XII from a recognized board.
  • PG Diploma: Graduation from a recognized university.
  • UG: Pass in XII from a recognized board.
  • PG: Pass in UG from a recognized University.
  • Doctorate: Pass in PG program.
Average Fees
  • Certificate: INR 8,000-50,000
  • Diploma & PG Diploma: INR 30,000-1,00,000
  • UG: INR 30,000-25,00,000
  • PG: INR 30,000-15,00,000
  • Doctorate: INR 50,000-4,00,000
Online Courses Available
Types of Online Courses Mental Health, Perinatal Mental Health etc.
Top Job Prospects Forensic Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychiatrist, Staff Psychiatrist etc.
Average Salary
  • Certificate: INR 2,00,000 to 3,00,000
  • Diploma: INR 2,00,000 to 5,00,000
  • UG: INR 2,00,000 to 8,00,000
  • PG: INR 3,00,000 to 12,00,000
  • Doctorate: INR 4,00,000 to 18,00,000

As we have given the brief idea of the courses, fees and salary of Psychiatry let’s see each of the courses in detail.

Psychiatrist Certificate Courses

Psychiatrist Certificate Courses

Certificate courses are offered in both online and offline mode. Day by day Online courses are getting popularity due to various benefits which are: easy access, anytime anywhere Learning content, etc. The duration of certificate course can range from a month to a year and can cost upto INR 50,000 while a fresher can earn upto 3,00,000 by doing a certificate course.

These courses are specially designed to equip the students with basic Skills required and to give them a basic understanding of the course opted.

These are suitable for those who are working and want to be upgraded with knowledge along with a new skill to grow higher in positions. Also, it is suitable for those who want to learn a new skill to get an understanding of how the course will be.  

These courses do not require much time, that is a person can learn these courses by just giving 2 to 3 hours a day.

Students who have completed 10th or 12th can opt for this type of course.

Psychiatrist Online Certificate Course

Given below are some of the best Psychiatrist Courses Certificates for the interested candidates:

Certificate Name Provider Duration Fees
Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health Coursera 20 hours INR 2,155
Certificate in Mental Health Royal Institution 3 months INR 6,300

Psychiatrist Online Certificates Courses Top Colleges with Fees

Certificate Name Colleges/ Institutes Offering Average Fees
Certificate in Art Therapy Techniques IHMH INR 7,800
Certificate in Advance Mental Health Counselling IHMH INR 10,800

Psychiatry Certificate Courses Admission Process

  • Admissions in the certificate courses are not done in a proper organized manner like that in bachelor and master courses. There are no particular entrance exams either which are conducted for admission in these courses.
  • Enrolment in online certificate programs is simply done by applying on the website of the course provider.
  • Some premier institutes do analyse your profile and then answer to questionnaires asked.
  • In case of offline certificate programs, colleges might admit you on merit basis. Your score in Class X or XII (as applicable) will be considered in such a case.

Colleges for Online Psychiatrist Course Certificates

Some of the colleges from where you can take up Online Psychiatrist certificate courses are:

College/ Institute Name Duration Average Annual Fees
Royal Institution, Bangalore 3 months INR 75,230
NIMHANS, Bangalore 30 hours INR 10,200

Psychiatrist Offline Certificates Courses Admission Process

Some of the colleges from where you can take up Offline Psychiatrist certificate courses are:

College Name Duration Admission Process
IHMH, Tiruppur 4 months – 12 months Merit-Based
Psychiatrist Diploma and PG Diploma Courses

Psychiatrist Diploma and PG Diploma Courses

These courses give you a wide briefing about the course which can help you decide the field for your graduation. These courses can be preferred by those who want to enter the Job Sector soon or those who do not want to dive deep and give 3 to 4 years for those courses.

Some Institutes offer Diploma Courses (3 years) as well as Post Graduate Diploma Courses (2 years). The Diploma Courses can be pursued after you have completed 12th or 10th class while Post Graduate Diploma can be done after one has completed Graduation.

The Average salary of a Diploma Candidate can be between INR 2,00,000 and 5,00,000 in India.

Psychiatry Diploma Courses Top Colleges with Fees

Some of the popular diploma courses which can be pursued in the field of Psychiatry are given below.

Course Colleges Offering Average Fees
Diploma in Psychiatry Deccan College of Medical Sciences, B J Medical College, Aryabhatta Knowledge University INR 15,000 to 2,00,000
Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Sciences INR 2,00,000 to 4,00,000

Psychiatrist PG Diploma Courses Top Colleges with Ranking

PG Diploma courses are pursued after one has completed his or her graduation.

Some of the top PG Diploma Psychiatrist courses in India are given below.

Course Colleges Offering Average Fees
PGD in Psychiatry Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Thanjavur Medical College (TMC) INR 2,00,000 to 10,00,000

Psychiatry Diploma and PG Diploma Courses Admission Process

  • Admission to diploma courses is solely done on the basis of merit. The cut off list is released by the concerned college after all the applicants have filled their applications.
  • For the Diploma courses, merit of Class XII score is considered, while Graduation score is considered for PG Diploma.
  • In the case of a few online diploma courses, as mentioned in the table above, the selection process is almost the same.

Psychiatrist PG Diploma Courses Top Colleges with Fees

Psychiatrist Bachelor Courses

Psychiatrist Bachelor Courses

These courses are pursued by those who want to get a good knowledge of the said course and to earn a graduate degree. This degree enables a candidate to get a deep knowledge of the course readying them for good employable benefits.

To pursue a Psychiatry course, one needs to have an MBBS degree which is a Bachelor course and after pursuing MBBS one can opt for MD Psychiatry course.

This course can range from a duration of 3 to 4 years. Also, A person can opt for some specialisations.

These courses can cost from 3 to 4 lakhs.

Psychiatrist Top UG Courses

Courses Colleges Duration Average Fees
MBBS AIIMS, Christian Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College 5.5 years INR 1,600 to 10,00,000

See more:

Psychiatrist Bachelor Courses Admission Process

First the students applying to the bachelor’s program should fulfill the basic eligibility criteria of passing in their class 12 in school from a recognized board of education. And the admission for the eligible students are carried out through entrance exams in most of the cases.

  • Various entrance exams are present like national level entrance exams for the highly rated, well known colleges like AIIMS and state level entrance exams for the other private and self-financing institutions.
  • Entrance exams like AIIMS UG, JIPMER UG etc. are compulsory for the admission into the institutions discussed above.

Psychiatrist UG Courses Entrance Exams

The table gives details of entrance exams for the admission of UG Psychiatrist courses in India.

Entrance Exam Exam Date
NEET Click Here
JIPMER Click Here
AIIMS Click Here
SUAT Click Here
AP EAMCET Click Here
Psychiatrist Courses Top Colleges with Fees

Psychiatrist Courses Top Colleges with Fees

NIRF Ranking College/ University Average Annual Fees
1 AIIMS, New Delhi INR 1,145
3 CMC, Vellore INR 23,280
17 Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi INR 15,450
21 KMC, Mangalore INR 1,75,000
Psychiatrist PG Courses

Psychiatrist PG Courses

Earning a master’s degree helps individuals gain the advanced training and leadership skills necessary to conduct research and supervise technological teams. Master’s programs typically require 2-3 years.

Master Psychiatrist Courses

The table below shows some of the most sought-after colleges for studying Masters Psychiatrist courses:

Courses Colleges Duration Fees
MSc Psychiatric Nursing SRM Institute of Science and Technology, AIIMS, Adesh University 2 years INR 1,600 to INR 10,00,000
MSc Mental Health Nursing Jamia Hamdard, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research 2 years INR 2,000 to INR 4,00,000
MD Psychiatry AIIMS, Christian Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College 3 years INR 2,000 to INR 25,00,000

Psychiatrist Master Courses Admission Process

Admission to this course is done on the basis of score obtained in various entrance exams. These entrance exams are taken at national, state or university level. Also, Students are selected on merit basis and They can also avail scholarships based on their scores.

Psychiatrist PG Courses with Top Colleges

NIRF Ranking College/ University Admission Process Average Annual Fees
1 AIIMS, New Delhi Entrance-Based INR 2,385
8 Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry Merit-Based INR 12,000
31 SRM IST, Chennai Entrance-Based INR 1,80,000
37 Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi Entrance-Based INR 3,90,000
151 MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai Entrance-Based INR 40,000

Psychiatrist Doctorate Courses

A Doctorate is the highest university degree that is conferred after a course of study by universities and to those who want to do some research work in a particular field.

This course is opted by those who want to dive deep in a particular area of their study, who want to do research-oriented works.

Research is a systematic investigation into the phenomenon that results into the development of significant insights. The work of the thesis is an original and significant contribution to the advancement of world knowledge.

For PhD in Psychiatry a candidate should possess a Master's Degree from a Recognized University.

The PhD Course in Psychiatry is of 6 years.

Psychiatrist PhD Courses

Psychiatrist PhD Courses

Most popular course offered in the PhD program is mentioned in the following table with the colleges offering the course, average fees, duration of the course and the domain of the course.

Course Name Top Colleges Duration Average Fees
PhD Psychiatry AIIMS, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences 3 – 6 years (approx.) INR 2,000 to 1,20,000
PhD in Psychiatric Social Work Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Sciences, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience 3 – 6 years (approx.) INR 30,000 to 2,00,000

Psychiatrist PhD Courses Admission Process

The admission process is done on the basis of the rank acquired by the candidates in the PhD entrance exams.

  • Admissions for the Psychiatrist doctorate courses are done through entrance exams like CSIR-UGC NET, UGC NET, GATE, etc.
  • Some of the colleges also conduct additional selection processes like the group discussion and personal interview after the entrance exams for shortlisting the candidates.
  • The basic eligibility for this is the completion of master degree or the PG diploma degree.

Psychiatrist Doctorate Courses Top Colleges

Here we are with some of the best institutes for a PhD Psychiatrist course: 

NIRF Ranking College/ University Admission Process Average Annual Fees
1 AIIMS, New Delhi Delhi INR 2,045 for First Year
4 National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Bangalore Bengaluru INR 25,000
__ Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi Belagavi INR 25,00,000
__ Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna Patna, Bihar INR 20,000
Psychiatrist Courses Jobs and Salary

Psychiatrist Courses Jobs and Salary

Numerous job opportunities are available after the successful completion of Psychiatrist courses. A candidate can either take up the job in the medicine field or in the research field or as a scientist or as a professor based on his/her own interest. Some of the popularly known job roles are mentioned here along with their skills, average salary and job description.

Average Salary

Source: College Websites

Addiction Psychiatrist

Addiction Psychiatrists treat people of all ages who have addictions to illegal drugs, alcohol, and prescription medications complicated by coexisting mental health disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia etc.

Skills Required

  • Active Listener
  • Communication Skills
  • Amicable

Starting Salary: INR 4,50,000 to 6,00,000.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

In Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, doctors work with children, young people and their families. They treat a range of mental health problems and conditions including autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, substance misuse and eating disorders.

Skills Required

  • A Medical degree in Child Psychiatry and successful completion of residency and fellowship.
  • A certification in general psychiatry and licensure in child psychiatry.
  • Knowledge of and experience in clinical skills.
  • An understanding and empathetic nature.
  • Excellent listening and communication skills.
  • Ability to work under intense pressure and respond to difficult questions.
  • Good note taking and record keeping skills.

Starting Salary: INR 4,00,000 to 5,00,000.

Forensic Psychiatrist

A Forensic Psychiatrist is a person who deals with mental problems of Prisoners, offenders, etc. They are responsible for diagnosis and treatment of prisoners, offenders etc. 

Skills Required

  • Strong communication skills
  • The ability to maintain objectivity
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Attention to detail

Starting Salary: INR 8,00,000 to 10,00,000.

Psychiatrist Professor

A Professor is one who, by using different techniques, tries to convey the required knowledge and skills to the students, willing to become a proficient psychiatrist in the future.

Skills Required

  • Ability to teach and Guide Students
  • Help Students with their Research Field
  • Assess students’ progress by grading papers, tests, and other work
  • Work with colleagues to develop or modify the curriculum for a degree or certificate program involving a series of courses

Starting Salary: INR 2,00,000 to 8,00,000.

Psychiatrist Courses Online Fees and Rating Comparison

For a detailed study about online courses, refer to the following tabulation. The online Psychiatrist courses in order of rating are mentioned with the duration of the course.

Course Provider Duration Ratings Fee
Diploma in Modern Applied Psychology Udemy 50.5 hours 4.5 INR 8,640
Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health Coursera 20 hours (approx.) 4.8 Free
Medical Neuroscience Coursera 71 hours (approx.) 4.9 Free
Comparison of Online Platforms Offering Psychiatrist Courses

Comparison of Online Platforms Offering Psychiatrist Courses

Online Psychiatrist courses offered by two different online courses providing platforms like Udemy and Coursera are compared with each other based on some parameters. The famous courses in each of the websites are compared.

Parameters Udemy Cousera
Course Name Mental Health Practitioner Course Introduction to Psychology
Fees INR 8,000 Free
Student Rating 4.6 4.8
Enrolment 1,307 5,50,000
Duration 38.5 hours 15 hours (approx.)
Psychiatrist Courses: FAQs

Psychiatrist Courses: FAQs

Ques. What kind of degree does a student need to become a Psychiatrist?

Ans. Psychiatrists must hold a Doctorate of Medicine, or MD in order to become a Psychiatrist, students must attend medical school. This means first completing an undergraduate degree in a science-related field or taking science-related undergraduate courses.

Ques. How long does it take to become a Psychiatrist in India?

Ans. A candidate must hold a MBBS Degree (usually takes 5.5 years) and then the Master course in Psychiatry takes 3 years to complete while the diploma course takes two years.

Ques. Can I become a Psychiatrist without an MBBS degree?

Ans. No you are not eligible for becoming a Psychiatrist without pursuing an MBBS degree as the basic requirement of the same is an MBBS degree course. MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and same is a bachelor degree of around 5 years and 6 months including one year of internship.

Ques. What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

Ans. Psychiatrists are Medical Doctors, whereas Psychologists are not. Psychiatrists prescribe medication, psychologists don't. Psychiatrists diagnose illness, manage treatment and provide a range of therapies for complex and serious mental illness. Psychologists focus on providing psychotherapy (talk therapy) to help patients.

Ques. What is the average salary of an MSc in Psychiatry Course?

Ans. The average salary of an MSc in Psychiatry course is around INR 2,00,000 to 9,00,000 per annum.

Ques. What is the minimum percentage required for pursuing an MSc in Psychiatry course?

Ans. More than 55% is required in BSc to pursue MSc in Psychiatry course.

Ques. What are the entrance exams conducted for pursuing MSc in Psychiatry course?

Ans. The entrance exams that are conducted for pursuing this course are DU entrance exams, AIIMS PG, JMI Entrance Test, SAAT etc.

Ques. What is the main role of a Psychiatrist?

Ans. Psychiatrists assess all of your mental and physical symptoms. They make a diagnosis and work with you to develop a management plan for your treatment and recovery. Psychiatrists provide psychological treatment, prescribe medications and do procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy.

Ques. How can I become a Psychiatrist after 12th?

Ans. One must have completed their Class 12 level of education in Science stream with Biology as one of the compulsory subjects from a recognised Indian Board with minimum 55%.

Ques. Which are the best colleges for Psychiatrist Courses in India?

Ans. There are many good Colleges for Psychiatrist in India Some of them are AIIMS, Christian Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College etc.

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