Summary
A Mental Health Programme Officer works within the Psychology field in India. The role applies the specialist training of this stream to real problems — in industry, in public service, in institutions or in independent practice. Students usually enter through the Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject route after Class 12, then specialise through work experience or a master's degree. This page brings together the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes and the day-to-day reality of the job, using the same exam and institute records published elsewhere on HBK Careers.
Core skills
- Communication and negotiation
- Planning and prioritisation
- Numerical and analytical ability
- People leadership
Where you can work
- Corporates and MNCs
- Public sector and government bodies
- Start-ups and family businesses
- NGOs and institutions
Professional Opportunities
Corporates and MNCs
Public sector and government bodies
Start-ups and family businesses
NGOs and institutions
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject | 3–4 years |
| After Graduation | Master's degree / PG diploma in a specialisation | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | M.Phil. / Ph.D. for research and teaching roles | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru | NIMHANS Entrance | nimhans.ac.in |
| 2 | Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi | IHBAS Entrance | ihbas.delhigovt.nic.in |
| 3 | Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi | CIP Entrance | cipranchi.nic.in |
| 4 | University of Delhi — Department of Psychology | CUET | du.ac.in |
| 5 | Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi | CUET-UG | lsr.edu.in |
| 6 | Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi | CUET-UG | jmc.ac.in |
| 7 | Christ University, Bengaluru — Department of Psychology | Christ Entrance | christuniversity.in |
| 8 | Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai | TISSNET | tiss.edu |
| 9 | Ambedkar University Delhi — School of Human Studies | CUET-PG | aud.ac.in |
| 10 | Banaras Hindu University — Department of Psychology | CUET | bhu.ac.in |
| 11 | University of Hyderabad — Centre for Health Psychology | CUET-PG | uohyd.ac.in |
| 12 | Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda — Department of Psychology | University Test | msubaroda.ac.in |
| 13 | Gujarat University — Department of Psychology | Merit | gujaratuniversity.ac.in |
| 14 | Fergusson College, Pune — Psychology | Merit | fergusson.edu |
| 15 | St. Xavier's College, Mumbai — Psychology | Merit | xaviers.edu |
| 16 | Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences, Noida | Amity Test | amity.edu |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | www.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Harvard University | United States | www.harvard.edu/ |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca/ |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | www.unimelb.edu.au/ |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | www.nus.edu.sg/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUET-UG | Common University Entrance Test (UG) | BA / B.Sc (Hons) Psychology at central universities. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| CUET-PG | Common University Entrance Test (PG) | MA / M.Sc Psychology. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| NIMHANS Entrance | NIMHANS Entrance Examination | M.Phil Clinical Psychology and PsyD programmes. | nimhans.ac.in |
| RCI M.Phil Entrance | Rehabilitation Council of India Recognised Programme Entrance | Licence-track clinical psychology training. | rehabcouncil.nic.in |
| TISSNET | TISS National Entrance Test | MA Applied Psychology and Counselling. | tiss.edu |
| UGC NET (Psychology) | UGC National Eligibility Test | Lectureship and JRF. | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| Christ Entrance Test | Christ University Entrance Test | UG and PG psychology programmes. | christuniversity.in |
Work Description
- 01Plan targets, budgets and schedules for the team or unit.
- 02Allocate work, review progress and remove blockers.
- 03Report performance to leadership with data and recommendations.
- 04Manage vendors, clients and cross-functional stakeholders.
- 05Build team capability through hiring, training and reviews.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Wide industry mobility
- Fast pay growth with performance
- Broad exposure to how organisations run
Cons
- Accountability for results outside your direct control
- Long hours during crunch periods
- Requires constant stakeholder handling
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Mental Health Programme Officer matches your interests and aptitude.