AIIMS PhD Psychiatry Admission 2026

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has invited applications for its PhD in Psychiatry program for the academic session of 2026-27.

Interested and eligible applicants who wish to apply for the program can do so by completing the online application form before the deadline. Read on to learn more about the program details.

Method of Selection and Seat Allocation

Selection in the AIIMS New Delhi’s PhD Psychiatry program will be based on the following 3-stage process:

Stage I & Stage II: Written Entrance Examination (CBT)

Stages I and II are conducted together as a single computer-based test of 90 minutes, carrying a total of 70 marks.

• Stage I – Aptitude Test (30 Marks)
  • 30 MCQs (1 mark each)
  • From English (written & verbal ability), Biostatistics, Research Methodology, Cell Biology, Laboratory Technology and related areas.
• Stage II – Subject-Specific Test (40 Marks)
  • 40 MCQs (1 mark each)
  • Subject-based questions at MD/MS/MDS/MSc entrance level, relevant to the chosen discipline (Psychiatry)
• Eligibility for Stage III: Candidates must score at least 35 marks (combined) in Stage I + Stage II to qualify for the next stage. Those who do not meet this cutoff are not considered further.

Special Weightage (10 Marks)

Eligible candidates may receive 10 additional marks, which are added to the Stage I + II score before shortlisting for Stage III.

A. For Medical/Dental/Nursing Candidates

• Must qualify for Stage III, and
• Must hold a recognized medical or nursing degree, such as:
  • MBBS, BDS, MDS, DNB, MD, MS, DM, MCh, or
  • MSc (Nursing) or equivalent

B. For Non-Medical Candidates

• Must qualify for Stage III, and
• Must have qualified for one national-level fellowship examination in the last two years (January 2024 – January 2026):
  • CSIR–UGC NET (JRF)
  • ICMR–JRF
  • DBT–JRF
  • NBHM Screening Test

NOTE: Such candidates must apply under the Own Fellowship (OF) category, and the fellowship must be tenable at AIIMS New Delhi.

Important Conditions for Claiming Special Weightage

• The fellowship result must be declared between January 2024 and January 2026
• The fellowship must be officially awarded (qualification alone is not sufficient)
• A valid fellowship award letter must be uploaded during the application process
• Incomplete or invalid documents will lead to rejection of the special weightage claim, with no further opportunity for correction

NOTE: AIIMS will publish a list of candidates whose fellowship documents are found valid before the declaration of Stage I & II results.

Stage III: Departmental Assessment (20 Marks)

After combining:

• Stage I, Stage II, and Special weightage (if applicable), AIIMS will shortlist candidates three times the number of available seats for a departmental clinical/practical/laboratory-based assessment, carrying 20 marks.

AIIMS adds these marks to the previous total to calculate the final score.

Final Merit & Admission

• Candidates must score at least 50% overall (50 out of 100) across Stage I + Stage II (including special weightage) + Stage III to be considered for admission.
• If AIIMS later finds the special weightage invalid, it will withdraw the marks and recalculate the final merit.

Seat Allocation Process

• Candidates are eligible only for the department to which they applied.
• AIIMS allots seats strictly in order of merit.
• Candidates with an Own Government Fellowship (OF) may choose from:
  • Own Fellowship (OF) seats, and
  • Fellowship Available (FA) seats (if eligible).
• Candidates without an “Own Fellowship” can choose only FA seats.
• Candidates who do not join or resign after joining are not eligible for further rounds of seat allocation.

NOTE: All seats in the department are pooled together and allotted strictly based on merit, with seat type (OF/FA) decided at the time of allotment, depending on candidate eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria & Number of Seats

The PhD in Psychiatry at AIIMS Delhi (2026) offers 4 seats, split equally between Fellowship Available (FA) and Own Fellowship (OF) categories. Each seat is tied to a specific research project with defined eligibility requirements.

Fellowship Available (FA) Seats – 2 Seats

Own Fellowship (OF) Seats – 2 Seats

Key Points

• FA seats require work experience for MA/MSc candidates (FA1 – 3 years; FA2 – 2 years), while OF seats have no experience requirement.
• The age limit of 35 years applies only to FA seats.
• All candidates must have a relevant psychology degree (BA, BSc, MA, MSc, or MA Clinical Psychology (RCI) (formerly MPhil Clinical Psychology)).
• OF candidates must also have a valid fellowship to claim OF seats.

Exam Pattern

Course Duration & Extensions

The PhD in Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi follows a structured registration timeline:

• Minimum duration: 3 years (from registration to thesis submission)
• Maximum duration: 5 years

Extension Policy

• The Dean Committee may recommend an extension of up to 6 months beyond 5 years, subject to final approval by the Dean/Director.
• In exceptional circumstances (such as medical emergencies or natural calamities), the Academic Committee may approve a further extension of up to 6 months.
• AIIMS does not grant extensions retrospectively, and candidates must obtain approval in advance.
• The Chief Guide must clearly justify any delay and present the case before the Academic Committee.
• AIIMS will cancel the PhD registration if a candidate fails to submit the thesis within the approved maximum period, including extensions.
• AIIMS does not permit extensions beyond 6 years without valid, exceptional justification.

ALSO READ: How Much Time Does It Take To Prepare For Psychology Entrance Exams? A Realistic Guide for Students

Application Procedure & Fee

• Click on the mentioned link to get the Application form & Prospectus for PhD Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi.
• Once there, candidates must register and then log in with their credentials gained from registration.
• After that, fill out the form, upload the required documents carefully, and consult the prospectus if you face any issues.
• Candidates then need to pay the application fee and submit the form. You’ll find the path to the payment gateway through the application form.
• Application Fee:
  • General/OBC: Rs. 2000 + transaction charges
  • SC/ST/EWS: Rs. 1600 + transaction charges
  • PwBD: Exempted from fee
  • Mode of Payment: Debit/Credit Card/Net Banking

Important Dates & Additional Details

AIIMS Exam Portal

Need more help?

For more details about the program or information about psychology entrance examinations, you can contact us at UPS Education using the details below:

Contact no: +91-9990717772

Website: upseducation.in