Department of Applied Psychology

History of the Centre

In the year 2010–11, Dibrugarh University introduced Applied Psychology as a Programme at the Post Graduate Diploma level within its campus, in collaboration with Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh. Due permission for the Applied Psychology Programme under Dibrugarh University was accorded from that very academic session under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by the Government of Assam (vide Memo no. HLB.401/2010/14, dated: 2 nd November, 2010).

In the year 2011, the Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology was upgraded to a two- year Masters Programme in Applied Psychology in a modular format with provision for lateral entry and also exit after one year. The M.A. Programme was started with a total intake capacity of 35 students and seven batches have completed the Masters Programme in Non- CBCS mode.

Since 2019, the Centre provided the MA (Applied Psychology) Programme in CBCS mode along with the total overhaul of the syllabi of the Programme which was also designed in modular form. If a student desires to exit the MA Programme after the first year (i.e., on successful completion of the 1st and 2nd Semesters), they are to be considered as qualified for the Diploma in Applied Psychology (DAP) Programme. If a student desires to pursue the 2nd year of the Programme and complete the remaining two (3rd and 4th) semesters, cumulatively with the first two semesters, they are considered eligible for the Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology.

Moreover, in the same academic session (2019-20), the Centre also introduced the Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (PGDCP) Programme. The Syllabi of all the Programmes of the Centre were prepared as per the New Dibrugarh University Regulations for the Post Graduate Programmes in Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) approved by the Academic Council of Dibrugarh University in its Meeting held in November 2018. Since then, five batches have successfully completed the M.A. Programme in CBCS mode and majority of the graduates have been placed as mental health professionals not only within the country but across the globe as well. Students have also been selected for pursuing the (RCI- recognized) M.Phil Programme in Clinical Psychology at the national level, in addition to pursuing Ph.D. programmes at various Universities across the country.

The Centre also introduced the Ph.D. Programme in Applied Psychology from the Spring Semester of 2025, further strengthening its commitment to advanced research, academic excellence, and knowledge generation in diverse areas of psychological inquiry.

Upgradation of Centre to a Department in the year 2026

The Centre was upgraded to a Department and four teaching post(s) were sanctioned for the Department vide order from the Govt of Assam dated 9th September, 2025. Further pursuant to the resolution no. 4 (adopted in the 361 st Meeting of the Executive Council, held on 11 th February, 2026), the Centre was renamed as Department of Applied Psychology and two new Faculty Members have been appointed. Being one of the two Centres of the University upgraded to a full fledged Department reflects the success of the Centre’s sustained academic growth, expanding student interest, and the strengthening of professional training in applied domains relevant to societal contexts.

The Department is presently offering the Five Year Integrated Post Graduate Programme (FYIPGP) in Applied Psychology from 2026-2027 academic session as per NEP-2020 guidelines and a two-year Masters Programme combining the 4 th and 5 th years of the Integrated Masters Programme as a separate Programme to include students both from the 10+2+3 UG system in existence before implementation of the FYIPGP in Dibrugarh University in the year 2024. This Programme will also provide entry to students of the FYUGP presently being offered in the colleges of Assam since 2023-2024.

The vision of the Department of Applied Psychology is to foster academic excellence, promote meaningful research, and develop competent professionals equipped to address psychological, social, and developmental challenges across diverse contexts in a global world. Accordingly, the Department is working in mission mode to achieve these aims so as to set up this new Department of Dibrugarh University as a leading light in the field of Applied Psychology in the North-East region in particular and in the rest of India generally.