National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

What courses does National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences offer?

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru offers roughly 64 programmes in 2026, spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, super-specialty and doctoral levels, all concentrated in mental health, neurosciences and allied health. Unlike a general medical university, NIMHANS is a deemed-to-be-university of national importance that builds every course around the brain, mind and nervous system. At the UG level it runs B.Sc Nursing and 3-year B.Sc technology programmes (Anaesthesia Technology, Medical Imaging Technology, Clinical Neurophysiology Technology). Its PG tier covers MD (in Psychiatry, Neurology-related and allied disciplines), M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing and the 2-year Master of Public Health (MPH). The super-specialty layer offers DM and MCh in neuro-disciplines such as DM Neurology, DM Addiction Psychiatry, DM Neuropathology and MCh Neurosurgery. Capping the pyramid is the PhD, NIMHANS's flagship research route offered across about 24 specializations including Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Social Work and Clinical Neuroscience. Across all these programmes the institute carries roughly 339 sanctioned seats, making it a small, selective and research-heavy campus rather than a high-volume one.

Course-Wise Fees, Duration & Eligibility (2026)

The table below is the core comparison sheet for an aspirant choosing between NIMHANS programmes in 2026. It lists each major programme, its level, duration, total fee, indicative seat intake, the eligibility you must meet, and the entrance exam NIMHANS accepts for it. Read it row by row: the fee is the full-course figure (not per year), and the accepted exam tells you which national test (NIMHANS Entrance Test, INI CET or INI SS) controls that door. Fees at NIMHANS are deliberately low for a national institute, with research degrees like PhD and M.Sc costing a fraction of the clinical PG programmes.

The takeaways for 2026 are clear. The clinical and public-health tracks (MCh Rs 2,29,000, MD Rs 2,05,000, DM Rs 1,91,000, MPH Rs 1,83,000, B.Sc Nursing Rs 1,77,000) sit in the Rs 1.77-2.29 lakh band, while the research and nursing-PG routes (M.Sc and M.Sc Nursing Rs 38,200, PhD Rs 32,000) are dramatically cheaper. Notice the exam split: every clinical PG and super-specialty seat (MD, DM, MCh) runs through the national INI CET/INI SS, whereas B.Sc Nursing, M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing, MPH and PhD are filled through the institute's own NIMHANS Entrance Test. Seats are tight everywhere, so the cheapest fee does not mean the easiest admission.

Flagship & Most Popular Programmes at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

The most sought-after programmes at NIMHANS in 2026 are its super-specialty MCh Neurosurgery and DM Neurology, its MD Psychiatry, and its PhD streams in Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Social Work, because these are the programmes that made NIMHANS a national leader in brain and mind sciences. NIMHANS held NIRF Medical Rank 4 in 2024 and ranked among the top medical institutes again in 2025 (Rank 7, score 69.77), and that reputation is built on these specialties.

MD Psychiatry and the clinical psychiatry ecosystem

MD Psychiatry, with about 37 seats and a Rs 2,05,000 total fee over 3 years, is arguably the single most coveted seat at NIMHANS in 2026 because no other Indian institute matches its depth of psychiatric case load, faculty and research. Entry is strictly through INI CET, where NIMHANS psychiatry seats close at very high ranks.

DM Neurology and MCh Neurosurgery

The super-specialty neuro-programmes, DM Neurology (around 14 seats, Rs 1,91,000) and MCh Neurosurgery (around 10 seats, Rs 2,29,000), are the institute's marquee clinical doctorates. With only 10-14 seats each and admission via INI CET and INI SS, they are among the hardest super-specialty seats to win anywhere in India.

PhD across 24 specializations

The PhD, costing just Rs 32,000 over 3 years and offered across roughly 24 specializations such as Clinical Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Social Work, is the programme NIMHANS is most identified with as a research powerhouse. It is filled through the NIMHANS Entrance Test and draws applicants nationally for its laboratories and clinical research environment.

How to Choose the Right Course at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

Choosing a course at NIMHANS in 2026 comes down to matching your prior degree and career goal to the institute's specific strengths in psychiatry, neurology and mental-health research. If you are a 10+2 PCB student aiming for a stable clinical-care career, B.Sc Nursing (4 years, Rs 1,77,000, 85 seats via NIMHANS Entrance Test) is the natural entry, and a top performer can later return for M.Sc Psychiatric Nursing (Rs 38,200). If you hold a relevant B.Sc and want a research or specialist allied-health career, the 2-year M.Sc (Rs 38,200, NIMHANS Entrance Test) is the affordable specialist route.

For MBBS graduates, the decision hinges on whether you want to practise or research. MD Psychiatry (Rs 2,05,000, INI CET) is the gateway to clinical psychiatry, while a later DM (Rs 1,91,000) or MCh (Rs 2,29,000) through INI CET and INI SS leads to super-specialist careers in neurology and neurosurgery. Public-health-minded graduates from medicine, dentistry, veterinary science or social sciences should target the 2-year MPH (Rs 1,83,000). Finally, anyone whose ambition is academia, policy or deep research should aim for the PhD (Rs 32,000, NIMHANS Entrance Test), where NIMHANS's NIRF Medical standing (Rank 4 in 2024, Rank 7 in 2025) translates directly into mentorship and publication strength. In short: pick clinical PG and super-specialty tracks for practice, and M.Sc or PhD for research, and let the accepted exam (NIMHANS Entrance Test for institute programmes, INI CET/INI SS for clinical PG) confirm your path.

Frequently Asked Questions: National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Courses 2026

What courses does NIMHANS Bangalore offer in 2026?

NIMHANS Bangalore offers around 64 programmes in 2026 across UG, PG, super-specialty and doctoral levels. These include B.Sc Nursing and 3-year B.Sc technology courses at UG level; MD, M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing and MPH at PG level; DM and MCh super-specialties such as DM Neurology and MCh Neurosurgery; and PhD across roughly 24 specializations. Every programme is focused on mental health, neurosciences and allied health, reflecting NIMHANS's identity as a national institute in these fields.

What is the fee for MD at NIMHANS Bangalore?

The MD programme at NIMHANS Bangalore costs Rs 2,05,000 in total for the 3-year course in 2026. Admission is through INI CET, and eligibility requires an MBBS with completed internship and registration with the Medical Council. MD Psychiatry, with about 37 seats, is the institute's flagship clinical PG and one of the most competitive psychiatry seats in India, closing at very high INI CET ranks.

How long is the B.Sc Nursing course at NIMHANS Bangalore?

B.Sc Nursing at NIMHANS Bangalore is a 4-year programme with a total fee of Rs 1,77,000 in 2026. Eligibility is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and a minimum 45% aggregate, with the applicant aged between 17 and 25 years. Admission runs through the NIMHANS Entrance Test, and the course carries around 85 seats split between Karnataka domicile (50) and All India (35) categories.

What is the eligibility for PhD at NIMHANS Bangalore?

The PhD at NIMHANS Bangalore requires an MD/MS/MDS or a relevant master's degree with a minimum 55% aggregate. The 3-year programme costs just Rs 32,000 and is filled through the NIMHANS Entrance Test. Offered across roughly 24 specializations including Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric Social Work and Clinical Neuroscience, it is the programme NIMHANS is most identified with and a major draw for research-focused candidates nationally.

Which is the best course at NIMHANS Bangalore?

MD Psychiatry and the super-specialty MCh Neurosurgery and DM Neurology are widely regarded as the best courses at NIMHANS Bangalore in 2026, given the institute's NIRF Medical Rank 4 (2024) and Rank 7 (2025) standing. MD Psychiatry (Rs 2,05,000, about 37 seats) leads clinical training, while MCh Neurosurgery (Rs 2,29,000) and DM Neurology (Rs 1,91,000) are elite super-specialty routes. For research careers, the PhD is considered the institute's signature programme.

How many seats does NIMHANS Bangalore have?

NIMHANS Bangalore offers approximately 339 seats in total across all its 2026 programmes. Individual intakes are small and selective: about 85 seats in B.Sc Nursing, 37 in MD Psychiatry, 14 in DM Neurology, 10 in MCh Neurosurgery, 10 in MPH and 7 in M.Sc Psychiatric Nursing, with PhD seats spread across roughly 24 specializations. This small footprint makes admission to NIMHANS highly competitive at every level.

What is the fee for M.Sc and MPH at NIMHANS Bangalore?

The 2-year M.Sc at NIMHANS Bangalore costs Rs 38,200 in 2026, while the 2-year MPH costs Rs 1,83,000. M.Sc requires a relevant B.Sc with a minimum 50% aggregate, whereas MPH accepts MBBS/BDS/Veterinary Science or a relevant PG degree such as Sociology, Statistics, Social Work or Nursing. Both programmes are filled through the NIMHANS Entrance Test, with MPH carrying around 10 seats.