National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences

Courses, Fees & Rankings at a Glance

NIMHANS runs a focused portfolio of brain-science and allied-health programmes, each admitting through a defined national or in-house entrance route. The table below distils the flagship courses with their verified total fee, duration and admitting exam, and pairs them with the institute's best ranking achievement for context. It answers "what can I study at NIMHANS, what does it cost, and how good is the institute?" in one view. For seat counts, cutoffs and year-wise specifics, refer to the dedicated Courses and Admissions tabs.

The pattern is clear: research and master's programmes (PhD ₹32,000; M.Sc ₹38,200) are highly affordable, while clinical and super-specialty degrees like MCh (₹2,29,000) and MD (₹2,05,000) carry higher fees commensurate with their hospital-based training. Admission splits cleanly by route, with NIMHANS Entrance Test governing nursing, M.Sc, MPH and PhD entry, and the national INI CET / INI SS exams governing MD, DM and MCh seats. Backed by a NIRF Medical 2025 rank of #7, these programmes offer rare value for an Institute of National Importance.

What courses are offered at NIMHANS Bengaluru?

NIMHANS offers around 100 programmes spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, super-specialty and doctoral levels. Key courses include B.Sc Nursing (4 years), M.Sc and M.Sc Nursing (2 years each), MPH (2 years), MD (3 years), the DM and MCh super-specialty degrees (3 years each) and PhD (3 years). Admissions run through the NIMHANS Entrance Test for nursing, M.Sc, MPH and PhD, and through national INI CET and INI SS exams for MD, DM and MCh seats.

NIMHANS Courses & Fees 2026

10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, minimum 45% aggregate; age 17-25 years

MBBS with completed internship, registered with Medical Council

Relevant B.Sc degree with minimum 50% aggregate

MD/MS/MDS or relevant master's degree with minimum 55% aggregate

MD/DNB in the relevant specialty (MBBS for 6-year post-MBBS programme)

MS/DNB in the relevant specialty (MBBS for 6-year post-MBBS programme)

+ 2 more courses. See all

5. Affordable government fees with deemed-university autonomy

Doctoral and master's tuition remains modest for a national institute (PhD at ₹32,000 and M.Sc at ₹38,200), reflecting its public, non-commercial mandate.

What is the total fee at NIMHANS Bengaluru?

Fees at NIMHANS vary by programme: PhD costs ₹32,000, M.Sc and M.Sc Nursing ₹38,200 each, B.Sc Nursing ₹1,77,000, MPH ₹1,83,000, DM ₹1,91,000, MD ₹2,05,000 and MCh ₹2,29,000 (total programme fees). As a government Institute of National Importance, NIMHANS keeps research and master's tuition modest, while clinical and super-specialty degrees carry higher fees reflecting their hospital-based training. These figures make it one of the most affordable elite medical institutes in India.

NIMHANS Scholarships 2026

Students admitted to NIMHANS full-time PhD, MPhil and MPH programmes under the Institute Stipendiary category. MPhil and MPH stipendiaries get Rs 25,000 per month; PhD scholars get Rs 37,000 rising to Rs 42,000 per month, plus an annual contingency grant.

Research scholars working on funded projects in NIMHANS departments such as Psychiatry, Neurology and Psychiatric Social Work; NET-qualified candidates receive the higher rate. Awarded on merit through walk-in selection or interview.

Indian SC/ST students in the first year of a recognised full-time professional postgraduate course with at least 60% in their undergraduate degree. Distance/correspondence study is not covered.

SC-category MPhil/PhD scholars admitted to NIMHANS, selected via UGC-NET/CSIR-UGC NET, with a Master's degree of 55%+ marks, age under 30 (relaxable for SC) and family income up to Rs 6 lakh.

A single girl child (or twin/fraternal daughters) up to age 30 enrolled in the first year of a full-time PG course at NIMHANS. Distance-education students are not eligible.

Placement & Admission Snapshot

NIMHANS recorded strong postgraduate placement outcomes in 2024, with a median package of around 16.09 LPA for PG 2-year courses and 18.04 LPA for PG 3-year courses, alongside 100% placement in both PG categories. For its UG 4-year programme, 75 students were placed in 2025 with a median package of about 13.20 LPA. The headline admission route is entrance-exam based: the in-house NIMHANS Entrance Test for B.Sc Nursing, M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing, MPH and PhD, and the national INI CET (with INI SS for super-specialty DM and MCh) for MD, DM and MCh.

The table below presents the verified placement figures by programme level and the year they pertain to, so applicants can read outcomes against the cohort. It answers "what do NIMHANS graduates earn and where do they go?"

The standout takeaway is that NIMHANS PG outcomes rise with programme length, from roughly 16.09 LPA (2-year) to 18.04 LPA (3-year) in 2024, reflecting the premium on super-specialty training. Graduates feed into top healthcare and research employers including Apollo, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Manipal Hospitals, AIIMS and ICMR. Combined with entrance-driven, merit-based admissions and modest government fees, this makes NIMHANS one of India's most rewarding destinations for a brain-sciences career.

Is admission to NIMHANS Bengaluru merit or entrance based?

Admission to NIMHANS is entrance-exam based. The institute conducts its own NIMHANS Entrance Test for B.Sc Nursing, M.Sc, M.Sc Nursing, MPH and PhD, while MD admissions use the national INI CET and DM and MCh super-specialty seats use INI CET and INI SS. Eligibility additionally requires relevant qualifying degrees, for example MBBS with a completed internship for MD, and B.Sc Nursing with RN/RM registration for M.Sc Nursing. Final selection is based on entrance performance and merit.

NIMHANS Cutoff 2025

Top cutoff closing ranks and scores.

NIMHANS Placements 2025

Median Package

₹13.20 LPA

Placed

100.00%

Total Offers

253

What is the NIRF and NAAC status of NIMHANS Bengaluru?

NIMHANS holds NIRF Medical Rank #7 in 2025 (score 69.77) and NIRF Overall Rank #60 in 2025 (score 54.28), after ranking #4 in NIRF Medical 2024 (score 71.92) and #4 in India Today Medical 2024. It is accredited NAAC A++, the highest grade band. As an Institute of National Importance and UGC deemed university, these credentials place NIMHANS firmly among India's top medical and research institutions.

NIMHANS Rankings 2025

Contact NIMHANS

Address

Hosur Road / Marigowda Road, Lakkasandra, Wilson Garden, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Phone

080-26995000

Email

Website

This page is published for informational purposes only. Always verify final details on the official institution website before making academic or financial decisions.

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Key Facts (2026)

The table below summarises the headline facts an aspirant most often checks first about NIMHANS Bengaluru, including its founding, statutory status and accreditation. It answers the question "what kind of institution is NIMHANS and how big is it?" at a glance. Read the Parameter column for the attribute and the Detail column for the verified value as of 2026. These figures set the context for the courses, fees and rankings detailed further down.

The key takeaway is that NIMHANS is a compact, highly specialised institution rather than a sprawling general university: roughly 1,221 students across 28 departments on a 131-acre campus. Its deemed-university autonomy and Institute of National Importance tag mean it sets its own curricula and conducts its own NIMHANS Entrance Test, while the NAAC A++ grade signals top-tier quality assurance. For applicants, this concentration of brain-science expertise is the institute's defining trait.

1. A top-ranked medical institution

NIMHANS was ranked #7 in NIRF Medical 2025 with a score of 69.77, having held #4 in NIRF Medical 2024 (score 71.92) and #4 in India Today's Medical 2024 list. It also placed #60 in NIRF Overall 2025 (score 54.28), an exceptional feat for a single-specialty institution.

2. India's apex centre for brain sciences

It is the country's foremost institute for psychiatry, neurology and neurosurgery, integrating patient care, teaching and research, which is why its MD Psychiatry, DM Neurology and MCh Neurosurgery seats are among the most sought-after in India.

3. Super-specialty depth

NIMHANS offers DM and MCh super-specialty programmes (3 years each) admitted through INI CET and INI SS, alongside MD, MSc, MPH, B.Sc Nursing, M.Sc Nursing and PhD streams across 28 departments.

4. Strong, research-led outcomes

The institute reported 100% placement in its PG 2-year and 3-year programmes during the 2024 drive, with graduates moving into leading hospitals and research bodies such as Apollo, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Manipal Hospitals, AIIMS and ICMR.

NIMHANS at a Glance