About
From a philosophy classroom to a full department.
The Department of Psychology has been part of Elphinstone College since the 1980s. With the founding of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University in 2019, Psychology was reopened as a full major; in 2024 we welcomed our first postgraduate cohort and inaugurated the University Counseling Centre.
Origins
A department with deep roots, flourishing every day
Psychology at Elphinstone began under the wing of the Philosophy department in the early decades of the college. It separated into an independent department in the 1980s, and in 1987 Dr. Munawwar Ali became its first Head of Department — a position he held until 2005.
For most of the following decades the subject was taught as a part-major at the Third Year B.A. level under the University of Mumbai. Prof. Vilas Padhye was transferred to Elphinstone in 2018 and took over as Head of the Department. The next year, with the founding of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University, Psychology was relaunched as a full undergraduate honours programme.
The first batch of Third-Year Psychology Majors graduated in 2022. The department was given its own laboratory space in 2023, and a comprehensive bank of standardised psychometric tests was procured. In 2024 the M.A. in Applied Psychology launched alongside the University Counseling Centre.
Milestones
Four decades, in brief.
A pared-back history of the department, from its separation from Philosophy to the present day.
1980s
An independent department
Psychology separated from Philosophy to become a department in its own right at Elphinstone College.
1987
First Head of Department
Dr. Munawwar Ali became the first Head of the Department, a position he held until his retirement in 2005.
Until 2018
Part-major at TYBA
Psychology was offered as a part-major at the Third Year B.A. level under the University of Mumbai.
2018
New Head of Department
Prof. Vilas Padhye was transferred to Elphinstone College and took over as Head of the Department.
2019
Full major launched
With the establishment of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University, Psychology was launched as a full major with six papers in the final year.
2022
First TY Major batch graduates
The first batch of Third-Year Psychology Majors passed out successfully — the inaugural cohort of the full undergraduate honours programme.
2023
Psychology Laboratory and assessment bank
The department was given its own dedicated space to develop a laboratory. World-class, highly standardised psychometric tests were procured — MMPI, MCMI, WAIS, WISC, WRAT, WIAT, Rorschach, TAT, CAT, 16PF, NEO-PI, Bender-Gestalt — alongside the biofeedback machine, memory drum, and Muller-Lyer Illusion apparatus, giving the department one of the most advanced psychometric test banks in the region.
2024
Counseling Centre and the M.A. programme
The University Counseling Centre was established on the fourth floor of the department. The M.A. in Applied Psychology, with a specialisation in Clinical and Counseling Applications, was launched the same year.
2025
Smart classrooms and a digital CogLab
The Cognitive Laboratory was equipped with ten laptops and Wi-Fi connectivity. Smartboards were installed in every classroom, and an audio system in the conference room. The department's classrooms, conference room, laboratories, library, and counseling centre were air-conditioned. The Pearson Q-Global online assessment package was procured, with five dedicated tablets.
Today
A growing programme
Undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes attract applicants from across Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the rest of India.
Today
What the department looks like now.
- Undergraduate
- B.A. Psychology
- Postgraduate
- M.A. Applied Psychology
- Doctoral
- Ph.D.
- Certificate
- Foundation Course
15 seats
20 seats
8 seats
120 hours
The M.A. in Applied Psychology specialises in Clinical and Counseling Applications, with intake through the Psychology Master’s Admission Test (PsyMAT) held each June. All admissions follow government norms of reservation and merit.
Student life
Nine student-led committees.
From the Counseling Centre’s outreach team to the Cultural Club, the Readiculous library club, the Outreach Club, and the Psynapse magazine — student committees animate the department’s day-to-day work and host most of its public events.
Meet the committees →
The building
Heritage walls, modern labs.
The Department of Psychology occupies space inside one of Mumbai’s most storied buildings — a Venetian Gothic landmark at 156, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort. Our laboratories, library, counseling rooms and smart classrooms sit between heritage walls that have housed the college since the nineteenth century.
See our facilities →University Counseling Centre
A quiet, confidential space to talk.
The Counseling Centre is open to all students of the university. Sessions are confidential. You don’t need a reason to book.