Students who wish to pursue a career in disability and rehabilitation are often looking for a recognized, structured qualification rather than a short-term workshop. IGNOU Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology admission for the PGDRPC Programme offers a structured path. It is a one-year professional qualification, recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India, designed for people with a background in psychology who want to gain a more focused knowledge of disability, assessment, rehabilitation, and practice.
We have seen many learners working in special education or schools, NGOs, hospitals, the community, and other settings, but feeling stuck due to the lack of a formal rehabilitation psychological qualification. This programme offers them a combination of solid theory and guided practical experience across all life stages, including childhood and late adulthood. Unnati Education is here to help you better understand the course, its benefits, and how it can be used in your academic journey.
It is important to make a well-informed decision when choosing a professional degree. We always advise students to focus on three factors: relevance, recognition, and actual skill building. This program is a good example of all three.
The first is that it is RCI-recognized. This is essential if your goal is to work within regulated disability and rehab settings in India. The RCI standards and regulations are used to design the diploma (March 2017), which means that it is not a random mix of credits, structure, and practical elements.
The second is that it does not focus on generic counselling but rather on rehabilitation psychology. This means that you will study how disabilities, injuries, illnesses, environments, and social attitudes affect a person. You don't just study "problems", you also study the barriers and supports of everyday living.
The School of Social Sciences of IGNOU (SOSS) offers this programme via Open and Distance Learning. This allows us to continue working, taking care of family obligations, or managing existing projects as we study. Distance learning combined with practical elements makes it a viable option for professionals who can't leave the comfort of their homes.
It is important to note that this is more than a simple qualification if we take the course seriously, we can improve our understanding of disability, how to assess needs, and how to design interventions for real-life situations.
A few points stand out when we examine this diploma through the eyes of a student:
Rehabilitation psychology is the specialised field where psychology concepts meet reality. In contrast to focusing on only symptoms, the focus is instead on functioning, adjustment, and participation in everyday life.
The Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology was designed to provide both theoretical and practical knowledge to enable us to work as professionals in this field. We will learn about how psychological theories help explain the adjustment to disability and how social systems can create barriers. We will also explore how evidence-based interventions support people reaching their goals.
We will also learn about interdisciplinary work. Rehabilitation psychologists are not alone in their work. They coordinate with doctors and other professionals, including physiotherapists. Occupational therapists. Special educators. Social workers. This program makes us feel at ease with the team approach.
As we move through the course, you will be asked to think more like a professional: how do we document a case? How do we create goals that are measurable and realistic? How can we work with families and clients in a respectful and ethical manner? You can't learn these things from books. Instead, you need to be guided in practice. That is what this program aims to do.
| Course Code | Title of the Course | Type of Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester – I | |||
| MPC 071 | Disability and Rehabilitation | Theory | 4 |
| MPC 072 | Psychosocial Issues in Disability | Theory | 4 |
| MPC 073 | Rehabilitation Assessment and Counselling | Theory | 4 |
| MPC 074 | Community Based Rehabilitation | Theory | 4 |
| MPCL 075 | Practical-I: Identification and Assessment | Practical | 8 |
| MPCL 076 | Practical-II: Intervention | Practical | 8 |
| Total Credits | 32 | ||
The program is for people with a background in psychology. The course is not for those who are new to psychology.
The following are the broad categories of eligibility:
The minimum marks required are:
The RCI regulation of March 2017 is used as the basis for the criteria. These eligibility norms make sure that students joining the programme already have core psychological knowledge, so the focus can be on rehabilitation-specific learning rather than basic theory.
The main question for many of the students we speak to is not, "Can I get into?" but, "Is this right for me?". If you are good at working with people and can handle the detail-oriented work involved in assessment, as well as being able to look at disability through the lens of rights-based person-centred thinking, then your fit is likely to be strong.
We can summarise the objectives in simple terms.
This programme is not just about "learning" about disability, but also about how to act in disability situations.
When we complete the programme, we should:
Many of us have experienced a quiet but powerful change: we no longer see disability as "less normal", but rather as a unique way to be in the world, requiring respect, support, and accessible environments.
As this programme is RCI-recognized, it closely aligns with professional roles in disability and rehabilitation. Graduates may be able to explore the following options, depending on their eligibility and current policy.
We tell all students that a diploma is not a career-determinant. It's merely a platform. What matters is how you use it - which organizations you work for, how much experience you gain, and how long you keep learning.
We notice confusion when we talk with psychology graduates about advanced classes. While many students have a clear desire to work in disability rehabilitation, they are confused by regulations, eligibility requirements, and academic standards.
Unnati Education simplifies this journey. We assist you in:
Our job is not to push anyone in a particular direction. We will help you to plan a realistic course and remind you not to juggle all the details alone.
Many students use this diploma to complement a larger academic plan. Add-ons or further study paths may include:
We encourage students not to view this diploma as the "final destination", but rather as a milestone in their journey of learning and contributing.
In a nutshell, IGNOU's PGDRPC has the following strengths:
It is a rare programme that brings together classroom ideas and the realities of disability in family life, community systems, and the like.
The IGNOU Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation Psychology Admission route offers psychology graduates a structured and clear way to enter the disability field. The course is designed to address the challenges that people living with disabilities face in everyday life, work, education, and participation in communities.
If you're interested in a career that integrates psychology, social justice, and problem-solving with practical solutions, then this program is for you. When you're deciding on your next steps, keep in mind that you don’t have to do it alone. With Unnati Education at your side, you will be able to make more informed decisions and move forward with greater confidence.
