Degree Course Type 

Research

Entry Level Qualification 

Post Graduate

Degree Course Duration 

5 Year

Course Fields 

Medical

Degree Course Entrance Exam 

AIIMS PG INICET

Average Course Fee 

50000 - 100000 Per Year

Average Salary Offered 

600000 - 2000000 Per Year

Course Details 

There are 2 basic types of PhD course in India. They include full-time PhD course and Part-time PhD course. 

Full-Time PhD

It is a normal Doctor of Philosophy program whose duration ranges between 4-6 years depending on the research project taken up by the student. Students mostly conduct their own research with a whole focus and concentration on the Doctor of Philosophy subjects. Most of the PhD students also act as Teaching Assistants to various professors in their department in PhD colleges. 

Part-time PhD

Part-time PhD is considered the best option for working professionals who are aiming to steer towards a career in research or academia. Some candidates also do PhD to broaden their career horizons and with a part-time PhD they can acquire their doctorate degree while pursuing a full-time job. A part-time PhD is generally of a longer duration spanning around 6 to 8 years in comparison to a regular doctoral degree which takes somewhere between 4 to 6 years to complete. 

While studying for a part-time PhD, you can work on your research thesis at your own pace but remaining in constant touch with your professors and doctorate scholars is of utmost importance. Part-time PhDs are becoming increasingly popular in today's time since it offers the benefits of being financially stable and getting higher educational qualifications at the same time.

Course Highlights 

The major highlights of the PhD course are tabulated in the table below. 

About Course 

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the highest degree or doctorate awarded for research in a specific subject. PhD programmes last 3 to 5 years. A master's degree or an MPhil with a minimum aggregate score of 55% is required for a PhD.

PhD admission is determined by entrance exams. The top PhD entrance exams are CSIR UGC NET, UGC NET, IIT JAM, and NPAT. A valid GATE score is required for candidates wishing to pursue a PhD in Engineering and Technology. The CSIR UGC NET is a national level PhD entrance exam that is held twice a year. The registration process for the CSIR UGC NET exam will begin soon, with the exam scheduled for September.

There are several PhD Scholarships available in India to help students pursue their PhD. After completing their PhD degrees, students can choose from a variety of PhD Jobs and earn an average annual salary of INR 6 - 9 lakhs.

Why Choose Course And Required Skills 

Pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) has several advantages for students who are interested in a particular domain. A PhD offers an opportunity for students to broaden their horizons on the subject. Doctor of Philosophy students can take their time to work on their research project with complete peace of mind and there is no rat race involved to get the results. 

The most common reason for a student to do a PhD is to improve their employment prospects because a PhD degree can unlock career opportunities. Being the highest academic qualification there are some career prospects that might not be available to candidates with only a bachelor's or Masters. These are jobs that require expertise and vast experience in research methodologies. Apart from this, if you want to remain in academia as a lecturer or university researcher, a PhD is normally one of the main requirements. 

If you have a passion for research then doing a PhD is certainly the best idea. This is perhaps the most personal motivation for doing a PhD because of the enjoyment and sense of fulfilment that you get from researching a PhD subject that you love. Though not a bad reason, you should generally make sure that you have a clear idea of what you’d like to do once you have finished your PhD. If you’re looking for a new challenge to help your individual development, a PhD is a pretty unique prospect. There aren’t many other experiences in education that involve such a high degree of commitment – and reward!

Eligibility  

Some of the basic eligibility for PhD admission are mentioned below:

1. Students must have a done Master’s degree (MSc/ M.Tech/ MPhil/ MA/ MBA) in a relevant subject, in order to study a PhD Course.

2. The student should have scored at least 55% marks or equivalent grade points in the PG course that he studied in any government-recognized institute. In case the candidate belongs to a reserved category (SC/ ST/ OBC), he/ she will be offered relaxation in minimum marks of either 5% or 10%, depending on the category. 

3. University/ College mandated PhD entrance examination needs to be cleared by the candidate to ensure a seat for pursuing a PhD.

4. In some university/colleges candidates that have work experience in the field of research are preferred highly and are given more preference.

Entrance Exams Details 

The following are some of the most popular PhD entrance exams:

1. UGC NET

2. CSIR-UGC NET

3. UGC JRF

4. SET/ SLET

5. IISc PhD Entrance Exam

6. TISS-RAT

7. JNU Entrance Examination

8. DUET

9. IIT JAM

10. BHU – Research Entrance Test

11. ICMR

12. NIPER PhD Entrance Exam    

13. AIIMS PhD Entrance Exam 

Degree Course Syllabus 

PhD Syllabus for Science Specialization

PhD Syllabus for Management Studies Specialization

PhD Syllabus for Engineering and Technology Specialization

PhD in Legal Studies Syllabus

PhD in Philosophy Syllabus

PhD in English Literature Syllabus

PhD in Economics Syllabus

Top Colleges 

Given below are some of the best PhD colleges in India to pursue your doctorate. The PhD fees for the particular college are also mentioned in the table below: 

There are plenty of private colleges as well from where you can pursue your PhD. Some of the best private PhD colleges along with their PhD fees are given in the table below: 

Top PhD colleges around the world

Students who wish to pursue their PhD degree from one of the best universities in the world can check out the table below. There are many good universities in the US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, etc. These universities offer cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-art facilities to conduct research.

Course Fees 

Scholarships are provided by private organisations, colleges, and non-governmental organisations to help students pursue their research without financial burden. The average course fee ranges between INR 72,000 and 4 LPA.

Top Recruiters And Salary 

Top recruiting places are KPMG, Google, Apple, IBM, CITI bank, BP, Black rock, Aecom, AMEC, Atkins, EDF Energy, NHS, GSK, Barclays, etc.

      ​​​​​​​

The average salary for a PhD graduate in India is INR 3.4 LPA. This value varies depending on the city, years of experience, designation, and so on.​​​​​​​

Course Scope And Career Options 

Choosing what career to choose after your PhD isn’t always easy, especially when you are not sure if you want to work in academia. However, that doesn’t mean that there are not enough career opportunities that you can pursue after PhD – and a good chance it’ll increase your earning potential. 

1. Academia:

Academia has always been a favourite choice for students after completing their PhD studies. The job profile usually involves teaching, giving lectures, performing research, managing administration, representing the college on a few occasions, and attending seminars and guest lectures in a specific field.

2. Consultant: 

A few years back, most consulting firms only employed MBAs for various roles. But things have changed now and with the steady rise of technology in most of the sectors, there has been a significant increase in the number of PhDs being hired by these firms.

Due to their strong technical background, quantitative approach, and research skills, more preference is given to them along with a much higher salary. 

3. Government Sector: 

If you want to serve the country, then there are plenty of opportunities in the government sector for PhD students. There are PhD jobs in Government Hospitals, Ministry Departments, Entrance Exam Committee, etc. The job of a PhD student will be to understand complex problems and help in making informed choices. You can also work in the defence department performing military-related research.

Admission Process 

The PhD admissions process is not difficult, but it is time-consuming due to the numerous steps involved. Students who meet the course's eligibility requirements will be admitted to the PhD programme. Students are expected to take an entrance exam in addition to getting good grades at the master's level. PhD admission does not have a minimum or maximum age requirement.

How Do You Apply for PhD?

Students can apply both online and in person. Because of the COVID pandemic, most universities' PhD admissions processes have gone online. Students should go to the official website and look for the course that interests them. Then they should complete the PhD admission form, providing their name, phone number, email address, course of interest, and so on. Students must visit the respective college for offline registration and fill out the application form with the necessary documents attached.

 PhD Selection Procedure

Once the application is accepted, universities may conduct a final round of group discussions or personal interviews based on the college.