Doctor of Philosophy or PhD is a globally recognised doctoral degree in a chosen field of study. It is the highest academic qualification in which candidates earn the title of “Doctor” (differs from the certification received by medical practitioners). As per the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, India ranks fourth globally for producing 24,000+ doctoral graduates yearly. So, if you are planning to pursue PhD degree in India, this guide is for you.

Key Highlights

• PhD in India: Key highlights
• Types of PhD programs in India

• Full-time PhD
• Part-time PhD in India
• Online PhD
• Integrated PhD

• Popular PhD Programs

• PhD in Psychology in India
• PhD in Management in India
• PhD in Education in India

• Best universities for PhD in India
• Eligibility criteria to enrol in a PhD university in India

Course duration	3-6 years
Total course fee	INR 15,000 to INR 3,00,000 per annum (differ in private and public colleges)
Average salary	~INR 4 lakhs to INR 10 lakhs per annum
Top recruiters	Bharat Petroleum, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Google, Microsoft, Sapient
Popular job positions	Associate Professor, Research Assistant, Research Consultant, Lecturer, Chief Research Manager

Types of PhD programs in India

The four types of PhD programs offered by Indian universities are as follows:

• Full-time PhD: It is a regular PhD program that focuses on students’ research work carried out under the guidance of supervisors. The course duration is 3-5 years.
• Part-time PhD in India: A part-time PhD program is preferred by working professionals, who can attend limited numbers of offline classes. The duration of a part-time PhD program is 4-6 years.
• Online PhD: Students need to perform ~4 years of extensive research and study to earn an online PhD degree.
• Integrated PhD: Integrated PhD is a full-time degree comprising both a master’s and doctoral program with a duration of ~5 years. Students can apply for the Integrated PhD program right after their graduation.

 

Popular PhD programs

As per interests, students can pursue PhD programs in various streams, such as Science, Arts, Commerce, Engineering, Mathematics, Geography, and Agriculture, to name a few. However, some of the most popular PhD programs are as follows:

• PhD in Psychology in India: It is a full-time doctorate program that covers clinical psychology and discovers various psychological treatments and approaches. It includes the study of social behaviour (both individual and group behaviour).
• PhD in Management in India: This doctoral program provides detailed knowledge of business management, including operations, finance, human resources, sales, marketing, and administration. It aims at equipping students with basic and advanced management concepts to ensure the smooth operation of organisations.
• PhD in Education in India: Pursuing a PhD in Education is the best career decision if students want to make a career in research or academics. This course provides substantial knowledge related to the education sector, such as educational system and pedagogical issues and how to overcome them with new learning and teaching techniques.

 

Best universities for PhD in India

In India, many reputed colleges offer a PhD program. Consider these top universities and colleges for the PhD program:

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Mumbai
• University of Delhi, Delhi
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
• Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
• University of Calcutta, Kolkata
• University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
• Sharda University, Greater Noida
• Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar

 

Pro-Tip: In case of financial constraint, you can easily avail of a student loan in India to pursue a PhD degree.

Eligibility criteria to enrol in a PhD university in India

• A master’s degree from a recognised university
• A minimum overall grade of 55% (or equivalent) in post-graduation
• Work experience (preferred but not mandatory)

 

It is important to highlight that the eligibility requirements for a PhD degree program vary from one university to another. For instance, some universities conduct their entrance exams to shortlist candidates seeking admission to PhD programs. Therefore, check the university-specific guidelines carefully before applying.

So, if you are planning to pursue this degree from a reputed PhD university in India but facing financial challenges, opt for a student loan. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer student loan for education that includes tuition fee, accommodation costs, living expenses, and other education-related expenses. Our student loan comes with benefits like 100% finance, customised solutions and quick sanctions. Connect with us today to know more details!