PhD: Full Form, Admission, Entrance Exam, Fees, Syllabus, Career Scope, Top Colleges

Get Expert Guidance On Phd Admissions! Explore Top Universities, Eligibility Criteria, Application Process, And Deadline Info In One Place.

PhD: Full Form, Admission,  Entrance Exam, Fees, Syllabus, Career Scope, Top Colleges

The PhD's full form is Doctor of Philosophy, which comes from the Latin Philosophiae Doctor. The highest degree or doctorate granted for research in a specific field is the Ph.D. PhD course duration is 3 – 5 years. PhD admissions require a master's degree with a minimum aggregate score of 55%.

PhD admission is based on PhD entrance exams. CSIR UGC NET, UGC NET, IIT JAM, and NPAT are the top PhD entrance exams. If a candidate wishes to pursue PhD in Engineering and Technology, then they must possess a valid GATE score. CSIR UGC NET is the national-level PhD entrance exam conducted twice a year. The registration procedure for the CSIR UGC NET exam will begin soon, and the exam is scheduled for December.

Course Highlights

PhD Full Form

Doctor of Philosophy

PhD Duration

4-6 Years

PhD Degree Requirements

Coursework, Presentation, Submission of Progress Reports, Thesis

PhD Admission

Entrance Exams/Direct Admission

PhD Specializations

PhD Physics, PhD Computer Science, Phd Psychology, PhD History, PhD in Business Administration, PhD Engineering, Phd Economics, PhD Nursing 

Online PhD Program

IGNOU, IISc Bangalore, Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University

Fully Funded PhD Programs

Students need to clear UGC NET exam to get funded by the government

Top PhD Colleges

IITs, IISc, Jadavpur University, Delhi University, JNU



Why study PhD?

  • Ph. D.s help students to start or continue their research in a field that they are passionate about. 
  • It helps in improving employment prospects. It can unlock lots of career chances. If someone wants to become a University researcher or lecturer, then a Ph.D. degree is normally the main requirement.
  • The tax incentive for companies conducting research and development has been reduced by the Indian government, in line with the conclusions of the 2015 UNESCO Science Report.
  •  Organizations dedicated to research and development, as well as higher education institutions, are crucial to the development of a nation.

PhD Degree Requirements

PhD Degree requirements are the process or the prerequisites of getting the PhD Degree. This is different in different countries. Ph.D. in India follows the rules described by the UGC. 

Ph.D. Degree requirements include completion of coursework, presentation of a research proposal or synopsis, submission of progress reports, giving a pre-submission presentation, and then defending the thesis in an oral debating atmosphere.

PhD Admission Process

Ph.D. admission is based on enrollment to several universities. Universities accept the results of either national-level or university-level entrance exams. The top Ph.D. entrance exams are CSIR UGC NET, UGC NET, IIT JAM, and NPAT. If a candidate wishes to pursue PhD in Engineering and Technology, then they must possess a valid GATE score. As per the recent directives of the UGC, candidates who complete a four-year UG degree would be able to directly apply to pursue a PhD degree in their desired choice of program.

Ph.D. Eligibility

  • Master's degree holder candidates are eligible for admission to doctoral programs. For some subjects, a Master's in Philosophy is needed to pursue a PhD.
  • The students should have at least 50-55% of marks post-graduation.
  • In some universities, admission is offered on the basis of interviews. It may be increased with a written exam.
  • More importance is given to candidates who have work experience in the field of research.

Important Dates

Entrance Exam

Registration Date

Exam Date

UGC NET (December Session)

September 2023

December 6 to 22, 2023

CSIR NET (December Session) 

To be Announced 

To be Announced 

IPU PhD Entrance Test (PET)

March – May, 2024

June, 2024

GATE

August 31 – October 13, 2023

February 3, 4, 10, 11, 2024

VITMEE

November 30, 2023

December 12, 2023

AIIMS PhD Entrance Exam

To be Announced 

To be Announced 

VMOU PhD Entrance Exam

To be Announced 

To be Announced 

NIPER PhD Entrance Exam

To be Announced 

To be Announced 

Syllabus for PhD

The syllabus for the PhD program will depend on the subject opted for by the student. Note that the PhD program is available in almost all the major disciplines, including - Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Bio-Sciences, Clinical Research, Zoology, Applied Sciences, Economics, Social Work, Literature, Arts, Psychology, and Social Sciences.

The student will get around 3-5 years to complete their Ph.D. program. At the end of the program, the student will have to submit an original research thesis on a particular topic. 

The research paper may include topics like:

  • Introduction to the subject
  • Research Design
  • Research Foundation
  • Quality Standards
  • Measuring Structure and Size

Top PhD Colleges in India

College Name

Eligibility 

Ranking 

Fees

IISc Bangalore 

PG

1

INR 35,200

IIT Madras

PG

2

INR 23,365

IIT Delhi

PG

3

INR 10,000

IIT Bombay

PG

4

INR 28,900 (consectional) INR 48,900 (non consectional) 

IIT Kharagpur

PG

5

INR 5,000 (SAARC) INR 25,000 (NON SARC)

IIT Kanpur

PG

6

INR 24,250 (Regular) INR 49,759 (part time)

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

PG

7

INR 5,000

IIT Roorke

PG

8

INR 26,400

AIIMS, New Delhi

PG

9

INR 4,125

VIT, Vellore

PG

10

INR 40,000

Homi Bhabha National Institute

PG

11

INR 10,000

IIT Hyderabad

PG

12

INR 59,500

Jadavpur University

PG

13

-

JNU Delhi

PG

14

INR 731

BHU Varanasi

PG

15

INR 4,236 (first year) 

University of Delhi

PG

16

INR 6,761

Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, Pune

PG

17

INR 58,800

Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research

PG

18

INR 14,000

Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

PG

19

INR 15,000

IIT Dhanbad

PG

20

INR 61,450



Top PhD Government Colleges

College Name

Fees (INR)

JNU

1391

DIPSAR

30,385

NIT Durgapur

64,100

Jai Narayan Vyas University

10,000

BHU

10,000

Jamia Millia Islamia

15,000

Aligarh Muslim University

10,000

Calcutta University

14,000

Jadavpur University

12,000

Institute of Advanced Study in Education

3,116



Top PhD Private Colleges

College Name

Fees (INR)

VIT

53,000

Bombay College of Pharmacy

1,50,850

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education

25,000

IFHE Hyderabad

1,20,000

IIIT-B

1,07,000

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

59,000

PRIST University

30,000

DA-IICT

65,000

JRNRVU

30,000

BVIMSR

75,000

Job Profiles and Salaries

Job Position

Job Description

Average Salary in INR

Assistant Professor

For the most part, assistant professors are in charge of giving excellent lectures, seminars, and workshops to undergraduate and occasionally graduate students. They generate assignments, course syllabi, curriculum, mark examinations and assignments, and provide students helpful comments.

INR 7.5 LPA

Associate Professor

Apart from teaching, they conduct intellectual activities such as innovative research in their area of expertise, publishing study results in journals, conferences, and other pertinent venues and collaborating on research initiatives with coworkers, students, and outside partners.

INR 10 LPA

Professor

Apart from academic and research activities, they are engaged in attending departmental meetings, committee meetings, and meetings for academic governance, assisting in the creation of educational programs and curriculum and helping junior faculty members develop professionally and giving them advice.

INR 13 LPA

Research Associate

A research associate is often a professional who works closely with principle investigators, senior researchers, and scientists on research projects. Experimentation, data analysis, participation in research design, and aiding in the communication of research results are their main duties.

INR 7.5 LPA

Consultant

They are engaged in interacting with clients to comprehend their requirements, difficulties, and objectives. fostering trusting relationships with clients and serving as a valued advisor.

INR 8 LPA