PhD Admission in India 2024: Dates, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Admission Process, Top Colleges

Nupur Kaushik

Updated On: August 14, 2024 10:52 PM | UGC NET

Looking for PhD admission in India 2024? If yes, then you might be thinking about what are the PhD eligibility criteria, required entrance exams, top colleges, career scope, etc. Scroll through to find PhD admission process in India.

PhD Admission in India

PhD admission in India 2024 is carried out based on a national-level Research Entrance Test or University-level Entrance Exam followed by a personal interview round in which applicants must present their research proposal. As a part of the PhD eligibility criteria, candidates must also sit for entrance exams such as the UGC, CSIR NET, IIT JAM, etc. PhD admissions are available for research programmes in a variety of fields, including mass communication, management, science, law, humanities, engineering, commerce, and pharmacy.

The Doctor of Philosophy, or PhD course is an advanced research degree that lasts three years if pursued full-time and six years if pursued part-time. It is necessary for applicants seeking PhD admission in India 2024 to present their findings, submit progress reports, and participate in an open defence viva voce for their thesis. UGC NET entrance test is administered by the National Test Agency (NTA) for participation in the PhD admission process in India at prominent central universities such as JNU, DU, etc. Aspirants must have scored at least 50% to 55% of aggregate marks or an equivalent CGPA in their postgraduate degree to be eligible for admission at the top PhD colleges in India 2024 .

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PhD Admission 2024: Latest Updates

All PhD admissions for the academic year 2024 have been completed. Here is a list of important dates and events that occurred for your convenience. Here are the latest updates on PhD admission 2024:

  • WBJEE 2024 counselling registration for the mop-up round has begun, and the registration deadline was August 7, 2024.
  • HSTES 2024 counselling registrations for BTech courses, Round 2 choice filling and locking, was held from August 5 to August 7, 2024, with R2 seat allotment results released on August 8, 2024.
  • The answer key for the Karnataka PGCET 2024 has been released.
  • TS EAMCET Counselling 2024 final phase of registration for BTech courses begins, and the freezing option was available on August 10, 2024. Furthermore, the provisional seat allocation were released on or before August 13, 2024.
  • The GUJCET 2024 round 2 seat allotment results was announced on August 12, 2024.
  • GATE registration 2025 will begin on August 24, 2024, for admission to the MTech course. Furthermore, the GATE 2025 exam will take place on February 1, 2, 15, and 16, 2025.
  • The COMEDK 2024 round 2 phase 2 seat allotment results and cutoff have been released.
  • CG PET counselling 2024 Round 1 registrations for BE/BTech courses have begun, and the deadline was August 12, 2024. Furthermore, the seat allotment results for R1 has released on August 14, 2024.
  • The TNEA counselling process 2024 General Counselling (Online) runs from July 29, 2024 to September 3, 2024.
  • The Maharashtra CET Cell has begun the MHT CET Counselling 2024. The document verification process is ongoing, and the provisional merit list for counselling will be released on August 27, 2024.
  • The online SRMJEEE 2025 application form will be available on the official website, srmist.edu.in, tentatively in November 2024.

Application Deadline for PhD Admission 2024 in Top Colleges

The table below includes the top PhD colleges and their application dates for PhD admission 2024:

College

Application Deadline

IIM Ahmedabad

October 03 – January 29, 2024 (Over)

IIM Calcutta

November 01 – January 30, 2024 (Over)

IIT Bombay (IITB)

September 12 – October 20, 2023 (Spring Session) (Over)

Indian Institute of Science Bangalore

March 25, 2024 (Over)

IIT Delhi

Open till October 31, 2023 (Over)

IIT Madras

October 28, 2023 (Over)

IIT Kharagpur

March 25, 2024 (Over)

IIT Kanpur

April 12, 2024 (Over)

University of Delhi

To be updated

University of Hyderabad

December 30 – January 15, 2024 (Over)

IIT Roorkee

November 28 – February 28, 2024 (Over)

IIT Guwahati

January 02, 2024 (Over)

IIT Jammu

September 26 – October 20, 2023 (Over)

IIT Dhanbad

Open till October 30, 2023 (Over)

IIM Mumbai

Open till January 31, 2024 (Over)

IIM Amritsar

Open till February 15, 2024 (Over)

IIM Bodh Gaya

Open till February 29, 2024 (Over)

IIM Lucknow

Open till January 31, 2024 (Over)

Eligibility Criteria for PhD Admission 2024

Students who intend to pursue PhD in India must meet the necessary PhD admission eligibility criteria required by their respective colleges. Listed below are the detailed PhD qualifications required for pursuing a PhD from India:

  • Masters degree holders are eligible for PhD admission 2024 into the doctoral programme. Although, for some subjects, having a Master in Philosophy (MPhil) is one of the criteria for PhD admission eligibility. It must be noted by the candidates that in some Indian universities, for a Master's programme, a specific percentage (or equivalent CGPA) is required to satisfy a PhD course eligibility requirement.
  • For admission into some reputable universities, a candidate must qualify for the all-India examination, like the National Eligibility Test for Lectureship (NET) conducted by NTA. Final-year students appearing in the qualifying degree examination can also apply although they must submit the attested copies of their qualifying degree certificates
  • Admission is offered based on interview. Also, the interview may be supplemented with a written exam if needed.
  • Candidates should have a valid Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering or GATE 2024 score to satisfy a PhD admission eligibility criteria in the field of engineering and technology. Also, candidates should have completed their degree in MTech course / Masters in Engineering (ME) in any engineering branch to satisfy the PhD course eligibility in engineering.

Admission Process for PhD Admission 2024

The need for a PhD degree in India has increased in recent times because of the increasing career prospects and the growing requirement for higher specialisation. Applicants who want a PhD admission 2024 must consider the following points concerning the admission procedure as the admission is done based on merit and/or entrance exams.

  • Admission into colleges/ universities in India is available for candidates in full-time and part-time programmes in various disciplines of engineering, arts, management, commerce, science, humanities, finance, law, medicine and IT.
  • Candidates can choose to pursue their PhD either full-time or part-time. The minimum duration of PhD is two years wherein the course follows the semester system including theory and practical versions on the specialisation of a respective course.
  • For PhD admission 2024, a Master's degree is required in India. Some universities in India offer seats to students having a minimum of 55% aggregate marks or equivalent.
  • In some cases, doing an MPhil is a part of their PhD admission criteria to pursue courses offered by some universities.
  • Admissions to a PhD programme is done through an entrance test at the university level or national level.

The admission procedure for both processes is described below.

Merit-Based Entrance-Based
  • PhD admission to prestigious institutions is based on merit.
  • The Institute may request the candidates submit an abstract of their research proposal for this purpose.
  • This is done primarily to scrutinise the candidates, after which the selected candidates are advised of the next steps.
  • Applicants must also meet the fundamental eligibility standards of 50-55% (approx) in the PG course.
  • To get admission to PhD programmes, national and institutional entrance exams are held.
  • For admission to PhD programmes, some universities even conduct personal interviews in addition to entrance tests.

PhD Admission 2024: Selection Criteria

Candidates interested in pursuing a doctorate should consider the subsequent factors during the PhD admission process in India.

  • The applicants who are selected will be contacted to participate in a personal interview round as part of the final selection process.
  • Depending on the applicant's MTech project and certain academic areas, the interview process will take place.
  • Students chosen for PhD admission are determined by their performance on entrance exams or merit.
  • Applicants must pass certain academic requirements before beginning a PhD.
  • Based on personal interview results, PhD admission in India 2024  will be awarded. If needed, a written exam could be added to the interview.

Entrance Exams Required for PhD Admission 2024

The entrance exams for PhD courses conducted in India may vary university-wise. PhD admission in India is based on enrollment to several universities. Universities accept the results of either a national-level or a university-level entrance examination. The following section summarises the PhD admission 2024 entrance exam schedule. Mentioned below is the list of the top entrance exams for PhD in India:

Symbiosis Institute - PhD Entrance Exam

BITS Pilani - PhD Entrance Examination

Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)

AILET 2024

IIT JAM 2024

JNUEE Exam / JNU Direct PhD

UGC NET Exam

AIIMS College PhD Entrance Exam

AIMA PhD Entrance Exam

Osmania University PhD Entrance Exam

NIPER PhD Entrance Exam

IISC PhD Entrance Exam

Vellore Institute of Technology Research Entrance Examination - VIITREE

GITAM University Vishakhapatnam PhD Admissions Test

Kurukshetra University PhD Entrance Exam

PhD Entrance Exam of NMIMS University Mumbai

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Delhi PhD Admission Test

Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi – PhD Admission Test

Jamia Hamdard New Delhi PhD Admission Test

CSIR-UGC NET Exam

National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) PhD Entrance Exam

BARC PhD Admission Test

Indian Veterinary Research Institute Bareilly PhD Admission Test

ISM Dhanbad PhD Admission Test

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lucknow-PhD Admissions Test

University of Hyderabad PhD Entrance Exam

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Graduate School Admission Entrance Test

NIMH College PG/PG Diploma/Superspeciality PhD online entrance test

DBT JRF Biotech Entrance Test

GTU PhD Entrance Exam

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST)

Symbiosis International PhD Entrance Test (PET)

Top Entrance Exams Schedule for PhD Admission 2024

As discussed, PhD admission 2024 is primarily based on entrance exams. Applicants can select from several PhD specialisations, including mathematics, engineering, education, and engineering. The table below shows the exam schedules for India's most competitive PhD entrance exams.

Entrance Exam

Registration Date

Exam Date

GATE

August 30 - October 12, 2023 (Extended)

August 30 - October 20, 2023 (With a late fee)

February 3, 4, 10 and 11, 2024

IIT JAM

September 05 – October 25, 2023 (Extended)

February 11, 2024

UGC NET

March - April 2024

June 10 – 21, 2024

VITREE

September 25 – November 30, 2023 (Jan Session)

January 25 – April 25, 2024 (July Session)

December 10, 2023 (Jan Session)

May 05, 2024 (July Session)

IGNOU PhD Entrance

December 12 – January 03, 2023

January 07, 2024

IPU PhD Entrance Test (PET)

March 2024

June 2024

RGUHS Pre PhD Entrance

March 23 – April 01, 2024

April 19 – 20, 2024

NIPER PhD Entrance Exam

April 2024

June  2024

PhD Admission 2024: How to Apply?

Prospective applicants can take part in the PhD admission process in India with a bachelor's as well as a master's degree. However, they must be conscious that to be eligible to register for a PhD study at any of the Indian schools, they need to meet a certain percentage requirement (or comparable CGPA). PhD admission is granted based on the interview. If required, in addition to the in-person interview, a written exam may be administered at a respective university's discretion. The following is a discussion of how students can apply for admission to their preferred PhD course.

  • On the official portal of their preferred college or university, applicants should review all the details on all PhD courses before selecting their specific research topic.
  • Those who wish to apply for PhD admission in India 2024 should keep an eye out for notifications about admission to their desired course on the university's official website (preferable) and in the local newspaper.
  • The individual needs to cross-check if they match PhD eligibility criteria. Next, they should fully complete the application and submit it by the dates specified on the official portal. Additionally, aspirants need to be mindful that they need to register by the formulated deadline along with all necessary documents and fees.
  • A few Indian universities stipulate that applications must be submitted with a research proposal; the application itself is reviewed afterwards.
  • Most colleges shortlist candidates after the examination, and those only then appear for the entrance exam. There is one more testing phase included to reduce the number of applicants for PhD admission in India.
  • The individuals selected for the PhD programme are subsequently paired with research mentors.

Top Universities in India for PhD Admission 2024

Typically, PhD admissions in India are carried out in the spring and fall semesters. Usually, the Spring Cycle starts in January and ends in June with admissions. PhD admissions for the Autumn Session open in July and end in December. Thus, to stay informed about the admission cycle, aspirants need to keep a close eye on the important dates, and deadlines and monitor the respective official portal routinely. The following is a discussion of the top government and private universities that offer PhD admission in India 2024.

List of Government Institutions Offering PhD Admission 2024

PhD admission in India 2024 is now being offered by numerous Central and State Universities for the July Session. The majority of institutions use the Research Entrance Test or UGC NET/JRF results for admittance. Applicants may directly take part in an interview and showcase their research proposal if they have authentic UGC NET/JRF results. Also, a lot of universities only admit PhD hopefuls who have completed their JRF. Consequently, aspirants need to focus especially on these requirements. The following table highlights a list of the top government institutions offering PhD admission in India 2024:

College Name

Accepted Entrance Exam/s

Aligarh Muslim University

UGC NET JRF/ University Entrance Exam

Dibrugarh University

UGC NET JRF/ DURAT

Hidayaullah National Law University

UGC NET JRF/ Entrance Exam

Jawaharlal Nehru University

UGC NET- JRF

Mizoram University

UGC NET JRF/ University Entrance Exam

North Eastern Hill University

UGC NET JRF/ Entrance Exam

Presidency University

UGC NET/ JRF

Sarguja University

Entrance Exam + Interview

University of Calcutta

UGC NET JRF or Entrance Exam

University of Delhi

JRF/ NET

List of Private Institutions Offering PhD Admission 2024

Numerous private colleges provide PhD programmes in a range of subjects and provide candidates with respectable stipends. In addition to offering PhD admission to students who have passed any fellowship entry exams, the majority of these institutions also administer their own Research Entrance Tests. The following table highlights a list of the top private institutions offering PhD admission in India 2024:

College Name

Accepted Entrance Exam/s

VIT Vellore

VITREE

Thapar University

CSIR NET/ UGC NET

SASTRA University

CSIR NET/ UGC NET

Manipal University

PhD Manipal Entrance Test (MET)

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Entrance Exam Test

KIIT University

KIITEE

Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education

UGC NET

BITS Pilani

BITS PhD Entrance Exam

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

GATE

Also Read:

Top Government PhD Colleges in Maharashtra List of Private PhD Colleges in Maharashtra

Preparation Tips for PhD Admission

Here are some preparation tips for PhD entrance exams which students can use for reference:

  • Students should gather past year PhD entrance exam question papers from reliable sources and study accordingly.
  • They must refer to the PhD entrance exam syllabus as per their specialisation.
  • The entrance exam format varies depending on the conducting body; therefore, the aspirants must be informed of the structure to plan accordingly.
  • They must cover all exam subjects at least one month before the exam.
  • To relieve exam stress, the students must take advantage of the various mock tests available.
  • Keeping up with current events is vital because they are essential for grades.
  • Visiting the exam centre a day before the exam to avoid last-minute confusion about where the exam centre location is advised.
  • Before the exam, students must get a good night's sleep.

Job Prospects After PhD in India

In today’s world, there is immense scope for candidates after they have completed their PhD. Gone are those days when the scope of PhD was limited to academia. After completing a PhD, one should track their potential and apply to jobs based on exact skills and expertise. Following are a few career options that candidates can choose after pursuing a PhD:

PhD is considered one of the most valued degrees not just in India but abroad as well. When it comes to your career graph, it can be a good qualification for the aspirants. Many colleges or universities offer this course for aspiring students, however, one should satisfy their respective PhD admission eligibility. With this, candidates will have in-depth knowledge and develop mastery over the subjects they have chosen for specialisation, which will be extremely useful for them in their careers.

Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more such updates and information. Aspirants can also check out our QnA Zone to get their queries resolved by our experts. We wish good luck to all the candidates seeking PhD admission 2024 in India!

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FAQs

what is the PhD eligibility criteria?

In most cases, a two-year Master's OR MPhil degree in the relevant field from any accredited Indian or foreign university is the minimal requirement for admission to a PhD programme. She or he must have earned a master's degree or a grade equivalent with at least 55%.

What is the PhD admission process in India?

The university-level PhD entrance exam or the national research entrance test is used in deciding admissions. The next step is a face-to-face interview where applicants submit their research project. A lot of India's top universities are currently accepting applications for PhDs.

Can I finish my PhD in two years?

Yes, students can finish their PhD in two years. While a small percentage of exceptionally talented candidates can finish their PhDs in under 12 months, most applicants finish theirs in two years. The rarity and impressiveness of this cannot be overstated, but it is always possible. The secret to completing a PhD promptly is to have a solid academic background before you begin.

Can I get a PhD without a master's degree?

Yes. It is every so often possible to forego your master's programme and enrol directly in doctoral courses. You can choose to forego your PG degree by enrolling in a research programme after earning your bachelor's degree.

What is the easiest PhD to obtain?

The list of the top 10 easiest PhDs to obtain includes a PhD in Humanities, a PhD in Education, a PhD in Theology, a PhD in Business Administration, a PhD in Psychology, a PhD in Literature, a PhD in Criminal Justice, a PhD in Public Policy, a PhD in History, and a PhD in Sociology.

What is the average salary for a PhD?

A PhD is the highest educational qualification that can be obtained. A PhD candidate can expect to earn PhD salary between INR 6 and INR 12 lakhs per year.

Is a PhD required after a Masters degree?

Whether a PhD is required after a master's degree depends on a candidate’s interests in a particular specialisation. To be eligible to enrol in a PhD programme, candidates must hold a master's degree in good standing. A PhD course can be pursued by students in any field.

What subjects can you get a PhD in?

A PhD programme allows you to specialise in a variety of fields. Chemistry Clinical Psychology Education Physics Electronics and Communications Engineering Educational Leadership and Administration are some of the popular doctorate level courses.

How long does it take to get a PhD?

A doctorate or PhD degree typically takes three years to complete. Candidates accepted into the programme have a maximum of 5 to 6 years to complete their research. However, the duration of the PhD programmes varies by institute.

Can I get a direct PhD admission in India after my UG degree?

Yes, students can get a direct PhD admission in India after completing the UG degree in any discipline or subject of their preference. As per the University Grants Commission (UGC), candidates can apply for a PhD provided they have a four-year bachelor’s degree along with a 75% aggregate mark or its equivalent grade.

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