PhD Course - Doctor of Philosophy Admissions 2025

PhD admission is granted by a candidate's performance on the entrance exam. There are, however, a few universities where admission is also based on merit. In order to apply for PhD admissions, a candidate must be eligible for the course. A Master's degree or an MPhil with an aggregate of at least 55% from any recognised university in the country or a foreign university is required for PhD admission. Candidates with an MTech or ME degree may also apply. 

The UGC NET, which is held twice a year, is one of the entrance exams for PhD admission. It allows students to get admission to Central Universities. JRF-GATE, IISC PhD Entrance Exam, VMOU PhD, IPU PhD, and IGNOU PhD are some of the other PhD entrance exams. Some colleges also hold their own PhD entrance exams. Candidates may also take the GATE, NET, and CSIR NET entrance exams for PhD admissions in India.

In India, annual fees for a PhD programme can range from INR 50K to INR 1LPA. The fees for the PhD programme, however, vary depending on the institution and its infrastructure.

PhD Admission 2023 is currently open in several of India's top PhD Colleges. PhD admission 2023 is determined based on the results of national or university-level PhD entrance exams. Several colleges and universities also hold in-person interviews for PhD Admission 2023. The top PhD entrance exams that a candidate must pass to apply for PhD Admission 2023 are CUET, UGC NET, IIT JAM, IISC PhD, JRF-GATE, and so on. Only applicants with UGC NET scores will be considered for PhD admission at Delhi University in 2023. However, beginning with the 2023 academic year, DU will base PhD admissions on a candidate's CUET results. One of the top entrance exams for PhD programmes, UGC NET is offered twice a year for PhD admission in central universities like DU, JNU, etc. in 2023. 

The latest PhD Admission 2023 updates are provided below.

• Register for NTA PhD Entrance Exam for DU/JNU/BHU/BBAU by September 15, 2023.  
• Register for IIT JAM 2023 by October 13, 2023. 
• NTA Makes Changes in PhD Admission Criteria of DU, JNU, BHU and BBAU. 
• Delhi University to Accept CUET Scores for PhD Admissions from AY 2023-24. 

Listed below are some highlights of PhD Admission: 

Candidates must take entrance exams to be considered for the PhD programme. There are some colleges that offer merit-based admission, such as Parul University. The most popular entrance exam is the UGC NET. Colleges that do not require a UGC NET certificate typically administer their own entrance exams. 

The Eligibility Criteria to pursue PhD is:

• Candidates must have a full-time Bachelors degree
• Minimum of 55% aggregate in the Master’s course or M.Phil course
• 5%-10% relaxation of marks is granted if a candidate is from  SC/ST/OBC depending on the institution
• Candidate should have done their Master’s from any recognized university in the country or abroad
• There is no age limit to apply for PhD 
• Candidates would need to appear for an entrance examination such as UGC NET
• Candidates need a qualifying GATE score
• Candidates can apply for PhD in Engineering courses after completing their MTech or ME degree

The average PhD fee ranges from INR 50K to INR 1LPA. However, PhD course fees differ depending on the college or university and the infrastructure of the affiliated institution. It varies greatly depending on the university, discipline, and funding sources available.

Private colleges and universities charge fees that are higher than public institutions. Many universities and research institutions in India offer PhD students grants, fellowships, and stipends that cover a portion or all of their tuition. 

PhD specialisations are offered to candidates in a wide variety of disciplines. Its availability depends on the university and the department. Some of the most popular PhD specialisations offered by the top universities are mentioned below : 

• PhD in Statistics
• PhD in Political Science
• PhD in Physics
• PhD in Mathematics
• PhD in History
• PhD in Geology
• PhD in Economics
• PhD in Commerce
• PhD in Psychology

Admission to PhD programs is done through several national-level entrance exams in India. Colleges also conduct their own entrance exams such as Banaras Hindu University,  Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, etc.

Here is a list of some of the most popular entrance exams for PhD programs in India: 

• UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test): It is a national-level examination that is conducted twice a year by NTA (National Testing Agency). It is conducted for various subjects. It determines whether a candidate is eligible for the position of assistant professor and/or junior research fellowship
• CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test): It is a national-level examination conducted by NTA to select JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) and Lecturer/Assistant Professor candidates from various academic institutions, research labs, IITs, and so on
• JEST (Joint Entrance Screening Test): It is conducted for two subjects only namely physics and theoretical computer science. It grants candidates admission to PhD and Int. PhD program of various universities
• JRF/SRF Fellowship Exams: It is conducted by different organisations to grant candidates admission to Junior Research Fellowship Programs in different fields such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
• NIPER PhD Entrance Exam (The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Joint Entrance Exam): It is a National level Pharmacy entrance exam to select eligible candidates for  Integrated PG-PhD Programs, PhD Programs in Pharmacy and PG Programs

The entrance exam syllabus for PhD for any given specialisations usually consists of the following topics: 

• Fundamental principles and theories
• Methodology and approaches for conducting research
• Relevant mathematical and statistical analyses to the field
• Previous scholarly studies

The selection process to PhD programs are highlighted below: 

Depending on the college, universities may conduct a final round of group discussions or personal interviews after the application has been accepted. Before admission is confirmed, applicants must explain and defend their research proposal.