PhD full form: Doctor of Philosophy A PhD is the highest academic degree in India and globally. It is a 3–6 year research-based doctorate that requires original contribution to knowledge through a thesis.
- UGC NET June 2025 result expected: Dec 2025
- CSIR NET Dec 2025: Registration starts Oct 2025
- GATE 2026: Registration Aug–Sep 2025 | Exam Feb 2026
- New UGC PhD Regulations 2025: 4-year UG + direct PhD allowed with 75% marks
- JRF stipend increased to ₹37,000/month + HRA (from Jan 2025)
- PhD entrance mandatory for all central universities from 2026 session
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Name | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) |
| Duration | 3–6 years |
| Eligibility | Master’s with 55% (50% for SC/ST/OBC) |
| Admission Process | UGC NET |
| Average Fees (Govt/IITs) | ₹20K–₹1 Lakh per year |
| Average Fees (Private) | ₹1–5 Lakh per year |
| Average Stipend (JRF) | ₹37,000 + HRA |
| Top Recruiters | IITs, DRDO, ISRO, Google, McKinsey, Accenture |
| Parameter | PhD | Professional Doctorate (MD, DBA, EdD) |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Original Research | Professional Practice |
| Duration | 3–6 years | 2–4 years |
| Outcome | Thesis + Publications | Applied Project |
| Best for | Academia, R&D | Industry Experts |
| Exam | Conducted By | Month | Stipend Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGC NET | NTA | June & Dec | JRF ₹37K/month |
| CSIR NET | NTA | June & Dec | JRF ₹37K/month |
| GATE | IITs | Feb 2026 | ₹12,400–₹35K (Institutes) |
| JNU PhD Entrance | JNU | May 2026 | University fellowship |
| IIT PhD Entrance | Respective IIT | May & Dec | ₹31K–₹35K |
Direct PhD after 4-year UG (75%+ marks) allowed from 2026 (New UGC rule)
| College Type | Annual Fees Range | Total Cost (3–5 yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| IITs / IISc / NISER | ₹20K–₹80K | ₹1–3 Lakh |
| Central Universities | ₹10K–₹50K | ₹50K–₹2 Lakh |
| Top Private (Ashoka, Shiv Nadar, OP Jindal) | ₹1–4 Lakh | ₹5–20 Lakh |
| University | Location | Fees/Year | Notable Disciplines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashoka University | Sonipat | ₹2.5 L | Economics, Biology, History |
| Shiv Nadar University | Greater Noida | ₹2 L | Physics, Sociology |
| OP Jindal Global | Sonipat | ₹3 L | Law, IR, Business |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore | ₹1 L | Engineering, Medicine |
| VIT Vellore | Vellore | ₹1.5 L | Engineering, Management |
| Rank | College | NIRF 2025 | Avg Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IISc Bangalore | 1 | ₹35K–₹80K |
| 2 | JNU Delhi | 2 | ₹31K–₹37K |
| 3 | Jamia Millia Islamia | 3 | ₹31K |
| 4 | IIT Bombay | 4 | ₹35K + HRA |
| 5 | IIT Delhi | 5 | ₹35K + HRA |
| 6 | IIT Madras | 6 | ₹35K |
| 7 | IIT Kharagpur | 7 | ₹35K |
| 8 | BHU Varanasi | 8 | ₹31K |
| 9 | University of Delhi | 9 | ₹25K–₹37K |
| 10 | IIT Kanpur | 10 | ₹35K |
| Specialisation | Average Stipend | Starting Salary (Post-PhD) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | ₹40K–₹80K | ₹20–50 LPA |
| Data Science | ₹35K–₹70K | ₹18–45 LPA |
| Biotechnology | ₹37K–₹60K | ₹15–35 LPA |
| Renewable Energy | ₹35K–₹55K | ₹12–30 LPA |
| Economics | ₹31K–₹50K | ₹15–40 LPA |
| Law | ₹25K–₹40K | ₹12–35 LPA |
| Fellowship | Amount (per month) | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) | ₹70K–₹80K | GATE/NET + Top IITs/NISER |
| UGC NET JRF | ₹37,000 + HRA | UGC NET qualified |
| CSIR JRF | ₹37,000 + HRA | CSIR NET qualified |
| INSPIRE Fellowship | ₹37,000 + HRA | Rank 1–1000 in NET/GATE |
| Visvesvaraya PhD Scheme | ₹35K–₹45K | Full-time PhD in IT/ES |
| University | Country | Stipend/Funding | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | USA | $45K–$60K | 5 years |
| University of Oxford | UK | Fully funded | 3–4 years |
| MIT | USA | $40K–$55K | 5 years |
| ETH Zurich | Switzerland | CHF 50K | 4 years |
| NUS Singapore | Singapore | SGD 3K–5K | 4 years |
| Job Profile | Average Salary (India) | Abroad Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Professor | ₹8–18 LPA | $70K–$120K |
| Post-Doctoral Fellow | ₹50K–₹1 Lakh/month | $50K–$80K |
| Scientist (DRDO/ISRO) | ₹15–30 LPA | – |
| Data Scientist (PhD) | ₹20–45 LPA | $120K–$250K |
| R&D Head (Industry) | ₹25–60 LPA | $150K+ |
| Consultant (McKinsey, BCG) | ₹30–70 LPA | $180K+ |
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