Part Time PhD Programmes in India

Part-Time PhD Programmes in India cater to working professionals who aspire to earn a PhD while maintaining their employment commitments, offering a flexible path to higher education and career advancement.

General Guidelines for Part-Time PhD Programme

• Candidates can pursue research in their place of employment and/or in the University.
• No fellowship/ assistantship shall be provided by the University.
• Such applicants shall spend at least one full semester under the direct guidance of the research supervisor.
• The research supervisor shall give a certificate stating that the candidate has worked for a minimum of six months with him/her in the whole period of research.
• There shall be a research coordinator from the organization where the candidate is employed.
• The doctoral committee meetings, presentations and viva-voce examinations shall be coordinated by the HPart-time candidates shall need to submit a No-Objection Certificate issued by the Head of the Institution/ Organisation where the candidate is employed.
• The Application for the admission to Part-time PhD Programme shall be issued by the University which is to be duly filled and submitted with all enclosures to the University department concerned.
• For Part-Time PhD Programmes in India, an entrance examination is held. Based on the test results, candidates are invited for interviews by the University's selection committee.

The minimum educational qualifications for the Part-time programme are the same as prescribed for Regular (full time) Research Scholars. However, valid GATE score or CSIR/ UGC NET/ NBHM/ CAT/ AIMA/ JRF or equivalent qualification as applicable for Regular (Full-time) research scholars may not be required in this case.

Minimum Educational Qualifications for Admissions in Part-Time PhD Programmes in India

1. Candidates who have qualified a Master’s Degree in the eligible discipline with not less than a second class or 60% aggregate score. The minimum score required usually varies between 55- 60%, depending upon the University.
2. Their Master’s Degree in the eligible discipline must have been awarded by any University approved/affiliated by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
3. Candidates must also hold a minimum of an upper second class Graduation Degree in aggregation of the qualifying examination.
   OR
   Five-year integrated Master’s Degree or equivalent in the relevant discipline with a good academic record.
4. B.Tech/ B.E Degree, in case applicable, with a minimum CGPA or equivalent score of 8.0 on the scale of 10.0.
5. An M.Phil or equivalent degree with minimum Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) of 6.0 on the 10 point scale awarded by a recognized University in India or abroad may also be considered as a minimum eligibility for a direct admission to the PhD Program.