When I decided to go for a PhD in India, I knew what I was signing up for. I’d had a little taste of it in MPhil. The difference between MPhil and a PhD in India is not just about semantics but also about research. MPhil stands for Master of Philosophy, whereas PhD’s full form is Doctor of Philosophy.
In this article, you’ll learn about the following:
- What is a PhD
- What are the requirements for admission to PhD in India, and
- What universities can you apply to
Fun fact: Doctor as a title was first awarded to those who excelled in humanities and social science and was later adopted for healthcare workers.
Indian post-graduate degrees often don’t have a research component, so degrees like MPhil have become popular to serve as a gateway to a PhD. After all, PhD is a more intensive MPhil. The National Education Policy 2020 has now scrapped MPhil, with DU shutting its MPhil course from the 2022-23 academic year. Let’s just hope they make amendments to the Masters’s degree all over India because pursuing a PhD without research experience is a needless exercise.
Hear it from me, PhD is a gruelling process with few rewards. You have to understand the real meaning of a PhD.; you will be constantly stressed, so much so that it becomes your natural state of being. You will likely develop dark circles (I did). You will be frustrated, you will cry, and you will want to leave your degree midway. Is the end rewarding? Debatable, it depends on the person. But okay, you want it, so let’s get started!
Every university and department has its own PhD process. There is no singular process for PhD admissions in India, but there are certain commonalities that I will list.
- Identify the potential PhD options and read their admission process thoroughly: As I said, every university differs. Some require NET/JRF for admission (Like certain IITs), some give extra marks if you’ve cleared NET/JRF (MDU Rohtak), and some don’t require it at all (Like Tata Institute of Social Sciences). But there is usually an entrance test and an interview to determine your potential. The entrance test will make up for the bulk of the marks, and the interview will be an in-depth analysis of your research aptitude. Your marks in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees also matter. Most universities require you to have scored at least 50% in your master’s degree before you can move on to a PhD. Few universities can also mandate work experience as a requirement for admission. Here is a list of central universities, state universities, deemed universities and private universities to get started.
- Have a solid research proposal: Not all universities will require it, but it’s a good practice. Your research proposal will outline the why, how and where of the topic that will stay with you throughout your PhD. This is literally the meaning of your PhD. Do not skip it. Additionally, this is what will make your application stand out. You need to be passionate about this topic because this is all you’ll study for the next 3-5 years.
- Know the basics of research: Now, research in India is not as developed as in other countries, but we are trying, I guess. Pick up JW Creswell’s Research Design which outlines Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches to research. You’ll have a decent understanding of what different kinds of research are. This will help you build upon your research proposal and show you a way of doing research.
- Look up your potential supervisor: Now, this comes after you get into the program, but it doesn’t hurt to identify a professor you want to work with and familiarise yourself with their work. It just helps to give you a leg up in your admission journey.
- Look up for scholarships to fund your PhD: UGC website is a great place to start, and your selected university should have options too.
So here are some tips for getting into a PhD program in India in 2022. Have I missed out on something? Let me know in the comments below!