Table of Contents
Doctor of Literature Course Highlights
| D.Litt. Full Form | Doctor of Literature or Letters |
| Course Type | Doctorate |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Admission Process | Merit or Entrance Exam based |
| Course Fee | INR 2,000 to INR 1,50,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 2,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 |
| Recruiting Companies | Horizon, ITM Edutech, Government Authorities, and many more |
| Job Position | Professor, Senior Research Scientist, Educational Department Head, Operation Head, and much more |
What is D.Litt. and What is it About?
The full form of Litt is Literature. And D.Litt. full form is Doctor of Literature. Doctor of Literature is a 2-year doctoral degree which recognizes specialization in disciplines including Humanities, Social Sciences and Creative Arts.
The course includes core subjects like Literary Theory and Criticism, Research Methodology, Historical and Cultural Context, Author Studies, Comparative Literature depending on different universities.
It also includes Dissertation or Thesis Writing. Along with that some of the electives include Literature of Specific Periods, Translation Studies, Visual Arts.
Relevant Links for Doctor of Literature
- Difference Between Research Paper and Review Paper?
- Professional Thesis Writing Help for Research Scholars in India
- How to Write a Review Paper for Publication?
- PhD Thesis in English Literature: It’s Easy If You Do It Smartly!
- Who is a Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.)?
- PhD Admission 2025 for Working Professionals is Effortless with Aimlay
Why Study?
Doctor of Literature short form is D.Litt. Professionals who want to focus and pursue subjects relating to literature would be the most interested. D.Litt. is beneficial as:
- One can apply to be a part of the editorial team in any publication.
- It helps you further in deeply studying a specific topic.
- It helps one in interpreting everything with a critical eye.
- D.Litt. Full form is Doctor of Literature, and it counts as one of the honorable degrees in Literature.
Doctor of Literature Admission Process
The admission process for D.Litt. is simple and it is usually based on merit in most of the colleges.
- Professionals who want to pursue Doctor of Litt must fill in an application form which would be available on the website of the deemed college.
- A merit list will be announced at a later date. In case any university decides to hold entrance exam, the date is announced almost a month before.
- With the merit list one can check and enroll in their desired university. Students need to visit the university to verify all the documents.
How to Apply for Doctor of Literature degree?
Below are the steps to help you apply for Doctor of Literature:
- Register yourself in the desired university.
- Fill in an online application form and submit the payment before the due date.
- Admit Card for the entrance exam along with the date will be available in your portal. Appear for the entrance exam. And in some colleges, merit lists will be released.
- Results will be declared, and the counselling process will take place. Qualified students will be eligible for admission.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible in Doctor of Literature degree one needs to have:
- PhD in the same or similar fields from a recognized university
- A minimum of 50% marks as an aggregate
- At least 5-10 years of post-PhD experience (depending on university)
- A portfolio of published scholarly work such as books, journals, articles, etc.
Entrance Exams
| UGC NET | UGC NET exam is conducted to test and determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for “Assistant Professor”, “PhD” and “Junior research Fellowship”. It holds a lot of prestige with many students taking the exam every year. |
| NEE | NEE exam is conducted by NERIST for admissions to various undergraduate, postgraduate and other doctoral level exams specifically for the North-Eastern Universities of India |
Doctor of Literature Syllabus
| Year 1 | Year 2 |
| Literary Theory and Criticism | Genre Study |
| Research Methodology | Independent Research |
| American Literature | Literature and Visual Arts |
| Contemporary Literature | Creative Writing |
| Author Studies | Translation Studies |
| Historical and Cultural Studies | Dissertation/ Thesis |
Important Books
For an individual to excel in literature and related fields, a list of books does not compete with the number of novels that have been published throughout centuries. But mentioned below is a compiled list of novels and books that one can read to understand the syllabus of D.Litt. degree
- Beowulf, Unknown Author
- The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer
- Hamlet, William Shakespeare
- Doctor Faustus, Christopher Marlowe
- Paradise Lost, Milton
- Poems of Romantic Age by Poets like William Blake, John Keats, ST Coleridge
- Hard Times, Charles Dickens
- The Birthday Party, Harold Pinter
- Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett
- Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf
- The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
- Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus
- Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka
Course Comparison: Doctor of Literature vs PhD
| Parameters | D.Litt. | PhD |
| Full Form | D.Litt. full form is Doctor of Literature | PhD full form is Doctor of Philosophy |
| Course Type | Doctorate | Doctorate |
| Duration | 2 years | 2-5 years (depending on university) |
| Eligibility | PhD degree with 50% marks on average | Master’s degree with 55% marks on average |
| Admission Process | Merit or Entrance Exam Based | Entrance with an Interview Based |
| Best Universities | Mumbai University, SOA, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, BHU | Delhi University, JNU, BHU, IITs, EFLU |
| Career Opportunities | Senior Research Assistant, Senior Political Advisor, Operations Manager, Educational Department Head, and much more | Author, Copywriter, Content Developer, Public Relations Options |
| University Fee | INR 2,000 to INR 1,50,000 | INR 50,000 to INR 6,00,000 |
| Salary Package | INR 2,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 | INR 8,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 |
Doctor of Literature Job Profiles
| Job Profiles | Description | Salary |
| Senior Research Scientist | They are exceptionally qualified, and they conduct research, analyze data, and publish findings. | INR 7,00,000 |
| Director of Research and Development | They provide strategic leadership and oversight for an organization. | INR 2,50,000 |
| Assistant Professor | The role of assistant professor is to teach and guide graduate students in universities. | INR 3,33,000 |
| Educational Department Head | The role of departmental head is to provide leadership amongst the administrative and academic management of a particular department. | INR 2,50,000 |
Future Scope
Doctor of Literature in India is an exceptional but at the same time a very privileged kind of doctorate. One can pursue short-term courses based on specializations after D. Litt. Along with that, they can also write novels and be an author.
Professionals can apply for jobs in various sectors with only success. They can be copywriter, content creator, editor, and even freelancer.
No, it is not online. But some universities do offer an online degree. One needs to constantly check if it is accredited.
D.Litt. full form is Doctor of Literature or Letters.
Anyone who is interested in English literature and related fields can opt for this course.
In most universities UGC NET is a common requirement for Doctor of Literature.
Yes, famous personalities like Chinua Achebe, Toni Morrison, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Edward Said, Salman Rushdie, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and C. Rajagopalachari have graduated and earned Doctor of Literature
