The 2023-2024 academic year is the last chance for students to apply for PhD admissions in India. It is important to note that all the deadlines mentioned below are subject to change without prior notice and may not be updated before exam registration opens on January 31, 2020.
Table of Content
1. PhD Entrance Exams
2. Exam Schedule
3. Pattern of a General PhD Examination
4. Syllabus
5. Preparation Tips
6. Eligibility
7. General information
8. PhD Admission Process
9. Frequently Asked Questions
PhD Entrance Exams
The PhD Entrance Exams are the most important event in the entire admission process. These exams will determine if you have passed the entrance exam and if your application is eligible for further consideration. Most students take this step very seriously because their future depends on it! If you don’t pass these exams. Then there is no way that any other part of your application can be considered valid. Therefore, make sure that you study hard enough before taking them so that they don’t cause any problems later down the road when applying for financial aid or scholarships etc.
PhD entrance exams are usually held in the month of March. And you can find additional details about each institution’s requirements on their website.
You’ll need to take one or more of these exams:
- UGC NET
- CSIR UGC
- AIIMS PhD Entrance Exam
- ICMS
- TIFR and many more
These exams are decided on the basis of the university’s schedule. So check with the university’s admin to enquire about your desired PhD entrance exam.
Exam Schedule
The PhD admissions process is a very thorough process and can take up to 4 years. This time period includes the time it takes for you to complete all of your undergraduate courses write your dissertation proposal. Find a mentor and complete it, as well as post-doctoral research experience.
The exam pattern of a general PhD examination in India is:
The comprehensive or the qualifying examination. This exam is conducted after the coursework is completed or at the intermediate stage of the program. This exam is for the assessment of understanding of the subject matter, research methodology, and their ability to articulate and defend their research proposal.
Pre-submission seminar: this exam is not conducted at every university. But some prefer to ask the aspirants to present their research findings before the final submission of the thesis. You tend to present your overview in front of the institution’s authority or sometimes the common public in order to cultivate feedback and also some questions asked by the crowd.
Thesis Defence/Viva Voce Examination: After the submission of the thesis. Students are required to defend their work in a viva voce examination. This is an oral examination conducted by an examination committee. Which typically consists of faculty members, external experts, and sometimes the general public. The viva voce examination involves a rigorous questioning and discussion session, where the student defends their research, justifies their methodology, and answers questions related to their thesis.
Syllabus
The PhD admission exam syllabus is a list of questions that will be asked during your interview. These include basic knowledge about your area of specialization. As well as more in-depth questions about research methods, ethics and responsibilities.
The PhD admissions committee will want to make sure that you have enough experience with both academia and industry before they can approve your application. They will also want to know if there are any gaps in your educational background or career path that could affect how well you perform on the day itself (for example: if another course has taken place recently).
Preparation Tips
- Study hard.
- Study smart.
- Study the basics.
- Study the fundamentals of your field and subject area. As well as knowledge you will need to get through each exam such as how to do research and write an essay or grant proposal
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s degree
- Master’s Degree
- Letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors at your current institution(s)
- A personal statement describing your reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD. As well as how this degree will help you achieve those goals. The statement should be no longer than two pages. With one page reserved for your research plan and the other for any other relevant information that you think would be helpful in demonstrating. Why it is worth pursuing this path with us; please keep in mind that there are many commonalities between these essays yet they should still stand out through their uniqueness.
General information
The PhD admission process is based on your performance in the entrance exam. You need to submit your application before the deadline for each session. The fee for applying for PhD admission is Rs. 2-3 lakhs per annum.
The best way to apply for PhD admissions is by filling out the application form online through the links provided on the institution’s website.
PhD Admission Process
The PhD admission process is a three-step process. It begins with eligibility, then moves to entrance-based admission, and finally to exam schedule.