What is a PhD Degree? Full Form of PhD Degree, Eligibility, Entrance exam, Admission procedure, top colleges in India and abroad.

Full Form of PhD Degree: A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the highest academic degree awarded in various fields. It is a research-based program that typically takes 3–6 years to complete and involves an extensive thesis or dissertation.

The full form of PhD is Doctor of Philosophy. In some countries, Ph. D also termed as DPhil or D.Phil. A doctorate holder can use the word ‘Dr.’ before their name. Ph. D curriculum is the most notable training in a profession and a man graduating with a PhD is considered to be highly qualified in his sector.

It is an internationally recognized PG program which requires years of study, so one has to publish and access his work to receive a PhD. Most doctoral degrees require completion of the coursework, detailed exams and a thesis and need at least three years of guidance for the research.

Table of Content

1. Eligibility Criteria 

2. PhD Entrance Exams in India

3. PhD Admission Procedure

4. PhD Admission 2025

5. PhD Admission 2025

6. Top PhD Colleges in India

7. Top PhD Colleges Abroad

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PhD

1. Eligibility Criteria for PhD: To pursue PhD, candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

I) Academic Qualification:

+ Candidates can pursue PhD course only if they have completed their master’s degree (MSc, MA, MTech, MBA or equivalent) with at least 55%-60% marks from a recognised university.

+ Some universities also clearly state that candidates must do MPhil to pursue the PhD course being offered by them.

+ Still, many colleges require that candidates fulfil the eligibility they offer for PhD programmes, whether they have cleared UGC NET or not.

+ Candidates who wish to pursue PhD in engineering must have a reasonable GATE score.

II)Entrance Exam Requirement: 

+ Many universities require candidates to clear entrance exams.

2. PhD Entrance Exams in India:

Different universities accept different exams for PhD admissions. Some popular entrance exams are:

I) UGC-NET (National Eligibility Test)

II) CSIR-NET (For Science & Engineering Streams)

III) GATE (For Engineering & Technology Students)

IV)JEST (For Physics and Theoretical Computer Science)

V) ICMR JRF (For Medical & Healthcare Fields)

VI) DBT JRF (For Biotechnology Fields)

VII) IIT JAM (For Science Fields - IISc, IITs)

VIII) University-Specific Exams (IITs, IIMs, JNU, DU, etc.)

3. PhD Admission Procedure

Step 1: Meet Eligibility Criteria

+ Ensure you fulfill the required educational qualifications and have a research interest in a specific domain.

Step 2: Appear for Entrance Exam

+ Most universities require an entrance exam score (UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, etc.), while some offer direct admission to meritorious students.

Step 3: Selection Process

+ Candidates shortlisted via entrance exam undergo a personal interview and research proposal submission.

+ The final selection depends on entrance scores, academic records, and research potential.

Step 4: Enrollment & Coursework

+ Selected candidate complete coursework in research methodologies and domain-specific subjects in the first year.

+ After completing coursework, they begin independent research under a supervisor.

Step 5: Thesis Submission & Viva

+ Candidates must submit a thesis/dissertation based on original research.

+ After thesis approval, they defend it in a viva voce before a panel of experts.

5. PhD Admission 2025:

To secure admission to the PhD or research programmes offered by the university, candidates need to go through the below steps as a part of the PhD admission process 2025:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the university and go through all the details of the PhD courses offered by the institute and select the area of ​​research that the candidates wish to pursue.

Step 2: Candidates need to keep an eye on any admission advertisements in newspapers or visit the official website of the university. Usually, admissions are announced 4 to 5 months before the course cycle begins.

Step 3: Next, candidates need to fill and submit their application forms for the PhD course as per the schedule shared by the university. Candidates also need to ensure that they pay the application fee on time and submit all the required documents along with their application form for PhD admission.

Step 4: Some universities also specify that candidates must submit a research proposal along with their application form. The application form along with the research proposal is submitted to the research unit of the academic institution, where the application is checked.

Step 5: After the checking of the PhD course application form is complete, most of the university shortlist the names of the candidates who have to appear for the entrance exam and other admission rounds which are conducted to shortlist the candidates for admission to the PhD programs offered by them.

Step 6: Candidates selected for PhD programs based on the admission rounds are then assigned supervisors/guides for their PhD research. It is important to note that the time duration of a PhD can range from 3 to 6 years.

6. Top PhD Colleges in India:

7. Top PhD Colleges Abroad

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PhD

I) Can I do PhD after BTech or BSc?

+ Yes, some IITs, IISc and foreign universities offer direct admission to PhD to exceptional candidates with a Bachelor's degree.

II) Is PhD mandatory to become a professor?

+ Yes, as per UGC guidelines, PhD is mandatory for Assistant Professor positions in Indian universities from 2023.

III) Do PhD students get stipend?

+ Yes, most PhD candidates get stipend (₹25,000-₹50,000 per month) depending on the funding they receive from institutes, fellowships or projects.

IV) What is the duration of PhD?

+ Depending on the progress of research, PhD usually takes 3-6 years to complete.

V) Which is better: PhD in India or abroad?

Abroad: Higher research funding, better infrastructure, global exposure.

India: At a low cost, top institutes like IITs, IISc and IIMs offer good research opportunities.