Online PhD Programs Admission 2025: PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy, this course is not easily made available online mode due to the complexity of the program, the vastness of the syllabus, limited resources, and no face-to-face interaction between the students and teacher, all these factors make it very tough to impart doctoral degrees in an online format.
Despite these challenges, there are a few universities in India that provide PhD programs.
Many Indian universities offer online PhD programs, in fields like education, management, and social sciences. Some major universities that provide PhD programs include:
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) – Offers various doctoral programs through distance learning.
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University – Provides opportunities for research degrees through distance education.
- The University of Mumbai – Offers PhD programs in select disciplines.
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) – Has started offering some online options, though traditional modes are more common.
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Admissions to Online PhD Programs
Admissions in the online PhD programs happen in two sessions one usually begins in January and ends in June while the other generally begins in July and ends in December. Candidates with valid UGC NET with JRF or valid UGC NET Score of the year 2025 are eligible subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria for PhD admission as prescribed in the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022.
Online PhD Programs: Latest Updates
- Online Doctoral Programs were made possible by regulations approved by UGC in 2018.
- Up until 2021, no Universities were offering Online PhD programs.
- Many Universities have begun offering fellowships of INR 50,000 per month for up to 3 years for their online Research Study courses.
Online PhD Programs: Admission Process
The general procedure for admission to an online doctoral program consists of:
- Application: The application form is usually available in online format.
- Selection: The criteria for selection depends on academic credentials, written tests, and/or interviews.
- Admission: Admission is offered to a limited number of candidates.
To apply to a University for admission you can:
- Go to the official website of the University
- Register online on the portal
- Select the desired course
- Fill out the application form with your correct personal and educational details
- Upload scanned copies of required documents in the applicable format
- Pay the application fee (the application fee is non-refundable for every University)
- Submit the application form
- Receive confirmation via email and/or SMS on the credentials that you provided earlier
- Log in to the website and update the application form
- Upload your passport-size photograph and signature in the applicable size of the file.
- Click the declaration button and proceed to the payment window to proceed further.
Documents Required:
- Valid E-mail and phone number
- Recent photograph and signature
- Credit/Debit card or internet banking.
- The applicant’s PG certificate.
Selection Process for Online Doctoral Programs
Online PhD Program admission shall be done based on the candidate’s performance in the UGC NET examination, the applicants have been divided into two categories for simplification of the interview process. The interview is conducted by the University in the following manner:
- Category A are candidates who qualified for UGC NET with a Fellowship (With JRF). These applicants have to fill out the online admission form for Ph.D. He/ She shall be called for an interview carrying 100% weightage.
- Category B candidates who qualified for UGC NET without Fellowship (this covers Category 2 and 3 of UGC NET) during the year 2024 have to also fill out the online admission form for Ph.D. They shall be called for an interview based on the merit of their UGC NET score which shall carry a weightage of 70% and a 30% weightage shall be given to the interview.
Online PhD Programs Admission Eligibility Criteria
- Students who have completed their 1 year/2 semester master’s degree program after a 4 year/8 semester bachelor’s degree program with at least 55% marks or equivalent grading shall be eligible.
- Applicants who have completed their 2 year/4 semester master’s degree program after a 3 year/6 semester bachelor’s degree program with a minimum of 55% aggregate score or equivalent grade point average shall be eligible.
- PG course should be of relevance to the doctoral program that the student has applied for.
- He/She must qualify for NET-UGC or any other valid entrance exam depending on the University.
Online PhD Programs Admission Fee Structure
The average fee for an online doctoral program in India depends on the University, the Program, and the type of program:
- Correspondence PhD: The average tuition fee for a correspondence PhD in India is between INR 5,000 and INR 50,000 per semester.
- Full-time online PhD: The fee for a full-time online PhD can be as high as INR 13 lakhs.
- Part-time online PhD: The fee for a part-time online PhD can be as high as INR 8 lakhs.
How to Choose the Right Online PhD Program?
- Choose the Subject of Your Choice: You must choose the subject according to your choice and interest. Your decision will affect your overall career.
- Check the Approval: You must ensure that the institute is authorized and verified. This means whether the institute is meeting the requirements of educational standards or not.
- Check the Fee Structure: Also look at the fee structure to plan your payment and admission process. There are many affordable options available that you can choose from.