PhD in Finance: Course Fees, Admission 2026, Syllabus, Top Colleges, Career Scope
Parul ThapaAssistant Manager
PhD in Finance is a doctorate course that can be completed in three to six years. This course focuses on advanced studies and research in the field of Finance. So you must make sure to complete a PG degree in Finance or related subjects. Entrance exams that are accepted are UGC NET, GATE, CAT, CSIR NET, etc.
For PhD in Finance courses, candidates must have a PG degree (like an MBA in Finance, M.Com, or an equivalent post-graduate diploma) with 55% marks. Candidates wh have CA, CS or CMA with a relevant UG degree or a 4-year UG degree with passing marks can also apply. Admission is based on UGC NET, GATE, CSIR NET, ICMR JRF scores. Please note that curriculum, eligibility, entrance exams and fees can be different based on colleges.
Popular colleges that offer PhD in Finance are DoMS IIT Madras, Amity University, LM Thapar School of Management, IIM Sirmaur, etc.
After PhD in Finance, as a fresher, you can get a salary between INR 10 LPA and INR 16 LPA. Once you reach a managerial role, you can get between INR 50 LPA and INR 70 LPA. PhD in Finance graduates can go for jobs like Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Tax Consultant, Chief Financial Officer, Research Advisor, Research Consultant, etc.
PHD in Finance is a doctoral course. If you want to get into research. You can pursue this course after a relevant PG. It is all about in-depth knowledge of finance principles, operations and the chosen topic for research.
- PhD in Finance Course Details
- How to Apply for PhD in Finance
- PhD in Finance Entrance Exams 2026
- PhD in Finance Admission Process
- PhD in Finance Syllabus
- Best Colleges for PhD in Finance
- Popular Private Ph.D. in Finance Colleges in India
- PhD in Finance Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters
- PhD in Finance FAQs
- Popular Ph.D. in Finance Specializations
- Course Cutoffs
PhD in Finance Course Details
Candidates should go for PhD in Finance if they love solving tough math problems, analysing deep market trends and discovering new financial theories. It is best if your goal is to become a university professor or a top-level research expert in the corporate world.
Candidates can see a general outline of the PhD in Finance course details below -
|
Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
|
Course Name |
Doctor of Philosophy in Finance |
|
Course level |
Doctorate |
|
Eligibility |
Through Fellowship: Master's in a relevant discipline with at least 55% marks Research Entrance Test: PG degree with at least 55% marks |
|
Duration |
3 years and a maximum of up to 6 years |
|
Course Fee |
Rs. 15 K - INR 6 L |
| Top Colleges | IIM Visakhapatnam, IIT Madras, Amity University, Noida, VIT Business School Vellore |
|
Average Salary |
Rs. 3 LPA - INR 8 LPA |
|
Top Recruiters |
Government Departments, Research Institutes, Academic Institutions, Colleges, and Universities |
|
Entrance Exams |
UGC NET, GATE, CAT, CSIR NET, etc |
|
Job Positions |
Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Tax Consultant, Chief Financial Officer, Research Advisor, Research Consultant, etc. |
How to Apply for PhD in Finance
Candidates should clear one of the follwoing national level exams which are accepted by colleges that offer PhD in Finance course -
- National-level exams like UGC NET, GATE, CSIR NET, ICMR, etc.
| Exam | Description | Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| UGC NET | A national exam to become a college professor or win research fellowships in Arts, Commerce, and Finance. | UGC NET Schedule |
| GATE | An exam for admission into Master's or PhD programs in Engineering and Science, and for securing government tech jobs. | GATE Schedule |
| CSIR NET | A national exam to qualify for teaching or research fellowships specifically in Science and Math subjects. | CSIR NET Schedule |
| Schedule | The planned dates and times when these exams take place throughout the year. | ICMR JRF Schedule |
Experience is not mandatory. Though it strengthens your resume. It will help you relate to the curriculum even more. It will give you insights into this field. This course is ideal for you if you want to become a professor or a researcher.
PhD demands great dedication from the students. The eligibility is to have a PG degree from a recognised university in Finance like MBA Finance or MCom Finance. Hope this helps!!!
PhD in Finance Entrance Exams 2026
Some of the common entrance exams or requirements for admission to PhD in Finance are -
| PhD in Finance Entrance Exams | Exam Schedule |
|---|---|
| UGC NET 2026 | UGC NET Exam Date 2026 |
| GATE 2026 | GATE Exam Date 2026 |
| CAT 2026 | CAT Exam Date 2026 |
| CSIR NET 2026 | CSIR NET Exam Date 2026 |
| ICMR JRF 2026 |
ICMR JRF Exam Date 2026 |
Source - Multiple external/official sites, data may vary.
Also read -
Important Exam Dates
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| Nov ' 26 - Apr ' 27 | KIITEE 2027 Registration TENTATIVE |
| Apr ' 27 | KIITEE 2027 Phase 1 Exam TENTATIVE |
| Apr ' 27 - Jun ' 27 | LUMET 2027 registrations TENTATIVE |
| 18 Jul ' 27 | LUMET 2027 exam date |
| Mar ' 27 | OUAT 2027 Registration TENTATIVE |
| 01 Jun ' 26 - 31 Oct ' 26 | IEMJEE 2026 Exam Dates - Phase 3 ONGOING |
| Dates | Past Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| Jan ' 26 | TIFR GS Final Answer |
| 14 Dec ' 25 | TIFR GS 2026 Exam |
| 26 Oct ' 25 | TIFR GS 2026 Application deadline for completing REGISTRATION |
Few Entrances to pursue PhD in Finance are CAT, XAT, GMAT, UGC-NET, GATE and CSIR-NET.
Many institutes and universities conduct their own written test. Some universities also conduct interviews before finalizing candidates and granting them admission to the course.
PhD in Finance Admission Process
Candidates can see a general outline of step wise process of PhD in Finance admission below -
- Make sure you have PG degree or MBA in Finance with 55% marks.
- Class national exams like UGC-NET, GATE, CAT, GMAT or GRE.
- Make a simple plan explaining what you want to study in finance.
- Fill forms online and attach required documents.
- Meet with university expert panel to explain your research ideas.
- Accept admission offer and pay course fees.
PhD in Finance Syllabus
You will find the coursework for a PhD in Finance course is different from one college to another, this is because of their focus on the course. But here you'll get a basic idea of the PhD in Finance course syllabus in India.
| PhD in Finance Subjects - Semester 1 | |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Methods in Finance | Financial Decision Making |
| PhD in Finance Syllabus - Sem 2 | |
| Economics | Microeconomic Theory |
| Ph D in Finance Subjects - Semester 3 | |
| Mathematical Economics | Theory of Quantitative Methods in Economics |
| Ph D in Finance Syllabus - Semester 4 | |
| Econometrics | Empirical Methods in Finance |
| Ph.D. in Finance Subjects - Semester 5 | |
| Fixed Income | Advanced Applied Analysis |
| Ph.D. in Finance Syllabus - Semester 6 | |
| Taxation | Accounting Theory |
Source - external sites.
You can, but that completely depends on your research topic and institute. Some areas, like engineering, have a more defined path and resources, helping you finish in four years. Humanities can be more flexible and research-driven in other case, making it taking longer than usual.
know more about -
You need to complete Master's in order to pursue Ph.D. If you are very much interested in the subject and want deep knowledge and looking for some research based work then Ph.D is a good option. Mainly, teaching and research work profiles are suited after Ph.D.
Best Colleges for PhD in Finance
Candidates can see list of best government and private colleges that offer PhD in Finance course below:
Top PhD in Finance Colleges in India
Refer to the table below:
| PhD Finance Private Colleges | Total Fees |
|---|---|
| DoMS IIT Madras | INR 15 K |
| Amity University | INR 3 L |
| LM Thapar School of Management | INR 54 K |
| IIM Sirmaur | INR 6 L |
| Alliance University | INR 3.5 L |
| School of Management, BML Munjal University | INR 2.8 L |
| Thiagarajar School of Management | INR 90 K |
| Sharda School of Business Studies | INR 2.25 L |
| Shoolini University | INR 4.2 L |
Note: Info is taken from other sources and can be different.
#1 NIRF
No, along with government universities, private universities, private MBA/Finance colleges and B-schools also offer PhD in Finance courses. Government universities are not the only ones that provide Ph.D. programs in finance; private universities and even some foreign colleges do as well.
Read More:
Apart from the IIMs, the top colleges in India that provide PhD in Finance are mentioned in the table below for your reference:
Popular Colleges Offering PhD in Finance | |
|---|---|
Read more about: Finance Courses
Hope it helps!
Popular Private Ph.D. in Finance Colleges in India
PhD in Finance Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters
Getting a PhD Finance can land you many job options in India in academia, research, industry and government sectors. Students just need to stay updated with the latest developments in Finance and build their skills.
PhD in Finance Salary in India
The salary for students with a Ph.D in Finance in India can differ on the basis of factors like their specific role, industry, level of experience, location and the company they work for.
Some of the PhD in Finance Salary along with their job roles are listed below -
|
PhD in Finance Job Roles |
Average Salary |
|---|---|
|
Stockbroker |
INR 3 LPA |
|
Finance Researcher |
INR 4 LPA |
|
Lecturer |
INR 4.4 LPA |
|
Statistician |
INR 6.4 LPA |
|
CFA Manager |
INR 7.8 LPA |
|
Finance Consultant |
INR 6.5 LPA |
|
Tax Consultant |
INR 7.9 LPA |
Note - The average salary has been taken from Ambitionbox.com.
Relevant Links for PhD in Finance:
How to Become a Certified Financial Risk Manager
Professional Courses in Finance
PhD in Finance Top Recruiters
Some of the PhD in Finance Top Recruiters in India are listed below -
| PhD in Finance Top Recruiters | |
|---|---|
| RBI | SEBI |
| NSE | Bombay Stock Exchange |
| SBI | ICICI Bank |
| HDFC Bank | Axis Bank |
Students also liked this PhD in Finance links:
How to Become a Professor in India?
How to Become a Stock Broker in India?
Some options are
- Professor/Associate Professor across various universities.
- Consultant across various fields such as Business Management, Investment,
- Banking, Finance, Business Strategy, Product Development, etc
- Research Associates across various government and not-for-profit research organizations.
An MBA followed by PHD in Finance is an impressive qualification. Salaries differ based on skills, location and employer. Some of the average figures are:
- Entry-Level: INR 8 LPA - 15 LPA
- Mid-Level: INR 15 - 30 LPA
- Senior-Level: 30 - 60 LPA
Hope it helps!
PhD in Finance FAQs
Here are some Important FAQs related to Ph.D. in Finance.
PhD in most of institutes in India is minimum two year duration course. PhD is awarded in your area of subject based on research. Some students are able to complete PhD is two year but majority take 3 to 4 years to complete PhD.
The "usefulness" of a course depends -
If you want to get into research or become a lecturer and professor, then you should go for PHD in finance. If you want to get into corporate or managerial roles, then go for an MBA in Finance.
PhD is the short form of Doctor of Philosophy. It is the highest-level of educational degree. You are required to complete a Master's degree to be eligibile for a PhD course. You can pursue a PhD program in any stream. You need to select a topic or a subject during this course and do in-depth research on it and answer any queries related to the topic/ subject.
The PhD duration in India is between 3 years and 5 years that depends on your research area and institute requirements.
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Popular Ph.D. in Finance Specializations
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The duration of PhD in Finance is the same as other PhD courses, i.e. three years and an extension of up to two years is given to candidates by most of the universities. Candidates can complete the course within five years. The course can either be pursued in full-time or part-time mode but by no means can be pursued in distance mode. PhD is a professional degree that requires investment of time for primary and secondary research activities.
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PhD Courses