List of PhD Specializations: Course-wise Specializations, Eligibility, Entrance Exams

List of PhD Specializations: Course-wise Specializations, Eligibility, Entrance Exams

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Aayushi
Aayushi Madavi
Associate Senior Executive
Updated on Apr 7, 2025 15:34 IST

Students can pursue a PhD degree in any subject as per their choice, given that they have a master’s degree in the same subject. Learn what these subjects and specialisations are on this page.

List of PhD Specialization

List of PhD Specializations

List of PhD Specialisations - PhD, which is also known as Doctor of Philosophy, is a higher-level qualification or an academic doctoral degree programme. A PhD programme is usually 3-4 years long and involves in-depth studies and research work in a particular field or discipline. Students enrolled on a PhD course are expected to complete the course within a maximum time duration of five to six years. In some colleges and research institutes, the duration of a PhD course may differ. In order to pursue a PhD course, candidates are required to have a master’s degree. At the end of the research, the PhD scholars are also required to submit a conclusion of their research or a thesis. However, PhD specialization choices depend on the subject pursued during the postgraduate course, there are many specializations in which PhD programmes are offered. In this article, we will take a look at the list of PhD specializations. Read further to learn more. 

Table of content
  • PhD Course Highlights
  • Eligibility Criteria for PhD
  • List of PhD Specialisations
  • Popular Entrance Exams for PhD

PhD Course Highlights

Before getting into the list of PhD specializations, let us take a look at some course details in the table below. 

Particulars

Details

Course Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Course level

Doctorate

Eligibility

Through Fellowship - Aspirants must have a Master's degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 55% marks, and must have passed the National level fellowship examination.

Research Entrance Test - Aspirants should have a master's degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 55% marks and must have passed the RET conducted by the university.

Duration

3 years and a maximum of 6 years

Course Fee

Up to INR 6 lakh

Top Colleges

Jamia Millia IslamiaJawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University Banaras Hindu University

Average Starting Salary

INR 5 to 10 lakh

Top Recruiters

Government Departments, Research Institutes, Academic Institutions, Colleges and Universities

Entrance Exam

JESTGATEUGC NET, CSIR NET

Job Positions

Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Research Advisor, Research Consultant

Also Read: Top 10 BA Subjects & Specialisations

Eligibility Criteria for PhD

Students interested in pursuing a PhD course must have completed their master’s degree in a similar course or stream in which they aspire to pursue PhD. 

Along with it, some colleges and research institutes state that candidates are considered eligible for a PhD course offered by them if they have passed UGC NET. Meanwhile, candidates interested to pursue a PhD in Engineering should have a valid GATE score.

List of PhD Specialisations

The stream-wise list of PhD specialisations is provided in the table below. 

Popular PhD courses in Humanities

·         PhD in Humanities

·         PhD Economics

·         PhD Geography

·         PhD in Social Work

·         PhD in English

·         PhD in Social Sciences

·         PhD in Public and Economic Policy

·         PhD in Humanities & Social Sciences

·         PhD in Humanities and Life Sciences

·         PhD in Psychology

·         PhD in Arts

·         PhD in International Relations and Politics

·         PhD in Physiology

·         PhD in Public Policy

·         PhD in Literature

Popular PhD Courses in Science

·         PhD in Chemistry

·         PhD in Clinical Research

·         PhD in Science

·         PhD in Bioscience

·         PhD in Bioinformatics

·         PhD Biotechnology

·         PhD in Mathematical and Computational Sciences

·         PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering

·         PhD in Applied Chemistry & Polymer Technology

·         PhD in Applied Sciences

·         PhD Zoology

·         PhD in Physics

·         PhD in Basic and Applied Sciences

·         Phd in Mathematics

·         PhD in Zoology

Popular PhD Courses in Commerce

·         PhD in Commerce Management

·         PhD in Accounting and Financial Management

Popular PhD Courses in Engineering

·         PhD in Engineering

·         PhD in Genetic Engineering

·         PhD in Civil Engineering

·         PhD Program in Quantitative Techniques

·         PhD in Engineering and Technology

·         PhD Electronics & Communication Engineering

·         PhD Computer Science Engineering

·         PhD in Electronics and Communication Engineering

·         PhD in Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering

·         PhD in Information Technology

·         PhD in Ceramic Engineering

·         PhD in Production Engineering

·         PhD in Marine Biotechnology

·         PhD in Chemical Engineering

·         PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Popular PhD Courses in Business & Management

·         PhD Business Administration

·         PhD in Management

·         PhD in Aviation Management

·         PhD in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

·         PhD in Accounting and Financial Management

·         PhD in Marketing/ Brand Management

·         PhD in Commerce

·         PhD in Commerce and Management

Popular PhD Courses in Law

·         PhD in Law

·         PhD in Constitutional Law

·         PhD in Law and Governance

·         PhD in Legal Studies

Popular PhD Courses in Teaching & Education

·         PhD in Education

·         PhD in Teaching

Also Read: Top 10 Music Colleges in India

Popular Entrance Exams for PhD

The popular entrance exams that allow admission to PhD programmes are linked in the table below. Aspiring PhD students can click on these links to learn more about these entrance exams. 

Name of the Exam

GATE

UGC NET

CSIR NET

JEST

Read More:

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About the Author
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Aayushi Madavi
Associate Senior Executive
Aayushi is a BAJMC graduate and an ardent consumer of content with a keen passion for film, TV and books. She specialises in Mass Communication and Humanities related exams, entrances and courses.