What is Ph.D. in Economics: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Updated on May 15, 2025 10:22 IST

The term PhD full form is Doctor of Philosophy in Economics. The course teaches the students the skills to study the finite resources. A PhD is the highest qualification. There is no fixed duration and a student can also specialize in different branches like Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, International Economics and Business Economics

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PHD in Economics Course Details: Highlights

Candidates can see the key highlights below:

Particulars 

Details 

Course Name

Ph.D in Economics 

Course level 

Doctorate

Admission Procedure

Merit and Entrance Based.

Entrance Exams

UGC NET  and GATE

Course Fees 

INR 15,000 to INR 1.5 Lakh

Salary in India

INR 8-15 LPA. 

Job Profiles 

Professor, Financial Analyst, Investment Banker

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

Q:   What is economics all about?
A:
Economics is the study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable commodities and distribute them among different people. Behind this definition are two key ideas in economics: goods are scarce and that society must use its resources efficiently.
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Q:   What is the scope of agricultural economics?
A:
Most of the industries depend on the raw material produced by agriculture, so agriculture is the principal source of raw material to the industries. The industries like cotton textile, jute, paper, sugar depends totally on agriculture for the supply of raw material. The small scale and cottage industries like hand loom and power loon, ginning and pressing, oil crushing, rice husking, sericulture fruit processing, etc. are also mainly agro based industries.
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Table of contents
  • PhD in Economics Eligibility Criteria
  • PhD in Economics Admission 2025
  • PhD in Economics Entrance Exams 2025
  • PhD Economics Syllabus 2025
  • Best PhD in Economics Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Ph.D. in Economics Colleges in India
  • PhD in Economics Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters
  • PhD Economics FAQs: 2025
  • Popular Ph.D. in Economics Specializations
  • Course Cutoffs
View More

PhD in Economics Eligibility Criteria

Candidates can see the PhD in Economics eligibility below:

Criteria Requirements
Academic Qualification
Bachelor's degree 4 years, including 1 year of research in Economics or a relevant field from a recognized university or Master's degree in Economics or a relevant field from a recognized university.
Minimum Marks
Minimum 55% marks or equivalent CGPA in the Master's degree. 
Entrance Exams
Many colleges require a valid score in national or university-level entrance exams like UGC NET, CSIR NET and GATE.
Research Proposal
Some colleges may require a research proposal outlining the intended research topic.
Interview
Shortlisted students often undergo an interview to assess their research aptitude and suitability for the program.

Age Limit 

No prescribed age limit.

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.
 

Q:   Can I do Ph.D. in economics after MBA in finance.
A:
Yes, you can do Ph.D. in economics after MBA in finance as you are eligible for doing Ph.D. in Business Economics. To be eligible for Ph.D. course, you should have completed Masters degree with above 55% marks from a recognised university. You should also have a Bachelor's degree in economics / Bachelor in technology in economics from a recognised university. MBA in finance will help if Ph.D. in economics involves higher level math.
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Q:   What are the career options in economics?
A:
There are multiple good career options available for graduate/ postgraduates in Economics. You can join MNCs, BFSI (Banking Financial Services & Insurance) companies as research analysts, Indian Economic Services, Civil Services, RBI, PO in banks , BPO, KPO, PSUs, private companies , Armed Forces as officer, academics etc .
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PhD in Economics Admission 2025

You can have a general overview of the PhD in Economics admission process below. These are the basic requirements. You need to fulfil them.

  • Make sure you meet the eligibility
  • Apply online by flling up the form
  • Take entrance exam
  • Wait for the merit list and result
  • If selected, attend the counselling session
  • Get the documents verified and pay the fee to secure the seat

Note: The info is taken from other sites and can be different.

PhD in Economics Entrance Exams 2025

Candidates can see the list of exams below:

PhD Economics Entrance Exam

Entrance Exam Schedule

GATE

GATE Exam Date 

UGC NET

UGC NET Exam Date 

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.
 

Important Exam Dates

DatesUpcoming Exam Dates
Jan ' 26

YCMOU Dec 2025

TENTATIVE
Jan ' 26

TIFR GS Final Answer

TENTATIVE
Jan ' 26

VITREE 2026 July Session Application Form

TENTATIVE
Jan ' 26

NPAT Registration Window

TENTATIVE
Feb ' 26 - Apr ' 26

IPU CET 2026 Application Form Availability

TENTATIVE
Mar ' 26 - May ' 26

NPAT 2026 Exam Dates

TENTATIVE
Apr ' 26

VITREE 2026 Admit Card

TENTATIVE
DatesPast Exam Dates
14 Dec ' 25

TIFR GS 2026 Exam

21 Nov ' 25

ICAR JRF SRF 2025 Counselling Mop-Up: Seat Acceptance Fee deposition

19 Nov ' 25

ICAR JRF SRF 2025 Counselling Mop-Up: Document Verification by Universities

Q:   What is the exam pattern of UGC NET?
A:

According to the latest NTA UGC NET Exam Pattern exam consist 2 papers. Although, it will be conducted without any break in the fixed time duration of 3 hours, which means exam is conducted in single session. Exam is totally computer based. There is no negative marking so attempting all questions is compulsory. Both papers consist only MCQs. Paper 1 consist 50 questions of total 100 marks in an hour whereas paper 2 consists 100 questions of total 200 marks in 2 hours. Paper 2 is based on subject questions opted by the candidate. Paper 1 is totally based on teaching / research aptitude, reasoning ability, comprehension and general awareness. Hope the information helps.

Q:   What is GATE 2026 Exam structure?
A:

GATE papers have three major sections; General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics & Specific Subject. There are 65 questions asked for 100 marks in GATE exam.  

General aptitude questions are asked for 15 marks, Engineering mathematics in some paper codes, 13 marks and the rest 72 marks from the chosen subject.  

In some paper codes engineering mathematics will be excluded only 15 marks general aptitude questions and rest 85 marks will be of chosen subject. 

PhD Economics Syllabus 2025

Candidates can see the PhD in Economics syllabus below:

PhD in Economics Syllabus

Research Methodology in Economics

Advanced Econometrics

Topics in Development Economics

Advanced Economic Theory

Econometric Methods

Topics in Financial Economics

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.
 

 

Q:   Can I do PhD in Economics through distance learning?
A:

Yes, you can pursue PhD Economics in distance mode. There are over 100 colleges in India that offer the course in distance mode out of which 52 are government colleges, 42 are private-run and 39 are semi-government colleges. Most of these colleges accept UGC NET, CSIR NET and GATE exam score for admission to the course. 

Q:   Who can pursue Economics courses?
A:

Anyone who wishes to pursue a promising career in academics or economic policy-making or the banking industry can pursue Economics.Those candidates who have pursued Mathematics are favoured for UG courses in Economics since Statistics is one of the major subjects offered both in UG and PG courses in Economics.Many candidates also aspire to join government services through UPSC CSE, or State PSCs or UPSC IES and Economics is a popular optional subject in these examinations. Students who possess Research, Analytical, and Statistical skills can be admitted to Economics courses.

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Economics Career

Best PhD in Economics Colleges in India

There are more than 170 PhD in Economics colleges in India. You can see some top options for government and private PhD Economics colleges below.

Best Government PhD in Economics Colleges in India

See the list of popular government colleges in India that offer PhD in Economics below.

Best Government Colleges

Tuition Fees 

PSGCAS Coimbatore

INR 13,860

IGNOU

INR 50,400

TISS - Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

INR 1.19 Lakh - INR 2.06 Lakh

Aligarh Muslim University

INR 35,520

Netaji Subhas Open University

INR 21,000

IIT Bombay

INR 8.08 Lakh

PSTU Hyderabad

INR 3,900

IIT Kanpur

INR 48,550

Guru Nanak Dev University

INR 40,400 - INR 1.15 Lakh

Patna University

INR 6,000

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Best Private PhD in Economics Colleges in India

Here's a list of popular private colleges in India that offer PhD in Economics below.

Best Private Colleges

Tuition Fees

Amity University, Noida

INR 3 Lakh - INR 16 Lakh

Mithibai College of Arts

INR 92,000

LPU - Lovely Professional University

INR 3 Lakh

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University

INR 4.2 Lakh

Goa University

INR 24,570

Parul University, Vadodara

INR 2.1 Lakh - INR 3 Lakh

MIT WPU

INR 3 Lakh

Ashoka University

INR 75,000

Flame University

INR 90,000

Christ - Delhi NCR Campus

INR 90,000

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

35 Courses
432 - 18.5 K
8.4 LPA

#3 NIRF

22 Courses
55.95 K - 86.01 K
9.24 - 9.5 LPA

#1 NIRF

65 Courses
500 - 19.09 K
7 LPA

#2 NIRF

25 Courses
33.81 K - 50.45 K
5.4 LPA

#4 NIRF

22.2 K - 6.82 L
5.5 - 6.22 LPA

#8 NIRF

1.4 L - 1.42 L
8 LPA

#5 NIRF

Popular Private Ph.D. in Economics Colleges in India

1.07 L - 16 L
3.4

#81 India Today

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

75 K - 5.92 L
3.8

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

4 Courses
9 L
2.1 L - 2.4 L
1.56 L - 8.4 L
3.6 - 4 LPA

#84 India Today

5 K - 2.19 L
2.18 LPA

#277 NIRF

PhD in Economics Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters

Candidates who wish to make a career in the academics and wish to become a lecturer, professor or a researcher usually pursue PhD in Economics. Also, having a PhD in Economics degree make the career scope of an individual better and enhances the job prospects. 

Top PhD in Economics Job Profiles

Candidates can see the list of jobs below:

Job Profiles

Average Annual Salary

Economist

4-6 lakh

Lecturer

5-7 lakh

Consultant

4-6 lakh

Professor

6-8 lakh

Advisor

4-6 lakh

Management Consulting

5-7 lakh

Accountant

6-8 lakh

Investment Analysis

7-9 lakh

PhD in Economics Top Recruiters

Candidates can see the list of recruiters below:

Top Recruiters for PhD in Economics
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Future Group
Grasim Honda Two-Wheelers Bank of India, Bharat forge
Microsoft BSNL
Mahindra Engineering Flipkart 
Cognizant  Infosys
Reliance Industries Limited Reliance
JCB Tata Power
Q:   Can candidates with a background in finance or economics apply for RBI Grade B directly?
A:

Candidates with any education background can apply for RBI Grade B exam for general post. Passed from a recognized Indian or foreign University or institute with a minimum of 60% mark can apply.

Q:   What are the job opportunities after completing PhD Economics?
A:

Economics is one of the most sought-after courses. There are several reasons why candidates should choose to pursue a PhD Economics course. Some of these reasons have been listed below:

  • A PhD degree in economics opens up many job opportunities in the business, corporate, and government sectors. 

  • The study of economics is directly applicable to the real world. A PhD in Economics will help the student navigate their own finances and they will learn to manage it. 

  • All MNCs and bigger companies hire candidates with an in-depth knowledge of Economics, to predict the market and help the company grow efficiently. These companies offer high salaries and other perks in return for their service.

  • Candidates who have completed PhD Economics can serve the nation through service as policy-makers, financial analysts, economic advisors, etc. for the government. 

  • Economics skills apply across industries and roles. PhD Economics graduates are also hired by public and private banks and other commercial companies.

  •  A PhD enhances one's career prospects and serves as a gateway to a career in academia. 

PhD Economics FAQs: 2025

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to PhD Economics:

Q:   Why economics is called the Science of Choice?
A:

Economics is a social science as it explains how our individual choices effect society by using a price mechanism. As consumers we like cheap prices, because we can buy more things that we like. And we decide on what we buy by looking at the prices and seeing what products we want. When given a price an individual is given the choice to buy or not, it is their decision to make. Economics studies the variables that effect the decision of multiple individuals. This includes the price and the alternative products available to buy. If there aren't any choices to make then we all do the same thing and there are no decisions to study and no need for economics.

Popular Ph.D. in Economics Specializations

Following are the most popular Ph.D. in Economics Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Course Cutoffs

The cutoffs of popular Ph.D. in Economics colleges is given below:
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Student Forum

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Answered Yesterday

Hi.

Doctoral (PhD) Programs Available

DPGU offers PhD programs in multiple disciplines across its academic schools. These typically require a relevant postgraduate degree (e.g., master's) plus entrance criteria like UGC‑NET/SET or university‑specific screening. 

PhD Specialisations

  1. PhD in Psychology
    – Of

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered Yesterday

Hi.

DPGU offers PhD programs in specific disciplines across its schools — for example:

  • PhD in Psychology through the School of Liberal Arts (where multiple liberal arts areas are taught) 

  • PhD in disciplines like Computer Science & Engineering through the School of Technology 

  • PhD in Hospitality & Touris

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered Yesterday

Hi.

Yes,   Dr. D.Y. Patil Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU) is actively positioning itself with international collaborations and research linkages, and this can support international research opportunities for PhD candidates, although the specifics may vary by department and individual arrangeme

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered Yesterday

Hi.

Yes,   Dr. D.Y. Patil Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU) does host seminars, workshops, and similar academic events, and these opportunities can benefit PhD scholars too, though the focus may vary by discipline and research area.

 What We Know About Events at DPGU

DPGU organizes workshops such

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered 5 days ago

No, NLU Delhi is conducting the AILET UG (BA LLB) and AILET PG (LLM) this year. AILET PhD exam 2026 is not happening.

S

Swayam Gupta

Contributor-Level 8

Answered a week ago

Of course, you can. Here are some top online colleges you must explore for a PhD in Political Science.

PhD in Political Science Online CollegesCourse Fee
Amity NoidaINR 3.02 Lakh
Jindal School of International AffairsINR 3 Lakh
Woxsen UniversityINR 4 Lakh
Amity KolkataINR 3.24 Lakh

Note - The information is taken from the official site.

Know more about -

Political Science Courses & Certifications Online

I

Ishita Uniyal

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 weeks ago

PhD Amity University Mohali admissions are open. The below are the PhD details:

·       35+ Research Centres

·       194 H-Index

·       2,580+ Patents Filed | 450 Granted

·       500+ Govt. Funded Research Projects

·       59+ Ramalingaswami/Ramanujan Fellows

·       2,000+ PhD Scholars Across Discipline

...Read more

R

Raj Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

No,  PhD is not available for Data Science course. The Data Science course is only offered as Master of Science (S.M.) under School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. PhD degree under SEAS is available for Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, etc. 

K

Kanishka Gambhir

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Hi.

Yes — under certain conditions, a person with a four-year bachelor's degree in “Medical Sciences” can be eligible to apply for a PhD at IIIT Guwahati — depending on the discipline and whether the degree qualifies as “in a relevant area.”

 What IIIT Guwahati's policy says

  • For PhD admission in some d

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered 2 weeks ago

Check out the PhD placements 2024 recorded at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda placements 2024 given below: 

Courses 

the highest Package (2024) 

the lowest Package (2024) 

Number Placements (2024)

PhD

INR 5 LPA

INR 5 LPA

1

M

Meitankeisangbam Vasundha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Of course you can. A few learning platforms, like Old Dominion University, offer a PhD in Criminology. Though it's a university abroad, you can get admission to its online PhD program, i.e., PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice. It's a 24-month degree course and the average fee is INR 24.79 Lakh.

...Read more

M

Mohit Datta

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 3 weeks ago

The fee structure of IIIT Guwahati is segregated in three parts including per semester tuition fee, institute caution money and hostel fee. Hostel fee will be incurred only if you plan to stay in the hotel. Otherwise, you only need to pay tuition fee and institute caution money (one-time refundable

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Students need to pay INR 12,500 if they want to stay at IIIT Guwahati hostel. This fee also includes mess fee. Do note that hostel rent is charged on a pro-rata basis. INR 5,000 are for one-time caution money that is refundable and INR 5,000 is for tuition fee every semester. So if you are availing

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

IIIT Guwahati does not offer scholarships for PhD programs. However, students can still get financial aid from PSUs and other banks. Also, there are many fellowship programs in which you will be eligible based on your merit. Visvesvaraya PhD scheme for Electronics and IT, MHRD Fellowships and Prime

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

First of all, you need a master's degree in either Engineer or technology with at least 6.5 CPI or at least 60% marks. If you have completed MSc in CS/ IT or MCA or any other non-tech master's degree, your CPI should be at least 6.5 or you should have scored 60% or more in GATE/SLET/NET in CS/IT. Th

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

A Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) measures overall academic performance throughout all completed semesters. It is calculated by taking weighted average of Semester Performance Index (SPI) scores. It tells about consistency and academic achievement which reflect grades from all subjects and semest

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

It is not possible to pursue PhD in Mathematics from IIIT Guwahati with 50% marks because minimum percentage requirement is 60%. Even if you are a reserved category candidate, you get a relaxation of 5%. For improving your chances of admission, try to score 60% or more in post-graduation.

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

There are three categories in which students have been segregated. First one are regular students who are working full time for PhD degree. They are eligible for fellowship or assistantship like INSPIRE, NFSC, NFSR, UGC-NET, JOINT, CSIR-UGC, NET, WoS etc. These students can also be self-financed. Se

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

No, it is not enough since you will need to pass the interview round. This will be the final step to ensure that you get an admission in PhD programme at IIIT Guwahati. Do note that you will not be getting any travel allowance from the institute for the interview round.

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

MHRD Fellowships is a financial assistance for PhD students for a maximum period of five years. PhD students will get INR 37000 as monthly stipend for the first two years at JRF level and then for the next 3 years, they will receive INR 42000 per month at SRF level. 

Under the Visvesvaraya PhD scheme

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

A valid score of GATE, NET, JRF or SLET exam works for admission in IIIT Guwahati PhD programs. You can check the eligibility section where each PhD has a different exam score requirement. Based on this criteria, you can plan to take the exam. For example, candidates who plan to pursue PhD in Humani

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

For SC category students the eligibility criteria for every IIIT Guwahati PhD programme is relaxed by 5% marks which translates into 0.5 less CPI. For example, Computer Science and Engineering general category candidates should have at least 7.0 CPI. In this case, SC category students will need 6.5

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Admission deadline for IIIT Guwahati PhD programs depends on the admission date of the program. The admission dates for every course is different. Right now, admissions for PhD in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) are open and the last date to apply is 30th November, 2025.

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

No, IIIT Guwahati does not charge any application fee from PhD candidates. The institute only charges course fee from students who have been finally selected after the interview and written exam. This fee includes one time caution money and tuition fee. Further, those who plan to stay at the IIIT Gu

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

IIIT Guwahati is a good option, particularly for PhD in computer science. IIIT PhD fee is INR 13750. The faculty is generally well-regarded. When it comes to scholarship, students of Electronics and IT are offered INR 38,750/- per month as stipend under Visvesvaraya PhD scheme. On the top of that, i

...Read more

J

Jaya Sharma

Contributor-Level 10