What is PhD in Public Policy: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

PhD is the short form of Doctor of Philosophy and to be eligible, the students are required to have completed their Master’s degree. Aspirants need to possess a valid master’s degree to be eligible to pursue a PhD course. Candidates can pursue a PhD programme in any stream. In a PhD course, aspirants need to select a topic or a subject 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 (if any).

PhD in Public Policy courses offer many benefits to the students who complete them. Some of the most important advantages are:

• Understanding Governance: PhD in Public Policy courses shed light on the operation of governments, decision-making, and policy implementation. Students who have completed PhD in Public Policy courses can use this knowledge in many job fields. It will also help them develop a personal perspective on governmental actions.

• Social Impact: Policy making is one of the fastest, most efficient ways to create a change in society. Laws can only be enforced if they have been carefully evaluated and analyzed. Students who wish to create productive changes in society through governance should pursue a doctorate in Public Policy. 

• Career Opportunities: India is becoming the fastest-growing economy in the world, and we need policy-makers who have in-depth knowledge of public policy-making and administration to move ahead systematically and effectively. Students will have many career opportunities to work in this growing employment sector. A PhD enhances one's career prospects and serves as a gateway to a career in academia.

• Problem-solving skills: Students who have completed a doctorate in Public Policy learn to identify and address real-world issues. This includes coming up with practical solutions, weighing trade-offs, and comprehending the intricacies of policy execution.

The Ph.D. is a doctoral course in which students choose a topic or subject and do in-depth research on it. The eligibility criteria for applying for a Ph.D. are as follows:

1. Those with a master's degree are qualified to apply for a Ph.D. programme. You must have a master's degree in a field, course, or stream that is related to the Ph.D. you want to pursue with at least 55% marks.
2.  You must also pass the UGC NET to enroll in some prestigious universities, such as DU, while the engineering students need to have a valid GATE score, and Science students may apply for the CSIR NET exam. 
3. You can also go for a PhD after a bachelor's degree of 4 years after scoring a minimum of 75% marks in graduation and clearing the entrance test.

No, usually there is no minimum or maximum age limit to pursue Public Policy courses. You can study these courses at any age. Even CUET exam allows candidates without age barrier to appear for the exam.

Candidates who have cleared top entrance exams for doctorate courses like UGC NET,  GATE,  JEST,  CSIR NET, etc. are usually offered fellowships while pursuing a PhD course. Apart from this, universities such as IGNOU and Delhi University (DU) also offer fellowships to students pursuing full-time PhD courses with them.

The official GATE 2026 notification is not released yet. For now the GATE 2026 exam pattern follows the 2025 exam scheme. The application form and information brochure will be released soon. 

Two new subjects – Geomatics Engineering (GE) and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM) were introduced in the syllabus. The total number of subjects in GATE 2025 exam was increased to 30. In another newly introduced change, students applying for GATE EXAM 2025 had to opt for two different papers from the prescribed set of combinations.

To become professionals in the field of public affairs and public service delivery, candidates must have good communication skills as well as leadership qualities. Students of public policy learn how to argue for certain policies or changes in government programmes. This is especially important for anyone who wants to work with non-profit organisations, advocacy groups, or government bodies. 

Hello!

Public Policy coures are offered by fewer colleges. Since many of these are private colleges, it may appear to be more expensive than usual. Some colleges that offer Public Policy courses at afforadable fees have been mentioned in the table below:

Hope this answer helps you!

Law is a significant component of Public Policy. The scope of law may extend from legislation to national and international laws. Public Policy is considered with the contemporary political issues. While implementing public policies it is essential to know about the existing laws and whether the organisations functions in compliance with the set norms or not.

Given below are some of the core subjects in the PhD Public Policy curriculum:

• Political Science
• Economic Policy
• Statistics
• Policy Analysis
• Research Methodology
• Public Administration
• Political Challenges
• Health Policy

The fee structure for PhD in Public Policy can vary depending on the college which the candidate wishes to pursue the course from. On an average, the typical fee structure can range from INR 60,000 to INR 4 Lakh. However, these figures are just an estimate and can also vary based on other factors.

Candidates in India can enrol into PhD programs based on both merit and entrance procedures. Minimum requirement for enrolling into PhD programs is to secure a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a recognised university and secure a minimum aggregate of 55%. Additionally, some popular PhD in Public Policy entrance exams which candidates can prepare for include UGC NET, CSIR NET and GATE.

After pursuing PhD, there are various options that one can do:

• Pursue research in universities, guiding future generations.
• Lead research teams in R&D labs, shaping new technologies.
• Depending on your interests, choose a path that aligns with your passion for research or practical application. Some PhD holders move into consulting or found startups.

Reference Link: Career after PhD Degree

Yes, Public Policy is a good career choice as the scope in the field is high. The demand of policy makers is also increasing with time which makes it a demanding career.

It can lead to impactful work, diverse career options, Global perspective, etc.

Hi, To pursue PhD courses you need to pass Masters / M.Phil. with minimum 55%. You need to sit for an entrance exam. Below is the list of some of the PhD entrance exams: -UGC NET exam -Symbiosis PhD Entrance Examination -AIMA PhD Entrance Exam -JNU PhD Entrance Exam -Alagappa University PhD Entrance Exam -Kurukshetra University PhD Entrance Exam -University of Hyderabad PhD Entrance Exam -BR Ambedkar Open University PhD Entrance Exam -BITS Pilani PhD Entrance Examination -ICT Mumbai PhD Entrance Exam * Some of the institutes offering PhD are: -International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) -Christ University -Pune Institute -Brindavan College -Manav Rachna International University -Delhi Technological University (DTU) -Goa University -Anna University -Acharya Nagarjuna University -Banaras Hindu University -Jain University -Birla College of Arts Science and Commerce -Coimbatore Institute of Technology -Government Arts College -Government M.H. College of Home Science -Indian Institute of Science -Jadavpur University -Odisha School of Business Management.

While selecting the best institute, you need to check some of the important parameters such as recognition, year of establishment, syllabus, faculty, fees etc. I hope it helps. Kindly, feel free to revert. Click on the thumbs up or mark it as the best, if you found this useful. Wish you luck!

 A degree in public policy can lead to positions in government, non-profit organisations, international organisations, research institutions, consulting firms, and other fields. After completing the course, students can earn an average salary starting from INR 5 Lacs at the start.