Updated on Jul 26, 2021 05:16 IST
Mamona Majumder

Mamona MajumderDeputy Manager

Online PhD courses are flexible and easy to access. The online mode of gaining a PhD degree is a lot more convenient, especially for working professionals. The online PhD courses are offered in 2 modes – full time and part-time. With the growing demand for diverse doctorate degrees, many institutes in India are offering PhD courses online. With dependency on technology and the internet, people are now more inclined towards a hassle-free education. Thus, online courses have gained popularity at all levels be it UG, PG or PhD / doctorate.

Apparently, an online PhD degree is not offered by any Indian University as an online PhD is yet not approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

However, there is an option to pursue an online PhD from a foreign University. The candidates do not need to go out of the country and they can complete their PhD degree by staying in their home country. The Universities offer online PhD in various fields like engineering, nursing, education, design, medicine, science, arts, etc.

How is the online PhD Degree awarded?

This will vary from University to University that offers the online PhD course. To put it in a general manner the process can include:

  • Taking up of online modules
  • Completing the dissertation
  • Appearing for online viva-voce (oral) exam for the dissertation

Further, the PhD candidates are assessed at different points using various methods including coursework essays, critical review essays, book reviews, research proposals, research papers, conference posters, group project reports and oral presentations.

Eligibility for Online PhD course

Like the classroom programme, to enroll in the online PhD course candidates must have a relevant master’s degree. Universities can also keep a minimum marks cap in master’s programme, again this can vary from University to University.

In short, the basic qualification to pursue an online PhD course is:

  • Completion of master’s degree
  • Having minimum marks as set by the University
  • Others – candidates must visit the website of the University to check detailed eligibility criteria

How to Apply for an Online PhD Course?

The admission and application process varies from university to university. The basic requirements to apply for any online PhD course may include:

  • Applying for the course by submitting an application form
  • Written exam
  • Interview
  • Portfolio submission / sample research work

Universities / Institutes the Offer Online PhD Course

The online PhD courses are popularly offered by the following Universities / Institutes:

Name of the University / Institute

Online PhD course offered

UNICAF, Larnaca, Cyprus

Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) Business Administration

Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)

University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom

Doctor of Applied Social Research

George Washington University, Washington, USA

Education Specialist in Educational Leadership and Administration

INISEG Instituto Internacional de Estudios en Seguridad Global, Madrid, Spain

Doctorate of Research in Law, Education and Development

University of New York in Prague (UNYP), Prague, Czech Republic

Ph.D. by Research

Liberty University Lynchburg, USA

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) - Online

SMC Business School

Ph.D. in Finance

Institute of Lutheran Theology, Brookings, USA

Doctor of Philosophy

Texila American University, Lusaka, Zambia

Ph.D. in Management

Atlantic International University Honolulu, USA

PhD in education

Apart from the 10 Universities above, the online PhD course in diverse fields is also offered in many more Universities across the globe.

Popular Online PhD Courses

Online PhD courses are offered in the following fields:

Administration Studies

Health Care

Architecture Studies

Humanities Studies

Art Studies

Journalism and Mass Communication

Business Studies

Languages

Construction

Law Studies

Design Studies

Life Sciences

Economic Studies

Management Studies

Education

Marketing Studies

Energy Studies

Natural Sciences

Engineering Studies

Performing Arts

Environmental Studies

Professional Studies

Food and Beverage Studies

Social Sciences

General Studies

Sport

Technology Studies

Sustainability Studies

Tourism and Hospitality

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Course Structure of Online PhD Courses

The course structure of Online PhD courses also varies from course to course and from University to University. However, a basic outline of the programme includes:

  • Core module
  • Optional module – students need to select any one or two, depending on the course structure.

Fees for Online PhD Course

The online PhD course fee depends on the following factors:

  • University selected for online PhD
  • The field selected for online PhD
  • Duration of the course
  • Nationality of the students

The fee can range as high as Rs 13 lakhs for the full-time online PhD courses.For part-time online PhD courses, the fee can go as high as Rs 8 lakhs.

Duration of Online PhD Courses

The duration of the online PhD course will depend on the field selected for the course. This duration can range from 3 to 8 years.

Why Pursue Online PhD Course?

There are numerous benefits of pursuing an online PhD course. An online course provides the below-given advantage:

Flexible: The online PhD course is more flexible than the classroom courses. The course can be completed without having to compromise on other responsibilities like professional life, personal commitments, etc.

Easy to access: Online mode of education is always easier to access. Since most of the online PhD degree is offered by the foreign Universities, accessing the same becomes easier if they are online. With the help of a decent internet connection and basic technology, candidates can complete their PhD course online. The course material is also offered online and can be easily accessed.

Effective: With online mode, the candidates can save many expenses like living expenses, travelling expenses, and much more. Candidates can complete their online PhD course without any extra expenses apart from the course fee and the basic internet charges.

Jobs after Completing Online PhD Course

The following Job profiles are available once the online PhD degree is completed:

  • Research scientists
  • Professor
  • Analyst
  • Advisers
  • Business Consultants
  • Entrepreneur, etc

Online PhD FAQs

Q: What is the duration of Online PhD courses?

A: The duration varies based on the field of PhD and the University that offers the PhD. In a nutshell the Online PhD course can range from 3 to 8 years.

Q: Is online PhD recognised in India?

A: Unfortunately, no. The University Grant Commission (UGC) does not recognise MPhil/PhD Degree gained in online or distance mode. Only the regular mode of obtaining these degrees are valid as per the UGC guidelines.

Q: Does IGNOU offer online PhD courses?

A: No, even IGNOU does not offer online PhD courses. UGC only accepts PhD / MPhil courses offered in regular mode – part time / full time even from IGNOU.

Q: Can I do PhD online?

A: Not from any Indian University, but there are plenty of foreign universities that offer online PhD courses. Candidates can enroll with them to pursue the online PhD courses.

Q: What universities offer online PhD in India?

A: UGC has barred any Indian Institute to offer PhD degree online or in distance mode. Hence there is no Indian University / Institute that grants online PhD degree.

Q: What is a PhD course?

A: A PhD course is the highest degree offered in education and full form of PhD is Doctor of Philosophy.

Q: What is the eligibility for pursuing online PhD course?

A: The eligibility of the online PhD course is that the candidates must have completed their Master’s degree.

Q: What are some of the Universities that offer online PhD course?

A: No Indian University provides online PhD course. However foreign universities like George Washington University, University of Stirling, University of New York in Prague (UNYP), etc offer online PhD course.

Q: How to apply for online PhD courses?

A: The universities offering the online PhD course have their own specific process of selecting candidates for online PhD admissions. The process mostly starts with application form, then interview, the submission of sample research. Some selection process might also include a written test.

Q: What can be the fees for online PhD course?

A: The fees for online PhD course can go as high as upto Rs 13 lakh for the regular mode. However, it can go upto Rs 8 akh for the part time course.

Q: What are the job prospects after pursuing PhD?

A: After completing PhD candidates can become University professors, R & D Lab professionals, entrepreneurship, government jobs, etc.
Table of contents
  • Popular Online Ph.D. Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Online Ph.D. Colleges in India
  • Course Cutoffs
  • Popular Online Ph.D. Specializations

Popular Online Ph.D. Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Online Ph.D. Colleges in India. Learn more about these Online Ph.D. colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 L - 19.6 L
4.2
2.03 L - 8 L
15 - 19.63 LPA

#1 The Week

25 Courses
11.66 L - 30.44 L
16.15 LPA
20 K - 8 L
7.2 - 46 LPA

#1 Outlook

45 K - 8 L
15.59 - 24.3 LPA

#1 India Today

Popular Private Online Ph.D. Colleges in India

3.5 L - 23.75 L
3.1
1.29 L - 5.97 L
4.2
2.72 L - 4.7 L
3.2
57.6 K - 3.18 L
0.51 LPA
50 K - 2 L
4.6

Course Cutoffs

The cutoffs of popular Online Ph.D. colleges is given below:

Popular Online Ph.D. Specializations

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

Popular Specializations

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Student Forum

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Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

LPU offers Ph.D. opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, including Engineering, Computer Science, Management, Commerce, Law, Agriculture, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Education, and Humanities. Research scholars can explore emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber Se

...Read more

a

aayra rana

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 days ago

Candidates must pass a master's degree or equivalent Diploma from a recognised university/ institution with at least 55% aggregate or equivalent CGPA/ Grade to apply for PhD at XIME Bangalore. Aspirants with MPhil or master's degree with a minimum of 55% aggregate can also apply provided MPhil admis

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 4 days ago

Indus Uniersity PhD tuition fee is INR 1.9 lakh. The fee structure includes many components. The total fee may differ at the time of payemnt due to the variables of the fee structure. The fee information is taken from the official/ sanctioning body and is subject to change.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

To get admission in Indus University PhD course, students must meet the eligibility and selection requirement. The eligibility is to have a valid master's degree from a recognised board. Indus University PhD admission is based on entrance exams scores. The applicant must appear for Indus University

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Yes, NIFT Delhi provides PhD level courses in the fields of Design, Fashion Technology, and Managment related to textile, fashion, lifestyle, apparel, craft and any other related field. The PhD programme is offered in Full-time (3-5 years) as well as Part-time mode. The Part-time researchers can sub

...Read more

a

aaradhy rastogi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered a week ago

Indus University is a solid choice for pursuing a PhD in Commerce through the Indus Institute of Management Studies. The university strongly emphasise on original research & strict anti plagiarism policies. Students benefit from an experienced faculty panel that provides research guidance.

University

...Read more

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

For admission to the Ph.D. programme at LPU, a candidate generally needs a Master's degree in the relevant subject with at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade from a recognised university. Candidates with professional qualifications accepted under university rules may also be eligible in some dis

...Read more

S

Sampreet Kaur

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 2 weeks ago

To apply for admission in PhD at IIT Madras, students must fulfil the eligibility requirement. To be eligible, students must complete post-graduation in a relevant field with 55% - 60% aggregate, depending on the specialisation.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

IIT Madras PhD overall tuition fees is INR 15,000. The fee structure may include other components. The total fees may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure. The fee information is taken from the official/ sanctioning body and is subject to change.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

To get admission in PhD at IIT Madras, students must fulfil the eligibility and selection requirement. To be eligible, students must complete post-graduation in a relevant field with 55% - 60% aggregate, depending on the specialisation. The final selection is on GATE/ UGC - JRF/ NET/ CSIR-JRF/ JEST/

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Alliance University PhD overall tuition fees is INR 3 Lacs - INR 3.5 lakh. The fee structure inlcudes many components. The total fee may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure. The fee information is taken from the official/ sanctioning body and is subject to change.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

To get a seat in Alliance University PhD, students must have a master's degree with 55% to be eligible for PhD. Candidates must sit and appear for the Alliance Research Aptitude Test for PhD course admissions. Once the candidates qualify for the entrance exam, they further need to sit for a personal

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, Assam Institute of Management offers Ph.D. course in Management under Assam Science and Technology University (ASTU). It operates in the state of Assam only. Assam Institute of Management is a public institute located in Guwahati, Assam.

a

aaradhy rastogi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes for bachelor's (1st cycle), master's (2nd cycle), and single-cycle programmes like Medicine or Architecture. PhD admissions in Italy are generally handled directly by institutions or national doctoral portals, not through Universitaly pre-enrolment.

A

Aishwarya Bhatnagar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, K.P.B Hinduja College of Commerce offers PhD degree in the field of Commerce & Management and Humanities. There are multiple specialisation options for PD. in Commerce & Management ranging from Accountancy to Business Economics.

a

aaradhy rastogi

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 weeks ago

Bharati Vidyapeeth offers Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Junior Research Fellowship for full-time PhD scholars. The fellowship is offered up to three-years. The stipend offered to students is INR 20,000-INR 30,000 per month.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 3 weeks ago

LNMIIT PhD overall tuition fee is INR 1.9 lakh. The fee structure includes many components. The total fee may differ at the time of pyment due to the variables of the fee structure. The fee information is taken from the official/ sanctioning body and is subject to change.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

To get admission in PhD at LNMIIT, students must fulfil the eligibility.The eligibility criteria for admission is a Master's degree in Engineering in a relevant field with 60 % aggregate or equivalent CPI/ CGPA. 

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, LNMIIT offers PhD courses at the Doctoral level in seven specialisations. The PhD specialisations are given below:

  • Communication and Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science and Engineering
  • Electronics and Communication Engineering
  • Mechanical-Mechatronics Engineering
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Humanities and So

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

To get admission in LNMIIT PhD programme, students must have a master's degree in engineering in a relevant field with 60% aggregate or equivalent CPI/ CGPA. Students are selected based on score in GATE (Qualified during last 5 year), CSIR/ UGC-NET-JRF, JEST (with valid score), DST-INSPIRE, CEED, NB

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 weeks ago

Full-time PhD scholarships who have qualified NET/ GATE get a stipend of INR 16,000 per month towards Teaching and Research Associateship as per the availability of teaching positions at DIT University. Aspirants who pass DUET for admission in PhD with 60% or more are eligible to get INR 10,000 per

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a month ago

Yes, BITS Pilani offer part-time PhD programme. The part-time PhD programme is designed for working professionals, students pursuing a full-time PhD programme from BITS Pilani need to attend the programme in on-campus mode. 

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Candidates applying for PhD in Science department in BITS Pilani will be required to write a test.

The details of the tests are as follows:
• The question paper will consist of 50-100 multiple-choice questions. The total duration of the test will be 2-3 hrs.
• Negative Marking may be applicable.

Candida

...Read more

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

To be eligible for Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, students must have Master's Degree with 55% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade. For final admission, candidates must appear for PhD Online Test for admission, followed by Personal Interview and SOP. Fellowships from CSIR-UGC NET JRF, DS

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Yes, personal interview mandatory for Shiv Nadar University PhD admission. According to University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, all candidates must appear for a personal interview, after clearing UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE or written test conducted by the university.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

To get a seat in SNU Noida PhD programme, students must fulfil the eligibility and selection requirement. The minimum qualification required to apply at SNU Noida is to have a master's degree in relevant field from a recognised university. The final selection is based on scores in UGC NET/ CSIR NET/

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

No, students cannot get direct admission in PhD at Thakur Institute of Management Studies and Research. Admissions are entrance-based. Candidates are shortlisted for the PhD programme based on their performance in PhD entrance test. 

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Yes, students can apply for a Ph.D. after completing an MBA FinTech from CLAS. However, they must meet the eligibility requirements and admission criteria of the university where they wish to pursue their doctoral studies. 

M

Manisha Pandey

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

IBS Hyderabad PhD total tuition fees is INR 24,000 - INR 4.8 lakh. To confirm admission, students must pay fees. IBS Hyderabad fee structure includes many components. The total fees may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

To apply for IBS Hyderabad, students must complete Graduation in any discipline with at least 50% aggregate and above marks with English as a medium of instruction and Post Graduate in Management with specialisation in Marketing, Finance, Human Resource and Operations with at least 55% aggregate. Th

...Read more

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

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