Online Ph.D.

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) |
| Doctor of Applied Social Research |
|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Life Sciences |
|
| Marketing Studies |
|
| Natural Sciences |
|
| Professional Studies |
|
| General Studies |
Sport |
| Sustainability Studies |
|
| - |
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?
Q: Is online PhD recognised in India?
Q: Does IGNOU offer online PhD courses?
Q: Can I do PhD online?
Q: What universities offer online PhD in India?
Q: What is a PhD course?
Q: What is the eligibility for pursuing online PhD course?
Q: What are some of the Universities that offer online PhD course?
Q: How to apply for online PhD courses?
Q: What can be the fees for online PhD course?
Q: What are the job prospects after pursuing PhD?
- 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
Popular Private Online Ph.D. Colleges in India
Engineering Applications open. Apply Now
Engineering Applications open. Apply Now
Engineering Applications open. Apply Now
Course Cutoffs
Popular Online Ph.D. Specializations
Popular Specializations
News & Updates
Jun 10, 2026
Student Forum
Answered 5 days ago
Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering PhD total tuition fees is INR 2.56 lakh. The fee structure includes many components. The total fee may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
To get a seat in Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering PhD programme, students must meet the eligibility and selection requirement. To be eligible, students must have a post-graduation degree in relevant stream from a recognised university. Candidates are shortlisted for the PhD programme base
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Aspirants must pay INR 2,000 to apply for PhD course at Sister Nivedita University. Candidates can pay the fees via any of the online payment modes. Asirants must keep the fee receipt with them.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 6 days ago
KJ Somaiya School of Engineering PhD tuition fees is INR 1.5 lakh. The fee structure includes many components. The total fee may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
To get admission in KJ Somaiya School of Engineering PhD course, students must fulfil the eligibility. To be eligible, students must have a valid PG degree. The final selection is based on UGC NET, written test and personal interview.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To get admisison in PhD at IIIT Manipur, students must meet the eligibility and selection requirement. To be eligible, aspirants must hold a master's degree in the relevant field. The final selection is based on GATE/ UGC NET. However, the institute may conduct written test for IIIT Manipur PhD admi
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
NIT Trichy conducts a written test and/ or interview for admission in PhD course. Candidates with UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE scores can also get admission in PhD. Apirants can fill out the application form for PhD on the institute's website.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered a week ago
The minimum duration of the PhD programme at IIIT Ranchi (excluding dropped
semester (s)/maternity leave) is three years (36 months) from the date of joining. The maximum period for completing the PhD programme is seven years (excluding maternity leave) from the date of admission.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Candidates wishing to take admission in full-time sponsored research scholar PhD at IIIT Ranchi should have completed ME/MTech or equivalent with at least 60% aggregate score/ 6.0 CPI. SC/ST/ PwD candidates will be given a relaxation of 5 % marks. Along with this, applicants should have any if the
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
PhD admission at IIIT Ranchi is ongoing for the academic session 2026. The last date of submission of application form is June 30, 2026. Candidates have to submit application form online through the admission portal of IIIT Ranchi.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
NIT Patna PhD admission is entrance-based. Students are selected through a Screening Test + Interview basis. During the screening test, CAT/ GATE/ IIT JAM/ UGC NET/ JEST score are also considered. Any student not clearing the PI round will be disqualified.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, NIT Patna PhD admission is open now. The institute has posted the admission notice for its PhD course. Students must go to official site and apply before the last date of July 20, 2026. Admission to the programme is entrance-based.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
IIM Kashipur PhD cutoff changes depending on the entrance test. Students can check the table below to know the category and exam-wise PhD cutoff:
| Qualifying Exam | General | NC-OBC/ EWS | SC/ ST/ DAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMAT | 610 | 580 | 550 |
| CAT | 85%ile | 80%ile | 60%ile |
| GRE | 310 | 295 | 275 |
| GATE | 95%ile | 90%ile | 75%ile |
| IIMB | 85%ile | 80%ile | 60%ile |
| UGC/ CSIR-JRF | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
U
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The PhD programme at UPES Dehradun is regarded for its focus on interdisciplinary applied research, industry-aligned curriculum & strong infrastructure. It is a good choice for students aiming for R&D roles, consulting, teaching positions in the fields like engineering, computer Science & management
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
PhD is offered at doctorate level at NIT Mizoram. PhD is offered in various specialisations. The specialisations are given below:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computer Science Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics And Communication Engineering
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Engli
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
NIT Mizoram PhD admission is entrance-based. The eligibility to apply for PhD at NIT Mizoram is a master's degree in relevant stream from a recognised university. The final selection is done on the basis of GATE/ UGC NET /Written Test/ Merit, followed by personal interview.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To get admission in NIT Sikkim PhD, students must fulfil the eligibility and selection requirement to get admission. The eligibility is to have a master's degree I relevant field from a recognised university. PhD admission is done on the basis of GATE/ NET.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Candidates need to pay a non-refundable application fees to apply for PhD course at IIIT Kalyani. The application fees for PhD is INR 500 (INR 300 for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates).
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered a week ago
Madras University is a reputed university for its courses including PhD. There are almost some 78 departments in the University and each department offers PhD. Madras University offers a full-time PhD programme in various disciplines at the Doctorate level. Students can also pursue a part-time PhD a
P
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Candidates wishing to take admission in PhD at IIT Guwahati have to appear in a written test followed by personal interview.
Check below the test pattern for written test at IIT Guwahati for PhD admission:
Mathematical Foundations:
Propositional and First order logic. Sets, relations, functions, parti
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology PhD fees is INR 2.1 lakh. Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology PhD fee structure includes other components. The total fee may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology PhD admission is both merit and entrance-based. The applicant should hold a post-graduation degree with 60% to be eligible. The final selection is based on academic scores, SMEAT and personal interview.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
IIT Ropar PhD admissions are now closed for all departments. The institute has already released merit lists of shortlisted students. Students can check the official notices posted at the website to know more about the programme.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Students have to meet the IIT Ropar PhD eligibility to get admission in the programme. The basic eligibility is to complete PG degree in relevant field with a minimum aggregate of 60%. A valid entrance score (GATE / CSIR NET/ UGC NET or DBT) followed by personal interview is the required for final s
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The total tuition fee of PhD at NIT Meghalaya is INR 69,500. This number is taken from the official sources of colleges. It can change. Candidates need to pay the course fee to confirm admission.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates need to pay INR 500 to apply for PhD course at NIT Goa. The application fees is INR 300 for SC/ ST/ PwD. Aspirants can pay the fees via any of the online payment modes.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 weeks ago
PhD in Mechanical Engineering at IIITDM Jabalpur emphasises modern, design-centric & computational methodologies over traditional heavy industry due to the institute's core mandate in IT & Manufacturing. Curriculum integrates mechanical systems with computer-aided design, smart materials & automatio
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
IBS Hyderabad offers admission in PhD course based on entrance test conducted by the institute. Selected candidates are called for research methods and domain-specific questions, micro presentation and interview round.
Aspirants who have qualified UGC-NET (Management) are exempted from appearing for
N
Guide-Level 15
Taking an Exam? Selecting a College?
Find insights & recommendations on colleges and exams that you won't find anywhere else
On Shiksha, get access to
- 66k Colleges
- 1k Exams
- 699k Reviews
- 1850k Answers
What is PhD tuition fees at Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering?