Ph.D

Not at all. It is not compulsory for you to have a publication in your name to get admitted to a PhD program at a top university in India, but publications can definitely give you an edge over other applicants in the interview round following the entrance exam, increasing your chances of getting shortlisted for admission.

A career after a PhD can turn out to be extremely promising in terms of the earning potential, job opportunities, and job satisfaction on the work front. Some of the prominent industries where PhD degree holders can find high-paying jobs are given here for your reference:

• Academia
• Consulting
• Politics
• Research and Development
• Academic Writing
• Government Organizations
• Entrepreneurship

Recommended Link: Career after PhD

The average starting salary package of a Ph.D. holder in India is approximately INR 8 LPA to INR 10 LPA, which may vary on the basis of the job role, experience, skill set, employer, and company location. Since the PhD scholars are known for their research expertise and analytical skills, recruiters across industries offer them a decent earning potential at the beginning of the career journey itself.

Suggested Link: PhD Jobs & Career Scope in India

Well, the entrance exams for pursuing a PhD degree are seen to be highly competitive, with fewer seats available at top universities as opposed to the large number of applicants. Further, the success rate differs on the basis of the particular exam you're taking, the university you're eyeing, and the specialisation you're interested in.

In general, getting admission to PhD courses is no cakewalk and requires you to have a strong academic hold on the discipline, excellent research knowledge and potential, and a compelling research proposal.

The time needed to prepare for the Ph.D. entrance exam cannot be stated with any certainty, but you should start preparing at least 10 to 12 months in advance because the exam is generally considered challenging, requiring you to have thorough knowledge of the discipline and research potential.

Starting early will give you enough time to go through the maximum topics in the exam syllabus, plan a good revision strategy, and increase your chances of doing well and getting shortlisted for PhD admission.

The entrance exams for PhD courses are generally difficult to crack, given the research-oriented focus they demand, along with excellent subject knowledge and critical thinking abilities. Since the doctorate degree is the highest level of academic qualification, the entrance exam that is the entry point for the same is also challenging, demanding excellent preparation on your part.

Further, the difficulty level of the exam also depends on the number of applicants, last years' results, and student feedback. You should work hard and practice previous year question papers to do well in the exam.

Well, yes. Almost every academic institution asks for an application fee to be paid at the time of filling out the Ph.D admission form, which may vary from one institution to another. The general application fee ranges between INR 500 and INR 3,000. The fee is usually lower for reserved category applicants.

Note: This figure is just a rough estimation, and you must go to the official college websites to get accurate information about their respective application fees.