Understanding PhD Full Form: Significance and Specialisations

Do you know you can finally become a “Doctor”? Well, not in the medical term, but through the highest education? A PhD—Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. India is ranked fourth globally, producing slightly over 24,000 doctoral graduates yearly. Professionals from various industries and educational backgrounds often pursue a PhD degree to gain mastery over that domain and advance in their careers.

And that’s not all! A PhD programme also allows you to contribute groundbreaking research to your field. After years of study and research, it gives a sense of satisfaction and pride when publishers finally publish your research. When you complete the PhD degree, you earn the title of doctor, which means a lot.

If you want to pursue a PhD, learning about its pros and cons and the specialisation options can help you make the right decision.

Let’s hop right in…

PhD Decoded: Know Everything About This Doctoral Programme

Do you know that a PhD is a terminal degree? This means that it is the highest level of academic achievement that anyone can have in a domain. PhD stands for “Doctor of Philosophy.” Now, although you can earn this degree in “philosophy,” that doesn’t mean you can have this terminal degree exclusively for this particular domain.

A PhD usually follows a master’s degree in any discipline, although some institutes allow candidates to progress straight to a PhD from their bachelor’s degree. You can acquire a PhD in all broad domains, such as mathematics, English, economics, and science.

A Glance at PhD: Know The Essential Highlights

Let’s discuss the highlights of a PhD programme, i.e., every important detail you must know about the degree.

Why a PhD Matters: Know The Significance of a PhD Programme

Students can earn a doctoral degree in nearly any field known as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Interestingly, the significance of a PhD programme is wider than research, expertise, and innovation. Pursuing a PhD goes beyond that; it plays a crucial role in career industries and setting global trends.

Let’s understand the significance of a PhD programme in terms of various parameters such as job roles, preferred industries, salary range, benefits, and more.

1. In India, you find many PhD programmes in various domains. However, the top specialisations in PhD programmes include:

   • Humanities

   • Computer Science

   • Data Science

   • Information Technology

   • Psychology

2. Although a PhD is a research-based programme, only some people pursuing a PhD plan to become a scientist or a junior researcher as their career. A PhD can open doors to diverse industrial job roles such as:

   • University Professor (Teaching industry)

   • Research scientist (R&D in industries)

   • Policy analyst (public policy development)

   • Management consultant (strategic advisory)

   • Data scientist (data analysis and interpretation)

   • Marketing analyst (market research and analysis)

   • Financial Analyst (analysing financial decisions for investments)

   • Biotech Product Manager (overseeing products in biotech companies)

3. The average salary range for a PhD holder in India ranges between INR 3 LPA and INR 12 LPA. (Source: Indeed)

4. Key Benefits of Pursuing a PhD programme include:

   • You can gain advanced knowledge in any specific domain (that would give you an upper hand in that industry).

   • It opens doors to leadership roles in industries and research institutions.

   • Establishes your credibility as a subject matter expert.

   • It improves your earning potential (more compared to a bachelor’s or master’s degree).

   • Cultivates problem-solving and analytical skills in you.

   • Boosts your confidence and broadens your network circle.

5. A PhD programme also increases chances for funding and scholarships. You can look for scholarships, funds, and grants for funding for research projects, travel, and publications.

6. ROI of a PhD programme: Although PhD programmes from recognised state and private universities may seem expensive. However, the return on investment is quite good. The return on investment ranges from 150% to 240%.

7. Top hiring companies for PhD programmes in India include:

   • Google

   • Microsoft

   • Oracle

   • Walmart

   • The Indian Express

   • Siemens

   • Standard Chartered

   • Paypal

   • Honda and more.

Top Colleges/Top PhD Specialisations Professionals Can Consider

For individuals seeking a PhD, the right college and specialisation are crucial to achieving career and academic goals. The top colleges offer rigorous programmes, the best mentors, access to resources and generous scholarships. Here’s a list of top colleges their top PhD specialisations (along with their programme fees).

Programme Fees For Top PhD Programmes in India

Unable to decide your PhD because you are missing out on fees? Well, here we bring a complete list of programme fees for the top PhD colleges in India. Let’s check them out.

(a) Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

Fee:

• GN/OBC/EWS Category: INR 1,08,600 (3 years), INR 1,79,000 (5 years)

• SC/ST/PwD Category: INR 60,600 (3 years), INR 1,01,000 (5 years)

Scholarship:

• 3 years: INR 13,32,000 (JRF) / INR 15,12,000 (SRF)

• 5 years: ₹22,20,000 (JRF) / INR 25,20,000 (SRF)

(b) Indian Institute of Technology Madras:

Total fees for PhD at IIT Madras (Regular Scholars) for 3 years and 5 years:

• 3 years: INR 1,64,500 (GN/OBC/EWS) / INR 1,24,500 (SC/ST/PwD)

• 5 years: INR 2,55,500 (GN/OBC/EWS) / INR 1,84,500 (SC/ST/PwD)

Total fellowship for PhD at IIT Madras for 3 years and 5 years:

• 3 years: INR 13,32,000 (JRF) / INR 15,12,000 (SRF)

• 5 years: INR 22,20,000 (JRF) / INR 25,20,000 (SRF)

(c) Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Fees: INR 21,000 to INR 35,000

PhD Admission Requirements

To be eligible to join a PhD programme, you usually need a master’s degree. Depending on the field of your study, this could be an MCom or MPhil. Some programmes also require passing an entrance exam and qualifying for interview rounds. In other cases, the university might ask for a few years of work experience before you can apply.

Some of the common entrance exams for PhD admissions are as follows:

• UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test): You must crack this entrance exam to be eligible for teaching positions and research fellowships.

• CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Eligibility Test): You must pass this eligibility test to pursue a PhD in science and technology-related fields.

• JEST (Joint Entrance Screening Test): This screening test allows you to research physics, computer science, and neuroscience.

• TISSNET (Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test): This aptitude test allows you to get admission to PhD programmes in social sciences and humanities.

• ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (Indian Council of Agricultural Research All India Competitive Examination for Junior/Senior Research Fellowship): You must pass this entrance test for PhD admissions in agricultural and related sciences like horticulture and veterinary sciences.

• AIIMS PhD Entrance Exam: If you want to be admitted to research programmes in medical and life sciences, you must pass this eligibility test. This includes biostatistics, medical research methodology, etc.

• University-Specific Exams: Many universities conduct their entrance exams for PhD admissions, such as the JNU PhD Entrance Exam, DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test), and more.

Takeaway

That’s all, folks. Hopefully, this would help you clarify more about understanding a PhD programme. You know each field’s full form, significance, and best specialisation options. Pursuing a PhD is a rigorous process that requires perseverance, critical thinking, and dedication.

If you enjoy deep research, critical analysis, and making a meaningful contribution to your field, a PhD could be the best fit for you. It prepares you for prestigious industry roles and high-paying jobs and allows you to mentor others and inspire the next generation. So, take the first step today and begin your PhD journey for career advancement.