New Delhi: Over the last five years, the enrollment of PhD students have been doubled. Most of the universities or institutes in India admit PhD students in two sessions: Autumn (June-July) and Spring (December-January). Of course, there are many universities or research institutes admit candidates once a year for PhD programmes.
For the next session, June-July 2020-21, the PhD Admission process will kickstart soon. Here, SkillOutlook presents the Top 50 PhD admission tests or entrances, which may help PhD aspirants to fine tune their decision in selecting universities or institutes.
Undoubtedly, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi is the most popular destination for PhD programmes in general stream subjects. The entrance test of JNU for PhD programmes is tough due to competition as a large number of students apply for it. JNU admits candidates once a year for the academic session. PhD programmes offered by Banaras Hindu University are another popular choices for students. BHU takes PhD scholars twice a year. University of Delhi is also very popular destination for PhD aspirants. The NTA will conduct JNU and DU PhD Admission Test 2020.
There are 23 IITs in India which offer PhD Programmes in Engineering, Technology and Science research areas. There are 32 NITs which offer PhD Programmes with Fellowship benefits. There are 20 IIMs which offer Doctoral Programmes in Management.
There are two research institutes that offer Joint PhD degree by collaborating with international universities. IIT Bombay-IT Bombay-Monash Research Academy offers Joint PhD since 2008. Monash University is a global university in Australia.
List of Top PhD Admission Entrances conducted by Universities or Institutes
| Name of Intitutes/Universities | Remark | |
| 1 | Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi | The most popular PhD Entrance Test in India. JNU Entrance conducted once in a year in May-June. NTA will conduct JNU Entrance Examination 2020. |
| 2 | University of Delhi | University of Delhi another popular destination for PhD Aspirants. The NTA will conduct Delhi University Admission Test 2020. |
| 3 | Banaras Hindu University | The larsgest residentail university in Asia. |
| 4 | Jamia Millia Islamia | A premier central university |
| 5 | Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) | CUCET is a pan India test conducted by a consortium of 10 Central Universities, for selecting students in various programmes including UG, PG and PhD in the 10 participating universities. |
| 6 | AcSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR) PhD Admission | The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), a premier research institute of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), invites applications for Ph.D. Programme under Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) from eligible candidates. There are 39 CLRIs admit PhD students via AcSIR PhD Test. |
| 7 | ICMR Junior Research Fellowships | Indian Council of Medical Research -Junior Research Fellowships. Annually Once. |
| 8 | AIIMS PhD Entrance Exam | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi PhD Examination |
| 9 | NIPER PhD Entrance Exam | NIPER JEE 2020 is a national level entrance exam conducted by National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER). It is conducted to test the aptitude of candidates seeking admission to various Postgraduate and Doctorate level courses in the field of Pharmacy. |
| 10 | Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) | Notifies PhD entrance test twice in a year in October month. |
| 11 | Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram | These are a group of premier science education and research institutes under Ministry of HRD. There are seven IISREs: Mohali, Pune, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata, Tirupati, and Berhampur. PhD with Fellowships Benefits available |
| 12 | Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) | Human Resource Development Division (HRDD), BARC offers DGFS-Ph.D. programme under the aegis of Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI). |
| 13 | Savitribai Phule Pune University | Formerly University of Pune and University of Poona. It is one of popular universities for PhD programmes. |
| 14 | Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW) | It is a women’s university located in New Delhi. Conucts Research Aptitude Test (RAT) once in a year , Notifies in May |
| 15 | Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs) | There are 23 IITs in India. All IITs offer Doctoral Programmes Generally, admit PhD students with JRF twice a year. |
| 16 | Punjab University, Chandigarh | For academic year 2017-18, the total PhD Seats were 482. |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand and Technical University, Bhilai | A state University in Chhattisgarh. Generally, a PhD intake seats are large. |
| 18 | Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla | A state university in Himachal Pradesh |
| 19 | Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam | The PhD test is poplarly known as PhD Written Aptitude Test (WAT). |
| 20 | Joint Entrance Screening Test 2017 (JEST) 2017 | Admission for a PhD / Integrated Ph.D Programme in Physics or Theoretical Computer Science or Neuroscience or Computational Biology in one of the Participating Institutes. |
| 21 | BITS Pilani | A popular private university. Admits students twice a year. |
| 22 | Delhi Technological University | The University offers Full Time/Part-Time scholars for PhD in various branches of Engineering, Sciences, Humanities and Management. |
| 23 | Central University of Hyderabad | A premier central university and conducts its own entrance test. |
| 24 | Pondicherry University | A Central University |
| 25 | Tata Institute of Fundamental Research | A public research institution in Mumbai and Hyderabad.TIFR Graduate School Entrance Test |
| 26 | National Institutes of Technology (NITs) | There are 31 NITs in India. |
| 27 | Symbiosis International University, Pune | A premier private university based in Pune. Notifies PhD admission in May month each year. |
| 28 | Thapar University | A private university based in Patiala, Punjab. |
| 29 | Amrita University | A private university based in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| 30 | UGC-NET | Some universities exempt UGC NET qualified candidates to appear PhD entrance tests. |
| 31 | CSIR -UGC NET | Some universities exempt CSIR-UGC NET qualified candidates to appear PhD entrance tests. |
| 32 | National University of Educational Planning and Administration. | NUEPA offers MPhil and PhD programmes in the following research areas: Education Policy, Education Planning, Education Administration and Education Finance. |
| 33 | Alagappa University | Alagappa University is a public university located in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. |
| 34 | University of Mysore | A state university Karnataka |
| 35 | BR Ambedkar Open University | A public university based in Hyderabad. |
| 36 | Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lucknow | A Central University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| 37 | SRM University | A private university based in Chennai |
| 38 | VIT University | Vellore Institute of Technology, formerly known as Vellore Engineering College, is a private university in Tamil Nadu, India. |
| 39 | Manipal University | It is a private research and educational institute located in Manipal, |
| 40 | North Eastern Hill University, Shillong | A Central University based in Meghalaya |
| 41 | Tezpur University, Assam | aACentral University located in Tezpur, Assam. |
| 42 | Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore | Primarily conducts research primarily in the areas of astronomy, astrophysics and related subjects. |
| 43 | South Asian University, New Delhi | South Asian University is an International University sponsored by the eight Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. |
| 44 | University of Delhi | A leading university in India |
| 45 | Jadavpur University | Jadavpur University is a public state university based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. |
| 46 | Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research Bangalore | It is a multidisciplinary research institute located at Jakkur, Bangalore |
| 47 | Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) | It is a government-aided institute and deemed university for the study and research of space science, based in Thiruvananthapuram. |
| 48 | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) | Mainly, it is benchmark test for Mtech programmes in IITs and NITs. But some use as benchmark for PhD and Intergrated PhD programme admission. |
| 49 | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) | There are 20 IIMs. All IIMs offer doctoral programs with felowwhip benefits in Mangament. |
| 50 | Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur (Central University) | A Central University in Chhattisgarh. Conducts own PhD Entrance Test. |
| 51 | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal, formerly West Bengal University of Technology, offers Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme under in the disciplines of Engineering, Technology, Applied Science and Management. |
| 52 | Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University Lucknow | Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University Lucknow, a public collegiate university in Lucknow, conducts Research Aptitude Test for admission to PhD Test. |
| 53 | Lucknow University | A public university based in Uttar Pradesh. PhD Intake is nearly 500 seats. |
| 54 | IIT Bombay-Monash Research Academy | IITB-Monash Research Academy is a graduate research school located in Mumbai, India. It opened in 2008 as a joint venture between the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Monash University (Australia) |
| 55 | University of Queensland and IIT Delhi Academy of Research (UQIDAR) | University of Queensland and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Academy of Research (UQIDAR) now invites applications from exceptional candidates with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, humanities and social sciences, for PhD research projects commencing in July 2020. University of Queensland is a global university in Australia. |
Note: The above list is not based any ranking framework. The Column One does not reflect any ranking. It merely reflects the Serial Number. The list is prepared by SkillOutlook to give an Idea about the leading PhD Admission Tests conducted in India as next PhD Admission Cycle is to commence soon.
