PhD from Delhi: Universities, Entrance Exams & Careers

If you are interested in pursuing your Doctorate, you will have access to some of the best universities with a wide array of research fields and excellent mentorship at these schools. Also, being the capital of India, Delhi has a concentration of outstanding organisations such as Delhi University, JNU, IIT Delhi, and Jamia Millia Islamia. Therefore, many individuals choose to pursue their PhD from Delhi regardless of discipline.

This guide will help you prepare for your PhD journey by providing explanations about the several PhD entrance exams, such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, and university-specific entrance tests; and also showing you potential paths to take once you've completed your PhD, whether you're looking to work in academia, research, policy making, or industry.

What is a PhD?

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree represents the most advanced level of post-secondary education that can be achieved at a university level. The focus of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is to conduct research within a specific discipline. Individuals pursuing a PhD degree will typically spend three or six years engaged in original research, during which they will produce their own research thesis. PhDs are generally considered the requisite qualifications for individuals wishing to pursue careers in the fields of teaching, research, and academia, and also provide the individual with the title of "Doctor."Individuals can pursue doctoral degrees through full-time PhD programs, part-time PhD, or an Online Doctorate of Business Administration. 

What is the duration of the PhD degree?

The full-time PhD program duration offered in Delhi universities/institutes is around three to six years. The program also includes coursework, research, and a dissertation. The duration varies according to their specialization. For working professionals, the dream of becoming ‘Dr..’ doesn’t have to be put on hold. With a three-year Online DBA, they can pursue a doctoral degree while continuing their careers. The DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) holds the same academic value as a PhD.

Who is eligible for the PhD in Delhi?

The common eligibility criterion for PhD programs offered at Delhi Universities/Institutions is:

• Master’s degree in any discipline or a relevant discipline with an aggregate of 50%-55% of marks from a recognized university. 
• A four-year bachelor’s degree with an aggregate of 65% is also eligible for the PhD program.
• The individuals are required to qualify for the entrance examination, such as UGC NET/CSIR NET, GMAT, GRE, GATE, or other required entrance examinations, followed by an interview.

Entrance examination for PhD from Delhi 

For individuals pursuing their PhD degree, they are required to qualify for the entrance examination, such as UGC NET/CSIR NET, GATE, GRE, GMAT, or a university entrance exam. On qualifying for the entrance examination, the individuals are required to appear for the interview conducted at the university level. Based on the scores the individual has received in the entrance examination, they are entitled to receive a stipend while enrolled in the PhD program.

For those who haven’t qualified for any entrance examination and have working experience, they can still pursue a doctoral degree through the Online DBA program, and that too in three years. The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is considered equivalent to the PhD program. 

Top Universities that offer a PhD in Delhi 

Here are the top universities that offer a PhD in Delhi, along with the type of university:

Universities offering a PhD in Delhi
SNo	Universities	University Type	Specialization	Entrance examination	Stipend (After qualifying for the required exam)
1.	IIT Delhi	Public/Government	Engineering and Technology  Science Discipline  Interdisciplinary and emerging areas Humanities  Management Studies	JRF (UGC/CSIR), GATE, GMAT	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
2.	Jawaharlal Nehru University	Public/Government	School of International Studies School of Social Science  School of Language, literature & Culture studies School of computer & systems sciences	JRF (UGC/CSIR), GATE,	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
3.	Jamia Hamdard	Private	Health, medical & Pharmaceutical sciences Science & Technology  Management, social sciences & Humanities  Unani and traditional medicine	JRF (UGC/CSIR), GATE, GMAT	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
4.	Delhi University	Public/Government	Arts, Humanities & Language  Science & Technology  Commerce, Management & Law Interdisciplinary and emerging areas	JRF (UGC/CSIR), GATE, GMAT	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
5.	Ambedkar University Delhi	Public/Government	Humanities & Social Sciences Interdisciplinary and emerging areas	JRF (UGC/CSIR), GATE, GMAT, PET	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
6.	NSUT Delhi	Public/Government	Computer Science & Engineering Information Technology  Electrical engineering  Electronics & Communication Engineering  Science & applied sciences Interdisciplinary and emerging areas	JRF (UGC/CSIR), GATE, GMAT, PET	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
7.	South Asian University	Public/Government	School of Arts & Social Sciences School of Science & Technology Interdisciplinary themes	JRF (UGC/CSIR), GATE, GMAT, PET	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
8.	Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)	Public/Government	Humanities & Social Sciences Science & Technology  Medical & Health Sciences Management, Commerce & Law Interdisciplinary themes	JRF (UGC/JRF), GATE, GMAT, PET	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
9.	IARI New Delhi	Public/Government	Agricultural & Life Sciences Food, Biochemistry & Biotechnology  Agricultural Economics & Extension  Interdisciplinary and emerging areas	JRF (UGC/JRF), GATE, GMAT	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
10.	Delhi Technological University (DTU)	Public/Government	Engineering & Technology  Applied Sciences & Interdisciplinary Areas	JRF (UGC/JRF), GATE, GMAT	INR 37,000- INR 42,000

Note: The stipend received by a student depends on the qualifying examination, discipline, and university/institute they have selected. For detailed specializations offered by the Universities, you can visit the official website of the university. 

However, it is observed that 50,000 Working professionals opted for an Online DBA due to the flexibility of the program. If you wish to pursue your doctoral degree in three years, you can opt for an Online Doctorate of Business Administration ( DBA). The Online DBA programs focus more on the practical knowledge of the domain. On completing the program, you will get wider exposure to the job market 

Here are a few specializations mentioned that you can pursue in the Online DBA program:

Online DBA program
Generative AI	AR & VR	Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence	Business & Data Analytics	Blockchain
Robotics & Automation	Cyber Security	Business & Data Analytics

Career opportunities after a PhD from Delhi

On earning a PhD from Delhi, individuals will have wider career possibilities. Throughout their doctoral journey, the individuals gain skills such as research, teaching, and analytical skills. They can pursue their career as a researcher, assistant professor, professor, or postdoctoral researcher. 

Moreover, those who have a few years of work experience can still earn a doctoral degree without leaving their jobs through the Online DBA program. The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is considered equivalent to the PhD, which can be completed in three years. The Online DBA program enhances market-based practical skills that are required in modern-day business. On earning their ‘Dr’ title, the degree holders will have wide exposure to the job market. They can also apply to the senior job roles in top organizations 

Here are a few job roles mentioned after completing the PhD from Delhi:

Job roles after PhD	Average salary
Professor	INR 16 LPA
Research Scientist	INR 15 LPA
Consultant	INR 8 LPA
Research Assistant	INR 3.1 LPA
Legal Assistant	INR 4 LPA
Postdoctoral Researcher	INR 5 LPA
Entrepreneurship	INR 8.25 LPA

Number of candidates appearing for UGC NET 

Here is the number of candidates who appeared for the UGC NET examination in June 2025 , and the number of candidates who qualified for PhD:

Each year, a lot of students appear for the UGC NET examination to start their PhD journey, but only a few among them qualify for the JRF or are eligible for the stipend. 

Not Qualified for UGC NET? Don’t worry, here is what you can do

If you are not able to get into any university for your PhD program, don’t worry! Here are a few other options other than a full-time PhD program:

• The individuals can apply for the part-time PhD program offered by accredited universities/ Institutes. 
• You can also appear for the university entrance exam, followed by a personal interview. 
• Individuals who have a few years of working experience can also pursue a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. The Online DBA program is a three-year program that is considered equivalent to the PhD program. The individuals will earn the ‘Dr.’ title along with the doctoral degree from a recognized foreign university without relocating. 

Career Opportunities after the DBA program

Whereas, working professionals having more than 5 years of experience can pursue the online DBA program for senior-level roles such as 

Job roles after DBA	Average Salary
C-suite roles (CEO)	INR 29.9 lakhs
Human Resource Director	INR 27.7 lakhs
Project Manager	INR 12.5 lakhs
Business Consultant	INR 9.2 lakhs
Organisational Development Manager	INR 8.3 lakhs
Entrepreneur	INR 8.25 lakhs
Logistician	INR 4.5 lakhs

Is an online PhD from Delhi valid?

According to the UGC (University Grants Commission), an Online PhD Degree is considered invalid in the country of India, but if you are looking for flexibility in obtaining a Degree. An Online DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) Program is an alternative option for individuals wishing to pursue their PhD Degrees through online education programs offered by foreign institutions. To pursue the program, you are not required to take any entrance tests. 

The DBA is also equivalent to the PhD Degree and can be completed over a period of three years. Upon completion of the DBA Program, the student is eligible to obtain the title "Dr." from a foreign university and can also obtain senior-level employment in many of the world's largest companies or organizations.