Top PhD universities offering PhD in Odisha for 2026

Odisha has emerged as a growing center for higher education and research, offering PhD programs across diverse disciplines through reputed universities and research institutions. With strong academic support, increasing research opportunities, and a rich socio-cultural and ecological landscape, Odisha provides a conducive environment for quality doctoral research and promising academic and professional prospects.

What is a PhD program?

A PhD or the Doctor of Philosophy is usually earned after a master's degree or MPhil. The PhD is regarded as the highest level of academic degree. A doctoral journey involves a lot of research work, including creating an original research based on contemporary societal challenges, presenting the findings, and preparing a thesis. On earning the doctoral degree, the individuals will earn the ‘Dr’ title. And they can pursue their career as a researcher, professor, associate professor, analyst, post-doctoral researcher in both government and private sectors, and others. 

However, a doctoral degree earned through traditional PhD programs requires full dedication and undivided commitment of the individuals for around 5 to 7 years, which can be challenging for some individuals. For individuals who wish to earn a doctoral degree but also have other commitments, they can opt for an  Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). An Online DBA is considered equivalent to a PhD, which can be earned through flexible timings in three years.  

Duration of PhD from Odisha

The individuals earn their doctoral degrees after 5 to 7 years of regular dedication and perseverance through in-depth research, presenting their findings, and submitting their thesis. The duration of the PhD program may vary depending on the specialization they have chosen and the university. 

Top Universities offering a PhD in Odisha

Here are the top universities mentioned that offer a PhD in Odisha - 

Universities offering a PhD in Odisha
SNo	Universities	University Type	Specialization	Entrance examination	Stipend (After qualifying for the required exam)
1.	National Institute of Technology, Rourkela	Public/ Government	Engineering disciplines (e.g., Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, CSE, ECE) Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) Humanities & Social Sciences Management/Business	GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR-NET Institute-level written test + interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
2.	IIT Bhubaneshwar	Public/ Government	Engineering (CSE, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Production) Basic Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biosciences) Humanities, Social Sciences & Management Earth, Ocean & Climate Sciences	GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR-NET / JAM or JEST + Interview.	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
3.	Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University	Private	Engineering & Technology Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology) Management/Commerce Humanities & Social Sciences Medicine/Pharmacy/Agriculture & allied branches	The university entrance process is followed by an interview.	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
4.	Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology	Private	Engineering & Technology Sciences Management Law Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences Medical & Allied Health Sciences	KIITEE / KIIT PhD Entrance Test or exams like UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, GPAT, depending on the subject. Interview/viva after the written test	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
5.	CV Raman Global University	Private	Management Computer Science & Engineering Electronics & Communication Civil Engineering Other technical and science disciplines	University-level PhD entrance test followed by an interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
6.	Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology	Public/ Government	Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry Plant Physiology Entomology Agricultural Biotechnology Seed Science & Technology Plant Breeding & Genetics Extension Education Agronomy Agricultural Engineering Aquaculture	OUAT PhD Entrance Examination Interview (viva)	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
7.	Utkal University	Public/ Government	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Life Sciences, Computer Science Humanities & Social Sciences (English, Odia, History, Economics, etc.) Commerce & Business Administration Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Geography, Zoology, etc	University-level written PhD entrance test, Viva-voce interview after the written test	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
8.	CSVTU, Bhilai	Public/government	Technical and allied fields, including Engineering, Management, and  Science disciplines	CSVTU PhD Entrance Test Interview/viva following the entrance test	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
9.	Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela	Public/government	Engineering & Technology Science & Applied Sciences Management Other allied disciplines	BPUT PhD Entrance Test (written) followed by Personal Interview Master’s degree (55%+) in a relevant field; national exams (like UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE) may exempt candidates from written tests	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
10.	Sambalpur University	Public/government	Science  Social Sciences & Humanities Commerce & Business Management Engineering & Technology Law, Education, Environmental Science, Geology, Remote Sensing, etc.	RETSU (Research Eligibility Test of Sambalpur University), or those qualifying for UGC/CSIR-NET, GATE, or equivalent national fellowship After the written test/interview, the final selection is made	INR 37,000- INR 42,000

Note: The individuals can visit the official website of the university from where they prefer to pursue their doctoral studies to know more about the specializations offered. For some universities, the entrance examination and stipend details depend on the specializations they are pursuing. 

There are many universities in Odisha that offer a PhD in various specializations. The individuals throughout their doctoral journey will acquire domain knowledge along with skills such as research, analysis, and cademic writing, and presentation skills. The degree holders can pursue their career as an associate professor, professor, analyst, researcher, post doctoral researcher in the government or private sectors. 

Moreover, if individuals are interested in pursuing a senior-level management position, they can opt for an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). The Online MBA program is considered equivalent to a PhD that can be completed in three years. The Online DBA program has various specializations. Through the Online DBA program, individuals will be learning managerial skills that are required in the modern-day job market, along with their domain knowledge.  Here are a few specializations offered by the Online DBA program mentioned below- 

Specializations Offered By the Online Doctorate of Business Administration
Online DBA in Generative AI	Online DBA in AR & VR	Online DBA in Machine Learning
Online DBA in Artificial Intelligence	Online DBA in Business & Data Analytics	Online DBA in Blockchain
Online DBA in Robotics & Automation	Online DBA in Cyber Security	Online DBA in Business & Data Analytics

Eligibility criteria of the PhD program from Odisha 

Every university may have its own eligibility criteria; however, here is the basic eligibility criteria for a PhD from Odisha- 

• Individuals having a master’s degree in a relevant specialization from an accredited university. 
• The candidates must have an aggregate of at least 50% to 55% in their master’s degree. 
• Along with the academic qualifications, the candidates must also qualify for any of the required entrance examinations that could be UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE, or a university entrance examination. 
• The shortlisted candidates are required to appear for an interview that will be held at the University level. 
• Individuals with a four-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with an aggregate of 75% are also eligible to apply for the PhD program.  

Entrance Examination for Phd from Odisha 

Along with the academic qualifications, the candidates are also required to qualify for entrance examinations such as UCG NET, CSIR NET, GATE, or even the University entrance examination. The candidates are further shortlisted on the basis of scores obtained in the entrance examinations for the interview held at the university level. 

Moreover, those who do not wish to appear for any entrance examination or have not qualified for the examination can opt for an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). Through the Online DBA, the individuals will earn a doctoral degree along with the ‘Dr’ title in three years from a recognized foreign university. Upon earning the degree, the individuals will have wider job opportunities or even a senior-level position in top organizations.

Admission Process for PhD from Odisha 

The admission processes of the universities may vary across universities. Here is the general admission process for the PhD from Odisha- 

1. Application Submission: The candidates must meet all the eligibility criteria for the PhD program before applying to any university. Fill out the application form for the university by providing the required information.  
2. Entrance Examination: The individuals must qualify for the National-level entrance examination, such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, and GATE. Individuals who did not qualify for the National- level entrance examinations must appear for the University- level examination. 
3. Interview / Viva-Voce: The candidates are shortlisted for the interview and to present their research proposals. 
4. Final Selection:  The candidates are seleceted based on the entrance exams, interviews, academic background, or research aptitude, the candidates will be selected. 

Career options after a PhD from Odisha 

Throughout the doctoral program, the individuals are required to carry out research work that is original and based on real-world problems. The program comprises research, preparing a thesis, and presenting their work, along with attending seminars and other presentations. On earning the degree, the individuals can pursue their career as a professor, associate professor, researcher, post-doctoral researcher, analyst, or other jobs in both the government and private sectors. 

Moreover, individuals who are interested to learn management- based skills that are required in the modern-day industry can opt for an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). Through an Online DBA program, individuals can earn their degree along with the ‘Dr’ title in three years, which is also considered equivalent to the PhD program. Through the Online DBA program, individuals will get wider job opportunities in the management sector and may even get senior-level jobs in top organizations or institutions. Here are the top career opportunities mentioned that an individual can pursue upon completing their PhD- 

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

Note: The job roles and the average salary depend on the individual's academic qualification and working experience. 

Flexible programs to earn your doctoral degree

To pursue your doctoral program, individuals are required to qualify for any of the entrance examination such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE, or even the university entrance examination. The candidates are shortlisted for an interview or to present their research proposals based on their scores. 

While pursuing a doctoral degree through a traditional setup, individuals cannot have any other commitments. However, individuals can now pursue their doctoral degree with more flexibility by opting for a part-time PhD. However, to pursue a PhD degree through part-time PhD programs, Individuals are still required to qualify for any of the entrance examinations. 

Working professionals can also earn their doctoral degrees along with the ‘Dr’ title through an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). The Online DBA is considered equivalent to the PhD program, which can be completed in three years. Through the online DBA program, individuals will get management-based skills that are required as per the modern-day industry needs.