Distance PhD in India- Correspondence PhD in India

If you wish to pursue a distance PhD in India and want to gather all the details about it, you are at the right place. In this article, we discuss distance PhD in India, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, fees, course structure, and PhD universities/ colleges in India.

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the most sought-after academic qualification in India for students who have completed their master's courses like M.Sc., M.Tech, MBA, MCA, MPhil, M.A., M.Com, and others. The higher education system of India has expanded quite a lot in the past few years. With more and more students willing to study higher academic courses, the number of PhD candidates has also increased. It is estimated that after ten years, about 35% of all master's students in India will pursue a PhD. Candidates can obtain a PhD in their desired field if their area of research is relevant to their master's degree.

How to pursue Distance PhD in India?

As the name suggests, PhD is a doctoral academic course that offers students higher studies after they have completed their postgraduate course. The duration of this academic course is 3 years to 5 years. A PhD's final duration usually depends on the student's academic rigor and the university's decision. As it's a doctoral course, candidates have to perform academic research in their field of study. Academic research is the soul of a student's PhD course, and he/ she has to furnish a research thesis based on his/ her scholarly research. After submitting and defending the research thesis in front of an academic panel, the student is granted a PhD by the university/ college.

Research students can perform research in various areas depending on their interest ranging from ancient core subjects to cutting-edge modern technology, Many students feel that a PhD is challenging and one has to clear several exams to obtain a seat at any university/ college, but this is not true. Students can easily pursue a distance PhD in India and get a valid degree after completing their studies. Nowadays, it is not just the government universities/ colleges that grant PhDs.

A lot of private universities have also opened up that are pretty good for pursuing a PhD. Students who don't wish to sit for highly competitive PhD entrance exams for admission to government universities/ colleges can opt to study PhD at private universities. As long as the research area is strong & relevant, the university doesn't matter.

Why should you consider obtaining PhD in India?

A few of the advantages of pursuing a PhD in India are mentioned below:

• Availability & Diversity – Various universities/ colleges in India grant a PhD. Along with that, there is a wide array of specializations that you can choose as your PhD subject in India. Given the sheer number of higher educational institutions in India, it is sure that you will find the subject you want to specialize in.
• Affordability – The tuition fee for pursuing a PhD in India is quite affordable. You won't have to pay a large sum of money to obtain a PhD in India, given that you find the right college/ university.
• Worldwide Recognition – Almost all the international educational associations accredit a PhD obtained from India. It is highly valued and is very reputed globally.
• Learning – While pursuing a PhD in India, students are exposed to various learning techniques that help them develop in-depth knowledge, skills and critical thinking abilities.
• Research & Development – You will get the chance to research various topics related to your field during your course. Along with that, if you want to develop new theories and techniques in the area of your specialization, you can do that while pursuing your PhD.
• Salary – The salary of individuals who hold a PhD is much higher than other individuals with a postgraduate degree.
• Collaborations – While doing your PhD, you will get the opportunity to work with or collaborate with academic experts, field experts, and experts from the industry.
• Career Opportunities–After you have obtained your PhD, many career options will open up for you in various sectors.
• The 'Dr' Prefix – One of the perks of obtaining a PhD is that you can use the 'Dr' prefix before your name. It adds to your respect and value in society, especially in India.
• Consultants & Advisors for Government Organizations – This is one of the most sought-after career paths for students who hold a PhD. After you have completed your PhD, you can be selected as a consultant or advisor for various government organizations if you have done some ground-breaking research.

Like any other distance course, a distance PhD is a PhD that you can obtain without attending regular classes at the university/ college. For most universities/ colleges in India, a student has to stay full-time at the university/ college and attend regular classes if he/ she is pursuing a full-time PhD. For part-time PhD candidates, the classes run for 2 – 3 days a week, mostly during weekends. In both cases, candidates have to sit for regular examinations.

Both these formats are not suited for everyone who wishes to do a PhD in India. For some people, especially working professionals, taking out time to attend classes is not possible. For them, a distance Ph.D. in India is the best option. Students don't have to participate in regular classes and lectures at the college/ university in this option. Most of the process is conducted online, and students only have to appear for semester examinations. The guidance for research is also carried out online, but students have to defend their academic thesis at the university/ college at the final submission.

So, if you have the dream of obtaining a PhD in India but cannot devote your time to attend regular classes, a distance PhD in India is your best option. You don't have to worry about the degree's value as it will be at par with the regular PhD degree in India. You will get similar job opportunities in the academic sector as well as the professional industry.

There are around 800 universities/ colleges in India that currently grant a PhD. The types of universities that offer PhD courses in India are mentioned below:

• Central Universities (under the government of India).
• State Universities (under respective state governments).
• Private Universities.
• Deemed to be Universities.
• Institutes of National Importance.

For every type of university, there is a difference in fees and eligibility criteria. Anyway, as mentioned above, if your research is good, the university/ college will hardly matter. In simple words, the value of your PhD depends on your research and not the type of university you are pursuing it from.

• Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
• Vardhman Mahaveer Open University (VMOU).
• Netaji Subhas Open University (NSOU).
• Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University (MPBOU).
• Nalanda Open University (NOU).
• Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU).

The eligibility criteria for pursuing a distance PhD in India is similar to a standard PhD and is mentioned below:

• You will need a valid bachelor's degree. It should be obtained from a government-recognized university.
• You will have to hold a valid master's (postgraduate) degree like MA/ MSc/ MCom/ MTech/ MBA/ MPhil in a relevant discipline obtained from a government-recognized university.
• In your master's degree, you should have scored at least 55% marks in the overall subjects.
• If you are a reserved category student from SC/ ST/ OBC background, you will receive a relaxation of either 5% or 10% in the required marks. This depends on the college/ university.
• You will have to clear a PhD entrance test.
• Some universities/ colleges in India may require the applicant to possess work experience in a relevant field.

The average tuition fee for a correspondence PhD PhD in India is less than the regular PhD course in India. It ranges from about INR 5,000 to INR 50,000 per semester, depending on the university/ college.

UGC (University Grants Commission) does not approve Distance PhD courses in India. The UGC released the circular containing this information in 2017, and it stated that the PhD degrees that have been granted by distance education mode would no longer be recognized. Therefore, only full-time PhD degrees and part-time Ph.D. degrees will be approved as valid PhD degrees in India. Students who want to pursue Correspondence PhD in India can now opt for UGC Approved Part-Time PhD Programs in India. Instead of a PhD in Computer Science through distance education, they can opt for Part-time courses in computer science, Management, law, and other programs.

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