PhD, abbreviated to Doctor of Philosophy, is a doctoral
degree program with a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum duration of 6
years. However, the duration of the course may vary from one institute to
another and it also depends on the candidate. It is an academic or professional
degree that, in most countries, qualifies the degree holder to teach their
chosen PhD subject at the university level or to work in a specialized position
in their chosen field of interest. This is because the program has an academic
focus providing in-depth knowledge of the chosen field through advanced
theoretical and research-based studies.
The word 'philosophy' comes from the ancient Greek
philosophy, which translates to 'love of knowledge'. It originally represented
a person who had received a completely general education in the basic issues of
the world in which we are living. In the present day, Doctor of Philosophy
still requires a love of knowledge, but it applies to individuals who have
sought more knowledge in a more specialized field.
To apply for PhD course, one must have a master's degree in
the chosen subject. PhD aspirants can pursue a degree in any stream, provided
they have prior educational experience in that field. Earlier, candidates could
pursue degrees through distance mode, but, as per the 2017 circular issued by UGC
(University Grants Commission), PhD programs done through distance education
mode will no longer be recognized.
PhD Course Eligibility in Andhra Pradesh
Some of the basic eligibility for PhD admission are
mentioned below:
- To study PhD course, students must have a master's degree
(MSc/MTech/MPhil/MA/MBA) in the relevant subject.
- The student must have secured at least 55% marks or
equivalent grade marks in the PG course studied in any government recognized
institute. If the candidate belongs to the reserved category (SC/ST/OBC),
he/she will be given a relaxation of 5% or 10% in minimum marks depending on
the category.
- The university/college compulsory PhD entrance test must be
cleared by the candidate to ensure a seat for pursuing Ph.D.
- In some universities/colleges, more preference is given to
candidates having work experience in the field of research and more preference
is given to them.
PhD Course Entrance Tests in Andhra Pradesh
Candidates can appear for any of the below mentioned PhD
Online Entrance Test in India. After qualifying any of these exams students can
take admission in PhD in various Universities in Andhra
Pradesh.
- UGC NET
- CSIR-UGC NET
- UGC JRF
- SET/ SLET
PhD Admission Process in Andhra Pradesh
Admission to PhD courses is done through merit as well as
entrance test-based processes. The admission procedure for both the procedures
is given below.
- Merit-Based PhD Admission in Haryana
- The top institutes offer PhD admission through a merit-based
process.
- For this the institute may ask the candidates to submit a
summary of the research proposal.
- This is mainly done to check the candidates and the selected
candidates are notified for further process.
- Also, candidates must satisfy the basic eligibility criteria
of 50 - 55% marks in PG course.
Types of PhD Courses in Andhra Pradesh
There are 2 basic types of PhD courses in Andhra Pradesh. These include full time PhD
courses and part time PhD courses.
Full-Time PhD
It is a general Doctor of Philosophy program with duration
of between 4-6 years depending on the research project undertaken by the
student. Students conduct their research on most Doctor of Philosophy subjects
with full attention and concentration. Most PhD students also work as teaching
assistants to various professors in PhD university in their department.
The cost of a full-time Doctor of Philosophy course is the highest compared to other methods of PhD degree. The Doctor of Philosophy curriculum has 3 major types of students who can pursue full-time Ph.D. These three types of PhD scholars include government/semi-government fellowship recipients, institute research students with teaching assistants, and self-financed candidates.
Top 10 PhD University for Full-Time PhD in Andhra Pradesh:
- Central
University of Andhra
Pradesh
- Central Tribal University
of Andhra Pradesh
- The National Sanskrit
University
- Acharaya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University
- Acharya Nagarjuna University
- Adikavi Nannaya University
- Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences
- Andhra University
- Dr. B.R.Ambedkar University
- Dravidian University
Part-time PhD
A part-time PhD is considered the best option for working
professionals who wish to pursue a career in research or education. Some
candidates even pursue a PhD to broaden their career horizons, and with a
part-time PhD, they can earn a doctoral degree while working a full-time job. A
part-time PhD is usually of a longer duration of about 6 to 8 years than a
regular doctoral degree, which takes 4 to 6 years to complete.
While studying for a part-time PhD, you can work on your
research thesis at your own pace but it is extremely important to stay in
constant contact with your professors and doctoral scholars. Part-time PhD is
becoming increasingly popular these days as it offers the benefits of being
financially stable and having high academic qualifications at the same time.
Because it takes longer to study for a PhD part-time, it can
be easy to lose the sense of motivation and direction that leaves many
part-time PhD students. So this program is best for those who can maintain
their focus and stay on track.
Top 10 PhD University for Part-Time PhD in Andhra Pradesh:
If you are looking for the best colleges for online part-time PhD in Andhra Pradesh, then go through the list given below:
- SRM University
- Centurion University of Technology and Management
- VIT-AP University
- KREA University
- Saveetha Amaravati University
- Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation
University
- Arunachal Pradesh University
- The Global University
- North East Frontier Technical University
- Arunodaya University
Categories of PhD candidates
The different types of PhD candidates are listed below:
- Self-financed PhD
- Sponsored PhD
- Govt./ Semi Govt. Fellowship
- Study Leave
- ICCR Awardees
Self-financed PhD Candidates:
Such candidates participate in the common admission process
of an institute, but they do not get any kind of financial assistance from that
institute.
Sponsored PhD Candidates:
Such PhD candidates are recognized by R&D organizations
for carrying out full time research from the respective institutions.
Govt./ Semi Govt. Fellowship Recipients:
These PhD students get financial assistance through
government or semi government fellowship schemes.
Study Leave Candidates:
Such PhD candidates are given leave of at least three years
by the government/academic institutions or companies for undertaking research
work in a specified institution.
ICCR Awardees:
ICCR stands for Indian Council for Cultural Relations. PhD
scholars falling under this category are foreign candidates sponsored by their
respective government.
PhD Scholarships in Andhra Pradesh for Students
There are many PhD scholarships in India that are awarded to
Indian students. With the help of these scholarships, students who want to
pursue PhD can easily afford their studies without putting any financial burden
on themselves or their families. Some of these scholarships are mentioned
below:
Prime Minister Fellowship for Doctoral Research
Prime Minister's Fellowship for Doctoral Research is a
fellowship scheme under the supervision of the Central Government of India. It
has been started by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to provide
financial assistance to meritorious students pursuing PhD courses. Under this
scheme, the scholar gets a monthly stipend of Rs.70,000.
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund Scholarships
It is a merit-based scholarship designed to support
postgraduate students pursuing doctoral programs in Science, Sociology,
Philosophy, etc. The scholarship is awarded for a period of 2 years only.
Candidates who have completed their post-graduation and are not more than 35
years are eligible to enroll in this scholarship programme.
ICHR Junior Research Fellowships (JRF)
This is an entrance exam based scholarship provided by the
Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). This scholarship is awarded to
candidates who are pursuing PhD in the field of Historical Studies. To be able
to get this scholarship students will have to pass an online entrance test
followed by an interview. On an average, candidates get INR 16,500 to INR
17,600 per month for 2 years of their course.
Maulana Azad National Fellowship
This scholarship is provided by the Ministry of Minority
Affairs, Government of India to provide support to economically weaker students
who wish to pursue research or doctoral courses. The fellowship program can be
availed by candidates whose family income is less than Rs.6,00,000 and they
have completed their post-graduation. Under Maulana Azad National Fellowship
Scheme scholars get Rs 28,000 per month for 5 years.
NCERT Doctoral Fellowship for PhD
NCERT Doctoral Fellowship for PhD is awarded by the National Council of Educational Research and Training to meritorious students to help them cover their expenses on tuition fees, accommodation, books and other charges. To be eligible for this fellowship, the student must have passed an entrance exam like NET exam and must be below 35 years of age. The fellowship is awarded for a period of 3 years, during which the students will be given an amount of Rs 25,000 – 23,000 per month.