PhD in Political Science or Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science is a 1-3 years duration doctoral-level course in India. But probably, this duration gets extended for Part-time Political Science scholars up to 5 years. For regular, it is a maximum of 3 years.
The basic eligibility to take up a Doctoral in Political Science is holding a PG degree in allied arts discipline since Political Science comes under the aegis of Arts.
The candidates should also have a minimum of 55% in PG from a recognized institution in India with a good academic record if needed.
Key Highlights for PhD Political Science
- Full-Form: Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
- Duration: 1 to 3 years
- Minimum Eligibility: Minimum 55% in PG from a recognized university.
- Admission Process: Merit-based or Entrance-Based
- Top Entrance Exams: NET, CRET, RET, PET
- Top Colleges: JNU, IIT Gandhinagar, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Top Career Prospects: Political Scientist, Market trend Research Analysts, Professor, Public Relations Specialists, and Survey Researchers
The PG course graduate candidates could get admission to these courses by taking up national or institute level entrance exams, counselling or interviews as made valid by the affiliated university.
Some institutions prefer to track the candidate’s academic records and other related info after entrance exam qualification. NET is the most common entrance for this doctoral course. CRET, RET, and PET are the common entrance exams conducted by a variety of institutions in order to admit the candidates.
Few familiar subjects taught under this PhD course are Research Methodology, State and Politics in South Asia, Governance and Politics in India, Decentralisation and Development in India, and India and International Political Economy.
The cost of this doctoral in Political Science spans in the range of INR 25,000 to 5,00,000 depending upon the admitting university and institution.
After completing this course, the highest salary offered to the candidate is expected to be around INR 10,00,000 per annum. The minimum starting PhD Political Science salary for candidates is expected to be around INR 4,00,000 per annum.
After completing this course, a candidate can work in fields like education, media and journalism, civil services, political firms, along with various government sector offices.
Most familiar posts that any PhD Political Science scholars are offered are Political Scientist, Market trend Research Analysts, Professor, Public Relations Specialists, and Survey Researchers.
PhD Political Science: Course Highlights
| Course Name | PhD in Political Science |
| Course Level | Doctoral Degree |
| Full-Form | Ph.D.- Doctorate of Philosophy |
| Duration | 1 to 3 years for regular PhD scholars. For part-time, up to 5 years depending upon the registered University |
| Examination type | Year-wise course |
| Eligibility | Allied Post Graduation with around 60% and academic soundness as mandated by the admitting university |
| Admission Process | Entrance-based (Institute level and national level exams) |
| Course Fee | Around 2 Lakhs |
| Average Salary | Around 10 LPA depending upon the experience |
| Top Recruiting Companies | NDTV, Transoplanet, Times of India, Poll Star, Quis Lex, India Today, Oxynello, etc. |
| Top Recruiting arenas | Education Institutions, Accountancy, Media, Entertainment, Civil Services, Political firms, Government sector, Banking, Public Utilities, etc. |
| Job Positions | Political Scientists, Professor, Survey Researchers, Consultant, Market trend Research Analysts, Public Relations Specialists, Political Research Associate, etc. |
PhD in Political Science: What is it About?
PhD in Political Science covers all the aspects of the political science area in which the candidate has chosen to do the research. The overall description of the course is given below:
- This course demands a detailed knowledge of Indian politics and the political whereabouts of other related countries with reference to Governance, Community Empowerment, Economy, Decentralisation and Development in India.
- These subjects will be distributed yearly depending upon the chosen mode of education like regular or part-time.
- The candidates will have to decide on which topic they want to do the research. The candidates will be provided more guidance on the chosen topics.
- The students will have to conduct case studies on Indian Economy and politics and showcase the results of these case studies in their thesis.
- After completing this course, the candidates could apply for the post-doctorate degree under Political Science.
Majority of the PG graduates have their choice towards the PhD Political Science because of the following reasons:
- Research Opportunities: PG candidates tend to have their passion and interest towards the Indian Politics, economy and its development. Thus, a doctoral degree will be giving them ample research opportunities and the expertise in their interested discipline.
- Scope for funded projects: The doctoral holder in Political Science increases their chances of getting governmental and non-governmental funding to undertake the research.
- Good Annual CTC: Usually, PG graduates in Political Science receive lesser CTC annually because of the lack of research skills and expertise. But, PhD Political Science holders tend to receive better CTC annually of around 10 Lakhs since they have a variety of research skills and expertise pertaining to the politics and Indian Economy.
- Scope for Abroad studies: Because of holding one of the most reputed degree in the discipline and exposed to continuous knowledge gathering in many countries’ politics, these doctoral holders have chance to get placed or work in many foreign countries.
- Scope to work in polling companies: Because of being the experts in Indian and other countries’ politics, these candidates could work in the polling companies that decide the leadership in some countries.
PhD Political Science Admission Process
As PhD is expected to be a very tough course, many educational institutions prefer entrance exams-based admission over the merit-based admissions.
- Institutions like IIT, Gandhinagar and Amity University, Noida take personal interviews of the candidates even after entrance exams and scrutiny of academic track records.
- Some Institutions have their own entrances like Delhi University (DU), New Delhi. While others prefer common entrance exams like RET and PET.
- NET and JRF qualified candidates will not have to appear for any individual institution level entrance exams. But, they will still have to appear for a personal interview round if required.
Entrance Based Admission Process
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, University of Hyderabad [UOH], Hyderabad, and Banasthali Vidyapith University, Jaipur conduct the entrance exam alone and shortlist the candidates based on that score.
- After the results of entrance examinations are announced, candidates will have to go through the counseling process to finalize their seats.
- The minimum academic eligibility required to appear in the entrance exam and get admitted to the course is 55% marks at masters level.
- Universities like Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi conduct a personal interview round even after the entrance exams and counseling process.
- These institutions never consider academic performances during the whole admission process of a doctorate degree in Political Science. The admission is given solely on the basis of marks scored in the entrance exam.
- But in certain institutions like IIT Gandhinagar and Amity University, Noida, both previous academic records and the entrance exam scores are given equal importance.
- These institutions designate the minimum marks in PG/UG to be around 80% per cent or 8.0 CGPA towards the admission of PhD. Political Science degree.
Basic steps towards the PhD Political Science 2023 admission are listed below:
- Create the account and login ID through the official website of the institution/ exam conducting body with the correct contact number and email ID.
- Download and read the course/entrance brochure to be aware of the important dates.
- Keep all the scan copies of the mandated documents handy.
- Apply to the colleges and entrance exams by filling the application forms correctly with genuine details. Your application may get rejected later if you fill false details.
- Post qualification of the entrance exam and academic background verification, candidates will be called for a personal interview.
- Those who qualify all the steps will be granted admission to the course.
- PhD is also aided/funded under a variety of funded schemas/fellowships. Hence, the candidates needing financial assistance should apply for the same.
Read the full list of top political science colleges in New Delhi.
PhD Political Science Eligibility
Majority of the art institutions have plenty of selection criteria/basic eligibility for admitting the candidates into PhD Political Science. These eligibility criteria include:
- The candidates facing their PhD Political Science admission should possess at least 55% in PG/UG from any of the recognizable institutions in the nation.
- Central universities and other esteemed arts colleges set the minimum eligible marks in PG/UG to be around 80%.
- Academic excellence and research expertise are the factors considered by some institutions in India towards the PhD Political Science admission.
PhD Political Science Entrance Exams
Majority of the institutions consider entrance-based admissions in place of merit-based admission. Common entrance exams in many Indian institutions include:
- RET 2023: RET could be abbreviated as Research Entrance Test. This entrance exam is being administered by the University of Calcutta, Kolkata towards the admission of research scholars in Political Science.
- PET 2023: PET could be abbreviated as PhD Entrance Test. This entrance is conducted for the PhD admission by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad.
- UGC NET 2023: UGC NET stands for University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test. This entrance exam is conducted by UGC under the Government of India towards the admission process of many courses including PhD in Political Science. Qualification of this exam alone can exempt you from many entrance exams conducted all over the nation.
- CRET 2023: CRET stands for Combined Research Entrance Test. This entrance exam is conducted every year by Assam University, Silchar towards the admission of MPhil and PhD programs.
- DUET 2023: DUET stands for Delhi University Entrance Test. DUET exam conduct is done every year by Delhi University, New Delhi towards its research program related admissions.
| Entrance Exam | Registration Date | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| CSIR UGC NET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| UGC NET | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| ICAR AICE JRF/SRF | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| IIT JAM | September 7 – October 14, 2022 | February 12, 2023 |
| VITMEE | April 2022 | June 2023 |
| NIPER PhD Entrance Exam | To be Announced | To be Announced |
How do you strategize your Preparation for the PhD Political Science entrance exams?
Anyone who wishes to clear the PhD political Science entrance exams should be aware of the following sections like:
- English Language
- Reasoning and quantitative parts if needed
- Major technical parts in social studies and politics in India.
Points to recall before the entrance exams:
- Be ready for the Advanced level of the English Language including the UG level.
- Practice the numerical well enough to gain expertise in solving the numerical sections wholly.
- Many complex levels of reasoning skills could be improved after analytical skills thorough.
- Go through the major political events including both pre and post era of independence in India.
- Go through the Constitution of India, article by article, with reference to its enforced purpose.
- Update yourself with all notifications from the taken-up entrance exams.
How to get admission in a good PhD Political Science college?
The points that might help you are listed one by one below.
- Download the admission and application info documents of the preferred college/university where the admission is sought.
- Do strategize your action plans for the entrance exams well before the intended entrance exam.
- Be aware of all the sections of the opted entrance exams.
- Do remember that some institutions make the PhD Political Science admission, a very critical one. So, match with your academic soundness.
- Keep a record of all the entrance exam dates since COVID-19 pandemic might have an influence in it.
- Be keen on the time taken for the numericals since the candidates who will do good in the mathematical sections will have higher chances of success.
- Practice mock tests to get familiarized with the actual exam pattern.
PhD Political Science Syllabus
Subjects in this PhD Political Science get distributed across the whole duration as listed below.
| Course 1- Research Methodology | Course 2- State and Politics in South Asia |
|---|---|
| Foundations, Approaches and Epistemologies of Political Science Research | Contextualising South Asia |
| Survey Research Methods | Protracted Disputes, Human Security and Environmental Issues |
| Statistics and Data Collection | Political and Economic Challenges |
| Research Design | Foreign Policies of South Asian Countries and Regional Cooperation Initiatives |
| Course 3- Governance and Politics in India | Course 4- Decentralisation and Development in India |
| Approaches and Perspectives to Indian Political System | Decentralisation and Development in India |
| Party System in India | Decentralisation and Community Empowerment |
| Protection for Minorities and Deprived Groups | Decentralisation, Governance and the Structure of Local Political Institutions |
| Structural Concerns | Participation and Local Development |
| Course 5- India and International Political Economy | |
| Political Economy | |
| Land Reforms in India | |
| International and Multilateral Economic Institutions and Developing Countries | |
| Public Policy Analysis | |
PhD in Political Science Books
Following reference books cover the 5 major subjects in the PhD Political Science.
| Name of the book | Author |
|---|---|
| Contemporary Hermeneutics—Hermeneutics as Method, Philosophy and Critique | Bleicher J |
| Methods Tools and Techniques | Gopal and Jain |
| Research Methods in the Social Sciences | Nachmias D and Nachmias C |
| Research Methodology in Political Science: Theory & Analysis | Verma S |
| ‘Situating India’ in India: Emerging Power | Stephen P and Cohen |
| The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India | Fuller C J |
| South Asian Growth Quadrangle: Framework for Multifaceted Cooperation | Muchkund and Dubey |
| The New International Politics of South Asia | Hewitt and Vernon |
| The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation | Granville and Austin |
| Social Change and Political Discourse in India: Structures of Power, Movements of Resistance | Sathyamurthy T V |
| Democracy and Decentralisation in South Asia and West Africa: Participation, Accountability and Performance | J. Manor, Crook, and R.C. |
| Democracy, Decentralisation and Development | Henry and Maddick |
| The Politics of India Since Independence | Paul R and Brass |
| Democracy and Discontent: India's Growing Crisis of Governability | Atul and Kohli |
PhD Political Science Colleges
There are 213 institutions (110 Governmental and 103 Private institutions) that offer political Science specialized doctoral courses in India. Out of these 213 institutions, 47 of the institutions come under the 2021 rankings of NIRF released everywhere by MHRD to recognize top most governmental and private educational institutions.
Thus, we tabulate both the top governmental and non-governmental institutions below.
| College Name | City | Average Annual Fees (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | New Delhi | 1,381 |
| University of Hyderabad [UOH] | Hyderabad | 9,940 |
| University of Calcutta | Kolkata | - |
| Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) | New Delhi | 13,870 |
| Delhi University (DU) | New Delhi | 70,000 |
| Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) | Aurangabad | 25,000 |
| Assam University | Silchar | 26,545 |
| Annamalai University [AU] | Chidambaram | 25,010 |
Source: College Websites
PhD Political Science College Comparison
We make the comparison below pertaining to the topmost colleges providing PhD in Political Science in India.
| Parameters | Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | Amity University | University of Calcutta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | It is governmental arts and Science course offering university | It is a private deemed to be university offering plenty of arts courses | It is governmental arts and Science course offering university |
| NIRF Ranking 2021 | 8 | 63 | 11 |
| Location | New Delhi | Noida | Kolkata |
| Eligibility | Allied PG degree in arts from any recognizable institution in India | Allied PG degree in arts with at least 55% in it | Allied PG degree in arts from any recognizable institution in India |
| Admission Process | Entrance-based Admission (NET or JRF) | Entrance-based Admission (RET or NET or JRF) | Entrance-based Admission (Institute level entrance) |
| Average Fees in INR | 1381 | 1 Lakh | - |
| Average Package Offered in INR | 12 Lakhs | 4.5 lakhs | 7.7 lakhs |
| Top Recruiting companies | Amazon, IBM, Info gain, etc. | American Express, BIS Research, Broadcom, etc. | ITC, Amazon, Line, A & D, etc. |
Source: College Websites
Source: College Websites and NIRF database
PhD in Political Science Course Comparison
We depict a comparison between PhD Political Science and PhD Engineering below.
| Parameters | PhD Political Science | PhD Public Administration |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | This doctoral degree deals with the theories and practices adopted in the arena of politics in India. The schemes and history of politics are also well discussed. | It deals with the implementation of various government policies. It mainly focuses on the techniques used by the government for proper administration. |
| Examination Type | Year-wise regular and part-time Course. | Year wise regular and part-time Course. |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 2,00,000 | INR 2,00,000 |
| Duration | 1 to 3 years for regular PhD scholars. For part-time, up to 5 years depending upon the registered University |
1 to 3 years for regular PhD scholars. For part-time, up to 8 years depending upon the registered University |
| Eligibility | Relevant PG Post Graduation in Arts. | Relevant PG Post Graduation in Arts. |
| Admission Process | Entrance-based (Institute/ national level entrance) | Entrance-based (Institute/ national level entrance) |
| Job Roles | Political Scientists, Professor, Survey Researchers, Consultant, Market trend Research Analysts, Public Relations Specialists, Political Research Associate, etc. | Administrative Officers, Corporate Managers, Labour Managers, Public Relations Specialists. |
| Average Salary | INR 8 to 10 LPA depending upon the expertise. | INR 8 LPA depending upon the expertise. |
Source: College Websites and Payscale
PhD Political Science Job Prospects and Career options
Research scholars, after successful completion of PhD Political Science, get placed majorly in the industry wherein the knowledge of Indian Economy, Politics, developments are perquisites.
Most common roles that PhD Political Science holders can have are Market trend Research Analysts; Political Scientist; Public Relations Specialists; Survey Researchers; and Research Analysts. The average earned by these doctorate holders ranges from INR 5 LPA to 15 LPA.
Political and research/analyzing associated roles are offered from firms like NDTV, Transoplanet, Times of India, Pollstar |, QuisLex, India Today, Oxynello, etc.
Some favourite job roles for PhD Political Science and its respective salary are given below.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Political Scientist | Responsible for making the political reports with reference to the arguments and developments seen in Political | 6 LPA |
| Market trend Research Analysts | He is responsible to investigate a variety of data on the basis of three basic questionnaires like What, Who, and How. | 4 LPA |
| Professor | Responsible for educating and training the students in the discipline of Political Science dealing with politics in India. | 10 LPA |
| Public Relations Specialists | He is responsible to create and promote the awareness of the brand, company for which he/she is assigned to. | 6 LPA |
| Survey Researchers | They are primarily assigned for creating the surveys based on the data gathered/available to analyse it. | 5 LPA |
| Research Analysts | He is capable of analysing the designated data in order to devise correct/factual information out of it. | 4 LPA |
Source: PayScale
PhD Political Science Scope
Some of the futuristic scope that PhD Political Science could be benefited are as follows:
- Further Research: PhD Political Science candidates can take part in further research both in India and abroad.
- Political analysts and leadership: Since the political natures and economies of Indian and other countries are dealt under this discipline, the doctorate holders gain immense knowledge and skills related to leadership that might trigger and aid them in becoming a political analyst, and sometimes even political leaders in future.
- Scope for Civil Services in India: Since plenty of historical events pertaining to Indian Economy and Politics are gained through PhD Political Science, the candidates could fancy their chances to crack the Civil Services exams like UPSC because of few similarities in the syllabus of it.
- Economic Strategist: Any country strives to improve its economy in some way or other. Thus, it creates the demand for PhD Political Science holders all over the globe.
- Market requirements: PhDs in Political Science become expertise in the majority of the top economies through their research experience, thus it becomes usual for them to get placed in the market trend investigating firms.
PhD Political Science FAQs
Ques. What does a PhD Political Science stand for?
Ans. PhD Political Science stands for Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science coming under the aegis of arts.
Ques. Which is the topmost institution offering PhD Political Science?
Ans. Presidency College located at Chennai is the topmost ranked (NIRF 2021) institution offering PhD Political Science.
Ques. What are the common entrance exams for PhD Political Science admission?
Ans. CRET, RET, and PET are the common entrance exams for PhD Political Science admission.
Ques. Which sectors are paying well for PhD Political Science?
Ans. Markets trending analyzing, teaching, and polling sectors are the sector that is paying the PhD in Political Science with good compensation.
Ques. What is the significance of taking PhD Political Science courses in India?
Ans. The significance of pursuing a PhD Political Science degree in India is that it makes one expert and leader in the arena of Politics and Economy.
Ques. What are the options after does PhD Political Science?
Ans. PhD Political Science holders could get placed globally, get placed in Indian Civil Services, market trend analyzer in markets, and Professor in the educational institution.
Ques. Which eligibility test exempt the candidates from appearing in many entrance exams?
Ans. National Eligibility Test (NET) is the national level entrance exams that exempt the candidates from appearing in majority of the entrance exams conducted by the India institutions.
Ques. List some top governmental institutions offering PhD Political Science?
Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and University of Hyderabad [UOH] are the top governmental institutions offering PhD Political Science.
Ques. List some top private institutions offering PhD Political Science?
Ans. Amity University and Banasthali Vidyapith University are the topmost private institutions offering PhD Political Science
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