Can you do a part-time PhD in business management while continuing your job? In India, several universities offer flexible options.
PhD in Management - Brief Details
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Degree Name | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management |
| Course Level | Doctoral program |
| Duration | Full-time: 3-5 years. Part-time: 4-5 years |
| Eligibility | Postgraduate degree with 55% marks |
| Entrance Exams | UGC NET, GATE, CAT, GMAT, GRE, etc |
| Top Colleges | IIMs, IITs, FMS Delhi, XLRI, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon |
| Components | Coursework, comprehensive exam, research thesis |
| Fee Range | INR 1 lakh to 18 lakhs total |
| Careers | Teaching, Research, Consulting, Leadership roles |
| Average Salary | INR 14 lakhs to 45 lakhs per annum |
| Recruiters | Consulting firms, banks, IT companies, academic institutions |
What is a Part Time PhD in Business Management?
A part-time PhD allows working professionals to study without quitting their jobs. Candidates pursue coursework and research on weekends/evenings.
Popular Specializations in Business Management
Popular Specializations include Marketing, Finance, OBHR, and Operations etc.
Some institutes in India offer PhD in specialized niches like,
- Marketing Management – Topics like consumer behavior, branding, digital marketing etc.
- Finance – Corporate finance, investment banking, financial modeling, risk management.
- Organizational Behavior – Organizational culture, leadership, HR policies and practices.
- Strategy – Competitive strategy, international business, innovation, mergers and acquisitions.
- Operations Management – Supply chain management, logistics, and project management.
- Human Resource Management – Training and development, performance management, compensation.
- Management Information Systems – Analytics, business intelligence, ERP systems, cyber security.
- Entrepreneurship – New venture creation, small business management, family business.
- International Business – Cross-cultural management, globalization, emerging markets.
- Business Economics – Industry analysis, economic policy, competition law and policy.
- Accounting – Financial accounting, cost accounting, accounting standards and practices.
- Sustainable Business – Social entrepreneurship, business ethics, CSR.
- Public Policy – Regulatory frameworks and government policies impacting business.
- Also Read: PhD in Health care management
Eligibility Criteria
- A Master’s degree in a relevant field with an aggregate of 55% or above.
- A minimum of 2 years of post-qualification work experience.
- Meeting other criteria like qualifying entrance exams.
Top Institutes Offering PhD in Business Management India
- IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kozhikode & Lucknow
- IITs at different locations
- XLRI Xavier School of Management
- Christ University
- Great Lakes Institute of Management
- Manipal Global Education
- Symbiosis Institute of Business Management
- Vels University
- Hindustan University
- MGR University etc
Benefits and Challenges
Pros include continued income and industry exposure for research. The flipside is time constraints requiring strict time management to balance work, life and academics efficiently. In short, for diligent professionals wanting a stimulating career switch or seeking more subject depth, part-time Ph.D.s offer an ideal flexible option!
Entrance Tests
Here are some details about the typical entrance exams required for admission to part-time PhD programs in Business Management in India: UGC NET/SET GATE, CSIR NET, CAT, and other exam holders are usually exempted from appearing for the PhD entrance tests.
- CAT (Common Admission Test): Conducted by IIMs, it is the most prominent exam. A high percentile is required for top B-school programs.
- XAT: For XLRI Jamshedpur and other participating institutes test quantitative, verbal and logical reasoning skills.
- CMAT: For new IIMs/other AICTE-approved institutions. A good score needed for short listing.
- GMAT: International exam accepted by some universities instead of the national tests. Minimum 630-650 required.
- NET/SET: For universities accepting UGC-CSIR National Eligibility Test scores at the JRF level or above.
- Individual University Tests: Some institutes have their entrance tests for admission.
Waiver for Senior Executives: IIMs consider a candidate’s profile holistically and may waive the exam for very senior executives. Mostly 60% exam weightage and 40% work ex weighting is followed. Scores are usually valid for 2 years. Some varsities may allow master grades equivalence, too. It’s wise to start prep at least 3-6 months in advance.
Universities That Offer PhD in Business Management With Fees
Documents Required for PhD in Healthcare Management
The documents needed for PhD admission application generally include:
- Mark sheets and degree certificates of all educational qualifications
- Work experience certificates, if applicable
- Scorecards of qualifying exams such as CAT/GMAT/NET etc
- Research proposal
- Academic letters of recommendation
- Updated CV/resume
- Passport-size photographs
- Government ID proof
IITs
| Institute | Fees per Year (Approx) |
|---|---|
| IIT Delhi | INR 21,000 |
| IIT Madras | INR 9,100 |
| IIT Kanpur | INR 12,700 |
| IIT Ropar | INR 15,000 |
| IIT Bhilai | INR 17,000 |
IIMs
| Institute | Fees/Year (Approx) |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | INR 20,000-35,000 |
| IIM Bangalore | INR 22,000-35,000 |
| IIM Calcutta | INR 22,000-38,000 |
| IIM Lucknow | INR 25,000-40,000 |
| IIM Indore | INR 27,000-40,000 |
PhD Degree in Healthcare Administration Syllabus
State Universities
| University | Total Fees/Year (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Andhra University | INR 10,000 |
| Bharathiar University | INR 10,500 |
| Anna University | INR 30,500 |
| Calicut University | INR 17,500 |
Private/Deemed Universities
|
University |
Location |
Average Fees (Approx) |
|
Manipal University |
Chennai |
₹1-3 lakhs/year |
|
Hindustan University |
Chennai |
₹90000/year |
|
Dr MGR University |
Chennai |
₹90000/year |
|
MDI Gurgaon |
Gurgaon |
₹2-3 lakhs/year |
|
SPJIMR Mumbai |
Mumbai |
₹2-3 lakhs/year |
|
Vels University |
Chennai |
₹95000/year |
|
MICA Ahmedabad |
Ahmedabad |
₹2-3 lakhs/year |
|
Great Lakes Institute |
Chennai |
₹2-3 lakhs/year |
|
IIFT Delhi |
New Delhi |
₹2-3 lakhs/year |
|
IBS Hyderabad |
Hyderabad |
₹2-3 lakhs/year |
|
TAPMI Manipal |
Manipal |
₹2-3 lakhs/year |
|
XIMB Bhubaneswar |
Bhubaneswar |
₹1.5-2.5 lakhs/year |
|
Symbiosis Pune |
Pune |
₹1.5-2 lakhs/year |
|
ICFAI Hyderabad |
Hyderabad |
₹1.5-2 lakhs/year |
|
SVKM Mumbai |
Mumbai |
₹1.5-2 lakhs/year |
|
IFIM Bangalore |
Bangalore |
₹1.5-2 lakhs/year |
|
BIM Trichy |
Trichy |
₹1.5-2 lakhs/year |
Scholarships for PhD in Business Management
Below B-schools offer attractive scholarship options to help deserving candidates without burning their pockets.
- IIM Ahmadabad: Financial Aid to 30% of its PhD students that covers tuition fees.
- IIM Bangalore: Scholarship and tuition fee waivers to meritorius part-time PhD applicants.
- IIM Luck now: Scholarships to meritorious students and economically weaker students.
- XLRI Jamshedpur: 25% tuition fee waiver scheme for Executive PhD scholars presenting high-quality proposals.
- MDI Gurgaon: merit-based scholarships to cover the full tuition fees of candidates with previous research experience.
- SPJIMR Mumbai : 75% of tuition fees waiver for applicants with an excellent record.
- Great Lakes Chennai: provides a 25% tuition fee waiver to students having a GMAT score of 700 and above.
- TAPMI Manipal: offers tuition fee subsidies through teaching/research assistant roles subject to availability.
- Symbiosis Pune: has a merit scholarship that refunds 25-50% of tuition fees based on prior qualifications.
- BIM Trichy: grants 100% tuition fee waivers to faculty members pursuing Executive PhD programs.
Course Duration
The typical duration for a regular program is 3-5 years and 4-5 years for part-time PhD programs. This includes coursework, research work, thesis submission and defence.
Coursework and Research work involved in the part-time PhD program
Coursework Phase
- Takes 1-2 years to complete
- Includes 12-16 credit hours of advanced PhD level courses
- Subjects like research methods, quantitative techniques, business domains
- Classes are mostly on weekends and evenings
- Mid-term and final exams for each course
- Qualifying exams before moving to the thesis research phase.
Research Work Stages
- Identifying the research topic and developing a proposal
- Literature review to understand previous work
- Fixing research design, methodology, and framework
- Conducting primary/secondary data collection
- Data analysis and interpretation of findings
- Writing research papers and conference presentations
- Regular mentorship meetings with guide/committee
- Preparing dissertation as per university guidelines
- Thesis submission and oral defense examination
Expected Time Investment
- Around 10-15 hours per week can be devoted
- Coursework may require more time during exam phases
- Research may need block periods for data collection
- Strict planning is essential to balance work, life and academics
The coursework provides a strong foundation, while research hones higher-level analytical skills. Timely completion depends on efficient time management.
Oral defense examination in the research work
- The oral defense examination is the final step before the award of the degree.
- The dissertation is sent to external examiners for evaluation 2-3 months in advance.
- An oral defense committee comprising the guide, examiners and other faculty members is formed.
- In the examination, the candidate formally presents his/her research work and findings.
- This is followed by a rigorous question-answer session where the examiners thoroughly evaluate the depth of understanding.
- Questions can be on the research methodology, critical analysis, limitations faced, scope for future work, etc.
- Candidates must demonstrate command over the topic and defend their thesis against questions Raised.
- The viva voce is generally open to other research scholars and faculty as observers.
- Based on the performance, examiners submit their reports and recommend acceptance, revision or rejection of the thesis.
- On successful completion, the degree is awarded in the next convocation.
Proper preparation for all possible questions and practicing mock defences are essential to fare well in this final examination. A favourable viva voce evaluation is mandatory to receive the PhD degree.
Career Prospects
PhD opens doors to careers requiring high-level analytical, problem-solving and leadership skills. Job roles include strategy development, policy making, consulting and more with senior designations and salaries.
Pursuing a part-time PhD course is a better option for candidates to enhance their career prospects without leaving their jobs.
Scope of Jobs
- Professor/Faculty at B-schools and universities
- Research positions at think tanks, industry associations
- Management Consulting roles
- Senior leadership roles in large corporations
- Setting up own startups or entrepreneurial ventures
Top Recruiters
Management consultancies like BCG, McKinsey, companies in FMCG, BFSI, IT sectors recruit PhD holders for research, consulting and senior roles.
CONCLUSION
The PhD in Management is the highest degree focused on business research. The program duration, curriculum, and specializations vary across universities. Admissions to Part-time Ph.D. programs in management are highly competitive based on national-level tests, research potential, and interviews. It equips students for academic or research careers in the corporate sector.