Part Time PhD

A PhD is one of the highest degrees of qualification pursued by those aiming to master a certain discipline and aspire towards a career in research or academia! Studying for a PhD requires massive commitment as it is not a perfectly structured course but needs the scholar to spend extensive time studying, researching and then finally working on their thesis. As it demands total commitment and a greater amount of time and effort, students popularly opt for a full-time PhD. But for working professionals or those with time restraints, there are several options available for part-time PhD to choose from. This blog brings you a detailed guide on Part time PhD, the best programs and universities you can choose from as well as the admission process you must know about!

Part Time PhD Overview

Part-time PhD is the best option if you are a working professional aiming to steer towards a career in research or academia or to broaden your career horizons. A part-time PhD would enable you to acquire your doctorate degree while pursuing a full-time job. It is of a longer duration spanning around 6 to 8 years while a regular doctoral degree might be somewhere between 3 to 5 years. Studying a part-time PhD, you can work on your research thesis at your own pace but you would have to stay in constant touch with your professors and doctorate scholars as well. Part-time PhDs are becoming increasingly popular in the present day since it offers both the benefits of being financially stable and getting higher educational qualifications at the same time.

Important: UGC Guidelines for Part-Time PhD

Part Time PhD Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for both part time and full-time PhD are quite similar. Here are some of the general requirements for pursuing a part-time doctoral degree:

• The candidate should have completed their master’s degree from a recognised university or institution with the minimum marks specified by the university you are applying at.
• Qualifying UGC NET is a compulsory criterion for PhD admission in some institutions in India, while others may hold entrance tests prior to the interview.
• For candidates who want to pursue their part-time PhD abroad, they need to clear the GRE as well as language proficiency exams like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. You will also be required to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP).
• Additionally, they need to send a research proposal on their preferred topic of research along with Letters of Recommendation (LORs) from at least two of their former faculty members to be considered for admission
• All candidates have to pass a round of interviews before being admitted to enrol for the degree

Part Time PhD Programs

Although it is pursued by research scholars across all streams of study, there are some specific disciplines which are more popular among applicants. Below are some of the popular streams for Part time PhD programs you can consider:

Stream	Popular subjects for Part Time PhD
Humanities	PhD in English PhD in Linguistics PhD in History PhD in Inter-religious Studies PhD in Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies PhD in Economics
Science	PhD in Chemistry PhD in Mathematics PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology PhD in Geosciences PhD in Macromolecular Chemistry PhD in Physics PhD in Biotechnology
Law	PhD in Law PhD in Legal Studies PhD in International Law PhD in Administrative Law PhD in Dispute Resolution
Engineering	PhD in Engineering Sciences PhD in Material Science and Engineering PhD in Civil Engineering PhD in Mechanical Engineering PhD in Naval Architecture
Business and Management	PhD in Business Administration PhD in Entrepreneurship and Innovativeness PhD in Business and Management PhD in Company Management and Economics PhD in Law and Business

Fees for Popular Part Time PhD Courses in India

Universities in India offer some of these popular courses, whose fees are mentioned below.

Part Time Course in India	Average Fees
PhD in Computer Science	INR 10,000 to INR 2.75 lakh
PhD in Management	INR 10,000 to INR 2.75 lakh
PhD in English Literature	INR 10,000 to INR 1 lakh
PhD in Legal Studies	INR 20k to INR 2.5 lakh
PhD in History	INR 50k to INR 1 lakh

Popular Universities for Part-Time PhD Abroad

Now that you know about some of the most popular PhD programs, it is essential to explore the top universities for your chosen course to get the best research opportunities and exposure for your doctoral degree. Here are the popular universities in the world you must consider:

University	Country
SOAS University of London	United Kingdom
Queen’s University Belfast	United Kingdom
The University of Technology Sydney	Australia
The University of Edinburgh	United Kingdom
University of San Francisco	United States
Brno University of Technology	Czech Republic
Universidade da Coruña	Spain
Swiss School of Business and Management	Switzerland
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology	Hong Kong
Kent Business School	United Kingdom

Top 10 Part Time PhD Colleges in India

If you are looking for the best colleges for a part-time PhD in India, check out the list we have mentioned below for you:

1. BITS Pilani
2. Amrita University
3. Delhi Technological University
4. Himalayan University
5. IBS
6. IIT Delhi
7. IIT Kanpur
8. Dr. BR Ambedkar University
9. Andhra University
10. Bharathiar University

Part Time vs Regular PhD

Career Options

A PhD opens up various career options irrespective of whether you have pursued it full-time or part-time. Doctorate scholars commonly explore career opportunities in research and academic and can find teaching prospects in colleges, universities and research centres. You can also discover job prospects in the corporate sector which offer higher salary packages and lucrative career profiles. Here are some of the career options if you have completed PhD:

• Assistant Professor
• Guest Lecturer
• Associate Professor
• Subject Matter Expert
• Professor
• Researcher
• Writer
• Academic Content Developer
• Dean
• Research Assistant
• Curriculum Designing Expert
• Business Consultant

Salary

The following is the Average Annual Salary Package for several job profiles.

Job	Salary
Chief Executive Officer	INR 30 lakh
Academic Professor	INR 16.5 lakh
Professional Consultant	INR 3.4 lakh
Chief Operating Officer	INR 30 lakh

FAQs

Hope this blog was helpful in clearing all your doubts regarding part time PhD. Want to pursue a PhD but confused regarding which university to choose? Our Leverage Edu experts are here to guide you the best university in the field of your choice and we will also assist you throughout the admission process. Sign up for a free counselling session with us today!