PhD in Mass Communication

Mass Communication is one of the programs which has been very popular among students around the world. After completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree, a lot of people opt for a PhD in Journalism or Mass Communication. PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication is a research degree program that can last anywhere from 3-6 years, depending on the research area. The primary goal of the course is to conduct research on the chosen topic and to prepare candidates to teach. This blog provides you with all the information regarding a PhD in Mass Communication. 

About PhD in Mass Communication

A PhD in Mass Communication is a research-level degree in communication. After the completion of the course, the individuals can seek employment in various areas like reporters, journalists, professors, radio jockeys, public relations executives, editors, writers etc. 

Practice-based techniques that use practice “as a process of inquiry” to generate new knowledge on a global scale are becoming increasingly relevant in arts and media research. PhDs based on practice are offered by a large number of universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe. Practice-based PhD programmes are available in China and Singapore, both of which are near to home. 

A large percentage of academia and art schools increasingly recognises the importance of practice-based research in producing new knowledge and pushing the boundaries of existing art and media practices inside academia.

Syllabus for PhD in Mass Communication

The following are the core subjects:

Research Methodology 1	Research Methodology 2
Communication Theory	Research Writing and Ethics

The elective subjects are given below:

Journalism Studies	Specialized and Analytical Journalism
Advertising and Public Relations research	Communication and Development Issues
Analyzing media, Messages, and audience	Hindi Cinema Studies
Issues in Media Economy	Media, Youth, and Participatory Government

Eligibility 

The following are the essential requirements for admission to a PhD programme in Journalism and Mass Communication: 

Universities Abroad

• A letter of recommendation is also required.
• English proficiency tests like TOEFL might be required as well.
• Master’s degree with minimum 50%.
• Work experience might be required by some colleges.

Universities in India

• Candidates must hold a master’s degree in journalism or Mass Communication from a recognised university.
• In order to pursue a PhD, they must have a minimum percentage of 55 per cent.
• Candidates must also have a minimum of 55 per cent on post-graduation entrance tests like NET JRF. The entrance test requirement can vary from college to college.

Top Universities Abroad for PhD in Mass Communication

QS Ranking 2021	Name of University	Location
01	University of Amsterdam	Amsterdam, Netherlands
02	University of Southern California	Los Angeles, United States
03	The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	London, United Kingdom
04	The University of Texas at Austin	Austin, United States
05	Stanford University	Stanford, United States
06	Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)	Singapore
07	New York University (NYU)	New York City, United States
08	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, United States
09	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Madison, United States
10	The University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	Berkeley, United States

Top Universities in India for PhD in Mass Communication

India Today 2021	Name of University	Location
01	Indian Institute of Mass Communication	Delhi, India
02	Jamia Millia Islamia [JMI]	Delhi, India
03	Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication	Pune, India
04	UNIPUNE – Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU)	Pune, India
05	Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad	Hyderabad, India
06	Manipal Institute of Communication	Manipal, India
07	Xavier Institute of Communications	Mumbai, India
08	Department of Media Studies, Christ University	Bengaluru, India

Top Entrance Exams in India

• NET/NET JRF: The NET/NET JRF is a national-level entrance exam for PhD programmes. To pursue a PhD with a stipend, candidates must pass NET JRF, and after passing NET, candidates can apply to universities as professors. NET JRF applicants, on the other hand, are preferred by universities.
• SET: The goal of SET is to provide possibilities for state-level research. Candidates who pass the exam are eligible to apply for research jobs or to become professors at any university in the state where the exam was taken.
• The LPUNEST is the admissions test for Lovely Professional University. Scholarships may be available if a candidate’s admission exam score is high.
• SUAT: For PhD admissions, Sharda University has its own entrance exam. Candidates who fared well in the NET/ JRF/ SET, on the other hand, are exempt from the screening process and are immediately invited to an interview.

Examination	Application Date	Date of exam	Mode of Exam
NET/NET JRF	Till 9th March 2021	May 2021	Computer-based test
SET	Till 4th June 2021	27th June 2021	Offline
LPUNEST	Till 20th March 2021	20th March- 5th April 2021	Online
SUAT	Till 31st December 2020	February 2021	Online

Scope of PhD in Mass Communication

Students holding a PhD in Mass Communication have a wide range of job opportunities in India and abroad. Students can work as an editor, researchers, lecturers, associate professors, media consultants, and so on in sectors including print journalism, communication, and media. Some top recruiters in India include Hindustan Times, NDTV networks, ZEE TV networks, Times of India, BBC, The Print, The Hindu, The Wire, The Quint etc.

As far as job opportunities in the USA are concerned, as per the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the demand for Mass Communications occupations is expected to grow at 14% CAGR from 2020 to 2030. This growth rate is faster than the average of all occupations.

Job Profiles and Salary

Some job opportunities after a PhD in Mass Communication include editor, researcher, lecturer, content writer, associate professor, media consultant, etc. The average fee in India is Rs 8,000- 1,20,000 per year. The fees in the USA varies from $28,000 to $42,000 (INR 21.1 to 31.64 Lakhs)

Average salary by country:

Country	Average Salary per year (Payscale)
India	INR 7,16,000
USA	USD $1,25,000 (INR 94.17 Lakhs)
Canada	CAD $65,000 (INR 38.15 Lakhs)
Australia	AUD $1,02,000 (INR 55.47 Lakhs)
New Zealand	NZD $81,000 (INR 41.59 Lakhs)
UK	GBP £32,000 (INR 32.19 Lakhs)

If you want to apply to top Universities for PhD in Mass Communication, you can consult the Experts at Leverage Edu to help you achieve your goals.