Ph.D. Chemistry Course - Eligibility, Duration, Admission process, Colleges, Syllabus, Scope

Mohit Dhulia
Updated on December 28, 2023

Ph. D. Chemistry course: A Ph.D. in Chemistry also referred to as Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry is a doctoral degree program in one of the branches of science. It takes a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years to complete the program on average. The program involves both, comprehensive theoretical study and research based on those theories and ideas regarding the topic of the research study. In recent years, a large number of research projects in varying study areas in chemistry have been initiated. Chemical synthesis, biological chemistry, applied chemistry, chemical analysis, environmental chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and materials chemistry are some of the research areas that one can choose from for their study. Students pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry are guided in their specific research projects by well-trained and experienced academic faculty of a particular academic Institute.

Duration of course: 3-6 years.
Eligibility criteria: Masters degree in Chemistry with a minimum of 55% marks.
Procedure for Admission: National level Entrances along with an entrance exam conducted by a Particular Institute+ Interview
Top Entrance Exams: GATE, CUCET, UGC NET Exam.
PhD Chemistry Syllabus: General Structure, Research Methodology, Scientific Communication, Recent Trends in Chemistry,etc
Course Fee: INR 80,000-3 Lac Per Annum
Jobs Positions: Chemistry Professor, Research Specialist, Chemist, Staff scientist.

Relevant Links
Ph.D. (physics)	Ph.D. (mathematics)	Ph.D. (biotechnology)
Ph.D. (zoology)	Ph.D. (botany)	Ph.D.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD Chemistry

The following are the requirements for obtaining a Ph.D. in Chemistry:

To be admitted to a doctoral programme in Chemistry you must have a master’s degree. In some fields, completing a Masters in Philosophy (M.Phil.) is required before beginning a PhD programme.
Universities often have a minimum percentage requirement of at least 55%.
Some prestigious institutions require candidates to pass an all-India level examination, such as the University Grants Commission’s National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lectureship. Candidates who are in their final year of a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply. They must, however, submit self attested copies of their qualifying diplomas and completed documents.
When M.Phil. candidates are admitted to PhD programmes, they are not required to take an entrance examination or complete course work, and they are considered to have met the UGC (Minimum standards and procedure for awarding M.Phil./PhD Degree) requirements.
If a candidate has completed an M.Phil. at one university and then transfers to another for a PhD, the new university may credit and specifically exclude the previous university’s course work. However, such a candidate will be required to take the same entrance exam as a new candidate who is enrolling in a PhD programme for the first time. This procedure will be followed by candidates who have earned a PhD from a foreign university.

Admission Process for PhD Chemistry

The following are the key steps in the Ph.D. Chemistry admission procedure as guided by India’s top universities:

Step 1: Application

To apply for Ph.D. Chemistry course admission at any college, students must first complete the course application form online or offline.
Some universities conduct their own entrance exams, in such a case, students must register through a separate portal
Students must apply for their UGC-NET or GATE through the main websites for the same if the university does not conduct entrance exams.

Step 2: Entrance Exams

If students are aiming to get admissions in top universities, entrance exams are extremely necessary.
Students need to qualify the entrance examinations to move further down the admission process, so that they can receive their offer letter, and complete other formalities if they have been selected.

Step 3: Interview and Admission

If students pass the entrance exam, the university will invite them to an interview, which can be conducted online or in person.
All other eligibility criteria are checked during this time, and if the students perform well enough in the interview, they are admitted for the PhD program.

National level Entrance Exams for Ph.D. Chemistry course

CSIR-NET

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is India’s premier research and development organization. They hold a joint CSIR-UGC NET, a national level computer-based test, in India for NTA Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor or Lectureship (LS). The exam lasts three hours and consists of 200 objective questions. In India, JRF is one of the most important criteria for Ph.D. admissions.

GATE

Another computer-based national entrance exam for Doctoral and Master’s degree candidates in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). On behalf of the Government of India, Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, and National Coordination Board-GATE, the seven IITs and IISc are working together on this project. The exam will last 3 hours and will consist of MCQs and numerical answer-type questions of total of 100 marks.

CUCET

The Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) is a national offline exam administered by 14 central universities for admission to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. It’ll take two hours to complete the test. The test is divided into two sections, each with a set of objective questions

ICMR-JRF

The Junior Research Fellowship (ICMR JRF) is awarded by the Indian Council of Medical Research to students pursuing Ph.D. programs. They are given grants to help them finish their studies. The above exam is administered by Chandigarh’s Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Candidates who pass the exam are eligible to pursue a Ph.D. at UGC/MCI-accredited institutions. It is a computer-based test.

BET

The Biotechnology Eligibility Test (BET) is a computer-based national-level entrance exam for DBT-JRF students interested in pursuing research in Life Sciences and Biotechnology. This is applicable to any Indian university or college. Two categories are created based on the test results, and candidates in category-I are eligible for the fellowship.

IIT JAM

The Joint Admission Test for MSc (JAM) is a national computer-based test administered on behalf of the Indian government’s Ministry of Human Resources Development. IISc is in charge of the 2022 test. Chemistry is one of the subjects on one of the seven test papers offered by IIT JAM. IITs and IISc offer integrated Ph.D. programs in chemical sciences. It’s a three-hour online exam with MCQ, MSQ, and NAT questions.

JGEEBILS

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research administers the Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (JGEEBILS). It’s a three-hour test conducted in offline mode.

Syllabus for Ph.D. Chemistry course

Sr. No.	Subject
1	General Structure
2	Research Methodology
3	Scientific Communication
4	Recent Trends in Chemistry

Top Institutes in India offering Ph.D. Chemistry course

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
Amity University, Noida
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
Javadpur University, Kolkata
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
National Institute of Technology- Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchirappalli

Top foreign Universities for pursuing Ph.D. Chemistry course

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of York
Cornell University
California Institute of Technology
Harvard University
The University of Edinburgh
John Hopkins University
University of Montreal
McGill University
University of Glasgow
The University of Manchester
University of Cambridge
University of Kent
University of California, Berkeley
Princeton University
Yale University
University of Essex

Companies that provide Employment opportunities for PhD in Chemistry

TATA Chemicals
United Phosphate Limited
Ranbaxy
Lupin
Sun Pharma
Aditya Birla
Jaypee Group
KBR
Technip
Glenmark

Scope and employment areas associated with PhD Chemistry

A Ph.D. Chemistry’s scope is determined by one‟s interests. Chemistry is a huge field that encompasses a number of certain other disciplines. Such as-

Organic chemistry
Natural chemistry
Analytic chemistry
Chemistry engineering.

Some of the Employment Areas for candidates with a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry

Food & Drink Industry
Forensic Science Labs
Educational Institutes
Pharma Companies
Radiologist
Cytologist
Production Chemist
Pharma Assistant
Water Quality Chemist
Medical Technologist
Agricultural Chemist
Food and Flavor Chemist
Clinical Research Specialist
Toxicologist
Biochemist
Material Science
Research Instructor
Research & Development Manager
Professor
Product Officer
Medical Technologist
Scientist
Plastics & Polymer Companies
Scientific Research Organisations
Environment Consultancies

Job Position	Responsibilities	Average Salary in Rupee (Annual)
Research Chemist	These experts research compounds and use their findings to develop and improve processes and products ranging from drugs and medical treatments to cosmetics, electronics, food, and beverages.	14 Lac
Government Regulator	Ensures that products are produced and distributed in accordance with applicable laws.	10 Lac
Forensic Chemist	Non-biological trace evidence found at crime scenes is analysed to identify unknown materials and match samples to known substances.	11 Lac
Chemical Researcher	Researchers formulate their research thesis by discovering a new chemical solution to a specific problem in order to solve global or private issues.	13.75 Lac
Junior Scientist	With their experience and interest in the field, junior scientists come up with a variety of new findings and report documents.	16 Lac
Medical Technologist	Medical technologists are capable of developing new chemical formulations for the treatment of diseases in the public interest.	20 Lac

Progressing into the field of chemistry would allow individuals to pursue a variety of opportunities that would hone their skills. Industries such as plastic and polymer factories, forensic labs, food packaging, and processing firms, as well as the beverage and liquor industries, hire chemists on a large scale in collaboration with various chemical research centers. One could also pursue a career in medicinal chemistry, where they would work to discover new cures and conduct medical testing and manufacturing. Overall, a PhD. in chemistry opens up a number of career prospects in varying fields of work.

FAQs

Are scholarships offered for a Ph.D. in Chemistry in India?

Yes, and the admissions process, the student’s entrance exam score, and universities that offer merit-based scholarships are all taken into consideration.

What career options are available after earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry?

Apart from doing your own independent research and working alongside other scientists, or becoming a Chemistry professor, there are various R&D positions available in FMNCs such as Patanjali, Dabur, and HUL. You can also look for job openings at pharmaceutical companies such as Dr. Reddy’s and others.

Can we get into an IIT for a PhD in Chemistry if we pass GATE and NET?

Because all IITs require candidates to pass entrance exams before being placed on the interview list, the answer is yes.

Is it worthwhile to pursue a PhD in Chemistry if you do not intend to become a professor?

A Ph.D. holder’s career options aren’t limited to teaching; as previously mentioned, you can work as a researcher, scientist, or chemist in the food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical companies, and other fields.

How long is a PhD in chemistry?

The degree will take an average of five years to complete, but this can change based on how long it takes a student to complete their dissertation.

What is the salary of a PhD in chemistry?

PhD Organic Chemistry degree holders can expect a revenue from INR 2,00,000 to 10,00,000 per year, based on the job roles and positions in the organisation.

What is the net exam for a PhD?

The University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a national-level exam through which candidates are selected for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship positions (JRF).

Which IIT is best for a Ph.D. in Chemistry?

In this case, there is no absolute best, but IIT Guwahati does have one of the best chemistry departments among the IITs. It has all of the necessary facilities, and there are approximately 42 professors, giving you a wide range of research opportunities.

What are the subjects in a PhD in chemistry?

Physical biochemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, advanced analytical chemistry, organic synthesis, quantum mechanics, and other topics are usually covered in a PhD Chemistry course.