PhD Philosophy - Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Top Institutes, Scope

A PhD in Philosophy is a doctoral-level program that lasts at least three years. A Master’s Degree in Philosophy or Literature Study, or an M.Phil Degree, is required to pursue a PhD in Philosophy. The course covers innate problem-solving and analysis abilities, as well as strong comprehension and communication abilities. The full degree program lasts three years, and the curriculum is divided into six six-month semesters.

It focuses on the development and research of theses in areas such as Western Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, Indian Philosophical Studies, and so on, and ensures that projects are completed safely and with adequate resources, as well as the development of theses from research.

Aside from pursuing a career in the field, PhD philosophy students can continue their own research in the field or even look into conducting seminars in another country.

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PhD Philosophy: An Overview

The following are some of the course’s major highlights.

Level of Course	Doctorate
Also referred as	Doctorate of Philosophy in Philosophy
Duration of Course	3 Years to 6 Years
Type of Examination	Semester/Annual
Eligibility Criteria	Masters degree + the candidates should have cleared the Entrance test conducted by the respective university.
Process of Admission	Entrance exam based followed by a round of Personal Interview
Fee for Course	INR 50,000 – 5 LPA
Average Salary Per Annum	INR 10 – 20 LPA
Top Hiring Firms	Education, literature, law, Research, banking, the civil service, analyst, business and science, PR or politics. Communications, publishing, HR, and advertising, etc.
Positions of Job	Assistant Professor, Head of the educational department,Senior Research and Development Manager, Philosophical/ Literature Researcher, Political Advisor, etc

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PhD Philosophy Eligibility

The following are the eligibility criteria for the PhD in Philosophy course:

• Candidates for the PhD Philosophy program must have a Master’s Degree in Arts, Philosophy, or Literature from a recognized university, such as an M.A. (Philosophy) or M.Phil.
• Admission to the course requires a minimum grade of 50 percent aggregate or equivalent CGPA.
• For admission, students must pass entrance exams and then have a personal interview.

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PhD Philosophy: Important Documents Required

• Mark-list of the last qualifying degree examination
• Documentary proof of the date of birth
• Gap certificate (if applicable)
• Migration Certificate (No objection certificate from the university last attended)
• A character certificate (from the head of the institute from which the student has obtained his qualifying degree.
• Research Proposal
• passing/degree certificate of the last qualifying degree examination.

NOTE: Students should be aware that if the aforementioned certificates are not attached to their application, their application will not be taken into account for admission.

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PhD Philosophy Admission Procedure

Admissions to PhD philosophy programs in India are based on national-level entrance examinations such as the CSIR UGC NET, UGC-NET, or university-level entrance examinations such as the JNU Entrance Exam, among others.

Following the selection process, the respective college conducts counseling or a personal interview round, based on which the final seat allocation is made.

The steps to remember when applying for a Ph.D. in Philosophy are as follows:

Step 1: Go to the college’s official website and register by completing the online application. Provide the requested information, such as your name, phone number, and email address.
Step 2: Use the generated unique Login ID to log in. Applicants are required to provide personal and academic information such as Gender, Address, Subject, Marks, and so on.
Step 3: Scan and upload the required documents, such as mark sheets, certificates, photographs, signatures, and so on, in the size and format specified by the college.
Step 4: Submit an application for the entrance test.
Step 5: Applicants must pay the fee either online or at the college’s location. A confirmation is sent to the applicants via mail once the application fee has been paid successfully.
Step 6: Applicants must download and save the registration form in order to receive their entrance exam admit cards in the future.
Step 7: Take the entrance examination.
Step 8: After the exam has been completed successfully, a list of qualified applicants will be issued.
Step 9: Qualified candidates must then attend personal interview rounds in order to be admitted to the university.

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PhD Philosophy: Focus Area

To learn more about PhD philosophy, read the following points:

• The PhD Philosophy degree is among the highest levels of education and includes philosophical orientations for conducting in-depth research for conceptualization and scale development processes.
• Candidates can only enroll in the program full-time if they have a PhD from a distance program, which will not be recognized.
• For individuals seeking jobs in this field, this course has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum duration of 6 years.
• A PhD in philosophy is an enhanced degree that helps prepare students for careers as philosophy teachers and other self-employed endeavors.
• Fine research conducting abilities, good communication skills (oral and verbal), analytical skills, and other skills are needed to pursue a PhD philosophy.
• The course will cover topics such as typical research design, statistics, data analysis, and problem-solving.
• The program also includes periodic evaluation and practice, as well as course readings, which are the most important parts of the course.

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PhD Philosophy: Important Entrance Exams

Some of the entrance exams for a PhD in Philosophy include:

• CSIR UGC NET: The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers a national Junior Research Fellowship and Lectureship test for PhD admission to various institutes.
• UGC NET: This is a test for Junior Research Fellowships and Assistant Professorships that will be administered after July for admission to PhD programs.
• JNUEE: The Jawaharlal Nehru University conducts the JNUEE in order to select students for postgraduate degree programs.

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PhD Philosophy: Important Skills Required

Aspirants to the PhD in Philosophy should be capable of problem-solving and decision-making. They must also be self-assured, dedicated, and obligated to their goals. Skills that qualify you for a PhD in Philosophy:

• Quantitative Analysis Skills
• The Ability to Work Under Pressure
• Research Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Analytical Skills

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PhD Philosophy: Preparation Plan

The PhD philosophy entrance examinations are among the most comprehensive, so consider the following tips for a better result:

• The most thorough competitive examinations for research opportunities are the PhD Philosophy entrance exams. Candidates should determine how much time and days they will need to prepare thoroughly.
• Concepts in science and math should be thoroughly studied. Quantitative aptitude, general aptitude, engineering, statistics, and other topics will be discussed. Candidates must manage their time according to the subject and topic they are studying.
• To get a sense of the exam pattern, applicants must solve sample question papers and take a couple of mock tests and model tests. Candidates will have a better understanding of the exam pattern, allowing them to save time during the examination.
• Applicants must gain knowledge to efficiently manage their time in order to complete 65 questions in approximately three hours and receive a total of 100 points. Candidates should practice using shortcuts for mathematical questions so that they can spend less time revising.
• Applicants should sign up for weekly journals to stay up to date on the subject because it is a research-based subject.
• To get into a top college, you must have exceptional grades and performance on your Master’s degree, as well as the required entrance exams.
• Aside from that, the candidate’s performance in the interview must be excellent, as this will be used to make the final decision.
• Candidates must be excellent at conducting research and presenting the results of their research.
• Always stay informed about course cut-offs, eligibility, dates, application procedure and fees, and deadlines.
• Candidates should study for the exam well ahead of time, covering all the required topics such as general attitude, engineering, and so on.

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PhD Philosophy: Top Institutes

Some of the best Institutes in India that offer PhD Philosophy programs are listed below:

Institute	Place	Average Fees (Annually)	Average Salary (Per Annum)
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur	Kanpur	64,050	22 LPA
Jawaharlal Nehru University	Delhi	1,381	16 LPA
Jadavpur University	Kolkata	30,000	10 LPA
Indian Institute of Technology, Indore	Indore	70,900	20 LPA
Indian Institute of Technology BHU	Varanasi	46,815	14.75 LPA
University of Calcutta	Kolkata	4,400	8LPA
Delhi University	Delhi	24,000	11.75 LPA
Indian Institute of Technology	Gandhinagar	48,500	6.6 LPA
Aligarh Muslim University	Aligarh	9,285	12 LPA
Chandigarh University	Chandigarh	85,000	16 LPA

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PhD Philosophy Syllabus

The following is the basic PhD Philosophy curriculum that every aspirant must study throughout the course duration:

Paper I (Research)

Introduction to Research Methodology

Literature Survey

Data Collection and Organization

Principles of Thesis Preparation

Research tools and studies

Paper II (Optional)

Theory of knowledge

Advanced course in philosophy of science

Advanced course in logic

Advanced course in formal methods

Philosophy of statistics

Philosophy of the computer and information science

Decision theory

Philosophy of mathematics

Value theory

Philosophy of language

Philosophical aesthetics

Art Technology

Critical Reading in Philosophical Texts

Political philosophy

Environmental philosophy

Philosophy of language

Philosophy of Social Sciences

Paper III Elective (Indian Philosophical Studies)

Nagarjuna- Mulamadhyamikakarika

Sankara’s Commentary on first Four Sutra

Ishvara Krishna- Samkhya karika

Carvaka- Lokayata,

Jaina- Pancastikayasara

Early Buddhism

The Nyaya Theory of Knowledge

Vaisesika Sutra

The First and Last Freedom

Reason and Tradition in Indian Thought

New Perspectives in Indian Philosophy Chapters

Paper IV Elective (Western Philosophical Studies)

Kant- Critique of Pure Reason,

Plato

Wittgenstein- Philosophical Investigations

A Treatise of Human Nature Book

Logical Atomism

Some Main Problems of Philosophy

How To Do Things With Words

Concept of Mind

‘Freedom and Resentment’ and Other Essays

Being and Nothingness

Being and Time

Paper V (Mandatory)

Thesis presentation

Comprehensive Viva Voce

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PhD Philosophy: A comparison between Institutes

PhD programs in philosophy are offered at IIT Kanpur and JNU, among other top universities. In the table below, we’ve done a detailed comparison of both.

Basis of Comparison	Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur	Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi
Highlight	NIRF has ranked the institute 5th, and it offers UG, PG, integrated, and research programs in Engineering, Science, Management, and Design.	It is ranked second in NIRF and also has received the President of India’s Best University Award. The university offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and research degree programs.
Place	Kanpur	Delhi
Ranking by NIRF	6	8
Eligibility Criteria	Master’s degree in Science, Arts or Engineering with 55% marks	Master’s Degree in a related field from a recognized university.
Process of Admission	Entrance Based	Entrance Based
Average Fee (Annually)	INR 64,050	INR 1,381
Average Salary Per Annum	INR 22 LPA	INR 16 LPA
Top Hires	Zomato, Yahoo, Flipkart, Microsoft, Accenture, Bharat Petroleum, Uber, Myntra, IBM, Barclays, Yes Bank, Bosch, Ford, TCS, Early Salary, ITC Limited, Mahindra Finance, Deloitte, KPIT, Capital One, Star labs, EXL, etc.	Microsoft, Google, Oracle, Adobe, IBM, NIIT, Newgen, Wipro, HCL, Sopra, Aricent, Accenture,Cadence, Comverse, Amazon, Genpact, Naggaro, Oracle, Sapient, Siemens, etc

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PhD Philosophy: Important Book Recommendations

A few of the PhD philosophy books that could really help aspirants develop a broad and good understanding of the course are listed below.

Book Name	Author’s Name
Educational Ideas of Tagore and Gandhi	Mani R S
A Guide through the subject	C. Grayling
Perspective on Philosophy of Science in Nursing	Carol Polifroni
Analytic Philosophy	P. Martinich
Fundamentals of Philosophy- Philosophy of Science	Alexander Bird
Introduction to Philosophical Logic	Anthony C.Grayling

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PhD Philosophy and M.Phil Philosophy: Key Differences

A comparison of PhD philosophy vs. M.Phil philosophy can be found in the table below.

Basis of Comparison	PHD Philosophy	M.Phil Philosophy
Highlight	It focuses on the development and research of thesis in areas including Western Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, Indian Philosophical Studies, and other related areas, as well as ensuring the safe and well-resourced completion of projects and thesis development from research.	M.Phil. Philosophy is a post-grad academic research degree in Philosophy that tends to focus on Philosophical Foundations, Analysis,Human Science, and advanced research findings, among other things.
Duration of Course	3 Years to 6 Years	2 Years
Eligibility Criteria	Master’s Degree in Arts, Literature, or Philosophy.	Master’s Degree from a recognized university/board.
Admission Process	Entrance exam based followed by a round of Personal Interview	Entrance-Based.
Average Fees (Annually)	INR 50,000 – 5 LPA	INR 20,000- 1 LPA
Top Institutes	Jadavpur University, Chandigarh University, IIT Kanpur, IIT BHU, Jawaharlal Nehru University, IIT Gandhinagar, etc.	Chandigarh University, Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jadavpur University, Mumbai University, University of Kolkata, etc
Average Salary Per Annum	INR 10 – 20 LP A	INR 6 – 12 LPA
Job Profiles	Assistant Professor, Head of the educational department, Philosophical/ Literature Researcher, Senior Market Analyst,Senior Research and Development Manager, Data Analyst, Political Advisor, etc	Teacher, Assistant Professor, Consultant, Human Services Worker, Scientist, Lecturer, Social Service Workers, Speaker, Research Assistant, Quality Control Expert, Editor, etc

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PhD Philosophy: Average Estimated Pay

The salary for a PhD in Philosophy varies depending on the Individual’s knowledge and skills. The company and position you work for are also factors that influence the average salary package. The average salary for a Ph.D. Philosophy program varies from INR 4L to 7 LPA.

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PhD Philosophy: Important Employment Areas

Because of the knowledge and experience gained over the years of study, PhD Philosophy graduate students have a wide range of career opportunities and higher-paying jobs. Graduates of a PhD philosophy program can work in a variety of fields after graduation.

The most common PhD philosophy job profiles pursued by graduates are senior scientist and philosophy professor. PhD Philosophy graduates have job opportunities in both the private and public sectors. Mathworks, Archaeological Survey of India, IIT Patna, Nalanda University, Election Commission of India, FLAME University, BBC, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, CNN, and others are among the top recruiters. These top companies employ these professionals and pay them an average of INR 10-2 per hour.

• Coaching Centers
• Editorial and Publishing Houses
• Counselling Psychologist
• Philosophical Counselling/Philosophical Practice
• Mediation Centers
• Public Relations Specialist
• Chief Executive Officer
• Public Relations and Journalism

The following are some of the more serious job roles associated with the program, along with their average salaries:

Role of Job	Responsibilities of Job	Average Salary Per Annum
Assistant Professor	They create curriculum plans for students ’ learning, lead class discussions to keep students engaged, offer academic counseling, keep track of student records, and grade student work.	15 LPA
Literature Researcher	Conducting review of literature, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing reports for submission are among their primary responsibilities.	8 LPA
Human Service Worker	In fields such as psychology, social and human service assistants/workers provide client services, rehabilitation, and social work, including support for families. They provide support to other social workers and assist clients in obtaining benefits or services.	6 LPA
Novelist/Writer	The main task is to generate ideas and write them down in a fresh and engaging manner, attempting to make philosophical content quite comprehensible and interacting to the viewers.	9 LPA
Journalist/Editor	Journalists gather information, write, edit, proofread, and file news stories, articles and features, for broadcast on television, radio, and the internet, as well as magazines, journals, and newspapers.	12 LPA
Critic	To assess and rate work in relation to the body of work in front of them. Movies, books, magazines, and other works are examples.	7 LPA

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PhD Philosophy: NIRF Ranking of Institutes

Ranking by NIRF	Institute	Admission Procedure	Average Fees (Annually)	Average Salary Per Annum
6	Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur	Entrance Based	64,050	22 LPA
8	Jawaharlal Nehru University	Entrance Based	1,381	16 LPA
12	Jadavpur University	Entrance Based	30,000	10 LPA
23	Indian Institute of Technology, Indore	Entrance Based	70,900	20 LPA
26	Indian Institute of Technology BHU	Entrance Based	46,815	14.75 LPA

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PhD Philosophy: Scope and Benefits

Some of the advantages of pursuing a PhD in Philosophy are as follows:

• Top Skills Learned: Verbal and written communication; conducting in-depth research; problem-solving; clear and disciplined thinking and analysis; formulation of the problem; data collection, processing, and analysis are some of the core skills that a student will learn while pursuing the course.
• Job Opportunities Abound
• A career in this field is one of the most popular choices among Indian students. Senior Research and Development Manager, Head of the Educational Department, Philosophical/Literary Researcher, Assistant Professor, Political Advisor, and other positions are available in both the public and private sectors.
• Students with a PhD in Philosophy can work in a variety of fields, including research, education, literature, law, banking, the civil service, business analysis, public relations, or politics. publishing, human resources, communications, and advertising, to name a few.
• Students will be taught how to conduct research-based studies as well as enhance philosophical and religious studies in the field of philosophy. They will learn about its applications, giving them a more in-depth understanding of research-oriented thesis development as well as an in-depth study of the specialization fields of philosophy and their implementations in everyday life.
• A PhD in philosophy graduate is obligated to a higher salary as a result of the knowledge gained while conducting research. They are entitled to a starting salary of 10 – 20 LPA, which raises with seniority and on-the-job experience.

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FAQs