How to Get a Doctorate Degree in India: Types, Requirements, Cost & Duration

Key Highlights

• In India, you can get a doctorate in four ways - Research (standard PhD), Higher Doctorates, Professional/Practice-Based, and Honorary.
• For this, you must have a Master's degree with 55% marks, or a 4-year Bachelor's with research and 75% marks under NEP.
• There are certain entrance exams you have to clear to get admission like UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, and CEED are mandatory. Unless you are exempted through JRF or other fellowships.
• Usually a PhD takes 3 to 6 years under UGC rules to get complete. But most full-time scholars finish in 4 to 5 years.
• In this article, you will learn how to get a doctorate, different types of doctorates available in India, the eligibility criteria and entrance exams you need to clear, and how long the entire process typically takes.

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What Are the Different Routes to Getting a Doctorate?

For having a doctorate degree there is no single path. However, the traditional research PhD is considered the best way. But now universities are offering other alternatives as per their career stages and goals. 

If you want to know how to get a doctorate degree, the first step is to understand the types of doctorate degrees in India.

1. Research Doctorates (The Standard PhD)

This is the most common doctorate in India. It focuses on original research, some coursework, and a peer-reviewed thesis. Based on how you study, it comes in three modes.

• Full-Time PhD: It is an on-campus degree which takes 3 to 5 years to complete and here your attendance and coursework is mandatory.
• Part-Time PhD: This takes 4 to 7 years to get complete and it is built for working professionals who can attend classes in the evening or weekend.
• Integrated PhD: Moves you straight from Bachelor's into Master's and PhD together. It usually takes 5 to 6 years. Offered mainly at places like IISc, IITs, and IISERs.

2. Higher Doctorates

These sit above a regular PhD. There is no coursework, no syllabus, no exams. You submit a large body of published, well-respected work built over many years. Some of the doctorate programs available here are:

• Doctor of Science (D.Sc.): For major, sustained contributions to engineering or science.
• Doctor of Letters / Literature (D.Litt.): For lifelong contributions to humanities, arts, or social sciences.

3. Professional & Practice-Based Doctorates

These don't aim to build new academic theory. They focus on applying research to real, industry-specific problems.

• Medical Doctorates: Clinical degrees like MD and M.Ch/MS.
• Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D): Must to have, if you have to practice pharmacy or do clinical research.
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): For executives applying advanced business frameworks. In India, UGC does not recognize fully online PhDs, so online DBAs through global partnerships are popular among working professionals instead.

4. Honorary Doctorates

This one doctorate is purely symbolic. Here you do not require any kind of study, thesis, or research. Universities give honorary doctorates to people as a mark of recognition who have made a major mark on society, culture, or science.

• Its full name is Doctor Honoris Causa, "for the sake of honour."
• No admission process required.
• Usually awarded at convocation ceremonies.
• Carries prestige, not academic weight. This cannot be used for research or teaching eligibility.
• UGC requires the recipient to have an outstanding contribution to their field.
• Recipients include scientists, authors, business leaders, politicians, artists, film personalities, and athletes.

Also read: DBA Admission Process: A Complete Guide for 2026

Eligibility Criteria of Getting a Doctorate in India

To pursue a doctorate (Ph.D.) in India, candidates must meet the foundational academic guidelines regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) alongside passing institutional or national entrance assessments. 

The eligibility criteria for doctorate degree are as follows:

1. Educational Qualifications

To get admission in a doctoral degree, you must have at least 55% marks in a relevant subject. The people having following degrees get admission in PhD:

• 1-year Master’s degree after a 4-year Bachelor's
• 2-year Master's after a 3-year Bachelor's

However, there is a new way for admission available under NEP. If you have a bachelor’s degree of 4-years, then you can apply directly to PhD. But, here you require a minimum 75% marks. 

Here, professional qualifications count too. If you are a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, or hold an ICWA/CMA. You are eligible for admission in many institutes with 55% marks. M.Phil. holders are treated the same way.

2. Category-Based Relaxations

Reserved categories get some relief here. SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), PwD, and EWS candidates get a 5% relaxation on the marks requirement.

3. Entrance Examinations

To get an admission, you have to give an entrance exam. The candidates have to clear UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, or CEED, as per the field. If a university does not require a national exam, it may run its own Research Entrance Test instead.

There is a shortcut available for some people. If you have cleared JRF through NET, or hold a fellowship from CSIR, ICMR, DBT, or INSPIRE. You can skip the written test and go straight to an interview, often with funding attached.

4. Age Limit and Nationality

In PhD, UGC does not set an upper age limit for PhD admission, but specific fellowships like JRF have their own cutoffs.

And if you have studied abroad, that is fine too, as long as your degree is recognised by an authorised evaluation agency or the Association of Indian Universities.

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