Ph.D. @ Kautilya

The Ph.D. program at the Kautilya School of Public Policy will equip scholars with the training that will allow them to contribute through their research in academia, government, business, and society.

The school accepts Ph.D. applications in the following areas:

  • Business and Government.
  • Economics for policy.
  • Environmental, Social, and Governance Issues.
  • Global Affairs.
  • Technology & Society.
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Ph.D. Program Duration must be at least three years and a maximum of 6 years. However, the scholarship will be only up to 3 +1 years (3 years continuous and one year at the recommendation of the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC).

The female candidates and persons with disabilities (more than 40% disability) will be allowed a relaxation of two years in the maximum duration prescribed for the program. However, the scholarship will be provided only for 3+1 years.

The Ph.D. program @ Kautilya will be composed of two phases:-

  • The first phase of the program will consist of coursework involving a series of postgraduate and advanced courses as prescribed by the school.
  • The second phase of the program will consist of thesis work involving the preparation of a thesis proposal, conducting research stated in the proposal, thesis development, writing, submitting, and finally viva- voce of the thesis.

A requirement to qualify for the title of a doctorate is to have at least one publication in Scopus (Q1 to Q2) or Web of Science-indexed journals and two papers presented in peer-reviewed conferences/seminars approved by the Kautilya.

The coursework will be mandatory for candidates pursuing a Ph.D. @ Kautilya.

The coursework comprises the following:

  • Course 1: Research Methodology I (Quantitative)
  • Course 2: Critical Thinking and Academic Writing
  • Course 3: Advanced topics in the area of research I
  • Course 4: Advanced topics in the area of research II
  • Course 5: Research Methodology II (Quantitative)
  • Course 6: Research and Publication Ethics
  • Course 7: Comprehensive Viva-Voce

Each of the above course contact hours will depend on its credit.

  • Candidates must qualify for the prescribed courses within 12 months from the registration date.
  • Candidates will have to secure at least a Pass “P” grade in each course to be declared to have completed the coursework.
  • Unsuccessful candidates will be provided only two more opportunities to pass the examination (but the time will be a maximum of 18 months from the registration date).
  • Registration of the candidates who could not complete the coursework even after reappearance will be cancelled, and they will have to re-register for the PhD program.
  • Candidates will have to put in a minimum of 80% attendance per course to be eligible to appear in the examinations.

Qualifiers For Award of Ph.D.:

  • Successful completion of the prescribed coursework.
  • Write and defend a detailed thesis proposal.
  • Completing research work as stated in the Thesis Proposal.
  • Write, submit, and successfully defend the doctoral thesis.
  • Two external examiners will examine the thesis. Neither of these two examiners should have rejected the thesis.
  • Complete the publication requirements.
  • completing the Viva Voce.