PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Popular PhD Colleges in India (2026)
Listed below are the most popular colleges offering Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in India, based on student interest and page views. The list includes 7 government and 1 private institution. Fees for PhD at these colleges range from ₹5,000 to ₹3.00 Lakh. A total of 119 colleges offer PhD across the country.
| # | College | Type | Total Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Mumbai, Maharashtra |
Government | ₹250,000 | View |
| 2 |
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
New Delhi, Delhi |
Government | ₹250,000 | View |
| 3 |
Manipal Institute of Technology
Mangalore, Karnataka |
Private | ₹300,000 | View |
| 4 |
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Government | ₹250,000 | View |
| 5 |
All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
New Delhi, Delhi |
Government | ₹10,000 | View |
| 6 |
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Bangalore, Karnataka |
Government | ₹92,400 | View |
| 7 |
National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal
Mangalore, Karnataka |
Government | ₹100,000 | View |
| 8 |
Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata
Kolkata, West Bengal |
Government | ₹5,000 | View |
Explore all 119 colleges offering PhD across India.
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State-wise Distribution of PhD Colleges
Tamil Nadu
15 Colleges
Delhi
13 Colleges
Karnataka
9 Colleges
Uttar Pradesh
9 Colleges
West Bengal
8 Colleges
Maharashtra
8 Colleges
Telangana
7 Colleges
Gujarat
6 Colleges
Assam
4 Colleges
Himachal Pradesh
4 Colleges
Rajasthan
4 Colleges
Punjab
4 Colleges
Odisha
3 Colleges
Jammu & Kashmir
3 Colleges
Uttarakhand
3 Colleges
Jharkhand
3 Colleges
Chhattisgarh
3 Colleges
Andhra Pradesh
2 Colleges
Kerala
2 Colleges
Chandigarh
2 Colleges
Haryana
2 Colleges
Meghalaya
1 College
Manipur
1 College
Tripura
1 College
Madhya Pradesh
1 College
Puducherry
1 College
Frequently Asked Questions - Popular PhD Colleges
Research faculty profiles on institutional websites, read their recent publications, check their Google Scholar profiles, and if possible, reach out to their current or past PhD students. Many supervisors welcome emails from prospective students with specific research interests.
PhD in India typically takes 4-6 years for full-time students. The minimum duration is usually 3 years, and the maximum is 6-7 years. Duration varies by field - experimental sciences may take longer than theoretical or computational areas.
Some institutions offer part-time PhD for working professionals, especially in management, engineering, and social sciences. Duration is longer (5-7 years), and candidates must balance research with their job responsibilities.
Yes, most Indian PhD programmes include 1-2 semesters of coursework before thesis research begins. This coursework ensures breadth of knowledge and research methodology training. IITs and IISc have structured PhD programmes with mandatory coursework.
Look for well-equipped labs, library and journal access, computing infrastructure, conference travel funding, writing and academic support, mental health resources, and a collaborative research culture. Housing support and health insurance are also valuable.