Quick Facts

Exam

GATE

Seats

Course Details

MODE

Full time

DURATION

48 Months

SPJIMR's doctoral programme, equivalent to a PhD in management, designed for scholars aiming for careers in academia, research, and consulting. It offers specialisations across various management domains, including Marketing, Finance, Operations, Information Management, Organisational Behaviour, Economics, and Business Policy. The programme involves rigorous coursework, comprehensive examinations, and culminates in a doctoral thesis based on original research. It emphasises both theoretical foundations and practical relevance, preparing candidates to be thought leaders and contributing significantly to management knowledge.

FPM full-time at SPJIMR is a fully-funded residential programme. Every scholar admitted to the full-time programme receives a stipend for the first four years of the programme. FPM part-time is a non-residential programme, and the total fee for the programme is ₹ 12 lakhs.

Course Duration: Typically 4 to 5 years

Important dates

Exams and Events	Dates

GATE Score Card Date - Availability of Score Cards for download by paying a fee of Rs. 500 per test paper (Mode - Online)	31 May'25 - 30 Dec'25
GATE Exam Date (Mode - Online)	6 Feb'26 - 7 Feb'26
GATE Exam Date (Mode - Online)	13 Feb'26 - 14 Feb'26
GATE Result Date (Mode - Online)	18 Mar'26 - 18 Mar'26

CAT Admit Card Date (Mode - Online)	11 Nov'25 - 29 Nov'25
CAT Exam Date (Mode - Online)	29 Nov'25 - 29 Nov'25

Eligibility Criteria

- A Master's degree or a Post Graduate Diploma in Management or an equivalent qualification with at least 60% marks.
- Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology/Architecture/Pharmacy/Medicine or equivalent with at least 60% marks.
- Other professional qualifications such as CA/ICWA/CS with a Bachelor's degree and at least 55% marks are also considered.
- A strong academic record throughout the candidate's educational history.
- A valid score from one of the following entrance examinations: CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, UGC-JRF, or the SPJIMR Research Aptitude Test (SPJ-RAT). Scores should generally be recent (e.g., within the last 5 years for GMAT/GRE, 3 years for CAT/GATE/UGC-JRF).
- Demonstrated research aptitude and a genuine interest in contributing to management theory and practice.

Admission Details

The admission process typically involves:
- Online application form submission and payment of a non-refundable application fee.
- Submission of a comprehensive Statement of Purpose (SOP) outlining research interests, career goals, and motivation for pursuing a doctoral degree.
- Shortlisting of candidates based on their academic record, valid test scores, and the quality of their SOP.
- Candidates without valid external entrance exam scores, or those who opt for it, may be required to take the SPJIMR Research Aptitude Test (SPJ-RAT).
- Personal interview(s), which may include a presentation on a research proposal or a chosen area of research interest.

Entrance Exam: CAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, UGC-JRF, or SPJIMR Research Aptitude Test (SPJ-RAT).

Applications for the 2025 intake typically opened around September/October.