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    PhD in History Course, Eligibility, Fees, Admission, Syllabus, Jobs
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    • PhD in History Course, Eligibility, Fees, Admission, Syllabus, Jobs

    PhD in History Course, Eligibility, Fees, Admission, Syllabus, Jobs

    #Ph.D
    Nikhil VermaUpdated on 01 Oct 2024, 06:24 PM IST

    Ph.D. in History is a doctoral-level programme that students can complete in a duration of three to six years. The curriculum is more research-oriented and involves theses, publications, and various research projects and methodologies. Various types of History specialisation at the doctoral level include Ancient Indian History, European History, Islamic History, Medieval Indian History, and Modern Indian History.

    This Story also Contains

    1. PhD in History Course Details
    2. PhD in History Eligibility Criteria
    3. PhD Degree in History Admission Procedure
    4. PhD History Entrance Exams
    5. PhD in History Cutoff
    6. Doctorate in History Degree Skills
    7. PhD History Syllabus
    8. PhD History Fees
    9. PhD in History Scope
    10. Career Options After PhD in History
    11. Top Recruiters
    12. PhD in History Salary
    13. List of Top Ph.D. in History Colleges in India with Fees
    14. Top Private Ph.D. in History Colleges in India with Fees
    15. Top Government Ph.D. in History Colleges in India with Fees

    Candidates with a master's degree in history (MA history) or other related disciplines are eligible to apply for history Ph.D. programmes. Admission is provided considering the total seat capacity of the university/college, and it is subject to change. UGC NET, LPU NEST, Maha SET, and NESLET are some popular entrance exams that facilitate admission to Ph.D history programmes.

    JNU Delhi, JMI New Delhi, and BHU Varanasi are some of the top universities as per NIRF ranking providing doctorate in history courses. Academician, Researcher, Journalist, and Historian are popular job roles available for graduates. The PhD fees start from Rs. 2,000 and go up to Rs. 15 lakhs, depending on the institution.

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    PhD in History Course Details

    Particulars

    Values

    Degree Name

    PhD in History

    Degree Type

    Doctoral

    Degree Duration

    3 to 6 years

    Entrance Exams

    UGC-NET, LPU NEST, Maha SET, and NESLET

    Eligibility Criteria

    Master’s degree

    Admission Process

    Entrance test

    Fees for the entire duration

    Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 4 lakhs

    Average Salary

    Rs. 8.0 LPA

    Job Profiles

    Academician, Researcher, Journalist, and Historian

    Top Recruiters

    Research institutions, Universities, Government agencies, Publishing houses, Media

    PhD in History Eligibility Criteria

    The eligibility criteria for PhD history courses are set by the governing body or affiliation of the provider college. Like most Ph.D. programmes, it also has similar requirements which are provided below.

    • Candidates should have a master's degree in history or a related subject from a UGC-approved institution.
    • They should score at least 55 per cent marks in their respective degree.
    • Some universities may also require relevant experience of a couple of years.
    • For reserved category candidates, a relaxation of five per cent marks is provided.

    PhD Degree in History Admission Procedure

    Candidates can easily find the admission procedure on the official website of the provider colleges. Note that there is no direct entry into a PhD in history and candidates must appear for the respective entrance exams. Below, we have provided the PhD history admission criteria followed by most colleges in India.

    • Candidates will be shortlisted based on their scorecard in the respective entrance exams considered by the university/ college.
    • Candidates clearing the cutoff will be called for a personal interview (PI) and group discussion (GD).
    • The final selection of candidates will be made based on their scores in the entrance exam, PI, and GD.
    • Selected candidates can finalise their seats by paying the course fees and submitting valid documents.
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    PhD History Entrance Exams

    The Ph.D. programmes can only be pursued by passing the entrance examination, as there is no direct entry. Several national/state/university-level entrance exams are conducted annually to facilitate PhD history admission.

    UGC-NET: UGC-NET stands for University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test and it is a national-level examination conducted online. It is administered by the National Testing Agency twice a year.

    Maha SET: Maha SET stands for Maharashtra State Eligibility Test and it is conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University. It is a state-level examination conducted once a year in offline mode.

    NESLET: NESLET stands for NorthEast State Level Eligibility Test and it is administered by the SLET Commission, Assam. It is conducted offline not annually but based on the vacancy.

    PhD in History Cutoff

    The cutoff is the minimum mark candidates should score to be considered for the admission process of the course. The PhD history cutoff is determined by the universities based on the scorecard of the entrance examination. The cutoff score is not static and varies annually depending on total seat intake, exam difficulty, and number of applicants.

    Doctorate in History Degree Skills

    Ph.D. is a long-duration programme but with the right skill set, candidates can be able to complete it in the right duration. Below are some of the PhD history skills that will help candidates not only in the course but in the future as well.

    • Critical Thinking
    • Research
    • Academic Writing
    • Time Management
    • Attention to Detail
    • Strong Communication
    • Presentation Skills

    PhD History Syllabus

    PhD in history syllabus depends on the governing body of the college and generally includes theses, research work, and publications. The history PhD syllabus is a combination of electives, specialisation, and core subjects. Below we have provided the PhD history topics taught at the BBAU Lucknow.

    Course Title

    Type of Course

    Research Methodology

    Core

    Historiography

    Compulsory

    Discipline Specific Any one of the following-

    1. Environmental History in North East India.

    2. Modern Buddhist Movement.

    3. Ecological History of India.

    4. Research Methods in Ancient History and Archaeology.

    Optional

    Social History of India

    Compulsory

    Research and Publication Ethics

    Compulsory

    PhD History Fees

    The fees for PhD history programs depend on factors like facilities provided, type of college, academic record, and location. The fees for the doctorate in history programme start from Rs. 2,000 and go up to Rs. 16 lakhs in the case of some private institutions.

    The PhD history fee structure includes tuition fees, admission fees, security deposit, and examination fees. The average PhD history fees range from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 4 lakhs.

    PhD in History Scope

    Ph.D. is the highest level of education and it provides specialised knowledge in any subject. With extensive knowledge after completing PhD in history, graduates can pursue a wide range of career opportunities in both private and public sectors. They can also write a book about any topic of history that they are specialised in and become an author.

    Graduates can head various departments of government that deal with archives, heritage, museums, and research. Moreover, they can work with various ministries of the government of India that work for Indian culture, archaeology, and heritage.

    Career Options After PhD in History

    Both private and public industries are open for graduates with a doctorate in art history. Following we have listed some of the PhD in history job roles in India.

    Academicians: Academicians are individuals who have specialised knowledge in any particular field. They teach and carry out research activities in colleges and universities.

    Researchers: Researchers are professionals who write academic theses and conduct research. They investigate a particular topic and continuously work on new findings.

    Journalists: Journalists focus on providing news to the general public by doing proper research and fact-checking. They write articles; click photographs of any particular event, and present news to the audience through various modes including video, newspaper, and magazines.

    Historians: Historians study and analyse history and its events for fact-checking. Based on their research, they publish books and reports of a particular event in history.

    Top Recruiters

    Various recruiters in India as well as abroad hire professionals with expertise in history. It is advisable to pursue a doctorate from the best university for PhD in history, as many top recruiters hire professionals from the campuses of these universities. Some of the top PhD history recruiters in India include:

    • Research institution
    • Universities and colleges
    • Government agencies
    • Publishing houses
    • Cultural and heritage institutions
    • Media

    Benefits of Studying PhD in History

    Studying a PhD in history offers various benefits to students. Through research; students develop advanced analytical and archival skills, essential for academic and professional success. The degree opens diverse career paths that include academia, research, publishing, museums, and government. PhD candidates also have the chance to contribute original research for the understanding of historical events.

    PhD in History Salary

    Several PhD history job profiles are available for graduates in India, as well as abroad providing international opportunities. But here we have provided the PhD history salary in India for the respective job roles.

    Job Profiles

    Average Salary

    Academician

    Rs. 10.05 LPA

    Researcher

    Rs. 7.72 LPA

    Journalist

    Rs. 7.74 LPA

    Historian

    Rs. 9.82 LPA

    Source: Payscale

    List of Top Ph.D. in History Colleges in India with Fees

    Several colleges in India are renowned for their Ph.D. programmes. In the table below, we have highlighted the best PhD in history colleges, along with their total fees, as per NIRF ranking.

    Top Private Ph.D. in History Colleges in India with Fees

    Among the best universities for PhD in history, many private universities are ranked higher because of their academic excellence. Following are some of the top private PhD in history colleges along with their fee structure.

    Top Government Ph.D. in History Colleges in India with Fees

    Government colleges offer more learning opportunities with the best faculty and less fee structure. In the table below, we have compiled some of the government colleges providing PhD history courses and their total fees.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the duration of a Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    A Ph.D. in History is a doctoral-level degree that has a duration of a minimum of three years to a maximum of six years.

    Q: Who is eligible to apply for a Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    Candidates who have a master's degree in history or related disciplines from a UGC-approved institution are eligible to apply for PhD in History courses. 

    Q: What are popular entrance exams for a Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    Popular entrance exams for PhD in History are UGC-NET, LPU NEST, Maha SET, and NESLET.

    Q: What are the career options after completing a Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    After completing PhD in History, students can pursue careers as academicians, researchers, journalists, and historians.

    Q: What are the average fees for a Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    The average Ph.D. in History fees range from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 4 lakhs, depending on the choice of institution.

    Q: What are some top universities in India that offer Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    Some top universities that provide Ph.D. in History are JNU Delhi, JMI New Delhi, and BHU Varanasi.

    Q: How is admission to Ph.D. in History courses conducted?
    A:

    Admission is based on combined results of entrance exams, personal interviews, and group discussions.

    Q: What are some specialisations available in Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    Ph.D. in History is available in a variety of specialisations such as Ancient Indian History, European History, Islamic History, Medieval Indian History, and Modern Indian History.

    Q: What is the average salary for Ph.D. in History graduates?
    A:

    The average salary for PhD History graduates ranges from Rs. 7.72 LPA to Rs. 10.05 LPA.

    Q: What are the top recruiters for Ph.D. in History?
    A:

    Top recruiters for students with a Ph.D. History includes research institutions, universities, government agencies, publishing houses, cultural and heritage institutions, and media organisations.

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    Questions related to Ph.D

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to Ph.D ?

    Hi, Bharat mein PhD full-time (regular) ya part-time hoti hai, private/distance PhD karne ki anumati nahi hai. JRF, CSIR-NET, GATE ke madhyam se PhD men pravesh lene par Scholarship bhi milati hai. Basharte PhD me aapka pradarshan aur pragati Santoshjanak ho.

    Iske alawa bhi Sansthan vishesh ki PhD pravesh prakriya

    A PhD requires completing a bachelor's degree and then a master's degree in a related field. After that, you need to clear entrance exams like UGC NET or university-level tests. It is a research-based programme that usually takes 3-6 years to complete. Students should focus on building strong concepts, academic

    Hi Ritu,

    The BHU PhD Yoga registration started from December 6, 2025. Click on the link below to check out top PhD yoga universities in India:

    The admission to PhD programme at PK Kotavala College for the academic year 2026, are expected to be start in the month of May 2026. You can check the below given link for details related to admission at PK Kotavala College -

    https://www.careers360.com/colleges/shri-and-smt-pk-kotawala-arts-college-patan/admission