The PhD Program at MCH has a strong focus on original contemporary research in the humanities and social sciences. MCH expects its students to have an academically rigorous foundation in the scholarship, writing and the structuring of large and complex proposals. These conditions being met, MCH encourages dissertations that are intellectually ambitious, interdisciplinary, original, and pioneering. If the relevant PhD Guide is persuaded of the merit of the proposal, full support will be given (by MCH and MAHE) to develop the dissertation to the point of its greatest and most expansive strength.

The minimum duration for a full-time PhD is 3 years and 6 months from the date of admission. Once admitted to the PhD Program, a Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC) is formed for each student, consisting of a guide, a chair, and other specialist faculty members. Within two months of joining, a proposal has to be presented before the DAC. Once passed, this proposal has to be passed by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education Research Committee within a maximum time of six months. Following this, the student will be considered as registered for the PhD program.

Every six months, the PhD candidate has to submit a report to the DAC. Following the DAC meeting, the doctoral scholar has to incorporate the changes recommended by the DAC members in the report and submit a hardcopy to CDS (Centre for Doctoral Studies, MAHE).  If the candidate is the recipient of any scholarship from MAHE, the funding will likely be withheld when the candidate fails to submit the DAC reports as scheduled.  The registration of the PhD student will be canceled if the progress reports are not submitted on time.

The doctoral thesis is expected to be ready for submission at the end of three years. In a few cases, this period may be extended by 6 months after due clearance by the University. However, the extension is not assured and will depend on several factors, subject to the support of the supervisor and DAC.

No further funding will be given beyond the six month period, and candidates are strongly advised to complete their dissertation within the allotted time.

All PhD students are full-time members of the MCH academic community. They are expected to be in the MCH premises on all working days if they are not on a sanctioned field or academic visit.

All PhD students are regarded as working part-time at the MCH. This means that they will function as Teaching Assistants (TA), organize events such as conferences and workshops, and take up administrative duties. Leave rules for Manipal Academy of Higher Education employees will apply to all doctoral students.

PhD Research Areas available for prospective candidates 

(all areas are not available every year, and candidates are requested to write to relevant faculty for advice)

• Film Studies
• Indian literature
• Visual Culture 
• Environmental Humanities
• Ethics
• Cultural Studies
• Gender and Women's Studies
• Medical Humanities
• Sociology of Health and Illness
• Social Gerontology
• Family and Kinship studies
• Contemporary Literature
• Continental Philosophy

Duration: 3 years and 6 months from the date of admission

Citizenship: Indian nationals can apply under the General category. Foreign nationals or Non-Resident Indians or Indian nationals supported by NRI relatives can apply under the Foreign/ NRI Category.

Qualification: Students should have cleared a two-year Masters program in any discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate.

No minimum age.

Admissions:

General Category/Foreign/NRI Category: Admissions are done based on marks obtained in the qualifying examination and a personal interview.

Note: Candidates can apply either under General Category or Foreign/NRI Category. Those submitting applications under both General and Foreign/NRI categories will be considered only under the General Category. Change of category at a later stage will not be entertained under any circumstances.

Interview: Based on the marks obtained at the qualifying examination, Manipal Academy of Higher Education will declare a shortlist of candidates on the website. These candidates will be informed individually. Candidates called for an interview must bring all the originals and photocopies of their documents.

Merit List:

• General Category: Based on the marks obtained in the qualifying examination and Interview Manipal Academy of Higher Education will declare a list of candidates in the order of merit on the website.
• Foreign/NRI Category: A separate merit list of the applicants under the Foreign/NRI category will be prepared based on marks obtained in the qualifying examination and those selected for admission will be informed separately.