Funding & Scholarships
How to fund a PhD in India — UGC-JRF and NET, CSIR, institutional fellowships, project positions, state schemes and international scholarships — with eligibility, stipends and application strategy.
All Funding & Scholarships guides
4 articles
PhD Coursework in India: Syllabus, Credits & How to Clear It
Every Indian PhD begins with mandatory coursework — research methodology, ethics (RPE), and discipline papers. The typical syllabus, credit structure, passing requirements, and how to prepare.
GATE for PhD Admission: Scores, Fellowships & How Institutes Use It
How IITs, NITs, IISc and other institutes use GATE scores in PhD admission and assistantship decisions — validity, score vs rank, direct-PhD routes, and what to do with a modest score.
UGC NET & JRF for PhD Aspirants: Eligibility, Pattern & Strategy
What UGC NET and JRF actually get you — admission routes, the JRF fellowship, eligibility, the two-paper pattern and a preparation strategy that respects the syllabus.
PhD Fellowships & Scholarships in India: The Complete Guide
UGC-JRF, CSIR, PMRF, ICSSR, institutional assistantships and state schemes — every major way to fund a PhD in India, who qualifies, and how to plan your funding strategy.
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Frequently asked
What is the difference between NET and JRF?+
Both come from the same UGC-NET exam. Qualifying NET makes you eligible for assistant professorship (and PhD admission routes); scoring in the top band additionally awards the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) — a monthly fellowship that funds your PhD.
Can I do a PhD without a fellowship?+
Yes — many scholars self-fund or work part-time, and part-time PhD routes exist for working professionals. But a fellowship changes the experience materially, so it's worth attempting JRF/GATE and checking institutional and state schemes before deciding.
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