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

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.

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.

PhD in History Course Details

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.

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.

• UGC NET Result
• UGC NET Application Form
• UGC NET Eligibility Criteria
• UGC NET Syllabus

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.

• Maharashtra SET Application Form
• MH SET Result
• Maharashtra SET Cutoff

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.

• NE SLET Application Form
• NE SET Admit Card
• NE SET Result
• NE SET Cutoff

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.

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.

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.