PhD in Commerce: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Roumik Roy

Updated on - Jun 12, 2023

PhD in Commerce is a 3-5 year doctoral program that focuses on developing experts in areas such as academia, research, consulting, and entrepreneurship. After completion of the degree, students can work as Assistant Profession, Finance Analyst, Trading Manager, etc.

About PhD in Commerce Course

PhD Commerce full form is Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce. It is a doctoral degree that falls under the umbrella degree of a Ph.D. The aim of the course is to become experts in their respective fields and contribute to the expansion of the corporate world. The PhD in Commerce duration is three years which can be maximum extended to five years.

PhD in Commerce Admission 2023 requires students to have a minimum of 55% in their Master’s degree. The student must qualify with the required cut-off marks in entrance exams such as SLET, UGC -NET, BHU-RET, etc. PhD in Commerce subjects makes students well-equipped with various aspects of research methodologies and commerce.

PhD Commerce graduates can make a good career in a wide range of fields such as education, research, trading, and commerce. The average salary of a PhD in Commerce graduate is INR 9.80 LPA.

Why Choose PhD in Commerce Course?

PhD in Commerce in India is a doctoral program that aims to help students learn about commerce, finance, and business studies in great detail and depth. Below mentioned are points regarding why choose a PhD in Commerce:

• The candidates who have completed their PhD in Commerce can in government finance sectors such as the Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India,  Income Tax Department,  etc. 
• Government Initiatives such as establishing MERU have boosted the demand for researchers in India in different disciplines.
• The e-commerce, service industry is expected to grow at a rate of 10% leading to demand for skilled professionals and experts.
• There has also been n increase in enrollment of teachers in the commerce field, as people shift towards academics and research.

Who Should Pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce Course?

PhD courses are extensive in nature and require a lot of dedication. Below mentioned are points regarding who is suitable to pursue a PhD in Commerce:

• Individuals interested in academics and research in the subject of business and commerce.
• Candidates having industrial experience in the field of commerce and wanting to develop domain expertise can enroll in the course.
• People who want to work in government, economic research, or policy-making roles relating to trade and commerce can enroll in the course.

PhD in Commerce Eligibility Criteria

PhD in Commerce admission requires a candidate to fulfill a certain set of eligibility criteria. Below mentioned is the eligibility for PhD in Commerce course:

• Admission for the PhD in Commerce courses in India requires the aspirants to complete their Masters with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks from any recognized board.
• Students must clear the entrance examinations such as UGC NET, BHU RET, SLET, etc. 
• There is no age limit to enroll in the course.

PhD in Commerce Admission 2023

The admission to PhD in Commerce is conducted in various stages which are discussed below:

• Step 1: The applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and fill out the application form or respective colleges.
• Step 2: The candidate must clear the entrance exams for admission.
• Step 3: After the written test or entrance exam, students are called for an interview process where they have to present their research proposal.
• Step 4: After the final merit list is published student needs to complete the document verification and pay the fees.

PhD in Commerce Entrance Exams

PhD in Commerce admission includes entrance exams at national, state, and institute levels. The popular PhD in Commerce entrance exams are listed below, along with application details:

PhD in Commerce Fees Details

The average PhD in Commerce course fees are in the range of INR 20,000-2 LPA. The course fees differ for colleges or universities as per the facilities, location, infrastructure, etc.

Below is a list of the best PhD Commerce colleges along with the breakdown of their fees:

Types of PhD in Commerce Courses

The course has full-time and part-time learning options available to students. The following PhD in Commerce course details are provided below:

Part Time PhD in Commerce Course Details

Part-time PhD In India is developed to accommodate working people who want to pursue doctoral studies while continuing to work. Below mentioned are part-time PhD in Commerce details:

• A candidate should have completed a Master's degree with a minimum of 55% marks.
• Further, a candidate should have a relevant experience of a minimum of 3-5 years.
• The average fees vary depending on the college and usually range between INR 40,000-1.5 LPA.
• The degree can be pursued by colleges like Lovely Professional University, Pondicherry University, etc.

Top PhD in Commerce Colleges in India

PhD in Commerce's scope in India is vast as the demand for graduates has increased due to the government's focus on making India a research-driven country. The PhD Commerce course is offered by various prominent colleges in India and the candidate can get admission based on merit and entrance exam scores.

Top PhD in Commerce Government Colleges in India

 A number of prestigious government colleges provide PhD in Commerce qualification. The top government colleges in India offering a PhD Commerce are shown in the table below:

Top PhD in Commerce Private Colleges in India

There are various private colleges for PhD in Commerce degree in India providing good learning exposure in terms of research projects, stipend, scholarships, industrial exposure, etc. Below is a list of private PhD in Commerce colleges in India:

Top Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce Colleges by City

Top PhD in Commerce Colleges by State

PhD in Commerce Syllabus and Subjects 

PhD in Commerce is a self-directed course, where students learn about research fundamentals in their coursework. Further, students research on the selected topic and learn about the subject area. Below mentioned are a few coursework subjects:

• Research Design and Methods
• Quantitative Research Techniques
• Qualitative Research Techniques
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Statistical Tools and Techniques
• Literature Review and Research Writing

Read More: PhD Subjects in Commerce

PhD in Commerce Course Comparison

PhD Commerce degree provide various opportunities to students in research, education, corporate, etc.  Below is a comparison of the Ph.D. in Commerce course with other courses:

PhD in Commerce vs PhD in Management

The table below showcases the differences between PhD in Commerce and PhD in Management:

Courses After PhD in Commerce

A PhD graduate can pursue various certification courses in order to enhance their skills and domain expertise. Below mentioned are a few courses:

• Financial Risk Management Certification Course
• Post Doctoral Research 
• Teaching Certification Programs

Career Options After PhD in Commerce

There are many job opportunities available to Ph.D. in Commerce graduates in both the public and private sectors. The graduates of this course are exposed to many important research and commerce-related topics and skills. The most common roles for graduates are:

• Business Development Officer
• Chief Finance Officer
• Financial Accountant
• Finance Director
• Assistant Professor
• Researcher
• Tax Examiner
• Finance Controller
• Management Accountant
• Statistical Research Consultant

PhD in Commerce Salary in India

The PhD in Commerce salary is influenced by various factors such as location, experience, job role, industry, etc. The jobs after PhD in Commerce for graduates get employment opportunities n areas like research, education, finance industry, etc.

Some of the factors which can influence the PhD Commerce salary include location, designation, and experience. The average salary for PhD in Commerce graduates is around INR 9.80 LPA.

Read More: PhD Commere Salary

PhD Commerce Scholarships

PhD students receive various scholarships from government and private institutes irrespective of specialization. Below mentioned are a few scholarships:

• National Post Doctoral Fellowship 
• MOMA Scholarship 
• Tata Innovation Fellowship
• Post Matric Scholarship for Scheme for Minorities
• Swami Vivekananda Scholarship
• Aikyashree Scholarship 
• Maulana Azad Scholarship 
• DCE Scholarship
• National Overseas Scholarship for Scheduled Tribe Students
• WBMDFC Scholarship 

Read More: PhD Scholarships

Skills to Excel as a PhD Commerce Graduate

There are many skills that Ph.D. Commerce graduates need to have to ensure that they succeed in their careers. Some of these skills are listed below:

• Flexible Temperament
• Ability to Work Under Pressure
• Time Management Skills
• Quantitative Ability Skills
• Logical Reasoning Skills