PhD History: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees
PhD History is a three to five years long full-time doctorate course that deals with studying written events and records of humanity. It helps students gain a detailed view of social, cultural, religious, political, and economic development from the prehistoric era. This course's PhD in History duration is three years, but it stretches up to five years. There are various job roles in this field, such as Researcher, Consultant, Professor etc.
PhD History Course Details
| Degree | Doctorate |
| Full Form | Doctor of Philosophy in History |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Subjects Required | History and English |
| Minimum Percentage | Post Graduation in relevant stream with 55% marks in aggregate |
| Average Fees | ₹10K PA |
| Average Salary | INR 6 - 12 LPA |
| Employment Roles | Researchers, Corporate Historians, Professors, Curators |
About PhD History
According to Wikipedia, History is an umbrella term comprising past events and the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of these events. History seeks knowledge of the past historical source and written or oral accounts of art and material artefacts and ecological markers."
PhD in History delivers knowledge to the students for advanced studies in History in depth. The course consists of gender and sexuality, political study and training to reveal knowledge in various aspects of it. The course falls under the umbrella of PhD course.
Table of Contents
- PhD in History Eligibility Criteria
- PhD in HistoryAdmission Process
- Who Should Do a PhD in History?
- Types of PhD in History
- Distance PhD in History
- Popular P.h.D in History Entrance Exams
- Study PhD in History in India
- Top PhD in History Colleges
- Study PhD in History Abroad
- PhD in History Fees Structure
- PhD in History Syllabus and Subjects
- Why Choose PhD in History?
- PhD in History Course Comparison
- Preparation Tips for PhD in History
- Salary of a PhD in History Graduate
- Career Options after PhD in History
- Skills to Excel
Eligibility Criteria for PhD in History
Eligibility for PhD in History includes Students who need to complete their postgraduation or MPhil in a relevant stream with a minimum of 55% marks, and for the SC/ST/PH students, 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized university or institute. Candidates should have 5 years of experience in the teaching or administration field at the senior level.
Students must give the required entrance exam. There is no age limit for this course. Students must complete the part 1 examination and the duration to submit the thesis is 3 years.
How To Get Admission for PhD in History?
Some institutes admit students based on their graduation level marks, and few institutes conduct entrance exams to examine a student's capability. There is a Merit-Based Admission process based on graduation level marks, and another is the entrance exam-based process where candidates have to clear the entrance exam to get shortlisted.
Mention below are the general admission requirement that the aspirants should know about:
How to Apply?
Students can apply for a PhD course online and offline mode by going through official websites or visiting the university admission office. Students need to fill out the PhD form with the necessary details and submit original documents as per the requirement. Some of the Institutes take interviews to check students' communication skills and other aspects related to this course.
Selection Process
The selection process for the PhD program is almost the same concerning students' graduation level marks or the entrance exam marks. After the application is received, they start the procedure either with an entrance exam or graduate-level marks. They shortlist those candidates to get admission to the PhD program.
Who Should Pursue a PhD in History?
A PhD degree typically involves students independently conducting original and significant research in a specific field or subject before producing a publication-worthy thesis.
Listed below are the person who should pursue a PhD in History:
- Students who have a keen interest in research can pursue this course
- Students who meet the basic eligibility criteria can opt for PhD in History.
When To Do a PhD in History?
Students can apply for a PhD program right after postgraduation from any relevant stream from a recognized university or institute. Since it is a higher education degree, there is no right time to pursue it. Students can also pursue this course after obtaining some work experience.
Types of PhD History
Students can pursue PhD degrees full-time and part-time or as distance learning offered by universities across India. Since it is a higher education degree, there is no right time to pursue it. Students can also pursue this course after obtaining some work experience. Given below is the general information regarding the same:
Full-Time PhD History
A Full-Time PhD History degree is a 3 to 5 years on-campus degree. Students will have to attend the classes and submit all their assignments, and they have to give their examinations on campus. A Full-Time degree is very useful where students get exposure and a diverse experience and interact with faculty for their development.
Part-Time PhD History
A part-time PhD History course is a type of course that students can access while working for an organization simultaneously. It's for the students who cannot attend regular classes, and this course schedules its classes around the weekends or at night. It's a very time management course method students can pursue through this process.
Distance PhD History
Several universities offer distance learning courses for students who can't afford to attend classes on a university campus or don't want to pursue a regular course can opt for the distance PhD History course.
Popular Entrance Exams for PhD in History
Several institutes in India conduct entrance exams to shortlist those students who have the capabilities to study for PhD History programs, and there is a tremendous amount of competition among students to get admission into colleges. Listed below are the most popular entrance exams:
- GATE
- UGC NET
- CSIR NET
- AIIMS PhD Entrance Test
- BARC
- ICMR JRF
- BINC Examination
- BITS PhD Entrance Examination
A Quick Glance at the PhD Entrance Exams
Students can approach PhD course details by going through college websites to which they are more reliable to apply. Specialization plays a key role in the college approach to the entrance exam. Listed below is a glance at the PhD History entrance exams:
- The exam pattern includes English, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Thinking, and subject-specific questions according to the specialization.
- The papers are objective and MCQ-based.
- The syllabus, mode of examination, and question pattern may change according to a university/conducting body.
Study PhD in History in India
In India, there are reputed institutes for PhD in History programs. Students will have lots of options to go for it, depending on the various specializations. Listed below are the top PhD colleges in India:
Top 10 PhD in History Colleges in India
Listed below are the top ten colleges in India for the PhD History program:
Top PhD History Colleges in New Delhi
The capital city has top-notch colleges offering PhD History degrees. Listed below are some if the colleges offer PhD in History in New Delhi:
| Sl.No. | Name of the colleges |
| 1 | IIT Delhi |
| 2 | NLU Delhi |
| 3 | Faculty of Management Studies |
| 4 | IIFT |
| 5 | DIPSAR |
Top PhD History Colleges in Chennai
Listed below are the PhD History colleges in Chennai:
| Sl.No. | Name of the College |
| 1 | Anna University |
| 2 | Sri Ramachandra University |
| 3 | IRS |
| 4 | JRNRVU |
Top PhD History Colleges in Bangalore
Best premium institute located in Bangalore. Listed below are the top PhD History colleges in Bangalore:
| Sl.No. | Name of the Colleges |
| 1 | IIIT Bangalore |
| 2 | Indian Academy |
| 3 | SJC Bangalore |
| 4 | Bangalore University |
| 5 | BBC&S |
Top PhD History Colleges in Kolkata
Listed below are the top PhD History colleges in Kolkata:
| Sl.No. | Name of Colleges |
| 1 | University of Calcutta |
| 2 | Jadavpur University |
| 3 | Adamas University |
| 4 | Presidency University |
Top PhD History Colleges in Hyderabad
Listed below are the PhD History colleges in Hyderabad:
| Sl.No. | Name of the Colleges |
| 1 | IIIT Hyderabad |
| 2 | JNTU, Hyderabad |
| 3 | Osmania University |
| 4 | University of Hyderabad |
Top PhD History Government Colleges
Listed below are the top PhD History government colleges in India
| Sl.No. | Name of College |
| 1 | JNU Delhi |
| 2 | DIPSAR Delhi |
| 3 | NIT Durgapur |
| 4 | BHU Banaras |
| 5 | Calcutta University Kolkata |
| 6 | Jadavpur University Kolkata |
Top PhD History Private Colleges
There are several private colleges in India offering PhD History program:
| Sl.No. | Name of the Colleges |
| 1 | IIIT Bangalore |
| 2 | VIT Vellore |
| 3 | MAHE, Manipal |
| 4 | BVIMSR, Mumbai |
| 5 | JRNRVU Udaipur |
Study PhD History Abroad
Students can opt for a PhD degree abroad to get high-quality infrastructure and world-class faculty. The PhD History course duration abroad is 3 to 5 years and the students who are financially stable can opt for PhD History abroad. Listed below are the PhD colleges abroad:
| Name of the Colleges | Fees |
| Stanford University | 11,496 USD |
| Harvard University | 46,690 GBP |
| New York University | 52,538 USD |
| Princeton University | 53,346 USD |
| University of California | 41,722 USD |
Top PhD History Colleges in USA
Listed below are the top colleges in USA:
| Sl.No. | Name of the College |
| 1 | University of Chicago |
| 2 | Stanford University |
| 3 | Princeton University |
| 4 | Yale University |
Top PhD History Colleges in the UK
Listed below are the top PhD History colleges in UK:
| Sl.No. | Name of the Colleges |
| 1 | University of Oxford |
| 2 | University of Cambridge |
| 3 | University College London |
| 4 | Imperial College London |
| 5 | University of Edinburgh |
Top PhD History Colleges in Canada
Listed below are the top PhD History colleges in Canada:
| Sl.No. | Name of the College |
| 1 | University of British Columbia |
| 2 | University of Montreal |
| 3 | McMaster University |
| 4 | University of Calgary |
Top PhD History Colleges in Australia
Listed below are the top PhD History colleges in Australia:
| Sl.No. | Name of the Colleges |
| 1 | University of Melbourne |
| 2 | Australian National University |
| 3 | University of New South Wales |
| 4 | University of Sydney |
Fee Structure for PhD History
PhD History fee structure is not the same in every college, it varies to different colleges according to locations, faculty, demand, and infrastructure provided for the students. Listed below are the average course fees in India which range from around 72,000 - 4 LPA.
| Sl.No. | Name of the College | Average Fees |
| 1 | Banaras Hindu University | INR 8,368 PA |
| 2 | University of Calcutta | INR 4,400 PA |
| 3 | University of Mysore | INR 11,000 PA |
| 4 | University of Madras | INR 10,970 PA |
| 5 | Utkal University | INR 9,500 PA |
| 6 | Loyola College | INR 9285 PA |
Syllabus and Subjects for PhD in History
PhD in History syllabus varies from one college to another, and it mostly is a foundation course that students can opt for.
- Reading about trends in the historiography I
- Research Methodology I
- Aspects of the social-economic
- History of Medieval India
- Debates in Modern Indian History I
- Language
Read More: PhD History Syllabus and Subjects
Why Choose PhD in History?
PhD in History is the top career that students can choose in Arts, and students will get a good advantage in reaching their career goals. There are lots of Job opportunities available in India as well as abroad.
What is PhD in History All About?
PhD in History is a 3 years doctorate course which is the detailed study of written events and records of humanity in the past. It consists of social, cultural, religious, political, and economic development from prehistoric times.
What Does a PhD in History Graduate Do?
PhD in History program deals with providing knowledge in advanced studies in History in depth. There are many job opportunities available for students in this field, such as Professors, Curators, Administrative positions and more.
Curator: A curator is a manager or overseer. When working with cultural organizations, a curator is typically a "collections curator" or an "exhibitions curator" and has multifaceted tasks depending on the institution and its mission.
Reasons Why PhD in History Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?
PhD in History is a very important degree, and it has lots of job opportunities in various fields.
PhD in History courses prepare students with the necessary skills in teaching and research work which will create a drastic change in their professional careers.
Job Opportunities: There are many jobs in teaching and research work and others so that students will get job opportunities easily.
Read More: PhD History Job Opportunities & Scope
PhD in History Course Comparison
These two segments of the course are PhD in History and PhD in Ancient History field research and have quite a good future ahead in research and analysis. Several colleges in India provide these courses in their course curriculum structure.
PhD in History vs PhD in Ancient History
Listed below are the difference between the two courses:
| Parameters | PhD in History | PhD Ancient History |
| II-Form | Doctorate of Philosophy, History | Doctor of Philosophy, Ancient History |
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Masters Degree with minimum marks 55% in aggregate | Post-graduation |
| Exam Type | Semester based | Semester based |
| Admission Process | Merit-based/ Entrance Examination | Merit-based, Entrance Exam |
| Job Profiles | Researcher, History teacher Corporate historian, Historical Writer, etc | Curriculum Design, Consultant, Archaeologist, Editor, Associate Lecturer, Subject Matter Expert. |
| Areas of Employment | Museums, art galleries, historical sites, national parks, etc | Civil services, Media and Press, Educational institute, Research Labs |
| Average Fees | INR 5,000-1 LPA | INR 4,000 - 1LPA |
| Average Salary | INR 2 - 12 LPA | INR 3 - 10 LPA |
Preparation Tips for PhD in History
There are several tips students can follow while applying for PhD in History. Listed below are some of the tips for PhD in History:
Read and Practice More: Being up to date with the syllabus every day is very important. Practising and reading more will help the student be thorough with the syllabus and do well in the exams.
Have Intrinsic Knowledge and Interest in Subjects: Having intrinsic knowledge about the subject and having the same interest will keep the student motivated to learn more than what's in the syllabus.
Revise Methodically: Revising from time to time can be a key to scoring well in the final exam. Keep revising regularly and understand the subject properly. Revision is the key to scoring good marks.
Salary of a PhD in History Graduate
The salary of a PhD graduate depends if the student has done an internship, which will increase their salary and opportunities. According to Glassdoor, a PhD in History graduate's average salary is INR 3.4 LPA in India, but it depends on many factors.
Read More: PhD History Salary
Career Options After PhD in History Graduation
There are many job opportunities for PhD students. Graduates in public as well as private sectors. Students will get respectable job positions and good perks as well. Listed below are some of the career options for PhD in History degree holder:
- Professor
- Researcher
- Corporate Historian
- Historical Writer
- Associate Lecturer
- Data History Analyst
Skills That Make You The Best PhD in History Graduate
PhD should have proper skills to go through the program that will also help them to be successful in their professional career. Listed below are some of the skills that students need to succeed in their professional careers:
- Research skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Quantitative Analysis Skills