PhD in Commerce & Management — Admissions Information
Overview: This page provides focused information for PhD admissions in Commerce and Management: eligibility, full subject list, documents required, application steps, selection and career outcomes. Use the quick enquiry form (Name & Mobile) to register interest — the form stores the enquiry with program = "PhD".
Eligibility for PhD (Commerce & Management)
- Academic qualification: Master’s degree (M.Com, M.B.A., M.Mgmt, M.Phil. in commerce/management or equivalent) in a relevant area from a recognized university.
- Minimum marks: Commonly around 55% for general candidates; department-specific cut-offs and reserved category relaxations may apply.
- Entrance & exemptions: Applicants usually undergo an entrance test and/or interview. Exemptions may be granted to NET/JRF, SET, M.Phil. holders, or regular faculty as per university rules.
- Sponsored / part-time: Working professionals and sponsored candidates can apply under specified categories with NOC and employer documentation.
Complete list of subjects — Commerce & Management
The lists below include common subjects and research areas typically offered in commerce and management doctoral programs. Exact offerings vary by university and department.
Accounting & Finance
- Financial Accounting & Reporting
- Management Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Behavioural Finance
- Banking & Finance
- Financial Markets & Services
- Risk Management & Derivatives
- International Finance
Business Economics & Policy
- Managerial Economics
- Industrial Economics
- Public Policy & Regulation
- Development Economics (business linkages)
- International Trade & Policy
Management Studies
- Strategic Management
- Organisational Behaviour
- Human Resource Management
- Operations & Supply Chain Management
- Marketing Management
- International Business
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Project Management
Marketing & Consumer Studies
- Marketing Strategy
- Digital & E-commerce Marketing
- Consumer Behaviour
- Brand Management
- Retail Management
- Services Marketing
Organisational Studies & HR
- Organisational Development
- Talent Management
- Leadership & Change
- Workplace Diversity & Inclusion
- Performance Management
Information Systems & Analytics
- Management Information Systems
- Business Analytics & Big Data
- Decision Sciences
- Digital Transformation
- IT Strategy & Governance
Operations, Logistics & Quality
- Supply Chain Management
- Logistics & Transport Management
- Operations Research & Optimization
- Quality Management & Six Sigma
- Service Operations
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
- Startup Ecosystems
- Technology Commercialisation
- Social Entrepreneurship
- SME Management
Interdisciplinary & Applied Areas
- Sustainable Business & CSR
- Behavioural Economics & Experimental Methods
- Public Sector & Governance Studies
- Health Management & Policy
- Financial Technology (FinTech)
- Marketing Analytics & Consumer Neuroscience
What selection panels evaluate
- Academic strength: strong grades in UG/PG and relevant coursework
- Research aptitude: prior dissertations, publications, case studies or consultancy work
- Clarity of research intent: a concise statement that outlines research question, method and expected contribution
- Practical feasibility: data access, industry contacts, and methodological fit
- Supervisor alignment: availability of faculty with matching expertise
Documents to prepare
- UG & PG mark sheets and degree certificates (scanned)
- Government ID (Aadhaar / Passport / Driving Licence)
- Passport-size photograph and scanned signature
- One-page research summary (concise statement of intent)
- Publications, case studies, consultancy reports (if any)
- Experience certificate / employer NOC for sponsored applicants
- Category certificate (if applicable)
Application process — step by step
- Official notice: University publishes admission notification with dates, seats and fees.
- Online application: Fill form, upload documents and pay application fee.
- Screening: Departments shortlist candidates on eligibility and fit.
- Entrance/interview: Assessment via written test, presentation of research idea and an interview.
- Selection & registration: Department recommendation, offer issuance and candidate registration.
Supervision, resources & training
Strong doctoral programs in commerce and management offer:
- Faculty mentoring and regular progress reviews
- Workshops on research methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods)
- Access to business databases (CMIE, JSTOR, Scopus, Web of Science), industry datasets and case repositories
- Opportunities for consultancy, field studies and industry collaboration
- Support for publishing in journals, attending conferences and networking
Career outcomes after a PhD in Commerce & Management
- Academic roles — lecturer, senior lecturer, professor, researcher
- Research & analytics roles in industry and policy institutes
- Senior leadership roles in consulting, finance, analytics and strategy
- Entrepreneurship, policy advisory and think-tank research
- Specialist roles in FinTech, data analytics, HR analytics and marketing research
Typical timeline (example)
- Months 0–3: Application & shortlisting
- Months 4–6: Entrance/interview & registration
- Months 6–18: Coursework/training, literature review and data access
- Months 18–30: Data collection, analysis and publications
- Months 30+: Thesis writing, submission and viva (varies by project)
Frequently asked questions
Are industry projects accepted as PhD topics?
Yes — many programs accept industry-linked projects, provided academic rigour and research contribution are clear. Sponsored projects require NOC and supervision arrangements.
Is prior publication mandatory?
Publications strengthen an application but are not strictly mandatory. Clear methodology, feasible plan and data access matter greatly.
Which research methods are expected?
Commerce & management research uses quantitative methods (econometrics, statistics, survey analysis), qualitative methods (case study, grounded theory, interviews) and mixed methods depending on the question.
Next steps & contact
When the official PhD admission notification is released, apply via the university portal and upload required documents. For a quick initial contact or to register interest, use the enquiry form (Name & Mobile) — the record will be saved with program set to exactly "PhD" so admissions staff can follow up appropriately.