The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a premier institution in media and communication education and a Deemed to be University, has invited applications for admission to its Ph.D. Programme for the academic year 2025–26. The programme is designed to promote advanced research in journalism, mass communication, digital media, strategic communication, political communication, development communication, and allied areas.
Important Dates for Ph.D. Admission 2025–26
- Online application opens: January 01, 2026
- Last date to submit application: January 30, 2026
- Entrance examination (Part-Time candidates only): February 15, 2026
- Entrance exam result: February 20, 2026
- List of candidates shortlisted for interview: February 23, 2026
- Start of interviews: March 09, 2026
- Declaration of final result: March 19, 2026
- Admission process: March 23–27, 2026
- Commencement of coursework/session: April 01, 2026
Any changes in the schedule will be notified on the official IIMC website. Click here to check the official website.
Number of Seats and Reservation Policy
For the 2025–26 session, a maximum of 22 seats are available:
- Full-Time Ph.D.: 18 seats
- Part-Time Ph.D.: 4 seats
Reservation Policy
Admissions follow the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation of Seats) Act, 2006, with the following reservation structure:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 15%
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5%
- Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL): 27%
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5% within each category
Additionally, up to 10% supernumerary seats may be offered to international scholars
Who Can Apply?
Educational Qualification – Applicants must hold:
- A Master’s degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, or allied disciplines with at least 55 percent marks, or
- An MPhil degree in a relevant field, or
- A four-year Bachelor’s degree with research and a minimum of 75 percent marks or equivalent CGPA.
Relaxation in marks is applicable for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/EWS categories as per Government of India norms.
Additional Criteria for Part-Time Candidates
- Be in regular or contractual employment
- Have a minimum of three years of professional experience in media or allied fields
- Submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer permitting them to pursue doctoral research.
Selection Process Explained
Admission to the PhD programme will follow the UGC-NET 2024 regulations.
- Full-Time PhD: Only candidates who have qualified UGC-NET in Mass Communication and Journalism are eligible. There is no written entrance test. Selection is based on NET percentile and interview performance.
- Part-Time PhD: Candidates must appear for an offline entrance examination, unless exempted through UGC-NET qualification. The final merit list will be prepared using a 70:30 weightage, with 70 percent for NET or entrance test score and 30 percent for the interview.
Application Fee
- ₹2,500 for General category candidates
- ₹1,500 for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD candidates
- USD 100 for international applicants
The fee is non-refundable and must be paid online while submitting the application. Click here to access the application portal.
What Documents Are Required?
- Academic certificates and mark sheets
- UGC-NET scorecard (if applicable)
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Statement of Purpose (500 words)
- Research Proposal (2,000 words)
- Employer NOC and work experience documents (for Part-Time candidates)
Shortlisted candidates will be required to present their research proposal during the interview.
Programme Duration and Fees
- A minimum duration of three years
- A maximum duration of six years, extendable as per university rules
All scholars must complete six months of compulsory coursework, followed by independent research under faculty supervision. Furthermore, the total programme fee is approximately ₹87,000 for Indian candidates. For international scholars, the consolidated fee is USD 23,000 for the full programme.
For more details comment below or refer to IIMC PhD information brochure. Click here to download IIMC PhD information brochure.
