About Ph.D. (Management)
The Ph.D. (Management) Full Time programme at the Department of Management Studies (DoMS), NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad is a rigorous doctoral programme spanning 2 to 7 years, designed to develop scholars for professional leadership, academic careers, and advanced research in management and related disciplines. The programme covers a wide range of research areas including accounting, business ethics, human resource management, finance, marketing, decision sciences, information systems, economics, and corporate governance, with a distinctive emphasis on the interface between management and law. The total programme fee (excluding hostel) is approximately ₹58,000 for the first year (including one-time and annual charges), making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes at a premier institution. Admission is based on a NALSAR-conducted online entrance examination or UGC-NET/JRF qualification, with seats offered on a need-based, research-worthy basis.
Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are now closed (last date to apply was September 1, 2026; entrance exam was held on September 8, 2026). For the 2027-28 cycle, the admission notification is expected to be released around July-August 2027, based on the pattern of previous years, with the entrance examination likely in September 2027.
Key Points
- The programme uniquely integrates management research with legal and interdisciplinary perspectives, reflecting NALSAR's identity as a premier law university.
- Research areas span accounting, business ethics, commerce, decision sciences, HRM, information systems, economics, finance, marketing, corporate governance, innovation, and sustainability.
- Candidates holding UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF) are exempted from the written entrance examination.
- The programme includes a compulsory Foundational Research Methodology course and a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) for each scholar.
- Candidates are encouraged to consult faculty members whose specialisations align with their research interests before applying.
- The university reserves the right not to fill seats if the Research Board does not find a sufficient number of research-worthy proposals.
- Research proposals are screened for plagiarism; a similarity index above 15% (excluding cited sources) leads to disqualification from the interview stage.
DOMS NALSAR Ph.D. Fees
Fees
| Fee Component | Amount (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Registration Fee (with application) | ₹2,000 (₹1,000 for SC/ST) |
| Admission Fee | ₹10,000 |
| Tuition Fee (one-time, paid at admission) | ₹20,000 |
| Library Fee (per annum) | ₹5,000 |
| Internet Fee (per annum) | ₹8,000 |
| Retention Fee (per completed six months) | ₹1,000 |
| Thesis Submission Fee (at time of thesis submission) | ₹12,000 |
| Re-registration Fee (per annum) | ₹2,500 |
| Total Fees (First Year, excluding hostel) | ₹58,000 |
Hostel Fees (for Resident Scholars - Optional/Residential Campus)
| Hostel/Residential Component | Amount (Rs. per annum) |
|---|---|
| Electricity Charges | ₹12,000 |
| Generator Diesel Charges | ₹5,000 |
| Water Charges | ₹12,000 |
| Outsourced Services | ₹3,000 |
| Room Rent | ₹24,000 |
| Mess Advance | ₹40,000 |
| Total Hostel Charges (per annum) | ₹96,000 |
Refundable Deposits (paid once, refunded at the time of leaving):
| Deposit | Amount (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Library Deposit | ₹5,000 |
| Mess Deposit | ₹5,000 |
| Hostel Deposit | ₹10,000 (₹4,000 for SC/ST) |
- Tuition Fee of Rs. ₹20,000 is a one-time payment made at the time of admission.
- Retention Fee of Rs. ₹1,000 is charged for every completed six months of enrolment.
- Thesis Fee of Rs. ₹12,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission.
- Re-registration Fee of Rs. ₹2,500 per annum is applicable from the second year onwards.
- Hostel accommodation is available on campus but is not mandatory; charges apply only to resident scholars.
- Mess Advance is subject to upward revision.
- The Registration Fee of Rs. ₹2,000 (Rs. ₹1,000 for SC/ST) is paid along with the application form and is non-refundable.
- No EMI option is explicitly mentioned; however, in exceptional circumstances, students may request instalment-based fee payment by writing to the Vice-Chancellor.
DOMS NALSAR Ph.D. Admission 2026
DoMS NALSAR Ph.D. (Management) College-Specific Admission Dates (2026-27 Cycle)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Portal Opens | July 2026 (approx.) |
| Last Date to Apply | September 1, 2026 |
| Mock Exam for Practice | September 2-7, 2026 |
| Online Entrance Examination | September 8, 2026 (10:00 AM onwards) |
| Results / Shortlisting for Interview | October 2026 (approx.) |
| Interview / Research Proposal Evaluation | October-November 2026 (approx.) |
| Provisional Admission / Batch Start | November-December 2026 (approx.) |
- For the 2027-28 cycle, the notification is expected around July-August 2027 based on the previous year's pattern.
- Candidates are advised to monitor the official website at nalsar.ac.in and doms.nalsar.ac.in for updates.
Relevant Entrance Exam Dates UGC-NET (for exemption from NALSAR entrance exam)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UGC-NET Phase 1 Registration | October 7 - November 7, 2026 |
| UGC-NET Phase 1 Exam | December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027 |
| UGC-NET Phase 1 Answer Key | January 14, 2027 |
| UGC-NET Phase 1 Result | February 4, 2027 |
| UGC-NET Phase 2 Registration | April 1 - May 1, 2027 (Tentative) |
| UGC-NET Phase 2 Exam | June 2027 (Tentative) |
| UGC-NET Phase 2 Result | July 2027 (Tentative) |
- Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF) are exempted from the NALSAR written entrance examination.
- UGC-NET qualification is not mandatory for admission but provides exemption from the written test.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in Management or a cognate discipline from a recognised university/autonomous institution with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/EWS candidates).
- Candidates who have passed the final examination of ICAI (Chartered Accountants), ICSI (Company Secretaries - ACS), or ICMAI (Cost Accountants) are also eligible.
- Candidates must prepare and submit a research proposal as part of the application; the proposal must have a plagiarism similarity index of 15% or below (excluding appropriately cited sources).
Admission Process
- Submit the online application form via the DoMS NALSAR portal (apply.nalsar.ac.in/phd-application-in-management/) along with the registration fee of Rs. ₹2,000 (Rs. ₹1,000 for SC/ST) and required documents including academic transcripts, master's degree details, research proposal, and UGC-NET/JRF score statements (if applicable).
- Appear in the online entrance examination (Part A: Research Aptitude and Writing Skills - 50 marks, 90 minutes; Part B: Disciplinary Knowledge in Management - 50 marks, 2 hours). Candidates with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET (including JRF) are exempted from this step.
- Research proposals are screened for plagiarism and evaluated by the University Research Board for research worthiness.
- Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview/research proposal evaluation.
- Candidates who qualify the interview are provisionally admitted to the Ph.D. programme.
- Candidates who qualify the entrance test but fail the interview are given a second opportunity to revise and resubmit their proposal without re-appearing for the entrance exam.
DOMS NALSAR Ph.D. Scholarships 2026
Scholarships
| Scholarship / Fellowship | Eligibility | Amount | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) | UGC-NET qualified with JRF; age limit 30 years (relaxable for reserved categories) | Rs. ₹37,000/month (first 2 years as JRF); Rs. ₹42,000/month (next 3 years as SRF) | Awarded by UGC; candidates must enrol in a recognised PhD programme; HRA and contingency grant also applicable |
| NALSAR Internal Scholarship (Means-Based) | Annual family income up to Rs. ₹8,00,000; minimum academic performance as per regulations | Up to 100% of Tuition Fee (based on income slab) | Governed by NALSAR Scholarship Regulations 2021; applied for annually; no cash disbursal - adjusted against fee |
| NALSAR Means-cum-Merit Scholarship | Applicable when scholarship applications exceed the annual scholarship budget | Proportional to means (75% weightage) and merit (25% weightage) | Calculated using CGPA and income slab as per Schedule II of NALSAR Scholarship Regulations 2021 |
| SC/ST Fee Concession | SC/ST candidates | Reduced registration fee (Rs. ₹1,000 vs Rs. ₹2,000); reduced hostel deposit (Rs. ₹4,000 vs Rs. ₹10,000); 50% marks eligibility relaxation | Automatic at the time of admission |
| State Government Scholarships (Telangana) | SC/ST/OBC/Minority students domiciled in Telangana | Varies by scheme | Students must apply through the Telangana government scholarship portal; NALSAR facilitates access |
| PM Research Fellowship (PMRF) | Top BTech/Integrated MTech/MSc graduates from IITs/IISc/NITs/IISERs; also open to PhD students in STEM and management at select institutions | Rs. ₹70,000-80,000/month + research grant | Highly competitive; check PMRF portal for eligible institutions and disciplines |
- The NALSAR internal scholarship is not available as a matter of right and is subject to the annual scholarship budget.
- Students availing external scholarships can also apply for NALSAR internal scholarship for the uncovered portion of tuition fee.
- Scholarship applications are typically invited in July-August each academic year.
- For UGC-JRF, candidates must have a valid JRF award letter and must register for PhD within the validity period (generally 3 years from the date of declaration of result).
According to an external review site Ranking 2025, DOMS NALSAR ranks 148 out of 370 colleges in India and 11th in state Telangana for its Ph.D Management program.
- 47 out of 100 under IIRF Management Ranking 2025.
Read more on DOMS NALSAR Rankings here
DOMS NALSAR Ph.D. FAQs
Ques. Is UGC-NET mandatory for admission to the Ph.D. (Management) programme at DoMS NALSAR?
Ans. No, UGC-NET is not mandatory for admission. NALSAR conducts its own online entrance examination for Ph.D. (Management) admissions. However, candidates who have qualified UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF) in their respective disciplines are exempted from appearing in the NALSAR written entrance test. They still need to submit a research proposal and appear for the interview. Qualifying UGC-NET with JRF also makes you eligible for the UGC Junior Research Fellowship, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs. ₹37,000 during your PhD.
Ques. How many seats are available in the Ph.D. (Management) programme at DoMS NALSAR?
Ans. NALSAR does not announce a fixed number of seats for the Ph.D. (Management) programme. The university offers seats based on the availability of research supervisors and the quality of research proposals received. The Research Board evaluates each proposal for its research worthiness and the availability of internal expertise for supervision. The university explicitly reserves the right not to fill seats if sufficient research-worthy proposals are not received, and may also admit more candidates if proposals align strongly with the university's research agenda.
Ques. Can I pursue the Ph.D. (Management) at DoMS NALSAR on a part-time basis while working?
Ans. The course listed at DoMS NALSAR is a full-time Ph.D. programme. While NALSAR University does offer part-time PhD options in Law, the DoMS doctoral programme is primarily structured as a full-time residential programme. Candidates interested in part-time options should directly contact the admissions office at doms@nalsar.ac.in or phdadmissions@nalsar.ac.in to check current availability and regulations for part-time enrolment in Management.
Ques. What is the research proposal requirement and how should it be structured?
Ans. The research proposal is a critical component of the application. NALSAR provides a suggested structure for the research proposal on its official website. The proposal must be original and must not duplicate topics already registered with the university (a list of registered topics is available on the NALSAR website). The proposal is screened for plagiarism, and a similarity index above 15% (excluding appropriately cited sources) will result in disqualification from the interview stage. Candidates are strongly advised to review the list of registered topics and consult faculty members whose research interests align with their proposed area before submitting.
Ques. What are the research areas available for Ph.D. (Management) at DoMS NALSAR?
Ans. DoMS NALSAR encourages research in a wide range of management and interdisciplinary areas including accounting, business ethics, commerce, decision sciences, human resource management, information systems, economics, finance, marketing, corporate governance, innovation, and sustainability. A distinctive feature of the programme is its emphasis on research at the intersection of management and law, given NALSAR's identity as a premier law university. Candidates are encouraged to propose research in new and emerging areas, especially those with a cross-cutting focus on law and management.
Ques. What happens if I qualify the entrance exam but do not clear the interview?
Ans. If a candidate qualifies the NALSAR Ph.D. entrance examination but does not clear the interview stage, they are given a second opportunity to revise and resubmit their research proposal based on the recommendations of the Research Board, without needing to re-appear for the entrance examination. This provision ensures that candidates who demonstrate research aptitude in the written test but need to refine their proposal are not entirely excluded from the admission process. The revised proposal is then re-evaluated by the Research Board before a final decision is made.