PhD enrolments at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have consistently risen over the past five years, indicating a growing demand for management faculty and academic careers. This trend is evident in National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) data from 2019-20 to 2023-24.
Growth occurred in both full-time and part-time PhD programs. In some cases, part-time student numbers exceeded those in regular programs.
PhD Specializations
Most IIMs offer doctoral programs across various specializations. Common areas include:
- Economics
- Finance and Accounting
- Human Resource Management
- Information Systems
- Marketing
- Public Policy
- Strategy
IIM Ahmedabad also offers niche specializations like Innovation and Management in Education, and Organizational Behaviour.
Eligibility and Admission
Candidates with a two-year master’s degree or postgraduate diploma are eligible for admission. Four-year graduates with 65% marks are now also eligible. Applicants must take the Common Admission Test (CAT) or an equivalent standard test like GRE, GMAT, GATE, or UGC-NET/CSIR. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign candidates typically use the GMAT.
IIMs also conduct a written test and interview for shortlisting candidates. CAT 2025 was held on November 30 , with results expected by late December .
Enrolment Trends Across IIMs
IIM Kozhikode, Lucknow, and Shillong reported increased PhD student numbers over five years. Established IIMs like Ahmedabad and Bangalore showed slight fluctuations.
- IIM Ahmedabad recorded its highest PhD enrolment in 2021-22 with 136 students . It awarded degrees to 29 students in 2022-23, more than double the 14 degrees from the previous year. 19 degrees were awarded in 2025.
- IIM Kozhikode saw its research scholars grow from 77 in 2019-20 to 124 in 2023-24 .
Established IIMs: PhD Enrolment (2019-2024)
| Institute | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 128 | 132 | 136 | 134 | 126 |
| IIM Bangalore | 100 | 89 | 92 | 104 | 99 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 77 | 86 | 105 | 107 | 124 |
| IIM Lucknow | 89 | 87 | 89 | 97 | 103 |
| IIM Calcutta | 97 | 97 | 97 | 94 | 96 |
| IIM Indore | 78 | 84 | 89 | 82 | 77 |
| IIM Shillong | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Second-Generation IIMs: PhD Enrolment (2019-2024)
Among newer institutes, IIM Kashipur, Ranchi, and Udaipur reported significant enrolment growth. IIM Tiruchirapalli saw a decrease.
| Institute | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Raipur | 21 | 22 | 29 | 39 | 25 |
| IIM Rohtak | 22 | 29 | 29 | 19 | 24 |
| IIM Ranchi | 29 | 42 | 52 | 67 | 45 |
| IIM Tiruchirapalli | 22 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 11 |
| IIM Kashipur | 28 | 38 | 47 | 52 | 49 |
| IIM Udaipur | 13 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 35 |
New IIMs: PhD Enrolment (2019-2024)
IIM Mumbai, formerly NITIE, had 92 students enrolled in 2019-20. It awarded degrees to 24 students in 2023-24, its highest number.
| Institute | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Mumbai | 92 | 90 | 48 | 78 | 75 |
| IIM Jammu | 0 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 19 |
| IIM Amritsar | 0 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 12 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 4 | 3 | 7 | – | – |
Driving Factors for PhD Growth
Satish Krishnan, Chairperson of Doctoral Programmes in Management at IIM Kozhikode, attributes the rise to research reputation, advanced facilities, rising demand for management faculty, clear career prospects, structured programs, emphasis on research output, and increased financial assistance including fellowships. Implementation of reservation policies also contributed.
IIM Ahmedabad implemented the central reservation policy for its PhD programs only last year, following a public-interest litigation (PIL) in 2021.
IIMs provide substantial financial support. Doctoral fellowships range from Rs. 40,000-42,000 per month for the first two years, increasing to Rs. 45,000 in the third year . Some IIMs offer up to Rs. 50,000 after thesis proposal defence. Additional support includes contingency funds and conference assistance.
IIM Bangalore’s 2025 PhD batch includes 29 students (12 female, 17 male), aged 20-25 years. Fourteen have undergraduate engineering degrees, and seven each hold MBA and MA degrees.
Krishnan notes this rise does not signify a direct shift from MBA to PhD. Instead, it reflects growing recognition for academic research and thought leadership as fulfilling career paths, emphasizing independent inquiry and knowledge creation alongside industry roles.
Part-Time PhD Programs (Practice Track)
Growth is also visible in part-time PhD programs, often called “Practice Track” programs. Older IIMs like Calcutta, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore do not offer this option. At IIM Lucknow and IIM Shillong, part-time PhD enrolments surpassed regular program numbers in 2022-23.
Part-time PhD Enrolment (2019-2024)
| Institute | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Kozhikode | 14 | 35 | 10 | 57 | 195 |
| IIM Lucknow | 89 | 96 | 108 | 108 | 66 |
| IIM Mumbai | 33 | 35 | 66 | 36 | 39 |
| IIM Indore | 42 | 69 | 82 | 93 | 109 |
| IIM Raipur | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| IIM Ranchi | 37 | 62 | 78 | 97 | 75 |
| IIM Shillong | 52 | 33 | 94 | 75 | 8 |
| IIM Kashipur | 46 | 45 | 38 | 28 | 20 |
| IIM Jammu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 32 |
These programs cater to industry executives, helping them pursue research-based careers in academia or public/private sector organizations. Eligibility requirements are similar to regular doctoral programs but mandate work experience. For example, IIM Raipur requires a minimum of six years of managerial or professional experience post-qualification, along with an employer’s no-objection certificate. IIM Kashipur’s Executive PhD requires at least five years of work experience after graduation.