M.Phil: Course Details, Eligibility, Fees, Admission, Duration

Sakshi Chaudhary

M.Phil is a two-year postgraduate academic research programme in philosophy that deals with various aspects of human life and beliefs with inputs from technology and research in many fields.  M.Phil course students will have various job opportunities such as Teacher, Speaker, Social Service Worker, Editor, Research Assistant, Consultant, Assistant Professor, Scientist, etc. 

About M.Phil Course

M.Phil course duration is 2 years and is an ideal course for candidates who want to pursue careers as Lecturer, Teacher, Research Assistant, Assistant Professor, Scientist, Editor, etc. The M.Phil syllabus and subjects are structured in a manner to comprehensively provide students with the best theoretical and practical outlook inculcated with research findings. Also, since the M.Phil job scope is really high, employment opportunities are available for graduates both in India and abroad. 

Eligibility Criteria For M.Phil

M.Phil eligibility for admission requires students to complete their master's degree with a minimum mark of 55% from any recognized institution. Along with basic M.Phil eligibility criteria, some institutions conduct an M.Phil entrance exam for the selection process. There is no upper age limit. 

Who Should Pursue M.Phil?

M.Phil is a full form of Master of Philosophy. M.Phil is a 2 years research-based postgraduate degree course offered to candidates who wish to pursue a career in research or teaching.

• The M.Phil course is pursued by candidates who wish to do research in various educational fields. 
• Candidates who want to study PhD courses in the future can do the M.Phil program as a foundation for the Doctorate.
• M.Phil courses can also be pursued by candidates who are unable to spend 4 to 5 years for the thorough research required by the PhD degree.
• Candidates who desire to work in research and development programs (be it government or private) should pursue the M.Phil Course. 

When to do M.Phil?

After the completion of their Master’s Degree, candidates can start their M.Phil programs.

• Candidates who wish to pursue a PhD programme and also want to gain research experience can start with the M.Phil course.
• The second-year curriculum of the M.Phil program requires candidates to concentrate on the thesis project, thus the candidates must donate enough time to study and research to pass the course.
• The M.Phil course from private colleges is quite expensive, so the candidates must gather funds beforehand while pursuing the course.

How to Get Admission For M.Phil?

To be eligible for MPhil admission, students must ensure they satisfy the basic eligibility criteria. The selection process for MPhil courses can be based in two ways: Entrance Exam or Merit Based. Application for the M.Phil admission process may be availed from the college portal or by directly visiting the college admissions office. The details of the Mphil admission process are listed below:

How To Apply For M.Phil?

MPhil course details can be availed by the candidate by visiting the college website through which the aspirant can begin their application process. Students applying for the M.Phil course, are required to provide all the valid documents to verify themselves for the admissions process. After the submission of the application, students will receive further correspondence from the college. 

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for MPhil admissions in some colleges are conducting a personal interview round for candidates having the basic eligibility criteria. There are entrance exams conducted by some universities before proceeding to GD and PI rounds. Candidates who qualify for the exams will be allowed to sit for the final round followed by a merit list. 

Types of M.Phil

NEP 2020 has proposed to phase out the M.Phil degree, but the course remains popular amongst candidates who want to pursue research courses after the completion of the postgraduate degree. The course can be pursued either as a full-time course or as a distance or part-time correspondence course by working professionals.

Full Time M.Phil

A full-time M.Phil is a two-year research course that can be pursued by the candidates after the completion of their post-graduate degree.

• The eligibility criteria for full-time M.Phil course candidates must secure at least 55% marks in the post-graduation level from any recognised university. Candidates are also provided with a relaxation of 5%.
• Top colleges provide admissions based on entrance examinations like GATE, BHU RET, CUCET, etc and also in Amity University, Shobhit University, etc 
• The course fee ranges from INR 1 LPA.
• The average salary range is INR 6 LPA Source: [Payscale]

M.Phil Specializations

There are various options available in the M.Phil course that students can pursue following their professional needs. M.Phil is either structured on a research-based or coursework-based structure with emphasis given on research findings and establishing a pedagogy in both theoretical and practical frameworks.

Following are a few of the popular M.Phil specializations in India:

M.Phil in Psychology

M.Phil in Psychology is a postgraduate course which is of 1-2 years. However, the M.Phil duration can be extended by another 1 year. This course helps to understand the human mind and behaviour on an advanced level. 

The course M.Phil in Psychology covers subjects such as social development, human development and its effect on the environment, etc.

M.Phil in English

M.Phil in English is a 2 years postgraduate course for students who want to attain comprehensive knowledge of the English language and literature. M.Phil in English include subjects like Elizabethan, Jacobean, etc.

M.Phil in Management

A Master of Philosophy in Management is a one-year postgraduate degree in the management field. Candidates who have passed the master's degree with 55% can register for the course.

These course details are given below:

M.Phil in Education

M.Phil in Education is a one-year postgraduate degree that allows the candidates to understand research techniques, and knowledge of the literature applicable to their specific educational domain. M.Phil in Education include subjects Academic Writing, Content Analysis, etc. 

M.Phil in Economics

M.Phil Economics is a one-year postgraduate academic course. M.Phil in Economics includes subjects like Contemporary Economic Issues, Issues in the Indian Economy, etc. 

M.Phil in Clinical Psychology

M.Phil in Clinical Psychology is a two-year postgraduate course that would enable us to understand human psychology, which affects the mood, behaviour, and emotional states of a human being. M.Phil in Clinical Psychology subjects are Biological Foundations of Behavior, Behavioral Medicine, etc.

M.Phil Courses

Listed below are some of the top M.Phil courses offered to students in India:

Popular M.Phil Courses in Humanities

This M.Phil is a nine-month course that can be done from October to June. It is directed by the Cambridge Digital Humanities with links across a wide range of faculties and units at Cambridge.M.Phil Courses in Humanities:

Popular M.Phil Courses in Science

It is a postgraduate course whose duration is a minimum of one year. It is an intermediate degree between a master's and a doctorate. Given below are some of the popular M.Phil courses in Science:

Popular M.Phil Courses in Commerce

Commerce courses are available at UG, PG and PhD levels. Bachelor’s and Master’s degree courses are available for both times. Certificate courses such as CA, CS, and CFA are also available in part-time mode and are very popular Commerce courses in India.

• M.Phil Commerce
• M.Phil Economics
• M.Phil Mathematics

Popular Entrance Exams for M.Phil

For admissions, most colleges conduct an entrance-based selection process to find the best suitable candidate for the M.Phil course. Students must prepare for the M.Phil entrance exam along all the lines of requirements. M.Phil entrance exam for various colleges in India is listed below:

• GATE
• UGC NET
• CUCET
• JNUEE
• OUCET
• M.Phil Entrance Test
• BHU RET

A Quick Glance at the M.Phil Entrance Exams

Students should start preparing adequately by analyzing the M.Phil details such as previous years’ papers and their patterns. This ensures timely preparation for the entrance exams. Listed below is the standard pattern for the M.Phil entrance exam:

• The duration of the exam is 3 hours.
• The exam will be conducted in offline mode.
• The maximum mark for the question paper is 75.
• There will be 3 sections of 25 marks each.
• The final admission will only be considered after the personal interview.
• The personal interview carries 25 marks. 

Top M.Phil Colleges in India

An M.Phil college is one of the most in-demand institutions in the country offering students a wide range of M.Phil course specializations and job opportunities. Listed below are the top M.Phil colleges in India: 

M.Phil Colleges in Delhi

The table below shows the top M.Phil colleges in Delhi:

Read More: Top M.Phil Colleges in Delhi

M.Phil Colleges in Chennai

The table below shows the top M.Phil colleges in Chennai:

Read More: Top M.Phil Colleges in Chennai

M.Phil Colleges in Bangalore

The table below shows the top M.Phil colleges in Bangalore:

Read More: Top M.Phil Colleges in Bangalore

M.Phil Colleges in Mumbai

The table below shows the top M.Phil colleges in Mumbai:

Read More: Top M.Sc Colleges in Mumbai

Fee Structure for M.Phil

The average MPhil course fees in India range from INR 2,000 to 1 LPA. The varying range of MPhil fees in colleges may depend on the institutional facilities, faculty, prestige, infrastructure as well as government quotas. Listed below is the MPhil admission fees structure for various colleges in India:

Syllabus and Subjects for M.Phil

The M.Phil course is orchestrated in a manner so that students get an answer to the question of ‘What is an M.Phil course?’ MPhil's full form is Master of Philosophy and as the same suggests, is concerned with an epistemological approach to the research-oriented syllabus. M.Phil's duration is 2 years and is divided into 4 semesters. Some of the popular subjects for M.Phil are listed below:

• Human Resource Management
• Research Methodology
• Understanding of Managerial Roles
• Organizational Behaviour
• Study of Origin and Development of the Subject
• Computer Applications in the Domain of the Subject

Read More: M.Phil Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose M.Phil?

The Master of Philosophy course is concerned with providing its students with an epistemological approach to their area of research. Further career options in the field of research and academia are also available to M.Phil graduates in the form of a PhD. To understand ‘Why to Choose MPhil’, we can make it simpler by breaking it down into the next three questions:

What is M.Phil All About?

 M.Phil is purely a research-based degree and is based entirely on an independent thesis. The students are imparted with a variety of comprehensive research and management skills that prepares them for further studies such as a PhD and also to meet the demands of the job industry. 

What Does an M.Phil Graduate Do?

M.Phil can be one of the most fulfilling careers for a student with a variety of avenues available after graduation. There is a varying range of job roles that are available after the completion of the 2-year M.Phil course duration. 

Research Assistant: The job of a research assistant includes carrying out experiments and research. They follow certain methodologies and protocols to give academic legitimacy to their research. Collection and logging of data, conducting statistical analysis, and providing open-ended conclusions are some of the features of a research assistant. 

Reasons Why M.Phil Can Fetch You A Rewarding Career?

M.Phil has become one of the most lucrative career paths today because of the legitimacy it provides to the research ability of an individual. Industries and institutions lookout for individuals that have originality and can toil hard on individual prospects, and the M.Phil criteria ticks many of these boxes. 

Research Oriented: Graduates of M.Phil go through a tedious process of conducting research and providing solutions to pain points over their 2-year duration. It enables a sense of legitimacy among recruiters who would want to hire an individual who had completed an MPhil. Research and management skills come in handy for career opportunities as their trust is built on their capability to finish a project within the speculated time. 

Read More: M.Phil Jobs and Scope

Preparation Tips For M.Phil

Aspirants of the M.Phil course should prepare for the M.Phil entrance exam along all the lines of requirements. This requires going through a detailed process of analyzing the question papers from the previous years and trying to understand ‘What is M.Phil’ and its requirements. Listed below are some of the preparation tips for the M.Phil entrance exam:

• Time Management: M.Phil requires a deep understanding of concepts by the individual. A well-timed preparation can only ensure that the students provide a sound performance.
• Regular Practice: Students should complete all the syllabus portions required for M.Phil eligibility. This can be achieved only with regular practice during the full course of the preparation process.

Course Comparison

Below is a course comparison between M.Phil and other courses.

M.Phil vs PhD

A lot of students get confused about whether to opt directly for a PhD degree or get an M.Phil course first. Both are research-based degrees, PhD is for Doctorate qualification and M.Phil is of PG qualification. Following are the comparison shown to them: 

Read More: PhD

M.Phil vs MSc

Candidates can get an MSc course in various specializations after completing their Bachelor's degree course. We have systematically shown the courses based on different parameters so that the candidates can make an informed decision on M.Phil vs MSc which is given below:

Read More: M.Sc

College Comparison

Below is a college comparison between M.Phil in JNU and BHU.

M.Phil JNU vs M.Phil BHU:

Below is a table of college comparisons between JNU and BHU in M.Phil

Scope For Higher Education

Various career alternatives are available to graduates of M.Phil who do not wish to enter the job industry immediately after graduation. Higher education and research imply a higher pay scale when entering the industry later. This is because of a higher set of knowledge and skills that the candidate acquires. Listed below are some of the scope for higher education after the M.Phil course:

• PhD
• MBA

Salary of an M.Phil Graduate

According to Payscale, the average salary offered to an M.Phil graduate in India is INR 7.7 LPA. Different positions provide different salaries depending on various factors such as the individual’s skill set, knowledge, aptitude, level of the job, demands of the job, etc.  As the candidate becomes more experienced in their field, they receive some of the most lucrative salaries in India. 

Read More About M.Phil salary

Career Options After M.Phil

Careers after M.Phil's duration in India are available to graduates in both the public and private sectors. The specification of the job and the industry depends on the specialization of the student while pursuing M.Phil. Apart from job opportunities; various academic prospects such as Diploma courses, an MBA, or a PhD are available to graduates upon completion of the M.Phil course. Listed below are some of the career roles after my M.Phil:

• Academic Lecturer
• Assistant Researcher
• Consultant
• Editor
• Quality Control Expert
• Human Services Worker

Skills That Make You The Best M.Phil Graduate

M.Phil duration is a very tedious process that demands a lot of research and writing skills from the graduates. Apart from the detailed study of the M.Phil syllabus, the students should also possess a certain set of hard and soft skills that would enhance their potential to be a positive M.Phil prospect. Some of the skills that make one an asset in an M.Phil are:

• Communication skills
• Reading skills
• Writing skills
• Research skills
• Leadership skills
• Project management skills

Top M.Phil [Master of Philosophy] Colleges

IIT Bombay

Mumbai,Maharashtra

JNU

Delhi,Delhi NCR

BHU

Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh

Calcutta University

Kolkata,West Bengal

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)

Delhi,Delhi NCR

Jadavpur University

Kolkata,West Bengal

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Manipal University)

Manipal,Karnataka

IIT Hyderabad

Hyderabad,Telangana

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Top Arts Entrance Exams

UGC NET

• Eligibility Criteria
• Syllabus

AIEED

Exam Date: Apr 15, 2023

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Exam Date: Jun 07, 2024

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Exam Date: Jan 04, 2023

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M.Phil Fee Structure

See Various M.Phil Colleges in India