NSR Pre-doc: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Ram Rakshith V

N.S. Ramaswamy Pre-doctoral Fellowship is a full-time one-year pre-doctoral programme offered by IIM Bangalore that trains students to prepare and apply for a prestigious doctoral degree in management and allied courses. After completion of the course, the candidates can take tests and interviews in renowned universities and study in their preferred research areas.

The admission for N.S. Ramaswamy Pre-doctoral Fellowship is open for students who have a Master’s degree (Bachelor’s degree obtained in 10+2+3 pattern, followed by a Master’s degree) or a 5-year integrated Master’s degree (obtained after completing higher secondary schooling in 10+2 pattern) in any discipline, with a minimum of 60 percent marks in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

What is N.S. Ramaswamy Pre-doctoral Fellowship?

N.S. Ramaswamy Pre-doctoral Fellowship (NSR Pre-doc) is a mentor-driven program where candidates acquire the knowledge necessary to succeed in a Doctoral programme. The fellowship is offered in disciplines like Decision Sciences, Economics, Social Sciences, Entrepreneurship, etc. Each student will complete a research study under the guidance of a full-time professor at IIMB.

The application fee to take up the fellowship programme is INR 550. Each student will receive a monthly stipend of INR 30,000, a house rent allowance of INR 15,000, along with a full tuition waiver during the program.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility requirements for N.S. Ramaswamy Pre-doctoral Fellowship has been set by the IIMB. Given below is a set of standard eligibility criteria that students must fulfill to take up this course:

• Candidates should have a Master’s degree (Bachelor’s degree obtained in 10+2+3 pattern, followed by a Master’s degree) or a 5-year Integrated Master’s degree (obtained after completing higher secondary schooling in 10+2 pattern) in any discipline, with a minimum of 60 percent marks in the Bachelor’s as well as the Master’s degrees.
• Students with a professional qualification such as CA/ ICWA/ CS with at least a 50 percent mark can apply.
• Candidates having a Doctoral degree or pursuing Doctoral programmes are not eligible to apply.
• Candidates in the final year of the qualifying programme can also apply.

Admission Process

Admission for the N.S. Ramaswamy Pre-doctoral Fellowship course in India is based on a merit list and personal interview. Explained below is the admission process as prescribed by IIMA.

• Students can fill out the online application form for admission to NSR-Predoc 2023 on the IIMB website.
• The application fee (non-refundable) is INR 500.
• The final offer of fellowship will be made based on the evaluation of the candidate’s application and performance in PI.

Area of Specialization

The students can apply to a maximum of two areas of specialization. Some of the N.S. Ramaswamy Pre-doctoral Fellowship specializations offered to students are listed below: 

• Decision Sciences
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship 
• Finance & Accounting
• Information Systems 
• Marketing 
• Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management