PhD English Literature: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees
PhD English Literature is a full-time research degree that deals to impart students with the required theoretical background and research skills. After completion of the PhD in English Literature in India, the graduates can work as Writers, Academic Librarians, Advertising Account Executive, Advertising Copywriter, Arts Administrator, Information Officer etc.
PhD English Literature Course Details
| Degree | Doctorate |
| Full Form | Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Age | No Age Limit |
| Average Fees | ₹1 - 3 LPA |
| Average Salary | INR 5 LPA |
| Employment Roles | English Professor, English Teacher, Editor, Journalist, Critic Writer, Technical Writer, Public Relations Officer, Translator etc |
About PhD English Literature
This course is ideal for students who are interested in studying literature written in the English language. The course falls under the umbrella of PhD.
According to Wikipedia, " Literature written in the English language includes many countries such as the United Kingdom and its crown dependencies, Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire. The English language has developed over the course of more than 1,400 years.”
Table of Contents
- PhD English Literature Eligibility Criteria
- PhD English Literature Admission Process
- Popular PhD English Literature Entrance Exams
- Top PhD English Literature Colleges
- Fees Structure for PhD English Literature
- Syllabus and Subjects for PhD English Literature
- Why Choose a PhD English Literature?
- Preparation Tips for PhD English Literature
- PhD English Literature Salary
- Career Options After PhD English Literature
- Skills to Excel
Eligibility Criteria for PhD English Literature
The minimum eligibility for PhD English Literature is a master's degree in the English language with a minimum of 55% aggregate in the discipline passed from a recognized university. In some colleges, M.Phil is a prerequisite for PhD English Literature admission. Selection of the candidates for admission in PhD is done on the basis of entrance examination or merit. There is no age limit for the course.
How To Get Admission in a PhD English Literature?
To get admitted into the best universities for PhD English Literature, students must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria. The admission to PhD in an English Literature course is generally on the basis of an entrance exam which is followed by a personal interview round conducted at the university or the college. Mentioned below are the general guidelines for the admission process:
How to Apply?
PhD English Literature eligibility information for admission can be found on the college's official websites, where the students should apply. Candidates can either reach the official website of the institute or can reach out to the office of the institute to fill out the application form. Candidates need to fill out the application form and upload all the necessary documents which are asked in the form.
Selection Process
Admission is strictly offered to only those candidates who clear the minimum cut-off. After completion of the process of application, go for the counselling round and attend the personal interview round to get your desired college. And the interview decides whether the candidate is allotted a seat or not.
Who Should Pursue a PhD English Literature?
The PhD in English Literature should be pursued by aspirants who are interested in pursuing the field of literature and history of the English language. since it is a doctorate course, it is vital for the students to be interested in the field of research.
When To Do PhD English Literature?
Ideally, students should pursue a PhD in English Literature upon the completion of their Master's/M.Phil in English. Students with work experience in the field of research and writing would have an advantage over their peers. Students must also ensure that they give the required entrance exam when pursuing this course.
Types of PhD English Literature
Given below are the types of PhD English Literature programs that the students can enrol in:
Full-Time PhD English Literature
A full-time PhD English Literature course lasts between three to six years. In this course, the students are expected to go to the universities and attend the classes in person. This type of curiculum provides students with a lot of exposure and experience.
Part-Time PhD English Literature
A part-time PhD English Literature course is designed for students who can't attend full-time classes. These classes are often conducted on weekends or later in the evenings to accommodate these students. The benefit of this form of class is that the students get time to invest time in gaining work experience and their personal endeavours.
Distance PhD English Literature
The Distance PhD English Literature course is designed for students who can't even attend part-time classes due to reasons such as location or work. In this format, most of the classes are conducted online and students are only expected to come on-site during exams.
Popular Entrance Exams for PhD English Literature
The applicants need to qualify for the entrance examination conducted by UGC or state to secure a seat in top PhD English Literature colleges in India. Some of the top entrance exams applicable for M.Phil programs are:
A Quick Glance at the PhD English Literature Entrance Exams
To get into the top PhD English Literature college in India, a candidate should clear the test. To prepare for the entrance exams, the candidates should know the course details, the syllabus, and the question pattern, and should prepare according to them. The exam for PhD English Literature consists of a syllabus of English only except for GATE.
- The exam pattern is divided into objective and subjective type questions with a total of 100 marks and total time duration of 2 to 3 hours.
- The questions are asked from topics related to the Victorian period, Modern period, Contemporary period, Modern British Literature etc.
- The examination is subjective in nature and is designed to assess a candidate’s analytical and critical thinking abilities.
Top 10 PhD English Literature Colleges in India
Students can opt for the top government colleges for PhD English Literature in India or most premium colleges in India depending upon their ranking. Here is the list of top 10 colleges for PhD English Literature in India for aspirants' reference:
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Top PhD English Literature Colleges in New Delhi
India’s capital city is home to some of the best institutions for PhD English Literature in India. Check the table below for the top PhD English Literature colleges in New Delhi:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
Gargi College |
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2 |
Hindu College |
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3 |
St. Stephen's College |
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4 |
Amity University |
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5 |
Ashoka University |
Read More: PhD Colleges in Delhi
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in Pune
Pune also has some of the best institutions for PhD English Literature in India. Check the table below for the top PhD English Literature colleges in Pune:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
Savitribai Phule Pune University |
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2 |
Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth |
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3 |
Abasaheb Garware College |
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4 |
Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute |
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5 |
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune |
Read More: PhD Colleges in Pune
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in Chennai
Tamil Nadu’s capital city is home to some of the premier institutions for PhD English Literature in India. Check the table below for the best PhD English Literature colleges in Chennai:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
University of Madras |
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2 |
Crescent Engineering College |
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3 |
IIT Madras |
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4 |
Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College |
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5 |
Tamil Nadu Open University |
Read More: PhD Colleges in Chennai
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in Bangalore
The capital city of Karnataka is renowned around the country for colleges offering top PhD English Literature programmes. Check the table below for the best PhD English Literature colleges in India:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
Reva Institute of Technology and Management |
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2 |
CMR University |
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3 |
Indian Institute of Science |
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4 |
Alliance University |
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5 |
Tumkur University |
Read More: PhD Colleges in Bangalore
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in Kolkata
West Bengal’s capital city, Kolkata, has some of the best colleges for PhD English Literature courses in India. Check the table below for the best PhD English Literature colleges in Kolkata:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
Jadavpur University |
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2 |
Aliah University |
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3 |
Adamas University |
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4 |
Presidency University |
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5 |
St. Xavier's University Kolkata |
Read More: PhD Colleges in Kolkata
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in Hyderabad
The Telangana state capital has some premier institutions in the country for PhD English Literature courses in India. Check the table below for the top PhD English Literature colleges in Hyderabad:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
University of Hyderabad |
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2 |
Osmania University |
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3 |
Maulana Azad National Urdu University |
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4 |
IIIT Hyderabad |
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5 |
Malla Reddy University |
Read More: PhD Colleges in Hyderabad
Top PhD English Literature Government Colleges
There are several top Government Colleges offering quality PhD English Literature programmes across the country. Check the table below for the top PhD English Literature government colleges in India:
| Sl.No. | College Name |
| 1 | JNU, Delhi |
| 2 | DIPSAR, Delhi |
| 3 | NIT, Durgapur |
| 4 | Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur |
| 5 | BHU, Banaras |
Top PhD English Literature Private Colleges
India has seen significant growth in the number of quality PhD English Literature private colleges that offer some of the best programmes in the country. Check the table below for the top PhD English Literature private colleges in India:
| Sl.No. | College Name |
| 1 | VIT, Vellore |
| 2 | AU, Bangalore |
| 3 | Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education, Chennai |
| 4 | IFHE, Hyderabad |
| 5 | IIIT Bangalore |
Study PhD English Literature Abroad
There are many colleges abroad that provide students with an opportunity to study PhD English Literature. Given below are the top colleges according to the country.
Top PhD English Literature Colleges Abroad
The table below contains the list of some of the best colleges abroad for PhD English Literature:
| SI.No | Name Of College |
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| 2 | Stanford University |
| 3 | Harvard University |
| 4 | California Institute of Technology - Caltech |
| 5 | University of Oxford |
| 6 | ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology |
| 7 | University of Cambridge |
| 8 | Imperial College London |
| 9 | University of Chicago |
| 10 | University College London (UCL) |
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in USA
The USA is home to some of the best universities and colleges offering top-notch PhD English Literature programmes in the world. The table below contains the list of top PhD English Literature colleges in the USA:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
MIT |
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2 |
Harvard University |
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3 |
UT, Austin |
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4 |
UCLA |
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5 |
NYU |
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in the UK
The UK has institutions that date back to the 13th century. This makes the UK one of the best destinations for pursuing a PhD English Literature. The table below shows the top colleges in the UK for PhD English Literature:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
UCL |
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2 |
Leeds University |
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3 |
Sussex University |
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4 |
Brighton University |
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5 |
Oxford University |
Top PhD English Literature Colleges in Canada
Known as the ‘Great White North’, Canada is one of the most sought-after destinations for PhD English Literature programmes in the world:
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Sl.No |
Institution |
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1 |
Simon Fraser University |
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2 |
Toronto University |
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3 |
UBC |
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4 |
York University |
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5 |
Western University |
Fee Structure for PhD English Literature
The average PhD English Literature fee is around INR 10,000 to INR 2 LPA depending on the colleges or the universities offering PhD English Literature in India. The fees may vary according to the college or university based on the type of institute, location, infrastructure, faculties, and facilities available. Listed below is an average annual fee for some colleges:
|
Sl. No. |
Name of the Institute |
Average Annual Fees |
|
1 |
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi |
INR 42,000 PA |
|
2 |
Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana |
INR 3,984 PA |
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3 |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad, Maharashtra |
INR 1,181 PA |
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4 |
Banasthali University, Vanasthali, Rajasthan |
INR 74,500 PA |
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5 |
Amity University, Noida |
INR 1 LPA |
Syllabus and Subjects for PhD English Literature
The PhD English Literature is a full-time research degree and may be awarded after three to four years of supervised independent research on the basis of a thesis not exceeding 50,000 words exclusive of bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary matter.
PhD English Literature duration of three to five years. The course involves the study of the English language and Literature from all parts of the world, their origin, their analysis etc. Some of the compulsory subjects are:
- Modes of Writing
- Critical Essays
- Victorian Literature
- American Literature
- Women’s Writings
- Creative Writing
- English Poetry
Read More: PhD English Literature Syllabus and Subjects
Why Choose PhD English Literature?
Students often wonder about PhD English Literature details before choosing the course. Before deciding on a career, students come across queries like, "What is PhD English Literature course?" and "Why choose PhD English Literature?”. To clearly understand the answers to these questions, we have framed the following three pointers:
What is PhD English Literature All About?
PhD English Literature courses in India is a three years full-time doctorate programme within the field of English. This course includes various types of writing, including novels, non-fiction, poetry, and plays. It also includes texts like poetry, drama, prose fiction etc.
What Does a PhD English Literature Graduate Do?
English is a vast and exciting area that is chosen by a large number of students. Yet after graduation, the career path is rather unclear, largely because there is so much to do with a literature degree. Although, it makes one eligible for Lecturers in private universities, and colleges across India.
Professor: A Professor teaches students studying at UG or PG level and ensures that they learn the language properly. They can teach English or drama to students. Many of the teachers conduct research alongside teaching the students.
Reasons Why PhD English Literature Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?
The completion of a PhD English Literature degree program is a notable achievement and is valued very highly both inside and outside of academia.
Career Scope and Options: Students after the successful completion of a PhD program have a large opportunity to explore various areas of professional life. They can work in Media Houses, Publishing Houses, Educational Institutions, Print Agencies etc. Candidates can also write their own books, novels or stories or can write for museums or art galleries. They can also work as Lexicographers which means they will have an opportunity to write, compile or edit a dictionary.
Read More: PhD English Literature Jobs & Scope
PhD English Literature Course Comparison
PhD English Literature stands for Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature and is typically catered to students interested in and inclined towards humanities and social sciences. Below is a comparison of the PhD English Literature course with other courses:
PhD English Literature vs M.Phil English
The table below showcases the differences between PhD English Literature and M.Phil English:
|
Course |
PhD English Literature | M.Phil English |
|
Full Form |
Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature | Master of Philosophy in English |
|
Stream |
Arts | Arts |
|
Course Duration |
3-6 Years | 2 Years |
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Eligibility |
50% in PG | 50% in UG |
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Salary |
INR 4-5 LPA | INR 3-4 LPA |
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Fees |
INR 2 LPA | INR 1 LPA |
Preparation Tips for PhD English Literature
Having a PhD English Literature degree opens thriving career opportunities. Some tips for entrance exams are:
Get To Know The Syllabus: The syllabus of the course is something that a student should know, this helps the student to know how to perform at the time of the examination.
Study The Current Affairs: Updating Current affairs regularly also helps in preparing for some of the subjects of the course.
Practice Makes Perfect: Go through all the subjects and the modules that are taught during the duration of the course.
Salary of a PhD English Literature Graduate
The salary of a PhD holder will differ with field and position. As a fresher, the average salary ranges around INR 2 - 4.5 LPA. It will increase up to INR 5 - 12 LPA [Source: Glassdoor], depending upon your skills and experience. Experience and skills will increase the job scope. And for a Professor, government colleges will provide a salary of INR 5.8 LPA [Source: Glassdoor].
Read More: PhD English Literature Salary
Career Options After PhD English Literature
There are a lot of career opportunities available for candidates who wish to pursue PhD English Literature. After completing of PhD English Literature, the graduates can work as Assistant professors in different universities. Here are some job positions available after graduating in literature:
- Writers
- Academic Librarians
- Advertising Account Executive
- Advertising Copywriter
- Arts Administrator
- Information Officer
- Journalists
- Editors
Skills That Make You The Best PhD English Literature Graduate
It is a doctorate-level course and deals with research in English literature from all around the world. The main objective of the course includes researching Literature written in the English language. Must-have skills are:
- Analytical Thinking
- Critical Thinking
- Good Management Skills
- Good Organizational Skills
- Research and Problem Solving Skills
- Strategic Communication Skills
