Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

The Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College (KMC), Katihar is a research-oriented doctoral programme offered under the Faculty of Medicine, Al-Karim University. The programme is available in both full-time (3 years for M.Sc holders; 2 years for MD/MS holders) and part-time (4 years for M.Sc holders; 3 years for MD/MS holders) modes, making it accessible to both fresh postgraduates and working medical professionals. With an annual intake of 4 seats in Biochemistry, the programme provides a highly focused research environment within a functioning medical college and teaching hospital. The total fee for a full-time PhD (3 years) is Rs. 5,75,000 (excluding hostel and amenities), which is competitive for a doctoral programme in medical sciences. The course is popular among M.Sc Medical Biochemistry graduates, MBBS holders, and MD Biochemistry graduates seeking to build a career in academic research, medical teaching, or pharmaceutical sciences.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are currently open. Al-Karim University conducts admissions in three rounds through a written entrance examination followed by a personal interview. Round 1 applications are open from 9 March 2026 to 31 March 2026, with the entrance exam on 12 April 2026 (Sunday). Candidates who qualify the written test must appear for a personal interview before the selection committee.

Key Points

The PhD programme is offered under the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Karim University, a UGC-recognised private university established in 2018 under the Bihar Private Universities Act, 2013.
PhD in Biochemistry is available in both full-time and part-time modes; working professionals from government departments, recognised hospitals, R&D organisations, or private industries with at least 3 years of relevant experience can apply for the part-time programme.
The programme requires a minimum of one publication in Thomson Reuters and/or SCI or Scopus indexed journals before thesis submission, ensuring research quality.
Research scholars must attend at least 4 RAC (Research Advisory Committee) meetings (full-time) or 6 RAC meetings (part-time) after course work completion.
The university has a Central Research Laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment for molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiological investigations.
Katihar Medical College is a minority institution; 50% of seats are reserved for Muslim minority candidates and 50% for general category candidates.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

KMC Ph.D. (Biochemistry) Fees

The fee structure for PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College varies based on the mode (full-time or part-time) and the qualifying degree of the candidate. For M.Sc holders pursuing full-time PhD (3 years), the total fee is Rs. 5,75,000, comprising a one-time admission and registration fee of Rs. 25,000, annual course fee of Rs. 1,50,000 per year (Rs. 4,50,000 for 3 years), examination fee of Rs. 10,000 per semester (Rs. 60,000 for 6 semesters), and a thesis submission and evaluation fee of Rs. 40,000 payable at the time of thesis submission. For MD/MS holders pursuing full-time PhD (2 years), the course fee equivalent to 3 years is paid over 2 years. Student Amenities Fees are charged additionally. Hostel accommodation is available on campus but is optional.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Full-Time PhD (M.Sc holders, 3 years)	Part-Time PhD (M.Sc holders, 4 years)
Admission and Registration Fee (one-time)	Rs. 25,000	Rs. 25,000
Course Fee (per year)	Rs. 1,50,000	Rs. 1,25,000
Total Course Fee (3 or 4 years)	Rs. 4,50,000	Rs. 5,00,000
Examination Fee (per semester)	Rs. 10,000	Rs. 10,000
Total Examination Fee (6 semesters / 8 semesters)	Rs. 60,000	Rs. 80,000
Thesis Submission and Evaluation Fee (one-time)	Rs. 40,000	Rs. 40,000
Student Amenities Fee	Additional	Additional
Hostel Fee (optional)	As applicable	As applicable
Total Fee (excluding hostel and amenities)	Rs. 5,75,000	Rs. 6,45,000

For MD/MS holders enrolling in full-time PhD (2-year duration), the fee equivalent to 3 years of full-time PhD is paid equally over 2 years.
For MD/MS holders enrolling in part-time PhD (3-year duration), the fee equivalent to 4 years of part-time PhD is paid equally over 3 years.
Annual course fee is payable through Bank Draft before the end of June each year.
A fine of Rs. 500 per day is charged from 1st July onwards for late payment.
Examination fee is payable one month before the university examination date.
A late fine of Rs. 600 is charged for delayed payment.
Thesis submission and evaluation fee must be deposited at the time of thesis submission.
Student Amenities Fees (transport, sports, gymnasium, Wi-Fi, etc.) are charged additionally.
Fee concession is available for eligible students (see Scholarships section).
In case of cancellation of admission, the student is liable to pay the full course fee as per university ordinance.

KMC Ph.D. (Biochemistry) Admission 2026

Admissions to PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College are conducted by Al-Karim University through a written entrance examination followed by a mandatory personal interview for all candidates who qualify the written test. The process is conducted in three rounds, with 4 seats available per year in Biochemistry. Both fresh postgraduates and working professionals (for part-time PhD) are eligible to apply. The admission process is merit-based, with selection determined by performance in the entrance test and interview.

Al-Karim University PhD Admission Schedule

Event	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3
Application Period	9 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2026	1 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2026	1 May 2026 - 31 May 2026
Entrance Examination	12 Apr 2026 (Sunday)	10 May 2026 (Sunday)	14 Jun 2026 (Sunday)
Result Publication	By 18 Apr 2026	By 16 May 2026	By 20 Jun 2026
Personal Interview	After result declaration	After result declaration	After result declaration
Counselling and Admission	20 Apr 2026 - 25 Apr 2026	18 May 2026 - 25 May 2026	29 Jun 2026 onwards

Note: All PhD candidates who qualify the written entrance test must appear for a personal interview before the selection committee. Admissions continue across rounds until all seats are filled. Candidates should check the official website at alkarimuniversity.edu.in for any date revisions.

Entrance Exam Details

Exam	Conducting Body	Relevance	Remarks
Al-Karim University Entrance Test + Personal Interview	Al-Karim University, Katihar	Mandatory for PhD Biochemistry admission	Written test followed by personal interview; no national exam required

Note: Admission to PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College is solely through the Al-Karim University entrance examination and personal interview. No national-level exam is required.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

For M.Sc Medical Biochemistry or other relevant Master's degree holders: Minimum 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent Grade B in UGC 7-point scale) in a full-time Master's degree in a relevant discipline, or a professional degree declared equivalent to a Master's degree by the relevant statutory regulatory body.
For MD, MS, DNB, DM, or MCH holders: Minimum 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent Grade B in UGC 7-point scale) in the respective postgraduate medical degree.
For part-time PhD: Candidates must be working at a Public Sector Undertaking, Government Department, Recognised Hospital, R&D Organisation, or Private Industry/Educational Institution with a minimum of 3 years of relevant working experience, and must submit a No Objection Certificate from their employer.

Admission Process:

Apply online at alkarimuniversity.edu.in or offline by submitting the application form at the university campus during working hours (9 am to 5 pm).
Application form cost is Rs. 1,500, which covers up to 2 course preferences. Additional courses can be added at Rs. 500 per course (up to 5 preferences per form).
Appear for the written entrance examination on the scheduled date for the respective round.
Candidates who qualify the written test must appear for a personal interview before the selection committee.
Merit list is published on the university website based on entrance test and interview performance.
Attend counselling and complete admission formalities within the stipulated dates.
Submit required documents: passport-size photograph, government-issued ID, address proof, latest mark sheets, and parent's/guardian's PAN card. Part-time candidates must additionally submit a No Objection Certificate from their employer.
Pay the admission and registration fee (Rs. 25,000) and first-year course fee at the time of admission.
After admission, apply for PhD registration after topic and synopsis approval by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC).
Reservation: 50% seats for Muslim minority candidates; 50% for general category candidates.

KMC Ph.D. (Biochemistry) Scholarships 2026

Al-Karim University offers an institutional fee concession scheme for eligible PhD students, which can significantly reduce the financial burden for deserving candidates. The concession is merit-cum-means based and is available to students who are domicile of Bihar and belong to SC, ST, BC, EBC, Women, or Economically Weaker Section categories. Additionally, PhD scholars may apply for UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) or other national fellowship schemes if eligible.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Concession	Amount	Eligibility
Full Fee Concession (Institutional)	100% of course fee	1/5th of 25% eligible students; BPL domicile of Bihar from SC/ST/BC/EBC/Women/EWS; must score above 60th percentile in entrance exam
50% Fee Concession (Institutional)	50% of course fee	2/5th of 25% eligible students; same criteria as above
25% Fee Concession (Institutional)	25% of course fee	Remaining 2/5th of 25% eligible students; same criteria as above
UGC-NET JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years) + Rs. 42,000/month (subsequent years)	Candidates who qualify UGC-NET with JRF; applicable if university is recognised for JRF fellowship
Bihar State Scholarship (Post-Matric)	As per government norms	SC/ST/OBC/EBC students domicile of Bihar; apply via Bihar government scholarship portal
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Schemes	As per scheme	Minority community students; apply via scholarships.gov.in

To be eligible for institutional fee concession, all four criteria must be met: (i) domicile of Bihar, (ii) belongs to SC/ST/BC/EBC/Women/EWS category, (iii) family is BPL-entitled, and (iv) scores above 60th percentile in the entrance examination.
The institutional fee concession applies to course fee only; examination fee, thesis fee, and amenities fee are not covered.
UGC-NET JRF eligibility and applicability at Al-Karim University should be confirmed directly with the university's research office.
Original documents must be submitted at the time of counselling for institutional fee concession.

KMC Ph.D. (Biochemistry) FAQs

Ques. Can an MBBS graduate directly apply for PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College without an M.Sc degree?

Ans. Yes, MBBS graduates are eligible to apply for PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College, provided they have at least 55% marks in their MBBS degree. However, the more common pathway is through M.Sc Medical Biochemistry or MD Biochemistry. MBBS holders are treated as having a professional degree equivalent to a Master's degree for PhD eligibility purposes.

Ques. What is the difference between full-time and part-time PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College?

Ans. Full-time PhD (for M.Sc holders) is a 3-year programme requiring the candidate to be physically present at the university. Part-time PhD (for M.Sc holders) is a 4-year programme designed for working professionals who can pursue research alongside their employment. Part-time candidates must submit a No Objection Certificate from their employer and can conduct part of their research at their parent organisation after synopsis approval. The annual course fee for part-time PhD is Rs. 1,25,000 (vs Rs. 1,50,000 for full-time).

Ques. Is a publication mandatory before submitting the PhD thesis at Katihar Medical College?

Ans. Yes, it is mandatory. Before the pre-PhD presentation, the research scholar must have at least one publication in a Thomson Reuters and/or SCI or Scopus indexed journal, in addition to either one additional paper or two paper presentations at a national conference or seminar. This requirement ensures the research meets international quality standards.

Ques. What is the total fee for PhD in Biochemistry (full-time, 3 years) at Katihar Medical College?

Ans. The total fee for a full-time PhD (3 years, for M.Sc holders) is Rs. 5,75,000. This includes the one-time admission and registration fee (Rs. 25,000), annual course fee of Rs. 1,50,000 per year (Rs. 4,50,000 for 3 years), examination fee of Rs. 10,000 per semester (Rs. 60,000 for 6 semesters), and thesis submission and evaluation fee (Rs. 40,000). Student Amenities Fees and hostel charges are additional.

Ques. How many seats are available for PhD in Biochemistry, and what is the reservation policy?

Ans. There are 4 seats available per academic year for PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College. Of these, 50% (2 seats) are reserved for Muslim minority candidates and 50% (2 seats) for general category candidates. If reserved seats are not filled by candidates of the respective category, the vacant seats are filled by general category candidates.

Ques. Can a working professional from outside Bihar apply for part-time PhD in Biochemistry at Katihar Medical College?

Ans. Yes, working professionals from anywhere in India can apply for the part-time PhD programme, provided they have the required qualifications (Master's degree or equivalent with 55% marks) and at least 3 years of relevant working experience. They must submit a No Objection Certificate from their employer. Once the synopsis is approved by the RAC, part-time candidates may be allowed to pursue the rest of their PhD research at their parent organisation or an approved research centre.