St John's Medical College Bangalore Ph.D Pathology: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. The RGUHS PhD Entrance Exam is mandatory for most candidates. However, candidates who hold a valid national fellowship such as ICMR JRF, DBT JRF (Category 1), or UGC-CSIR NET JRF are exempted from the entrance exam and can apply directly to the PhD programme at St John's Medical College throughout the year, subject to availability of a research guide in the Department of Pathology.

Ans. The PhD programme has a minimum duration of 3 years, which includes a mandatory coursework component in the first year followed by full-time research and thesis work. The maximum permissible duration is 6 years. Extension beyond 6 years is governed by RGUHS statutes and requires special approval from the university.

Ans. Candidates with MD (Pathology) are the primary applicants for this programme. However, candidates with M.Sc. in Pathology or Medical Laboratory Technology from a recognised university with at least 55% marks may also be eligible, subject to RGUHS regulations and the availability of a suitable research guide at St John's Medical College. It is advisable to confirm eligibility directly with the college's research office before applying.

Ans. Candidates are typically required to identify a research guide from the Department of Pathology at St John's Medical College before or during the admission process. The department has faculty members with expertise in surgical pathology, haematopathology, cytopathology, and molecular pathology. Prospective candidates can contact the department directly or visit the college's official website (stjohns.in) to review faculty profiles and ongoing research projects before applying.

Ans. PhD scholars who hold external fellowships such as ICMR JRF, DBT JRF, or UGC-CSIR NET JRF receive a monthly stipend of ₹37,000 (JRF level) directly from the respective funding agencies, along with HRA. The college itself offers limited internal scholarships based on financial need, assessed through an interview. Candidates without external funding are required to pay the annual fee of approximately ₹1.47 Lakhs per year from their own resources.

Ans. The Department of Pathology at St John's Medical College is actively involved in research across several sub-specialties including surgical pathology, haematopathology, cytopathology (including liquid-based cytology), molecular pathology, and transfusion medicine-related pathology. The department benefits from the large patient load at St John's Hospital, which provides access to diverse clinical material for research. Candidates are encouraged to review the department's published research and contact faculty directly to discuss potential research topics before applying.