Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 23, 2026

The Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) program at SJMSOM, IIT Bombay is a rigorous 3-5 year research-focused doctoral degree designed to develop scholars and researchers in entrepreneurship, new venture creation, and innovation management. The program emphasizes original research contributions in areas such as entrepreneurial behavior, startup ecosystems, business model innovation, venture financing, and growth strategies. Admission is highly competitive and entrance-based, requiring candidates to qualify through GATE (75 percentile), CAT (75 percentile), GMAT (600 marks), GRE (300 marks), UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, or equivalent national-level examinations. The program is offered in full-time on-campus mode with a focus on developing independent researchers capable of contributing to the field of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Admissions for the Spring Semester 2026-27 have closed (application deadline was October 17-21, 2026). The next admission cycle will open in the coming months. Interested candidates should monitor the official SJMSOM website for announcements regarding the Autumn Semester 2026 admissions. The entrance test and interview for the Spring Semester 2026-27 were conducted on December 12, 2026. Candidates are required to submit a 1500-word research proposal on a topic of their interest as part of the application process, which should contain problem identification, brief literature review, and proposed methodology.

Key Points

Specialization in Entrepreneurship with focus on startup creation, innovation, and business model development
Research areas include entrepreneurial behavior, venture financing, startup ecosystems, and growth strategies
Access to world-class research facilities and faculty mentorship from experienced scholars in entrepreneurship
Opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research through joint supervision and collaborative projects with startups
Strong emphasis on original research contributions leading to publications in peer-reviewed entrepreneurship journals
Exposure to contemporary developments in digital entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Ranking
FAQs

SJMSOM Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) Fees

The Ph.D. program at SJMSOM involves a total tuition fee of 96,000 INR spread across the program duration. For students admitted under Teaching Assistantship (TA) or Fellowship Award (FA) categories, concessional tuition fees apply. The fee structure includes admission fees (9,200 INR), student welfare fund (1,300 INR), and thesis fees (3,200 INR) as one-time non-refundable charges at admission. Refundable deposits include institute security (5,000 INR) and library security (5,000 INR). Per-semester fees vary based on admission category: Group-I (TA/RA/Fellowship) students pay 11,500 INR per semester, while Group-II (Self-Finance/Sponsored) students pay 32,750 INR per semester. Additional non-statutory fees include registration and examination fee (2,300 INR), gymkhana fee (2,300 INR), student benevolent fund (750 INR), student accident insurance fund (350 INR), and medical fee (2,050 INR) per semester.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Admission Fees (Non-refundable)	9,200
Student Welfare Fund (Non-refundable)	1,300
Thesis Fees (Non-refundable)	3,200
Institute Security Deposit (Refundable)	5,000
Library Security Deposit (Refundable)	5,000
Per Semester Fees (Group-I/TA Category)	11,500
Per Semester Fees (Group-II/Self-Finance)	32,750
Registration and Examination Fee	2,300
Gymkhana Fee	2,300
Student Benevolent Fund	750
Student Accident Insurance Fund	350
Medical Fee	2,050
Total Fees (3-year program, Group-I)	96,000

Fees are subject to revision by IIT Bombay.
SC/ST/PwD category students are exempted from tuition fees.
Students under TA category receive monthly assistantship of 37,000 INR for the first 2 years and 42,000 INR for remaining years (as per MoE norms).
Refundable deposits are returned upon completion of the program after clearing all dues.
EMI options and payment schedules are available through the institute's online portal.
Late payment of fees incurs a fine of 1,000 INR with additional weekly charges up to a maximum of 10,000 INR.

SJMSOM Fees

SJMSOM Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) Admission 2026

SJMSOM conducts Ph.D. admissions twice a year for Spring and Autumn semesters. The admission process is highly competitive and merit-based, with selection through written entrance tests and personal interviews. Candidates must submit a research proposal demonstrating their research interests and proposed methodology in entrepreneurship. The institute accepts applications from candidates with diverse academic backgrounds who meet the eligibility criteria and have valid scores from national-level entrance examinations. Admission is offered in various categories including Teaching Assistantship (TA), Research Assistantship (RA), Fellowship Awards (FA), Self-Finance (SF), Sponsored (SW), and External (EX) categories, each with different financial support and eligibility requirements.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Spring Semester 2026-27 (Completed)
Application Deadline (Regular)	October 17, 2026
Application Deadline (Extended)	October 21, 2026
Entrance Test and Interview	December 12, 2026
Result Declaration	December 19-24, 2026
Semester Registration and Orientation	January 1-2, 2027
Upcoming Admission Cycles
Autumn Semester 2026 (Tentative)	Applications expected July-August 2026
Spring Semester 2026-27 (Tentative)	Applications expected September-October 2026

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Registration Dates	Exam Date	Result Date
GATE 2026	Aug 28 - Oct 13, 2025	Feb 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026	Mar 19, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 1	Oct 7 - Nov 7, 2025	Dec 31, 2025 - Jan 7, 2026	Feb 4, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 2	Apr 1 - May 1, 2026 (Tentative)	Jun 1, 2026 (Tentative)	Jul 1, 2026 (Tentative)
CAT 2026	Aug 1 - Sep 20, 2026 (Tentative)	Nov 30, 2026 (Tentative)	Dec 24, 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR-NET 2026	May 1 - May 21, 2026 (Tentative)	Jul 25-27, 2026	Sep 4, 2026 (Tentative)
IIT JAM 2026	Sep 5 - Oct 20, 2025	Feb 15, 2026	Mar 20, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Management, MBA, M.Tech, M.E, M.Pharm, M.Phil, or 2-year MBA/PG Diploma in Management from a government-recognized institute (AICTE/UGC/AIU) with minimum 60% marks or 6.5 CPI (55% or 6.0 CPI for SC/ST)
Alternatively, candidates with B.E/B.Tech or equivalent degree with 60% marks and at least 2 years of work experience, or M.Sc/M.A/M.Com/LLM/MCA with 60% marks are eligible
Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries with 60% marks in preceding degree are also eligible
Valid scores in GATE (75 percentile), CAT (75 percentile), GMAT (600 marks), GRE (300 marks), UGC-NET, or CSIR-NET obtained within the last 5 years are required (unless exempted)
Candidates with MBA/PGDM/M.Tech from institutes of national importance awarded in the last 5 years are exempted from entrance exam requirements

Admission Process

Submit online application form with research proposal (1500 words) containing problem identification, literature review, and methodology related to entrepreneurship
Candidates shortlisted based on academic background and research proposal quality are called for area-based screening test
Shortlisted candidates from screening test are invited for personal interview
Final selection based on performance in interview and overall academic merit
Selected candidates must submit self-attested copies of qualifying degree certificate and final transcripts before January 31, 2026 (for Spring Semester admission)
Application fee: 300 INR for general category, 150 INR for women/SC/ST/PwD candidates

SJMSOM Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) Scholarships 2026

SJMSOM offers various financial support options for Ph.D. students through different admission categories. Teaching Assistantship (TA) provides monthly stipend of 37,000 INR for first 2 years and 42,000 INR for remaining years, with students required to work 8 hours per week as teaching assistants. Research Assistantship (RA) provides 42,000 INR monthly for first 2 years and 47,000 INR for remaining years, with 20 hours per week research work requirement. Fellowship Awards (FA) are available through government agencies including CSIR, UGC, DAE, DST, DBT, and NBHM with amounts and durations as specified by awarding agencies. PMRF (Prime Minister's Research Fellowship) provides 70,000 INR monthly stipend and 2 Lakh INR annual contingency grant for exceptional candidates. Teaching/Research Assistantship through Project (TAP/RAP) is available for candidates working on sponsored projects with support from project funds.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship/Support Type	Monthly Stipend	Duration	Requirements
Teaching Assistantship (TA)	37,000 (Yr 1-2); 42,000 (Yr 3-5)	Up to 5 years	8 hrs/week teaching work
Research Assistantship (RA)	42,000 (Yr 1-2); 47,000 (Yr 3-5)	Up to 5 years	20 hrs/week research work
PMRF Fellowship	70,000 + 2L contingency	Up to 5 years	Exceptional academic record
Fellowship Awards (FA)	As per awarding agency	As per agency norms	Valid JRF award letter

Assistantship continuation is subject to satisfactory academic performance and completion of assigned duties.
SC/ST/PwD students are exempted from tuition fees.
Hostel accommodation is provided to TA/RA/FA category students.
Self-financed students are not eligible for any financial support from the institute but can pursue the program on self-funding basis.

SJMSOM Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) Placement 2026

SJMSOM Ph.D. graduates in Entrepreneurship have strong placement outcomes with opportunities in academia, research institutions, startup consulting firms, and industry. Ph.D. graduates from SJMSOM typically pursue careers as faculty members in business schools and universities, research scholars in entrepreneurship institutes, startup consultants specializing in venture creation and innovation, and senior management positions in multinational corporations and startup ecosystems. The average salary package for Ph.D. graduates ranges from 22-27 LPA depending on the sector and organization. Graduates have been placed in leading organizations including startup consulting firms, multinational corporations, management consulting firms, and academic institutions. The school maintains strong industry connections and facilitates placements through its extensive alumni network and corporate partnerships.

Placement Statistics

Placement Metric	Details
Average Salary Package	22-27 LPA
Highest Salary Package	30 LPA
Primary Sectors	Startup Consulting, Corporate Innovation, Entrepreneurship Support, Academia, Research
Career Paths	Faculty positions, Startup consulting, Innovation management roles, Research roles, Corporate entrepreneurship

SJMSOM Ph.D Entrepreneurship Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#18 out of 372 in India 2025

#6th in Mumbai

IIRF Ranking

#10 out of 100 in Top Public Colleges in India 2025

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SJMSOM Ph.D. (Entrepreneurship) FAQs

Ques. What is the typical duration of the Ph.D. program in Entrepreneurship at SJMSOM?

Ans. The Ph.D. program typically takes 3-5 years to complete. The duration depends on the research progress, thesis submission timeline, and viva-voce examination. Students must submit their thesis at least 2 years after registration, and the maximum validity of registration is 5-6 years from confirmation of registration.

Ques. What are the main research areas in Entrepreneurship at SJMSOM?

Ans. The main research areas include entrepreneurial behavior, startup ecosystems, business model innovation, venture financing, growth strategies, digital entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship. Candidates can choose their specific research topic based on faculty expertise and their interests.

Ques. Is work experience mandatory for Ph.D. admission in Entrepreneurship at SJMSOM?

Ans. Work experience is not mandatory for all candidates. However, candidates with Bachelor's degrees (B.E/B.Tech) or Master's degrees in non-management fields must have at least 2 years of professional work experience. Candidates with Master's degrees in Management or related fields from recognized institutes do not require work experience.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship while working full-time?

Ans. Yes, SJMSOM offers External (EX) and College Teacher (CT) categories for working professionals. External candidates must have an internal supervisor from IIT Bombay and an external supervisor from their parent organization. However, they must complete coursework at the institute within 1-2 semesters after joining.

Ques. What is the research proposal requirement for application?

Ans. Applicants must submit a 1500-word research proposal containing: (a) clear problem identification in entrepreneurship, (b) brief review of relevant literature, and (c) proposed methodology. The research proposal is a critical component of the application and applications without it will not be considered.

Ques. What career prospects are available after completing Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship from SJMSOM?

Ans. Ph.D. graduates pursue diverse career paths including faculty positions in business schools and universities, research roles in entrepreneurship institutes, startup consulting positions, innovation management roles in multinational corporations, and senior management positions in startup ecosystems. The average salary package ranges from 22-27 LPA with highest packages reaching 30 LPA.