Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Ph.D. in Law at GITAM School of Law is a prestigious 3-year full-time doctoral program designed for scholars seeking advanced expertise in legal research and theory. The program explores Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, International Law, Jurisprudence, and Comparative Law through rigorous academic inquiry. With an annual fee of 24,400 INR (total 73,200 INR), the program accepts candidates with LLM degrees or equivalent qualifications. The program is highly popular for academic, judicial, and policy-making careers.

Ph.D. admissions at GITAM for 2026 are currently ongoing. Applications for 2026-2027 are expected to open in April 2026 with a deadline around May 12, 2026. Candidates qualified in UGC-NET Phase 1 can apply directly for interviews. The GReAT examination is conducted for candidates without national-level qualifications. Online interviews are scheduled June 5-20, 2026, with final results June 30, 2026. Document verification and fee payment occur July 1-15, followed by coursework commencement in August.

Key Points

Rigorous academic environment fostering intellectual growth and scholarly excellence
Faculty expertise in Corporate Law, Constitutional Law, IPR, International Law, Cyber Law, and Family Law
Collaborations with Ministry of Social Justice, NRDC, Supreme Court, High Courts, Truth Labs, and Goa Centre for Excellence in IPR
Monthly research fellowship of INR 33,000 for full-time scholars (maximum 3 years)
Mandatory venture development course for innovative product creation with business potential
Harvard-Style Classrooms and comprehensive law library with Research and Development Cell

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

GITAM Visakhapatnam Latest Updates & News

06 Jan, 2026 GITAM Visakhapatnam Ph.D Law Fee Structure 2026 has been released. The total academic fee is ₹ 90,000 . Read more.

GITAM Ph.D. (Law) Fees

The Ph.D. in Law program at GITAM Visakhapatnam has a total tuition fee of 73,200 INR spread across three years. The annual fee of 24,400 INR covers all academic and research-related expenses. This is a highly affordable doctoral program, making quality legal research education accessible to deserving candidates.

Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Total
Tuition Fee	24,400	24,400	24,400	73,200
Total Fees	24,400	24,400	24,400	73,200

All fees are in INR.
Application fee of 1,200 INR is non-refundable.
Processing fees not applicable for full-time scholars.
Monthly research fellowship of 33,000 INR for up to 3 years significantly offsets tuition costs.
No mandatory hostel fees, though facilities available at additional cost.

GITAM Ph.D. (Law) Admission 2026

GITAM Visakhapatnam conducts merit-based admission with multiple pathways. The selection process includes GReAT examination and personal interviews. Candidates with UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, or JEST scores are exempted from written test and directly invited for interviews. Interviews evaluate research aptitude, subject knowledge, and proposed research feasibility.

Key Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date
Application Registration Opens	April 1, 2026
Application Deadline	May 12, 2026
GReAT Examination	May 25, 2026
GReAT Results	May 30, 2026
Online Interviews	June 5 - June 20, 2026
Final Admission Results	June 30, 2026
Fee Payment & Document Verification	July 1 - July 15, 2026
PhD Coursework Commencement	August 1, 2026

Mandatory Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Registration Dates	Admit Card	Exam Date	Result Date
UGC-NET Phase 2	April 1 - May 1, 2026	June 1, 2026	June 1, 2026	July 1, 2026
CSIR-NET	May 1 - May 21, 2026	July 1, 2026	July 25-27, 2026	September 4, 2026
GATE 2026	August 28 - October 13, 2025	January 13, 2026	February 7, 8, 14, 15, 2026	March 19, 2026
JEST	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor's degree in Law (regular mode) and LLM degree (regular mode) from a recognized university
Degree in law and master's degree in law deemed equivalent to M.Phil from Indian or foreign accredited institution
Judge of state high court with at least 3 years experience, Supreme Court judge, or tribunal member

Admission Process

Online application submission through https://researchadmissions.gitam.edu/ with 1,200 INR registration fee
Submission of degree certificates, mark sheets, entrance exam scores, and identity proof
Candidates with national-level exam qualifications proceed directly to interview; others appear for GReAT
Personal interview evaluating research aptitude and proposed research feasibility
Merit-based selection based on interview performance and seat availability

GITAM Ph.D. (Law) Scholarships 2026

GITAM Visakhapatnam offers comprehensive financial support through research fellowships and merit-based scholarships. The GITAM Ph.D. Fellowship provides monthly stipends to full-time scholars. The university also supports research activities through project funding and conference attendance grants.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship/Fellowship	Amount	Duration	Eligibility
GITAM Ph.D. Fellowship (Full-Time)	33,000 INR per month	Maximum 3 years	All admitted full-time Ph.D. scholars
Research Project Grants	Varies	Project duration	Scholars with approved research proposals
Conference Attendance Support	Varies	Per conference	Scholars presenting papers at conferences

Fellowship of 33,000 INR per month available for all full-time scholars for maximum 3 years, covering tuition fees and providing additional research support.
Research project grants allocated based on proposal merit.
Conference support provided on case-by-case basis for scholars presenting original research.
Scholarships automatic upon admission.

GITAM Visakhapatnam Ph.D Law Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#99 out of 102 in India 2025

#3rd in Andhra Pradesh

Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here

GITAM Ph.D. (Law) FAQs

Ques. What are the main research areas in the Ph.D. Law program?

Ans. Research areas include Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, International Law, Jurisprudence, Comparative Law, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Rights, and Cyber Law. Students explore complex legal issues, develop advanced methodologies for legal analysis, and contribute original insights to the field.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing Ph.D. Law from GITAM?

Ans. Graduates pursue careers as Academic Professors, Judicial Officers, Legal Researchers, Policy Advisors, International Legal Consultants, Legal Theorists, Supreme Court/High Court Advocates, Government Legal Advisors, Arbitrators, and NGO Leaders. The degree prepares graduates to contribute significantly to legal scholarship and shape public policy.

Ques. Does the program provide industry exposure and collaboration opportunities?

Ans. Yes, GITAM collaborates with Ministry of Social Justice, NRDC, Supreme Court, High Courts, Truth Labs, and Goa Centre for Excellence in IPR. Ph.D. scholars participate in research projects and gain practical experience in legal research and policy development.

Ques. What infrastructure and facilities are available for Ph.D. research?

Ans. Facilities include Harvard-Style Classrooms, comprehensive law library, Research and Development Cell, and Institution Research Committee. These resources support rigorous legal research and scholarly inquiry.

Ques. What is the venture development course and how does it benefit Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. The mandatory 2-credit venture development course encourages innovative product creation with business potential. This course helps Ph.D. scholars develop entrepreneurial skills and understand commercialization of legal research and innovations.

Ques. Are judges eligible for Ph.D. Law admission?

Ans. Yes, judges of state high courts with at least 3 years of experience, Supreme Court judges, and tribunal members are eligible for admission to the Ph.D. Law program, recognizing their legal expertise and experience.