Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Department of Mass Communication at Assam University, Silchar, established in 1996, offers the Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) degree in Mass Communication, one of the most prestigious post-doctoral honours in Indian academia. The D.Litt. is not a taught programme but a recognition of outstanding, independently conducted research of international merit in the field of Mass Communication. The degree is awarded on the basis of a thesis comprising published work of exceptional scholarly value, evaluated by expert examiners. Unlike a Ph.D., the D.Litt. does not have a fixed duration or seat intake; it is open to eligible candidates on a rolling basis. The total fee for the D.Litt. programme is Rs. 20,000. The programme is suited exclusively for senior academics and researchers who have already earned a Ph.D. and have a distinguished record of post-doctoral research and publication in Mass Communication. The Department of Mass Communication at Assam University is known for its research thrust in areas such as health communication, media literacy, political communication, digital media, advertising, public relations, and film studies.

The D.Litt. programme does not follow a fixed annual admission cycle. Eligible candidates may apply at any time by submitting the prescribed application form along with the required documents and fees to the university. There is no entrance test or viva voce for D.Litt.; the degree is awarded purely on the merit of the submitted published work as evaluated by external expert examiners.

Key Points

The D.Litt. is a post-doctoral honour, not a taught degree programme. It is awarded for outstanding published research of international standard in Mass Communication.
There is no fixed intake, no entrance test, and no course work requirement for the D.Litt. programme.
The candidate must have a Ph.D. from Assam University or any other recognised Indian or foreign university in Mass Communication or an allied discipline.
The candidate must be a serving or retired teacher in the university system with a minimum of 5 years of service after the Ph.D.
The candidate must have at least 5 years of post-doctoral research experience and a body of individually published work of merit at international standard.
The D.Litt. degree is not conferred as an honorary degree or as an addendum to another degree; it must be earned through independent research.
The Department of Mass Communication has faculty with expertise in Advertising, Public Relations, New Media, Media Research, Development Communication, Political Communication, Film Studies, Health Communication, and Social Media Research.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

AU D.Litt. Fees

The D.Litt. (Mass Communication) programme at Assam University, Silchar has a total fee of Rs. 20,000, which is significantly lower than most post-doctoral programmes at private institutions. This fee covers the registration, dissertation evaluation, and seminar charges. There are no annual recurring fees, tuition fees, or hostel charges associated with the D.Litt. programme, as it is not a residential taught programme.

Fee Structure Table

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Registration Fee (one-time)	5,000
Dissertation / Evaluation / Seminar Fee	15,000
Total Fee	20,000

The above fee structure is as per the university's official prospectus.
Additional fees for foreign nationals and NRIs: USD 15,000 (as per university norms).
No hostel or tuition fees are applicable as the D.Litt. is not a residential taught programme.
Fees are payable at the time of registration/submission.

AU D.Litt. Admission 2026

The D.Litt. (Mass Communication) at Assam University, Silchar does not follow a fixed annual admission cycle. Eligible candidates may apply on a rolling basis by submitting the prescribed application form along with supporting documents to the university. The degree is awarded based on the evaluation of the candidate's submitted published work by expert external examiners appointed by the university. There is no entrance test, course work, or viva voce requirement.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

The candidate must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree from Assam University or any other recognised Indian or foreign university in Mass Communication or an allied discipline.
The candidate must be a serving or retired teacher in the university system who has put in a minimum of 5 years of service after the Ph.D.
The candidate must have at least 5 years of post-doctoral research experience.
The candidate must have individually published work of merit at international standard, which was undertaken mainly on their own initiative.
The work submitted must not have formed the basis for any other degree previously conferred on the candidate.
The candidate must prepare a synopsis indicating what has been done by other scholars in the same subject and what they claim as their own original contribution.

Admission Process and Key Steps:

Step	Details
Application Submission	Submit prescribed application form with supporting documents to the Department of Mass Communication / Dean of the School of Information Sciences
Document Verification	University verifies eligibility: Ph.D. degree, service record, post-doctoral research experience
Synopsis Submission	Candidate submits a synopsis indicating prior scholarly work in the field and claims of original contribution
Appointment of Examiners	University appoints expert external examiners to evaluate the submitted work
Evaluation of Published Work	Examiners assess the body of published work for originality, international merit, and contribution to Mass Communication
Award of Degree	D.Litt. degree is conferred at the university's convocation upon successful evaluation

AU D.Litt. Scholarships 2026

The D.Litt. programme at Assam University does not attract standard student scholarships or fellowships, as it is a post-doctoral honour for senior academics rather than a student programme. Candidates pursuing D.Litt. are typically employed as faculty members or researchers and are not eligible for student-oriented financial aid. However, the following may be relevant for senior researchers:

Scholarship Support Table

Support / Scheme	Details	Eligibility
UGC Research Awards	Financial support for active research by college/university teachers	College/university teachers with Ph.D.; apply through UGC
ICSSR Research Projects	Funding for social science research projects including media studies	Faculty/researchers in social sciences and mass communication
DST/DBT Research Grants	For interdisciplinary research projects	Faculty with Ph.D. in relevant areas
Assam University Research Fund	Internal university research support (subject to availability)	Faculty of Assam University

The D.Litt. programme itself does not carry any fellowship or stipend.
Candidates who are employed as faculty members may apply for research grants from UGC, ICSSR, or other funding bodies to support their research activities leading to the D.Litt.

AU D.Litt. FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a D.Litt. at Assam University?

Ans. A Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) is a research degree earned through a structured programme involving course work, a research supervisor, and a thesis on original research. It is open to postgraduate students. A D.Litt. (Doctor of Literature), on the other hand, is a higher doctorate awarded to senior academics who have already earned a Ph.D. and have a distinguished body of independently published research of international merit. The D.Litt. has no course work, no supervisor, and no fixed duration; it is awarded purely on the merit of the candidate's published work as evaluated by expert examiners.

Ques. Who is eligible to apply for the D.Litt. in Mass Communication at Assam University?

Ans. The D.Litt. is open to serving or retired teachers in the university system who: (a) hold a Ph.D. in Mass Communication or an allied discipline from a recognised university; (b) have a minimum of 5 years of service as a teacher after the Ph.D.; (c) have at least 5 years of post-doctoral research experience; and (d) have a body of individually published work of international merit in Mass Communication. It is not open to regular students or fresh Ph.D. graduates.

Ques. Is there an entrance test or interview for the D.Litt. programme?

Ans. No. The D.Litt. does not involve any entrance test, course work, or personal interview. The degree is awarded entirely on the basis of the evaluation of the candidate's submitted published work by expert external examiners appointed by the university. The candidate must submit a synopsis of their research contributions along with the published work.

Ques. How long does the D.Litt. evaluation process typically take at Assam University?

Ans. The D.Litt. evaluation process does not have a fixed timeline as it depends on the availability of expert examiners and the complexity of the work submitted. Typically, the process from submission to award can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Candidates are advised to contact the Department of Mass Communication or the Dean of the School of Information Sciences for current processing timelines.

Ques. Can a faculty member from a college affiliated to Assam University apply for the D.Litt.?

Ans. The eligibility specifies that the candidate must be a serving or retired teacher in the university system. Faculty members of colleges affiliated to Assam University may be considered, but it is advisable to confirm eligibility directly with the university's academic section, as the term "university system" may be interpreted differently. Faculty of Assam University itself are clearly eligible.

Ques. What research areas does the Department of Mass Communication at Assam University focus on for D.Litt. research?

Ans. The department's current research thrust areas include health communication, media literacy, political communication, digital media and new media studies, advertising and public relations, development communication, film studies, social media research, and communication research methodology. Candidates whose published work falls within these or closely allied areas are well-positioned for the D.Litt. evaluation.