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The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a Deemed to be University under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, offers a rigorous Ph.D. programme designed for scholars seeking to contribute to the evolving field of media and communication studies. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and maximum of 6 years for full-time scholars (with possible extension up to 8 years), with a total programme fee of Rs 87,000 for both full-time and part-time scholars. The Ph.D. programme is offered in full-time and part-time modes, with a maximum intake of 22 scholars (18 full-time and 4 part-time) for the 2026-27 academic year. The programme emphasizes rigorous academic environment, expert mentorship, and access to extensive research resources, making it popular among scholars aiming for academic and research careers in media and communication.

Admissions for the 2026-27 batch are now closed as the application deadline was January 30, 2026. The next admission cycle is expected to commence in October 2026 with applications opening from January 1, 2027. Candidates who have already applied and are shortlisted will proceed through the interview stage scheduled to begin from March 9, 2026, with final results declared by March 19, 2026. Admissions will be processed from March 23-27, 2026, and the coursework will commence on April 1, 2026.

Key Points

IIMC is ranked as India's number one media training institution by India Today-MDRA Survey 2025 and The Week-Hansa Survey 2025
The programme encourages interdisciplinary research with faculty expertise spanning journalism studies, digital media, political communication, development communication, health communication, and film studies
Mandatory six-month full-time coursework for all scholars covering research methodology, research ethics, and ICT for research
Access to Pt. Yugal Kishore Shukla Library with 38,000 volumes and state-of-the-art research facilities
Research Advisory Committee (RAC) support comprising internal experts and external members for consistent guidance
Scholars can conduct research in diverse areas including media and communication, print and electronic media, advertising and public relations, strategic communication, media industry management, journalism studies, political communication, digital media, cinema and discourse, data journalism, development communication, government communication, health communication, and visual communication

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IIMC Delhi Latest Updates and News

29 Mar, 2026 IIMC Delhi has released the admitted candidate list for Ph.D Admission 2025-26. Check list. The coursework will begin on Apr 1, 2026.

08 Jan, 2026 IIMC Delhi PhD Fee Structure 2025-26 has been released. The total academic fee is ₹ 2.11 Lakhs.

IIMC Ph.D. Fees

The Ph.D. programme at IIMC follows a transparent fee structure with a total programme cost of Rs 87,000 for both full-time and part-time scholars. The fees are structured across one-time payments, refundable deposits, and semester-wise charges. One-time non-refundable fees include admission fees (Rs 10,000), coursework fee (Rs 20,000), thesis submission fee (Rs 15,000), and thesis revision fee if required (Rs 6,000). A refundable security deposit of Rs 10,000 is required for institute and library facilities. Semester-wise fees include tuition fee (Rs 15,000 per semester for full-time and Rs 15,000 for first semester, Rs 25,000 from second semester onwards for part-time), academic fee (Rs 3,000 per semester), and other facility charges (Rs 8,000 per semester).

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Full-Time (Rs)	Part-Time (Rs)	Remarks
One-time Payment (Non-refundable)
Admission Fees, Grade card, Provisional Certificate	10,000	10,000	At time of admission
Coursework Fee	20,000	20,000
Thesis Submission Fee	15,000	15,000
Thesis Revision Fee (if required)	6,000	6,000
Deposits (Refundable)
Institute and Library Security	10,000	10,000
Semester Fees
Tuition Fee (1st Semester)	15,000	15,000
Tuition Fee (2nd-5th Semester)	15,000	25,000
Tuition Fee (6th Semester)	15,000	25,000
Academic Fee (per semester)	3,000	3,000	Examination, registration, enrolment
Others - Library, Labs, Facilities (per semester)	8,000	8,000
Total Programme Fee	87,000	87,000

The security deposit of Rs 10,000 is refundable upon completion of the programme.
International scholars pay a consolidated fee of USD 23,000.
Re-registration fees, if applicable, will be charged as per the prevailing fee structure of the academic year.
No EMI options are currently available.
All fees must be paid online through the official IIMC portal.

Fee structure as per official website:

IIMC Ph.D. Admission 2026

The Ph.D. programme at IIMC follows a merit-based selection process aligned with UGC guidelines. For the 2026-27 academic year, admissions have closed with the application deadline of January 30, 2026. The selection process involves UGC-NET qualification as a mandatory requirement for full-time scholars, while part-time scholars must either qualify UGC-NET or appear in an entrance examination conducted by IIMC. The final merit list is prepared based on 70 percent weightage to UGC-NET/Entrance Exam score and 30 percent weightage to interview performance. Shortlisted candidates will be called for in-person interviews where they must present their research proposal and demonstrate thorough understanding of their chosen research topic.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Application Window Opens	January 1, 2026
Application Deadline	January 30, 2026
Entrance Examination (Part-Time Only)	February 15, 2026
Entrance Exam Result	February 20, 2026
Interview Shortlist Released	February 23, 2026
Interview Commencement	March 9, 2026
Final Result Declaration	March 19, 2026
Admission Processing	March 23-27, 2026
Coursework Commencement	April 1, 2026

UGC-NET Exam Dates (Mass Communication and Journalism)

Exam	Phase	Registration Start	Registration End	Admit Card	Exam Dates	Answer Key	Result Date
UGC-NET	Phase 1	October 7, 2025	November 7, 2025	December 28, 2025	December 31, 2025 to January 7, 2026	January 14, 2026	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET	Phase 2	April 1, 2026	May 1, 2026	June 1, 2026	June 1, 2026	July 1, 2026	July 1, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, or allied disciplines with minimum 55 percent marks or equivalent grade on 10-point scale, OR two-year Master's degree in Mass Communication/Journalism after three-year Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences with minimum 55 percent marks

Four-year Bachelor's degree with research component with minimum 75 percent marks or CGPA 7.5 on 10-point scale, OR M.Phil. degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with minimum 55 percent marks

For Part-Time scholars: Must be in regular/contractual employment with minimum 3 years' experience in media and mass communication or allied industries

Admission Process

Candidates must apply online through the official IIMC website (www.iimc.gov.in)
Application fee: Rs 2,500 for General category, Rs 1,500 for OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PWD, USD 100 for international candidates (non-refundable)
Required documents: Class 10 marks sheet, Post-graduation consolidated marks sheet and degree, M.Phil marks sheet and degree (if applicable), caste/EWS/PWD certificates (if applicable), work experience letters (for part-time), UGC-NET scorecard, Statement of Purpose (500 words), Research Proposal (2000 words), NOC from employer (for part-time)
Full-time candidates with valid UGC-NET qualification are directly invited for interview without entrance examination
Part-time candidates must either qualify UGC-NET or appear in IIMC entrance examination (minimum 55 percent required to qualify)
Final merit list prepared based on interview performance and UGC-NET/Entrance Exam score

IIMC Ph.D. Scholarships 2026

As of now, IIMC does not provide institutional fellowships for Category-2 and Category-3 NET qualified candidates. However, candidates who have qualified UGC-NET with Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) awarded by UGC will receive the fellowship through IIMC as per UGC norms and procedures. The continuation of fellowship is subject to satisfactory progress reports approved by the supervisor and appropriate committees at IIMC. Candidates are encouraged to apply for external fellowships from recognized agencies such as ICSSR or similar organizations directly.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship Type	Eligibility	Amount	Application Deadline
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	UGC-NET Category-1 qualified candidates	As per UGC norms	N/A - Awarded through UGC
External Fellowships (ICSSR, etc.)	All eligible candidates	Varies by agency	As per respective agency

Candidates must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving fellowships.
UGC-JRF is awarded based on UGC-NET performance and is not an institutional scholarship.
Candidates are advised to explore external funding opportunities from recognized research organizations.

IIMC Ph.D. FAQs

Ques. Is UGC-NET qualification mandatory for admission to the Ph.D. programme?

Ans. For full-time Ph.D. scholars, UGC-NET qualification in Mass Communication and Journalism is mandatory. Part-time scholars can either qualify UGC-NET or appear in the IIMC entrance examination. The entrance exam consists of 100 MCQ questions covering research aptitude and subject-specific knowledge, with a minimum 55 percent marks required to qualify.

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

Ans. Yes, IIMC offers a part-time Ph.D. programme for candidates in regular/contractual employment with minimum 3 years' experience in media and mass communication. However, you must submit a No Objection Certificate from your employer confirming that you will be granted 6 months' leave for mandatory coursework and time for seminars and research activities.

Ques. What is the duration of the Ph.D. programme and can it be extended?

Ans. The Ph.D. programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and maximum of 6 years for full-time scholars. An additional 2 years can be granted through re-registration, making the total maximum 8 years. Female scholars and persons with disabilities (40 percent or more) can get an additional 2-year relaxation, extending the maximum to 10 years.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation provided for Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. No, hostel accommodation is not available for Ph.D. scholars at IIMC. Scholars are expected to arrange their own accommodation in Delhi/NCR during the programme duration.

Ques. What are the major research areas I can pursue?

Ans. IIMC offers research opportunities in diverse areas including journalism studies, digital media, political communication, development communication, health communication, film studies, advertising and public relations, strategic communication, media industry management, data journalism, government communication, visual communication, and other areas within the gamut of mass communication.

Ques. What happens if I fail to complete my coursework or confirm registration within the stipulated time?

Ans. All Ph.D. scholars must complete coursework within the first year and confirm registration within 24 months from the date of admission. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of provisional registration. However, scholars can request extension with valid reasons, subject to approval by the Vice Chancellor on recommendation of the Doctoral Programme Committee.