Jamia Millia Islamia University Ph.D Political Science: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

The Ph.D. (Political Science) is a full-time doctoral programme offered by the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi, a NAAC A++ accredited Central University ranked 4th among universities in NIRF 2025. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with an annual fee of Rs. 10,175. The Department of Political Science at JMI is one of the most active research departments in the university, with over 137 PhDs awarded since its establishment, covering a wide range of themes including Indian politics and governance, public administration, women's empowerment, international relations, South Asian politics, minority politics, human rights, e-governance, and decentralization. With 33 vacant seats in 2026-27, it is one of the largest PhD programmes in the Faculty of Social Sciences, attracting scholars from across India.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are currently open. The online application window was available from February 20, 2026, and was extended to April 2, 2026. The JMI entrance test for PhD programmes commences from April 26, 2026 onwards, with the PhD admission schedule for the Department of Political Science notified separately. For the 2025-26 session, interviews were held from December 10-19, 2025, and admission formalities were completed between December 23-30, 2025. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official JMI website (jmi.ac.in) and the admission portal (admission.jmi.ac.in) for the latest PhD bulletin.

Key Points

The Department of Political Science at JMI accepts research proposals on all themes of Political Science, offering scholars wide flexibility in choosing their research area.
The department has one of the largest PhD intakes in the Faculty of Social Sciences at JMI, with 33 vacant seats in 2026-27.
Research at the department spans both theoretical and empirical approaches, with a strong tradition of field-based research in governance, public policy, and social movements.
The department has a strong focus on issues relevant to contemporary India, including minority politics, Kashmir, Northeast India, women's political participation, and public administration reforms.
JMI does not offer the Ph.D. programme through distance education mode; it is strictly a full-time on-campus programme.
Scholars are required to reside in the NCR region during the first two years of registration.
Candidates with UGC-NET (including JRF), CSIR-NET, GATE, or CEED qualifications are exempted from the JMI entrance test and directly called for interview.
Scholars must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal and present at least two papers at national/international conferences before thesis submission.

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Jamia Millia Islamia University Latest Updates and News

12 May, 2026 Jamia Millia Islamia University Ph.D Political Science Admission 2026-27 is ongoing till Jun 8, 2026. Apply Now!. The admission test is scheduled from Jun 20 to 21, 2026.

01 May, 2026 Jamia Millia Islamia Admission 2026 is ongoing. The university entrance tests are scheduled till June 5, 2026.

JMI Ph.D. (Political Science) Fees

The Ph.D. (Political Science) at JMI is highly affordable as a Central University programme. The annual fee for 2026-27 is Rs. 10,175, covering tuition and other academic charges. For the minimum duration of 3 years, the total academic fee amounts to approximately Rs. 30,525. Hostel accommodation is available on campus but is not mandatory; hostel fees are charged separately.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Per Year)
Tuition Fee	Rs. 9,875
Other Academic Charges	Rs. 300
Total Academic Fee	Rs. 10,175
Hostel Fee (New Allotment)	Rs. 15,350
Hostel Fee (Renewal)	Rs. 12,550
Total Fee (Academic Only, 3 Years)	Rs. 30,525

Hostel fee is not mandatory and is charged separately; it is not included in the Total Academic Fee row above.
JMI employees are exempt from paying Course Fee, Library Fee, and Caution Money.
Scholars exempted from Course Fee are required to pay a Special Annual Fee as prescribed.
Fees are payable at the beginning of each academic year; no EMI option is mentioned in the official prospectus.
Application fee for PhD admission: Rs. 2,000 (all categories).

JMI Ph.D. (Political Science) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Political Science) at JMI are held twice a year: once in summer (June-July) and once in winter (January-February, for exempted category candidates only). The 2026-27 general admission cycle is currently underway, with the entrance test commencing from April 26, 2026. As per the 2025-26 vacancy list, 33 seats were available in the Department of Political Science. The PhD bulletin with specific dates for the department is notified separately on the JMI website.

JMI PhD Admission Schedule

Event	Date
Online Application Opens	February 20, 2026
Online Application Closes (Extended)	April 2, 2026
Form Editing Window	April 1, 2026 to April 6, 2026
Admit Card Issue	April 17, 2026 onwards
Commencement of Entrance Test (JMI)	April 26, 2026 onwards
PhD Admission Schedule (Separate Bulletin)	To be notified on jmi.ac.in
Interviews/Presentation (Social Sciences)	Tentatively November-December 2026
Admission Formalities	Tentatively December 2026

UGC NET Exam Dates

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

Note: UGC-NET qualified candidates (including JRF holders) are exempted from the JMI PhD entrance test and directly called for interview. CSIR-NET, GATE, and CEED qualified candidates are also exempted.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have a Master's degree with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent CGPA) in Political Science or an allied subject.
SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled candidates are eligible with a relaxation of 5% (i.e., minimum 50% marks).
Candidates with an M.Phil. degree (minimum 55% marks, two semesters) in the same or allied subject from a recognised university are also eligible for direct PhD admission.
Candidates with a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree with a minimum of 75% marks (70% for reserved categories) are also eligible.

Admission Process

Apply online at admission.jmi.ac.in and pay the application fee of Rs. 2,000.
Appear for the JMI PhD Entrance Test (Paper I: Research Methodology; Paper II: Political Science subject-specific), unless exempted.
Candidates must score at least 50% in aggregate to qualify the entrance test (45% for reserved categories).
Shortlisted candidates (including exempted category) are called for an interview/presentation before the Departmental Research Committee (DRC) of the Department of Political Science.
At the interview, candidates present their broad research interest/area before the DRC.
Based on merit and available vacancies, provisional registration is granted along with supervisor allocation.
Complete admission formalities (document verification, fee payment) within the stipulated dates.

JMI Ph.D. (Political Science) Scholarships 2026

JMI PhD scholars in Political Science can avail a range of fellowships and scholarships from the university and national/external agencies. The Non-NET Fellowship provided by JMI supports scholars who do not hold an external fellowship, while the Mushirul Hasan Doctoral Fellowship is specifically available for scholars in Humanities and Social Sciences at JMI. Scholars with UGC-NET JRF qualifications receive substantially higher monthly stipends. The department's strong connections with policy institutes and think tanks in New Delhi also open up funded research project opportunities for PhD scholars.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship/Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility
JMI Non-NET Fellowship	Rs. 5,000/month	Full-time PhD scholars without external fellowship
UGC-NET JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) + Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	UGC-NET qualified candidates
CSIR-NET JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) + Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	CSIR-NET qualified candidates
Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF)	Rs. 70,000-80,000/month	Exceptional candidates from top institutions
Annual Mushirul Hasan Doctoral Fellowship	As per JMI notification	PhD scholars in Humanities and Social Sciences at JMI
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Scholarship	As per JMI notification	PhD scholars in specified fields
NSP Post-Matric Scholarship	As per government norms	Minority/SC/ST/OBC students
ICCR Fellowship	As per ICCR norms	Foreign/ICCR-sponsored candidates

The Non-NET Fellowship is disbursed from the date of admission and is subject to satisfactory six-monthly progress reports.
Fellowship may be withheld if the scholar fails to submit the progress report within the stipulated period.
Scholars holding external fellowships follow the rules of the respective funding agency.
Applications for the Mushirul Hasan Doctoral Fellowship are invited annually, typically in August-September; scholars should check the JMI DSW notice board and website.
ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) doctoral fellowships are also available for eligible PhD scholars in Political Science; candidates should check the ICSSR website for current fellowship schemes.

JMI Ph.D. (Political Science) FAQs

Q1. What are the main research areas in the Department of Political Science at JMI, and how broad is the scope for PhD research?

Ans. The department accepts research proposals on all themes of Political Science, making it one of the most flexible PhD programmes in the country. Based on over 137 PhDs awarded, the main research areas include: Indian politics and electoral studies, public administration and governance reforms, women's political participation and empowerment, international relations and foreign policy, South Asian politics (Kashmir, Northeast India, Pakistan, Afghanistan), minority politics and citizenship, human rights, e-governance and digital governance, decentralization and Panchayati Raj, civil society and NGOs, and comparative politics. Scholars from diverse academic backgrounds in social sciences are welcome.

Q2. Is the PhD (Political Science) at JMI suitable for candidates with a background in Public Administration or International Relations rather than Political Science?

Ans. Yes. The department has a strong tradition of research in Public Administration (governance, bureaucracy, public policy) and International Relations (India's foreign policy, South Asian relations, US-India relations, ASEAN, BRICS). Candidates with a Master's degree in Public Administration or International Relations may be considered for admission, subject to the DRC's assessment of their research proposal. The department's faculty includes specialists in both these sub-fields.

Q3. How competitive is the PhD (Political Science) admission at JMI, given the large number of seats?

Ans. While the Department of Political Science had 33 vacant seats in 2025-26, the programme is still competitive given JMI's reputation and the large number of applicants. The entrance test and interview together determine merit. Candidates with a strong research proposal, clear articulation of their research question, and relevant academic background have a better chance. UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates are directly called for interview, which gives them an advantage.

Q4. Can I pursue a PhD in Political Science at JMI while working in a government job?

Ans. Full-time PhD scholars at JMI are not permitted to take up employment during the first two years of registration. However, a part-time PhD option is available for working professionals employed in government or non-government organisations, subject to submitting an NOC from the employer and fulfilling attendance requirements. Government employees seeking to pursue a PhD may apply for study leave or deputation from their employer. The part-time PhD has a minimum duration of 4 years and a maximum of 8 years.

Q5. What is the role of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) in the PhD programme at JMI?

Ans. Each PhD scholar at JMI is assigned a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) comprising the supervisor, co-supervisor (if any), and one external expert. The RAC meets at least once every six months to review the scholar's progress, provide guidance on the research, and assess the six-monthly progress reports. The RAC's approval is required for key milestones including the synopsis submission, pre-submission seminar, and thesis submission. Scholars must present their work before the RAC at each stage of the PhD.

Q6. What career opportunities are available after completing a PhD in Political Science from JMI?

Ans. A PhD in Political Science from JMI opens doors to academic positions in universities and colleges (as Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor), research positions in think tanks (Observer Research Foundation, Centre for Policy Research, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, etc.), roles in civil services (IAS, IFS, IPS - through UPSC), positions in international organisations (UN agencies, World Bank, etc.), policy advisory roles in government ministries, and careers in journalism and media covering politics and governance. JMI's location in New Delhi and its strong alumni network provide excellent access to these career pathways.

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Jamia Millia Islamia University: 1 Answered Question

When will the admission forms for hotel management course be out in 2022?

Rashid IqbalJMI (2019)

Jamia Millia Islamia University hasn’t released the 2022 admission forms for the Hotel Management course, yet. For the academic year 2021, the admission form for BHM was available from 17th May 2021 to 10th July 2021. Jamia Millia Islamia University Hotel Management entrance date 2021 was 7th August. You will find the regular admission details on the Hotel Management departmental page of JMI.

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