Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Management) programme at Nirma University, Ahmedabad is a full-time doctoral research programme offered by the Institute of Management (IMNU), one of the premier business schools in India. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, with research areas spanning Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Strategy, Organizational Behaviour, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, and allied management disciplines. The programme is offered in full-time on-campus mode at Nirma University's campus in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is popular among management graduates and professionals seeking to contribute to management research, academia, and policy-making in India.

Admissions for the Ph.D. (Management) Full Time 2026-27 are currently open. The Ph.D. Entrance Examination and Presentation for the Institute of Management (Full-Time) is scheduled for 20th June 2026 (Saturday) at Nirma University, Ahmedabad. Candidates must apply online with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 1,250. The online application portal is live at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the Faculty of Doctoral Studies and Research (FDSR) and is conducted by the Institute of Management, Nirma University.
Research scholars are required to complete 16 credits of coursework as part of the programme.
Scholars must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal indexed in Web of Science/Scopus (Q3 or higher) and make two conference presentations, or publish two refereed papers and make one conference presentation, before thesis submission.
Full-time PhD scholars in Management are eligible for a monthly fellowship from the university.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET (including JRF) or UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF) scores are exempted from the written entrance test and directly called for the personal interview/viva-voce.
The Institute of Management is consistently ranked among the top management institutes in India and has strong industry connections, providing a rich research environment.
The Management PhD entrance exam is held earlier (June) compared to other institutes (July), allowing for an earlier batch start.

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Nirma University Ahmedabad Latest Updates and News

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20 Feb, 2026 Nirma University Ahmedabad PhD Registration 2026-27 is open till May 16 @nirmauni.ac.in. The entrance exam and presentation are tentatively scheduled between Jun 20 & Jul 24, 2026. Check details.

Nirma PhD (Management) Fees

The Ph.D. (Management) Full Time programme at Nirma University has an affordable fee structure for the 2026-27 academic year. The annual tuition fee is Rs. 40,000, making it accessible for management graduates pursuing doctoral research. One-time fees include registration, course work examination, and viva voce charges. A refundable security deposit of Rs. 15,000 is also collected at the time of admission.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (Per Annum)	40,000
Registration Fee (One Time)	5,000
Initial Post-Graduation Registration Fee (One Time)	1,000
Course Work Examination Fee (One Time)	1,200
Viva Voce Examination Fee (at thesis submission)	20,000
Total One-Time/Other Fees	27,200
Refundable Security Deposit	15,000
Total Fees (for 3 years, including all components)	1,62,200

The refundable security deposit of Rs. 15,000 is returned upon completion/exit from the programme.
Tuition fee of Rs. 40,000 is charged per annum; total tuition for 3 years = Rs. 1,20,000.
Eligibility certificate fee of Rs. 1,000 is applicable only if required.
Application processing fee of Rs. 1,250 is non-refundable and paid at the time of applying.
No hostel fee is included above; hostel accommodation is available on campus at additional cost.

Nirma PhD (Management) Admission 2026

Admission Schedule

Event	Tentative Date
PhD Admissions 2026-27 Open	February 20, 2026
Online Application Start	February 2026
Application Processing Fee	Rs. 1,250 (Non-refundable)
Written Test and Presentation - Institute of Management (Full-Time)	June 20, 2026 (Saturday)
Result / Merit List Declaration	After June 20, 2026
Batch Commencement	July/August 2026 (Tentative)

Relevant Exam Dates

Exam	Details	Relevance
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam: December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026; Result: February 4, 2026	Valid score exempts from written entrance test
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration: April 1 - May 1, 2026 (Tentative); Exam: June 2026 (Tentative)	Valid score exempts from written entrance test

Nirma University conducts annual admissions to its Ph.D. (Management) Full Time programme. Admissions for 2026-27 are currently open, with the entrance examination scheduled for June 2026. Candidates who hold valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET scores are exempted from the written test and directly proceed to the viva-voce/presentation round. The final selection is based on 70% weightage to the entrance test and 30% to the viva-voce performance.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

A Master's degree in Management (MBA/PGDM) or equivalent from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade.
OR a 4-year Bachelor's degree programme in a relevant discipline from a recognised university with at least 75% marks in aggregate.
OR an M.Phil. degree from a recognised university with at least 55% marks in aggregate.

Admission Process

Apply online at admissions-phd.nirmauni.ac.in with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 1,250.
Eligible candidates are called for the written entrance test (50% qualifying marks required); syllabus covers 50% Research Methodology and 50% subject-specific Management topics.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET (including JRF) or UGC-CSIR NET (including JRF) scores are exempted from the written test.
Shortlisted candidates appear for a viva-voce/presentation before the Departmental Research Committee.
Final merit is computed with 70% weightage to the entrance test and 30% to the viva-voce.
Selected candidates are allotted a Research Supervisor based on specialisation and research interests.
All admitted scholars must complete 16 credits of coursework.

Nirma PhD (Management) Scholarships 2026

Nirma University provides monthly fellowships to full-time PhD scholars in Management. The fellowship structure for Management is unique, with a higher amount in the fourth year compared to the first three years.

Fellowship Amounts

Category	Fellowship Amount
Management (Full-Time PhD) - First Three Years	Rs. 22,550 per month
Management (Full-Time PhD) - Fourth Year	Rs. 26,290 per month

Fellowships are available only for full-time PhD scholars; part-time scholars are not eligible.
The fellowship is subject to satisfactory academic progress and compliance with university norms.
In addition to the university fellowship, scholars may apply for external fellowships such as UGC-JRF or DST-INSPIRE.
Scholars working as Lecturers on a contractual basis during their PhD tenure may receive additional remuneration as per university guidelines.

Nirma University Ahmedabad Ph.D Management Ranking

NIRF Ranking

#53 out of 125 in India 2025

#3rd in Ahmedabad

#3 in Gujarat

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Nirma PhD (Management) FAQs

Ques. What are the research areas available for PhD in Management at Nirma University?

Ans. The Institute of Management offers research in areas such as Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Strategy, Organizational Behaviour, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, International Business, and allied management disciplines. Candidates should check the latest list of tentative research areas on the FDSR website before applying.

Ques. Is UGC-NET mandatory for PhD admission in Management at Nirma University?

Ans. UGC-NET is not mandatory, but candidates with a valid UGC-NET (including JRF) score are exempted from the written entrance test and directly called for the viva-voce/presentation. Candidates without NET scores must appear for the university's own entrance test.

Ques. Why is the Management PhD entrance exam held in June while other institutes hold it in July?

Ans. The Institute of Management (Full-Time) holds its entrance exam on June 20, 2026, which is earlier than other institutes (July 2026). This allows the Management PhD batch to commence earlier in the academic year.

Ques. What is the fellowship amount for full-time PhD scholars in Management at Nirma University?

Ans. Full-time PhD scholars in Management receive Rs. 22,550 per month for the first three years and Rs. 26,290 per month in the fourth year. This fellowship is provided by the university.

Ques. What are the publication requirements before submitting the PhD thesis in Management at Nirma University?

Ans. Before submitting the thesis, scholars must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal indexed in Web of Science/Scopus (Q3 or higher) and make two conference presentations, or publish two refereed papers and make one conference presentation.

Ques. Does Nirma University's Institute of Management have industry connections that benefit PhD scholars?

Ans. Yes, the Institute of Management at Nirma University has strong industry connections and regularly organises conferences, seminars, and workshops with industry participation. PhD scholars benefit from these interactions for primary data collection, case study research, and networking with industry practitioners.