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The Ph.D. (Sociology) programme at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TMV), Pune is offered under the Nehru Institute of Social Sciences, one of the oldest social science research departments in Maharashtra, established in 1969. The programme is designed to develop advanced research competencies in sociological theory, methodology, and applied social analysis. The course spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years (extendable up to 6 years in special cases), with an annual fee of approximately Rs. 25,000-44,000 per year depending on the year of study. Admission is based on TMV's own PhD Entrance Test, and candidates holding UGC-NET/JRF are exempt from the written test. The programme is offered in Part Time mode as per the 2026-27 notification, making it accessible to working professionals and researchers. TMV's NAAC B++ accreditation and its century-old legacy in social sciences make this programme a respected choice for Sociology researchers in Maharashtra.

Admission for the 2026-27 batch has been completed; the entrance examination was held on 10th August 2026 and the final list of selected candidates has been published. For the 2027-28 batch, the next admission cycle is expected to commence around June 2027 (tentative), based on the previous year's schedule, with the entrance examination likely in August 2027.

Key Points

Offered under the Nehru Institute of Social Sciences, established in 1969, with a strong tradition of interdisciplinary social science research.
Part Time mode of study, suitable for working professionals and those engaged in field research.
Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF or M.Phil. (through entrance-based admission) are exempt from the written entrance test and directly appear for the interview.
University Fellowship available for full-time scholars: Rs. 30,000/month for 1st and 2nd year, Rs. 32,000/month for 3rd and 4th year.
Minimum 2 years required before thesis submission; maximum duration is 5 years from the date of Permanent Registration Number (PRN) allotment.
Candidates must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal before thesis submission.
50% of total seats are reserved as per Government of Maharashtra reservation norms.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

TMV Ph.D. (Sociology) Fees

The Ph.D. (Sociology) programme at TMV involves a one-time set of fees payable at the time of admission (entrance, interview, course work, eligibility, and registration), followed by annual academic fees for each year of the research tenure. For Sociology, the total fees for the first two years (including all components) amount to approximately Rs. 71,000, with an annual fee of Rs. 20,000 applicable from the 3rd to 5th year. The entrance examination fee (Rs. 5,000) and interview fee (Rs. 5,000) are non-refundable and are paid separately before admission.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Entrance Examination Fee	5,000
Interview Fee	5,000
Course Work Fee	10,000
Eligibility Fee	1,000
Registration / Admission Fee	5,000
1st Year Academic Fee	15,000
2nd Year Academic Fee	15,000
Examination Fee	15,000
Total Fees (First 2 Years, incl. all components)	71,000
Annual Fee (3rd Year onwards, per year)	20,000

Entrance Examination Fee (Rs. 5,000) and Interview Fee (Rs. 5,000) are non-refundable and must be paid via RTGS/NEFT to Bank of Maharashtra, Account No: 60149048265, IFSC: MAHB0000320.
Candidates exempted from the written entrance test (UGC-NET/JRF/M.Phil.) must pay the Interview Fee of Rs. 5,000 directly.
Foreign students are charged 3 times the total fees applicable to Indian students.
Candidates must pay annual fees for every year of their research tenure (up to 5 years, extendable to 6 years).
Fee structure shown is based on the latest available official data; candidates are advised to confirm the current fee structure from the TMV PhD department directly at phd@tmv.edu.in.

TMV Ph.D. (Sociology) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Sociology) programme at TMV are conducted annually through a university-level entrance test. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed, with the entrance exam held on 10th August 2026 and the final selected candidates list published in October 2026. For the upcoming 2027-28 cycle, registration is expected to open around June 2027 (tentative), based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates holding UGC-NET/JRF or M.Phil. (through entrance-based admission) are directly called for an interview without appearing for the written test.

TMV PhD Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Opens	June 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for Online Registration	July 2026 (Tentative)
Entrance Examination	August 2026 (Tentative)
Result Declaration	Within 15 working days of exam
Interview	August-September 2026 (Tentative)
Final Selected Candidates List	September-October 2026 (Tentative)
Registration / Admission Completion Deadline	October 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement (Course Work)	November 2026 (Tentative)

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 - 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	April 1, 2026 (Tentative)
UGC NET Phase 2 Application End	May 1, 2026 (Tentative)
UGC NET Phase 2 Exam	June 2026 (Tentative)
UGC NET Phase 2 Result	July 2026 (Tentative)

Note: UGC-NET qualification (including JRF) exempts candidates from the TMV PhD written entrance test. Candidates still need to appear for the interview.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must have a Master's degree (Post Graduate) from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent GPA) in Sociology or a relevant subject.
Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) and Physically Challenged/Disabled categories are eligible with a relaxation of 5% (i.e., minimum 50% marks).
Foreign candidates who have not obtained their Master's degree from Indian universities require a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent GPA.

Admission Process:

Candidates must fill the online application form available on the TMV website (www.tmv.edu.in) within the stipulated registration period.
Pay the non-refundable entrance examination fee of Rs. 5,000 via RTGS/NEFT and email the payment screenshot along with name, course applied for, and UID to phdtmv@gmail.com.
Appear for the written entrance examination (100 marks) comprising Research Methodology (40%), Subject Content (30%), Functional English (15%), and Computer Knowledge (15%). Minimum passing score is 50%.
Candidates qualifying UGC-NET/JRF/GATE/SET or holding M.Phil. (through entrance-based admission) are exempt from the written test and must pay Rs. 5,000 interview fee to appear directly for the interview.
Shortlisted candidates appear for an interview (50 marks) before the Research Committee.
Selected candidates complete provisional admission by paying the requisite fees within 15 days of result declaration.
After provisional admission, candidates undergo a one-semester Course Work in Research Methodology, Computer Applications, Quantitative Techniques, and Literature Review.
On successful completion of Course Work (minimum 50% passing marks), candidates receive a Certificate and proceed to Ph.D. registration (PRN allotment).

TMV Ph.D. (Sociology) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. (Sociology) students at TMV can avail of both university-level fellowships and government scholarships. The university offers a fellowship for full-time scholars, while SC/ST students can benefit from national-level fellowships. Students with UGC-NET JRF qualification can additionally avail the UGC JRF fellowship as per applicable norms. These financial support options make the programme accessible to meritorious students from diverse backgrounds.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount
TMV University Fellowship (Full Time Scholars)	Full-time PhD scholars enrolled at TMV	Rs. 30,000/month (1st-2nd year); Rs. 32,000/month (3rd-4th year)
UGC-JRF Fellowship	Candidates qualifying UGC-NET with JRF	As per UGC norms (approx. Rs. 37,000/month for JRF; Rs. 42,000/month for SRF)
National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC)	SC category PhD students	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF); Rs. 28,000/month (SRF) + HRA
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) for ST Students	ST category PhD students	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF); Rs. 28,000/month (SRF) + HRA
Maharashtra DBT Scholarship	Maharashtra domicile students (various categories)	As per MahaDBT portal norms
National Scholarship Portal Schemes	Various categories (merit/means based)	As per scheme guidelines

TMV University Fellowship is available only for full-time scholars; Part Time scholars are not eligible.
UGC-JRF fellowship is available to candidates who have qualified UGC-NET with JRF; the fellowship is governed by UGC norms and is separate from the university fellowship.
SC/ST students should apply for NFSC/RGNF through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Maharashtra domicile students can apply for state government scholarships through the MahaDBT portal (mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in).
Scholarship amounts and conditions are subject to revision by the respective awarding bodies; candidates should verify current rates at the time of application.

TMV Ph.D. (Sociology) FAQs

Ques. Is Ph.D. (Sociology) at TMV offered in full-time or part-time mode?

Ans. As per the 2026-27 admission notification, Ph.D. (Sociology) at TMV is offered in Part Time mode. Full-time fellowships are available for select programmes (Computer Science, Management, Law). Sociology students can pursue the programme alongside their professional commitments, though they must fulfil all research and course work requirements.

Ques. I have cleared UGC-NET (without JRF) in Sociology. Am I exempt from the TMV PhD entrance test?

Ans. Yes. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET (including those without JRF), SET, GATE, or hold an M.Phil. degree (obtained through an entrance-based admission process) are exempt from the written entrance examination at TMV. However, they must still appear for the interview before the Research Committee and pay the interview fee of Rs. 5,000.

Ques. What is the minimum and maximum duration of the Ph.D. (Sociology) programme at TMV?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years from the date of Permanent Registration Number (PRN) allotment (thesis cannot be submitted before 2 years from PRN). The maximum duration is 5 years, extendable up to 6 years in exceptional cases with the approval of the Research Recognition Committee. Women candidates and persons with disability may get an additional relaxation of up to 2 years.

Ques. Is it mandatory to publish a research paper before submitting the PhD thesis at TMV?

Ans. Yes. As per TMV's PhD regulations, every registered candidate must publish at least one research paper in a standard refereed research journal before submitting the thesis for adjudication. Proof of acceptance or a copy of the published journal must be submitted along with the thesis.

Ques. What is the seat intake for Ph.D. (Sociology) at TMV, and how competitive is the admission?

Ans. The seat intake for Ph.D. (Sociology) at TMV is limited, typically around 2-4 seats per academic year (as seen in the 2026-27 notification for similar social science subjects). 50% of seats are reserved as per Government of Maharashtra norms. Given the limited seats and the research-oriented nature of the programme, admission is competitive, especially for the general category.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. (Sociology) at TMV while working full-time in a job?

Ans. Yes. The Ph.D. (Sociology) programme at TMV is offered in Part Time mode, which makes it feasible for working professionals. However, candidates must attend the mandatory one-semester Course Work after provisional admission, appear for the course work examination, and regularly submit six-monthly progress reports through their guide. Candidates should ensure they can manage their professional and research commitments simultaneously.