Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Economics) program at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is a full-time doctoral research program offered under the Department of Economics, Faculty of Management, Commerce and Arts (FoMCA). The department is committed to providing scholars with a rigorous blend of theoretical, analytical, and applied knowledge across areas such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, industrial and managerial economics, international economics, monetary economics, environmental economics, energy economics, financial economics, public economics, urban and regional economics, game theory, neuroeconomics, and the application of data science in economics. The program is modelled on the latest UGC guidelines and aims to enable scholars to undertake independent, original research that contributes meaningfully to economic knowledge and policy. The annual fee is Rs. 30,000 (till final thesis submission), with a one-time registration fee of Rs. 10,000, making the minimum total cost for a 3-year full-time PhD approximately Rs. 1,00,000.

MUJ conducts PhD admissions twice a year, in January and July. The January 2026 batch has already been admitted and course work commenced on January 21, 2026. The next admission cycle is expected to open for the July 2026 batch, with applications likely to be invited around May/June 2026. Candidates are advised to monitor the official MUJ PhD page (jaipur.manipal.edu/research-phd.php) for notifications.

Key Points

The Department of Economics at MUJ has 13 faculty members, with 27 faculty members across FoMCA holding PhDs, ensuring strong research mentorship.
Research areas span both traditional and emerging fields including neuroeconomics, data science applications in economics, environmental economics, and game theory.
The department actively organizes international conferences, including the International Conference on Transition, Resilience, and Applied Economics (ICTRAE 2026), reflecting its strong research culture.
PhD admissions are conducted twice a year (January and July batches), providing two opportunities annually to apply.
Candidates who have qualified M.Phil / UGC-CSIR NET / JRF / SLET / GATE / Teacher Fellowship are exempted from the PhD entrance examination.
The Dr. Ram Das Pai Scholarship is available for meritorious PhD scholars, with a separate interview conducted after the main selection process.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

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MUJ Ph.D. (Economics) Fees

The PhD (Economics) program at MUJ is structured with a one-time registration fee and an annual fee payable till the final thesis submission. The registration fee of Rs. 10,000 is a non-refundable one-time charge, while the annual fee of Rs. 30,000 is payable each year until the thesis is submitted. For a minimum 3-year full-time PhD, the total cost works out to Rs. 1,00,000. If the program extends beyond 3 years, the annual fee of Rs. 30,000 continues to apply for each additional year.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Registration Fee (One-Time, Non-Refundable)	10,000
Annual Fee (Per Year, till thesis submission)	30,000
Total Fees (Minimum 3 Years)	1,00,000

The annual fee of Rs. 30,000 is payable each year until the final thesis is submitted.
If the PhD extends beyond the minimum duration, the annual fee continues to apply for each additional year.
Foreign/NRI scholars are charged USD 300 (registration) + USD 1,100 per year (annual fee).
Hostel accommodation is available on campus at an additional cost (optional).
Fees are subject to revision as per the Fee Fixation Committee's approval.

MUJ Ph.D. (Economics) Admission 2026

MUJ conducts PhD admissions twice a year, in January and July. The selection process involves a written entrance test (online mode) followed by an interview of shortlisted candidates. Candidates with M.Phil/UGC-CSIR NET/JRF/SLET/GATE/Teacher Fellowship qualifications are exempted from the entrance test and directly called for interview. The January 2026 batch has already been admitted. The next batch is expected to be the July 2026 cycle.

January 2026 Batch Dates

Event	Date
Call for PhD Applications	December 08, 2025
PhD Applications Closed	December 27, 2025
PhD Entrance Test (Online)	January 05, 2026
Interview of Shortlisted Candidates	January 06-08, 2026
Declaration of Results	January 09, 2026
Dr. Ram Das Pai Scholarship Interview	January 12-13, 2026
Fee Submission and Document Verification	January 16, 2026
Last Date of PhD Registration	January 20, 2026
PhD Course Work Commenced	January 21, 2026

July 2026 Batch Dates

Event	Tentative Date
Call for PhD Applications	May 2026
PhD Applications Close	June 2026
PhD Entrance Test	June/July 2026
Interview of Shortlisted Candidates	July 2026
PhD Course Work Commencement	July/August 2026

Note: Exact dates for the July 2026 batch will be notified on the official MUJ PhD page. Candidates are advised to check jaipur.manipal.edu/research-phd.php regularly.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have qualified a Master's degree (M.A. Economics, M.Sc. Economics, MBA, or equivalent) from a UGC-recognized institution with a minimum of 55% marks or CGPA of 5.5 on a 10-point scale.
The qualifying degree should be in Economics or a closely related discipline.
Candidates holding M.Phil / UGC-CSIR NET / JRF / SLET / GATE / Teacher Fellowship qualifications are exempted from the PhD entrance examination.
Candidates with qualifying degrees from foreign universities must obtain equivalence certification from the Directorate of Research (DoR) at MUJ.

Admission Process

Monitor the official MUJ PhD page for the call for applications notification.
Apply online through the MUJ admissions portal (admissions.jaipur.manipal.edu).
Appear for the PhD Entrance Test (online mode) if not exempted.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a Personal Interview.
Final selection is based on combined performance in the entrance test and interview.
Pay the registration fee (Rs. 10,000) and first annual fee (Rs. 30,000) to confirm enrollment.

MUJ Ph.D. (Economics) Scholarships 2026

MUJ offers the Dr. Ram Das Pai Scholarship for meritorious PhD scholars, with a separate scholarship interview conducted after the main selection process. This scholarship is available to deserving candidates across all PhD programs at MUJ, including Economics. Additionally, candidates who qualify for external fellowships such as UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, or DST-INSPIRE are encouraged to apply with their fellowship, which significantly reduces the financial burden of the doctoral program.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Applicable To	Amount	Selection Criteria
Dr. Ram Das Pai Scholarship	All PhD Programs at MUJ	As per scholarship terms	Separate interview after main PhD selection; merit-based
UGC-JRF / CSIR-JRF	All PhD Programs	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF) + HRA	Qualify UGC-NET/CSIR-NET with JRF; apply separately to UGC/CSIR
DST-INSPIRE Fellowship	All PhD Programs	Rs. 37,000/month + Rs. 20,000/year contingency	Apply to DST separately; for top-ranked Master's graduates
ICSSR Junior Research Fellowship	Social Science PhD Programs	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF)	Apply to ICSSR separately; for Economics and Social Science researchers

The Dr. Ram Das Pai Scholarship interview is conducted on January 12-13 (for January batch) and equivalent dates for July batch.
External fellowships (JRF, INSPIRE, ICSSR) are applied for separately from the PhD admission process.
Candidates with external fellowships are given priority in admission and are exempted from the entrance test.
ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) fellowships are particularly relevant for Economics PhD scholars.

MUJ Ph.D. (Economics) FAQs

Ques. What research areas can I pursue in the PhD (Economics) program at MUJ?

Ans. The Department of Economics at MUJ supports research across a wide range of areas including microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, monetary economics, environmental economics, energy economics, financial economics, public economics, urban and regional economics, game theory, neuroeconomics, and the application of data science in economics. Candidates are advised to contact the PhD office at office.phd@jaipur.manipal.edu to confirm supervisor availability in their specific area of interest before applying.

Ques. Is UGC-NET mandatory for PhD (Economics) admission at MUJ?

Ans. No, UGC-NET is not mandatory for PhD admission at MUJ. However, candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/JRF, CSIR-NET/JRF, SLET, GATE, or Teacher Fellowship are exempted from the MUJ PhD entrance test and directly called for interview. Candidates without these qualifications must appear for the MUJ PhD entrance test. Qualifying UGC-NET also makes you eligible for the UGC-JRF fellowship, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000.

Ques. Can I apply for the ICSSR fellowship while pursuing PhD (Economics) at MUJ?

Ans. Yes, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) offers Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) specifically for social science disciplines including Economics. Candidates can apply for ICSSR-JRF separately and, if selected, can pursue their PhD at MUJ with the fellowship support. ICSSR-JRF provides a monthly stipend of Rs. 25,000 for the first two years and Rs. 28,000 for the remaining period.

Ques. What is the difference between PhD (Economics) and MA (Economics) at MUJ?

Ans. MA (Economics) is a 2-year taught postgraduate program covering core and applied economics subjects, designed to build advanced knowledge for careers in research, policy, banking, and academia. PhD (Economics) is a research degree requiring original contribution to knowledge, typically taking 3-6 years. The MA is a prerequisite for the PhD. MUJ offers both programs under the Department of Economics.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing a PhD in Economics from MUJ?

Ans. PhD (Economics) graduates can pursue careers as university professors and researchers, economists at government bodies (RBI, NITI Aayog, Finance Ministry), policy analysts at think tanks, research economists at international organizations (World Bank, IMF, ADB), and senior analysts at financial institutions and consulting firms. The PhD from a NAAC A+ accredited university like MUJ is well-regarded for academic and research positions.

Ques. Does MUJ's Department of Economics have active research publications and conferences?

Ans. Yes, the Department of Economics at MUJ has an active research culture. The department organizes international conferences such as the International Conference on Transition, Resilience, and Applied Economics (ICTRAE 2026). Faculty members have published research papers in national and international journals. The department also publishes a regular newsletter (Artha Sancharika) covering research and academic activities.