Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Full Time program at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is a doctoral research program offered under the Department of Media, Communication and Fine Arts, Faculty of Management, Commerce and Arts (FoMCA). The program is designed to produce original researchers in the fields of journalism, media studies, communication theory, digital media, and mass communication. With a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, the program carries an annual fee of Rs. 30,000 (plus a one-time registration fee of Rs. 10,000). The program is aligned with the latest UGC guidelines and is popular among media professionals, journalists, and aspiring academicians who wish to contribute original research to the evolving landscape of journalism and communication studies in India.

Admissions at MUJ for the Ph.D. program are conducted twice a year - in January and July. The January 2026 batch admission cycle has been completed (course work started January 21, 2026). The next admission cycle (July 2026) is expected to open tentatively in May-June 2026, based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates are advised to monitor the official MUJ PhD page at jaipur.manipal.edu/research-phd.php for the upcoming July 2026 cycle notifications.

Key Points

Offered under the Department of Media, Communication and Fine Arts at MUJ's Faculty of Management, Commerce and Arts.
Research areas include digital journalism, media ethics, communication theory, broadcast media, social media studies, public relations, and advertising.
Admissions are held twice a year (January and July cycles), providing flexible entry points.
Candidates holding UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/GATE/SLET/M.Phil qualifications are exempted from the PhD entrance examination.
Full-time scholars are eligible for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship (up to Rs. 45,000/month in Year 3).
MUJ has a dedicated 90.8 FM Radio Manipal Jaipur station, providing a unique practical research environment for mass communication scholars.
Scholars are supported to attend and present at Scopus/WoS-indexed conferences with financial assistance of up to Rs. 30,000.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

MUJ Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Fees

The Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Full Time program at MUJ is highly affordable. Scholars pay a one-time non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 10,000 at the time of joining, followed by an annual fee of Rs. 30,000 every year until the final thesis is submitted. The total fee over the minimum 3-year duration is Rs. 1,00,000, making it accessible for media professionals and aspiring researchers.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Registration Fee (One-Time, Non-Refundable)	10,000
Annual Fee (per year, till thesis submission)	30,000
Annual Fee for 3 Years (Minimum Duration)	90,000
Total Fees (Minimum 3-Year Duration)	1,00,000

Registration fee of Rs. 10,000 is non-refundable.
Annual fee of Rs. 30,000 is payable every year until the final thesis is submitted.
If the scholar takes more than 3 years (up to a maximum of 6 years), the annual fee continues to be charged at Rs. 30,000 per year.
For foreign/NRI scholars: Registration fee is USD 300 and annual fee is USD 1,100.
Hostel accommodation is optional. Hostel fees for 2026-27: Double Occupancy - Rs. 1,74,050 per year; Triple+Double Occupancy - Rs. 1,57,220 per year (excluding refundable security deposit of Rs. 24,250).
Fees can be paid via Demand Draft drawn in favour of 'Manipal University Jaipur' payable at Jaipur, or through online payment modes.

MUJ Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Admission 2026

The Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Full Time program at MUJ follows a bi-annual admission cycle (January and July). Selection is based on a written entrance test followed by a personal interview conducted by the Directorate of Research. The January 2026 cycle has concluded. The July 2026 cycle is expected to open around May-June 2026 based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/GATE qualifications are exempt from the entrance test and directly called for an interview.

MUJ PhD Admission Schedule

Event	January 2026 Cycle (Completed)	July 2026 Cycle (Tentative)
Call for PhD Applications	December 8, 2025	May 2026 (Tentative)
Application Deadline	December 27, 2025	June 2026 (Tentative)
PhD Entrance Test (Online)	January 5, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Interview of Shortlisted Candidates	January 6-8, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Declaration of Results	January 9, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship Interview	January 12-13, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Fee Submission and Document Verification	January 16, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date of PhD Registration	January 20, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
PhD Course Work Starts	January 21, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)

National Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Registration Start	October 7, 2025
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Registration End	November 7, 2025
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam Date	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration Start	April 1, 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2026 (Tentative)

Note: UGC-NET qualification (Mass Communication and Journalism paper) is the primary national exam accepted for PhD Journalism and Mass Communication admission exemption at MUJ. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/JRF scores are directly called for interview without appearing in the MUJ PhD entrance test.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (MA in Journalism/Mass Communication, M.Sc. in Communication, or equivalent) from a UGC-recognized institution with a minimum of 55% marks or CGPA of 5.5 on a 10-point scale.
Candidates with M.Phil/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/SLET/GATE/Teacher Fellowship are exempted from the MUJ PhD entrance examination.
A candidate will be registered for PhD in the department relevant to their field of study; the degree will be awarded from the Faculty in which they obtained their PG degree.

Admission Process

Apply online at admissions.jaipur.manipal.edu during the application window.
Appear for the MUJ PhD Entrance Test (online mode) - exempted for NET/JRF/GATE qualified candidates.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview conducted by the Directorate of Research.
Selected candidates submit the fee and complete document verification.
Register for the PhD program and commence coursework.
Identify a research supervisor from the approved list of eligible supervisors published by MUJ.

MUJ Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Scholarships 2026

MUJ offers the prestigious Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship exclusively for full-time PhD scholars, making the Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Full Time program financially attractive. The scholarship provides a monthly stipend that increases progressively over three years. Additionally, all scholars receive support for conference presentations at Scopus/WoS-indexed venues.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Support	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
Dr. Ramdas Pai PhD Scholarship	Full-Time PhD scholars only	Rs. 35,000/month (Year 1), Rs. 40,000/month (Year 2), Rs. 45,000/month (Year 3)	Maximum 3 years
Conference Presentation Support	All PhD scholars	Up to Rs. 30,000 (one-time)	Entire PhD duration

Only full-time PhD scholars are eligible for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship.
A total of 20 scholarships are awarded per academic year (10 per semester) across all disciplines.
Scholars with CSIR/UGC NET-JRF or DBT/ICMR JRF or engaged in an EMR project as JRF/SRF/RA/Project Fellow are not eligible for the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship.
Conference support of up to Rs. 30,000 (one-time, for Scopus/WoS-indexed conference proceedings) is available to all PhD scholars.
Scholarship selection is done through a personal interview by the Directorate of Research at the start of the academic session.

Manipal University Jaipur Ph.D Journalism And Mass Communication Ranking

IIRF Ranking

#61 out of 100 in India 2023

#2nd in Rajasthan

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MUJ Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) FAQs

Ques. What are the key research areas available under the Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) at MUJ?

Ans. Research areas at MUJ's Department of Media, Communication and Fine Arts include digital journalism, media ethics, broadcast journalism, social media and new media studies, communication theory, public relations, advertising, political communication, and media policy. Scholars work under the guidance of faculty with expertise in these domains.

Ques. Does MUJ have any practical media infrastructure that benefits PhD scholars in Journalism and Mass Communication?

Ans. Yes, MUJ operates 90.8 FM Radio Manipal Jaipur, a campus radio station that provides a unique practical environment for mass communication researchers. The university also has media labs and communication facilities that support research in broadcast and digital media.

Ques. Is the UGC-NET in Mass Communication and Journalism sufficient for exemption from the MUJ PhD entrance test?

Ans. Yes, candidates who have qualified UGC-NET in Mass Communication and Journalism (or equivalent) are exempted from the MUJ PhD entrance test and are directly called for a personal interview by the Directorate of Research.

Ques. How many times a year does MUJ conduct PhD admissions, and when is the next cycle?

Ans. MUJ conducts PhD admissions twice a year - in January and July. The January 2026 cycle has already concluded. The next cycle (July 2026) is expected to open around May-June 2026. It is advisable to keep checking the official MUJ PhD page (jaipur.manipal.edu/research-phd.php) for the official notification.

Ques. What is the total fee for the Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Full Time at MUJ over 3 years?

Ans. The total fee for a 3-year Full Time PhD at MUJ is: Registration Fee (Rs. 10,000, one-time) + Annual Fee for 3 years (Rs. 30,000 x 3 = Rs. 90,000) = Rs. 1,00,000 in total. If you receive the Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship, the monthly stipend (Rs. 35,000-45,000/month) significantly offsets living and research expenses.

Ques. Can a working journalist or media professional apply for the Full Time PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication at MUJ?

Ans. The Full Time PhD requires the scholar to be primarily engaged in research at the university. Working professionals who cannot commit full-time are advised to consider the Part Time PhD option at MUJ, which allows them to continue their employment while pursuing doctoral research. For full-time admission, candidates must be available for coursework, lab sessions, and periodic reviews as scheduled by the university.