Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Ph.D. (Tourism Management) at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai is a full-time doctoral research programme offered under the Centre for Tourism and Hotel Management. The programme is designed to produce high-quality researchers and academicians in the field of tourism, hospitality, and travel management. The minimum duration is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years. The total registration and research fees amount to approximately Rs. 36,000 (excluding thesis submission and viva charges). Admission is based on a university-level entrance test (MKU Ph.D. Entrance Test) and/or valid UGC-NET/JRF scores. The programme is popular among tourism management graduates and working professionals in the hospitality sector who wish to contribute to academic research in this rapidly growing industry.

Admissions for Ph.D. (Tourism Management) at MKU are conducted periodically. As of March 2026, the university has issued a Ph.D. admission notification for 2026 with the last date to apply being March 12, 2026, and the entrance test scheduled for March 22, 2026. The next Ph.D. admission cycle is expected around October-November 2026 (tentative). Students are advised to monitor the official MKU website (mkuniversity.ac.in) for updated notifications.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the dedicated Centre for Tourism and Hotel Management, which focuses on blending tourism and hospitality education with research.
MKU is one of the few universities in Tamil Nadu with a dedicated research centre for Tourism and Hotel Management.
Candidates with valid UGC-NET/JRF qualification may be exempted from the university entrance test.
The programme follows the UGC Ph.D. Regulations and requires coursework, a methodology test, and submission of a thesis.
Separate hostel facilities are available for men and women on the MKU campus.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

MKU Ph.D. (Tourism Management) Fees

The Ph.D. (Tourism Management) programme at MKU involves a structured fee payment across the duration of the research. The registration fees are paid at the time of admission, and annual research fees are paid each year. The total fees (excluding thesis submission and viva charges) amount to approximately Rs. 36,000 for a 3-year programme. Additional charges apply for thesis submission, viva-voce, and extension beyond the stipulated period.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Ph.D. Application Form	1,000
Registration Fee	3,000
Methodology Test Fee	3,000
Course Work Fee	2,000
Administrative Fee	2,000
Total Registration Fees (at admission)	11,000
Annual Research Fee (Arts stream)	10,000
Annual Research Fee (Science stream)	15,000
Ph.D. Synopsis Submission	5,000
Ph.D. Thesis Submission	10,000
Ph.D. Thesis Submission Certificate	500
Ph.D. Viva-voce Completion Certificate	500
Extension Fee (per year, if applicable)	4,000
Total Fees (3 years, Arts stream)	36,000 (approx.)

Tourism Management falls under the Arts stream for research fee purposes; annual research fee is Rs. 10,000 per year.
Total fees for a 3-year programme (registration + 3 years research fee) = Rs. 11,000 + Rs. 30,000 = Rs. 41,000 (excluding thesis and viva charges).
Thesis submission fee (Rs. 10,000) and synopsis fee (Rs. 5,000) are additional charges payable at the time of submission.
Extension fee of Rs. 4,000 per year is applicable if the candidate exceeds the stipulated duration.
SC/ST candidates are eligible for fee concessions as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.
Hostel fees: Approximately Rs. 25,000 per year (optional, not mandatory).

MKU Ph.D. (Tourism Management) Admission 2026

Admission to Ph.D. (Tourism Management) at MKU is conducted through a university-level entrance test followed by an interview. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/JRF scores may be given preference or exempted from the entrance test. The university issues Ph.D. admission notifications periodically (typically twice a year). The most recent notification (March 2026) had a last date of March 12, 2026, and entrance test on March 22, 2026. The next cycle is expected around October-November 2026.

Ph.D. Admission Dates

Event	Date
Ph.D. Admission Notification (Recent)	February-March 2026
Last Date to Apply (Recent Cycle)	March 12, 2026
Admit Card Download (Recent Cycle)	March 18, 2026
Ph.D. Entrance Test (Recent Cycle)	March 22, 2026
Next Ph.D. Admission Cycle (Tentative)	October-November 2026

Accepted Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Registration Period	Exam Date	Result Date
UGC-NET (Phase 2, 2026)	April 1 - May 1, 2026 (Tentative)	June 2026 (Tentative)	July 2026 (Tentative)
CSIR-NET (2026)	May 1 - May 21, 2026 (Tentative)	July 25-27, 2026 (Tentative)	September 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's Degree in Tourism Management, Hotel Management, MBA (Tourism), or a related discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PWD candidates).
Candidates must have cleared the MKU Ph.D. Entrance Test or hold a valid UGC-NET/JRF/SLET/SET qualification.
Candidates must obtain the MKU Eligibility Certificate before applying.

Admission Process

Monitor the official MKU website (mkuniversity.ac.in) for Ph.D. admission notifications.
Apply online and pay the application fee of Rs. 1,000.
Appear for the MKU Ph.D. Entrance Test (if not UGC-NET/JRF qualified).
Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview/viva at the Centre for Tourism and Hotel Management.
Selected candidates must identify a research guide (supervisor) from the department.
Complete the registration formalities and pay the prescribed fees via SBI I-Collect.
Attend the mandatory coursework and methodology test as per UGC Ph.D. Regulations.

MKU Ph.D. (Tourism Management) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at MKU can avail several fellowships and scholarships from national and state-level bodies. The most significant are the UGC fellowships for NET/JRF qualified candidates and the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for SC/ST scholars. Tamil Nadu Government scholarships are also available for eligible candidates.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount (Approx.)	Offered By
UGC-JRF Fellowship	Candidates who have cleared UGC-NET with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (1st-2nd year), Rs. 42,000/month (3rd year onwards) + HRA	University Grants Commission (UGC)
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	SC/ST Ph.D. scholars	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF) + HRA	University Grants Commission (UGC)
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST	SC/ST students with minimum 50% marks	Rs. 5,000 - Rs. 20,000 per annum	Tamil Nadu Government / Government of India
Tamil Nadu Government BC/MBC Scholarship	BC/MBC students with 50%+ marks, family income up to Rs. 2.5 LPA	Partial to full tuition fee waiver	Tamil Nadu Government
INSPIRE Fellowship	Students with exceptional academic record in science	Rs. 80,000 per annum	Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India

UGC-JRF fellowship is the most prestigious and financially rewarding option for Ph.D. scholars.
RGNF applications are submitted through the university to UGC.
BC/MBC and SC/ST scholarship applications are submitted to the Tamil Nadu Government through the university.
Application deadlines for government scholarships are typically announced by the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Department each academic year.

MKU Ph.D. (Tourism Management) FAQs

Ques. Is there a separate entrance test for Ph.D. Tourism Management at MKU, or is UGC-NET sufficient?

Ans. MKU conducts its own Ph.D. Entrance Test for candidates who do not hold a valid UGC-NET/JRF qualification. Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF scores are generally given preference and may be exempted from the university entrance test. However, all candidates must obtain the MKU Eligibility Certificate before applying.

Ques. What is the minimum and maximum duration of the Ph.D. (Tourism Management) programme at MKU?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years as per UGC Ph.D. Regulations. Candidates who do not submit their thesis within 6 years must pay an extension fee of Rs. 4,000 per year.

Ques. Can a working professional pursue Ph.D. Tourism Management at MKU in part-time mode?

Ans. Yes, MKU offers Ph.D. programmes in both Full Time and Part Time modes. Working professionals in the tourism and hospitality industry can apply for the Part Time Ph.D. programme. The eligibility and fee structure are the same, but the duration may be extended accordingly.

Ques. What is the research fee for Ph.D. Tourism Management at MKU?

Ans. The annual research fee for Ph.D. Tourism Management (Arts stream) is Rs. 10,000 per year. The total registration fees at the time of admission are Rs. 11,000. For a 3-year programme, the total fees (excluding thesis and viva charges) amount to approximately Rs. 41,000.

Ques. Does MKU have a dedicated research centre for Tourism Management?

Ans. Yes, MKU has a dedicated Centre for Tourism and Hotel Management on its main campus at Palkalai Nagar, Madurai. The centre offers M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in Tourism and Hotel Management, along with the MBA (Tourism and Hotel Management) programme.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing Ph.D. Tourism Management from MKU?

Ans. Ph.D. graduates in Tourism Management from MKU can pursue careers as university professors, research fellows, tourism policy consultants, hospitality industry researchers, and tourism development officers. The degree is recognized by UGC and opens doors to academic positions in universities and colleges across India. The growing tourism sector in Tamil Nadu and India also offers opportunities in government tourism boards and international hospitality chains.