Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communication and Media Studies at Kristu Jayanti University (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, is a full-time research-oriented doctoral programme offered under the Department of Media Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with an annual fee of INR 65,000, and is designed to develop advanced expertise in media theory, communication research, journalism, film studies, digital media, and media policy. The department is nationally recognised - ranked 23rd in Mass Communication and 3rd in Best Value for Money by the India Today-MDRA Survey 2025 - and is equipped with a state-of-the-art Media Lab featuring broadcast-grade studio infrastructure, professional cinematography equipment, advanced post-production suites, and audio engineering facilities. The programme is popular among MA Media and Communication graduates and media professionals seeking careers in academia, media research, policy, and industry leadership.

Admissions for the Spring 2026-27 batch (January 2027 intake) opened on October 1, 2026, with a deadline of November 25, 2026, and the entrance test and interview were held on December 6, 2026 - this cycle is now closed. For the next intake (Autumn 2027-28, July 2027 batch), applications are expected to open around April-May 2027 based on the previous year's schedule. Prospective candidates are advised to monitor the official website at www.kristujayanti.edu.in for announcements.

Key Points

Nationally recognised department - ranked 23rd in Mass Communication and 3rd in Best Value for Money by India Today-MDRA Survey 2025; recipient of the PRCI Chanakya Award for Best Communication School (2020) and Best Education Campaigns and Projects (2025).
State-of-the-art Media Lab with broadcast-grade live production systems (Blackmagic 4K), professional cinematography equipment (Nikon Z6 III, DJI drones), advanced post-production suites (Apple iMac M4, DaVinci Resolve), and audio engineering facilities (Avid Pro Tools).
Faculty expertise spans journalism, film production, advertising and marketing, corporate communication, animation, graphic design, and digital media.
Research areas include media theory, communication research, digital media, journalism studies, film studies, advertising, media policy, and development communication.
Two-stage selection: KJUET (written test) followed by a Personal Interview; UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/SLET holders are exempt from the written test.
Full-time scholars are eligible for a monthly fellowship of INR 15,000 (post-coursework completion, for up to 30 months).
Programme is fully compliant with UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022.
NAAC A++ accredited university (CGPA 3.78/4), ranked 34th nationally by NIRF 2025 and #1 in Karnataka.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

Kristu Jayanti University (Deemed to be University) Latest Updates and News

14 Apr, 2026 Kristu Jayanti University Admission 2026-27 is open. Apply online @kristujayanti.edu.in.

Kristu Jayanti Ph.D. CMS Fees

The Ph.D. (Communication and Media Studies) Full-Time programme at Kristu Jayanti University has an annual fee of INR 65,000. The total fee for the minimum programme duration of 3 years amounts to INR 1,95,000. Full-time scholars are additionally eligible for an annual scholarship of INR 10,000, effectively reducing the net annual cost. Hostel accommodation, if availed, is charged separately and is not mandatory.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Amount (Per Annum)	Total (3 Years - Minimum Duration)
Tuition / Programme Fee	INR 65,000	INR 1,95,000
Annual Scholarship (Full-Time Scholars)	- INR 10,000	- INR 30,000
Net Fee After Scholarship	INR 55,000	INR 1,65,000
Total Fees (without scholarship)	INR 65,000	INR 1,95,000

Part-time scholars pay INR 60,000 per annum with no scholarship benefit.
Scholars holding National/State-level Fellowships (e.g., UGC-JRF) receive an additional 33% annual fee waiver.
Contingency grant of up to INR 10,000 per annum is available for non-STEM (Media Studies) scholars for research-related expenses.
Monthly fellowship of INR 15,000 is available for full-time scholars after completion of coursework and receipt of full registration order, for a maximum of 30 months.
Fellowship recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 6 hours per week in tutorial/evaluation work in the department.
Hostel fees are separate and not included in the above; hostel is optional.

Kristu Jayanti Ph.D. CMS Admission 2026

Kristu Jayanti University admits Ph.D. scholars in two cycles annually - a July intake (Autumn admissions) and a January intake (Spring admissions). The Spring 2026-27 admissions cycle (January 2027 batch) is now closed. The next cycle (Autumn 2027-28, July 2027 batch) is expected to open around April-May 2027 based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates must apply online through the university website and submit a research proposal, statement of purpose, and recommendation letter.

Admission Dates

Event	Date
Applications Open	October 1, 2026
Application Deadline	November 25, 2026
Entrance Test (KJUET) and Interview	December 6, 2026
Programme Commencement	January 5, 2027
Next Cycle (Autumn 2027-28) Applications Open (Tentative)	April - May 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET Phase 1	Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2026
UGC-NET Phase 1	Exam	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 1	Result	February 4, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 2	Registration (Tentative)	April 1 - May 1, 2027
UGC-NET Phase 2	Exam (Tentative)	June 2027

Note: UGC-NET, CSIR-NET, GATE, and SLET qualified candidates are exempt from KJUET but must appear for the personal interview.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Master's degree in Media and Communication, Journalism, Mass Communication, or equivalent from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent CGPA (50% for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Differently-Abled candidates).
Candidates with a 4-year Bachelor's Degree (Honours with Research) with a minimum of 75% marks are also eligible.
Must qualify KJUET (Kristu Jayanti University Entrance Test) or hold a valid UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/SLET qualification for exemption from the written test.

Admission Process

Apply online at www.kristujayanti.edu.in during the application window.
Submit required documents: Research Proposal, Statement of Purpose, and one Recommendation Letter (not mandatory at application stage; must be submitted before joining coursework).
Appear for KJUET (Part A: Research Aptitude and Reasoning; Part B: Media and Communication discipline-specific) - exempted for NET/GATE/SLET holders.
Attend the Personal Interview (mandatory for all candidates, including those exempt from KJUET).
Final selection based on KJUET score (70% weightage) and Interview performance (30% weightage).
Merit list prepared and admission offers issued in order of merit within available seats.

Kristu Jayanti Ph.D. CMS Scholarships 2026

Kristu Jayanti University offers a comprehensive financial support ecosystem for Ph.D. scholars, combining institutional fellowships, contingency grants, and fee waivers. Full-time scholars benefit the most, with a monthly fellowship of INR 15,000 post-coursework, an annual scholarship of INR 10,000, and contingency support for research expenses. Additionally, scholars with national/state fellowships receive significant fee waivers, making the programme financially accessible for meritorious researchers.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Support	Amount	Eligibility	Conditions
Annual Scholarship (Institutional)	INR 10,000 per annum	Full-time Ph.D. scholars	Automatically applicable for full-time scholars
Monthly Fellowship	INR 15,000 per month (up to 30 months)	Full-time scholars post-coursework completion	Activated after full registration order; requires 6 hrs/week departmental contribution
Contingency Grant	Up to INR 10,000 per annum	Full-time scholars in non-STEM disciplines (Media Studies)	For research-related expenses
National/State Fellowship Fee Waiver	33% annual fee waiver	Scholars with UGC-JRF or equivalent national/state fellowships	Applicable on annual programme fee
Jayantian Upliftment Scholarship (JUS)	Variable	Students with annual family income up to INR 2 lakh	Minimum 60% marks and 85% attendance required
Government Scholarships (NSP, Karnataka SSP)	Variable	SC/ST/OBC/Minority/EWS students	Apply via scholarships.gov.in or ssp.postmatric.karnataka.gov.in

The monthly fellowship can be availed for a maximum of 30 months (2.5 years after completion of coursework).
Part-time scholars are not eligible for the fellowship or annual scholarship.
Candidates are encouraged to apply for external fellowships such as UGC-JRF before joining to maximize financial benefits.

Kristu Jayanti Ph.D. CMS FAQs

Ques. What research areas can I pursue under the Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies at KJU?

Ans. The Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies at KJU covers research areas including media theory, journalism studies, digital media and social media, film studies, advertising and marketing communication, corporate communication, development communication, media policy, visual communication, and emerging media technologies. The department's faculty blend extensive industry experience with academic expertise across these areas. Candidates are advised to review the research supervisor profiles on the university's doctoral research webpage to align their research proposal with available expertise.

Ques. Does the Media Studies department at KJU have professional production infrastructure that benefits Ph.D. scholars?

Ans. Yes. The department's state-of-the-art Media Lab is equipped with broadcast-grade live production systems (Blackmagic 4K cameras and video mixers), professional cinematography equipment (Nikon Z6 III, DJI drones, gimbals), advanced post-production suites (Apple iMac M4, DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel), and audio engineering facilities (Avid Pro Tools, Yamaha digital mixer). This infrastructure supports both research and production-based doctoral projects.

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies available in part-time mode for working media professionals?

Ans. Yes. Kristu Jayanti University offers the Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies in both full-time and part-time modes. Part-time scholars pay INR 60,000 per annum but are not eligible for the monthly fellowship or annual scholarship. The part-time mode is suitable for working journalists, media professionals, advertising practitioners, or corporate communication specialists who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their careers.

Ques. What is the minimum and maximum duration of the Ph.D. programme and how is the fellowship structured?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years. The programme includes a coursework phase followed by the research phase. The monthly fellowship of INR 15,000 is available for full-time scholars for up to 30 months after completion of coursework and receipt of the full registration order. Fellowship recipients must contribute a minimum of 6 hours per week in departmental tutorial or evaluation work.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after completing a Ph.D. in Communication and Media Studies from KJU?

Ans. Ph.D. graduates in Communication and Media Studies from KJU are well-positioned for careers in academia as faculty and researchers, media research organisations, think tanks, media policy bodies, journalism, film and content production, advertising agencies, corporate communication, digital media companies, and NGOs working in development communication. Alumni of the department include professionals working with Netflix India and leading digital marketing firms.

Ques. How is the KJU Media Studies department ranked and what awards has it received?

Ans. The Department of Media Studies at KJU is ranked 23rd in Mass Communication and 3rd in Best Value for Money by the India Today-MDRA Survey 2025, and 4th in Bengaluru. The department has received the PRCI Chanakya Award for Best Communication School in 2020 and the Chanakya Award for Best Education Campaigns and Projects at the PRCI Global Communication Conclave in Goa in September 2025. These recognitions reflect the department's sustained excellence in media education and research.

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Kristu Jayanti University (Deemed to be University) Ph.D Communication & Media Studies: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

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