VelTech University Ph.D Commerce: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. Yes, the Part Time Ph.D. in Commerce at Vel Tech is particularly well-suited for college lecturers and commerce faculty who wish to upgrade their qualifications while continuing to teach. Faculty members working in PG and professional colleges on a permanent basis with at least 1 year of post-PG experience are eligible to apply under the Part Time Extramural mode. They must obtain an NOC from their institution confirming permission to pursue the programme. This route is commonly taken by commerce faculty seeking to fulfil UGC's Ph.D. requirement for career advancement and promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS).

Ans. The Ph.D. in Commerce at Vel Tech's School of Commerce covers a broad range of research areas including Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Management, Marketing, Human Resources, Corporate Governance, Taxation, International Trade, and Behavioural Finance. The specific research topic is finalised in consultation with the assigned Research Supervisor and the Research Advisory Committee (RAC). The School of Commerce at Vel Tech has faculty with expertise in General Commerce, Finance, Marketing, and Human Resources, and has hosted international conferences on Commerce and Artificial Intelligence.

Ans. The minimum duration for the Part Time Ph.D. in Commerce at Vel Tech is 4 years (48 months), and the maximum duration is 7 years (84 months). Scholars must complete all requirements – including course work, research, and thesis submission – within this window. If additional time is needed beyond the minimum duration, scholars can apply for extension by paying an Extension/Re-registration Fee of Rs. 10,000 per extension, subject to the maximum duration limit of 7 years.

Ans. The entrance examination is not mandatory for all candidates. Applicants who hold valid qualifications such as UGC NET (Commerce), CSIR NET (JRF), SLET, GATE, Teacher Fellowships, or M.Phil. are exempted from the written entrance examination and are directly called for the interview/viva-voce. For all other candidates, the entrance exam is compulsory, and a minimum of 50% marks must be secured to qualify for the interview stage. The final selection is based on 70% weightage to the entrance exam and 30% to the interview.

Ans. While the monthly institutional stipend is available only for Full Time scholars, Part Time scholars at Vel Tech are eligible for several research support benefits. These include Article Processing Charge (APC) support for Q1 journal publications, seed grants of up to Rs. 3 Lakhs for research activities, conference and international travel funding, and annual incentives for top-performing scholars. Scholars also have access to Vel Tech's central library, research infrastructure, and the university's 210+ international MoUs for collaborative research opportunities.

Ans. Yes, Part Time Extramural scholars can conduct their research from their place of work, which may be outside Chennai. However, candidates working outside a 50 km radius of the Vel Tech campus in Avadi, Chennai, must attend full-time course work at the institution for at least 6 months during their registration period. The NOC from the employer must confirm that the candidate is permitted to pursue studies on a part-time basis and that research facilities are available at the place of work. Regular interactions with the Research Supervisor and Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings are required throughout the programme.