The Apollo University Chittoor Ph.D Psychiatric Social Work: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. The Apollo University is a UGC-listed private university established under the Andhra Pradesh Private Universities Act, and its Ph.D. programmes follow UGC regulations. A Ph.D. in Psychiatric Social Work opens career pathways in academic institutions as Assistant Professor (with UGC-NET qualification), clinical and psychiatric hospitals, mental health NGOs, government health departments, and international organisations like WHO and UNICEF. Research roles in NIMHANS, TISS, ICMR, and state mental health authorities are also accessible to doctoral graduates in this field.

Ans. The Full-Time PhD requires the scholar to be present on campus and is priced at Rs. 20,000 per annum, while the Part-Time mode is priced at Rs. 50,000 per annum and is designed for working professionals who cannot commit to full-time residency. Both modes follow UGC norms with a minimum duration of 3 years. Working professionals in hospitals, NGOs, or government departments who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their careers typically opt for the Part-Time mode. However, Full-Time scholars are more likely to qualify for UGC-JRF fellowships and have greater access to campus research facilities.

Ans. UGC-NET qualification is not mandatory for admission. Candidates without UGC-NET, APSET, GATE, or equivalent scores must appear for the university's own entrance test called TAU-RET (The Apollo University Research Entrance Test). The TAU-RET assesses research aptitude and subject knowledge. However, qualifying UGC-NET (Social Work) is strongly recommended as it exempts candidates from TAU-RET and also makes them eligible for the UGC-JRF fellowship, which provides a monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000 during the first two years of the PhD.

Ans. The Ph.D. specialisation in Psychiatric Social Work at The Apollo University covers a broad range of research areas including medical and psychiatric social work, community mental health, mental health policy, psychosocial rehabilitation, substance abuse and de-addiction, child and adolescent mental health, geriatric mental health, and crisis intervention. The School of Social Sciences also allows interdisciplinary research combining psychiatric social work with tribal studies, human rights, and evidence generation methods such as systematic reviews and evidence gap maps.

Ans. The Apollo University conducts PhD admissions in two cycles every year. Cycle 1 runs from March to May (application deadline: 31st March), and Cycle 2 runs from October to December (application deadline: 31st October). For the 2026 academic year, Cycle 1 admissions are already closed (deadline was 31st March 2026). Prospective students should prepare their research proposal and documents and apply in Cycle 2 2026, with the application window opening in October 2026.

Ans. Yes, a detailed research proposal is mandatory for the PhD application at The Apollo University. The proposal must outline the proposed research topic, objectives, methodology, and potential impact. Along with the research proposal, candidates must submit: completed application form, academic transcripts and certificates (UG and PG), proof of qualifying examination (UGC-NET/APSET/GATE scorecard, if applicable), a valid photo ID, and the receipt of the application and entrance exam fee payment of Rs. 2,000. Candidates are advised to identify a potential research supervisor from the faculty list before submitting their proposal.