Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism and Hospitality Services Management (PHDTS) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, is a research-oriented doctoral programme offered under the School of Tourism and Hospitality Service Management (SOTHSM). The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with a first-year fee of Rs. 17,850 and an annual re-registration fee of Rs. 8,400 thereafter. Admission is based on UGC NET qualification followed by an interview at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi. The programme is offered in both Part Time and Full Time modes and is popular among hospitality industry professionals, tourism educators, and hotel management faculty who wish to pursue doctoral research. IGNOU's Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality is UGC-compliant and nationally recognised, making it a preferred choice for aspiring researchers in the tourism and hospitality sector.

As of March 2026, the July 2025 session admissions have been completed (last date was 16 August 2025). The July 2026 session is expected to open around April 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official IGNOU PhD admission portal at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in for the latest notifications and seat availability.

Key Points

The Ph.D. PHDTS programme is conducted in regular (on-campus) mode at IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi. Coursework during the first six months is mandatory and requires at least 80% physical attendance.
The coursework includes two discipline-specific courses: RTS-101 (Interdisciplinary Approach in Tourism and Hospitality, 8 credits) and RTS-103 (Research Methodology in Tourism and Hospitality, 8 credits), totalling 16 credits.
Part Time candidates who are employed must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of interview.
IGNOU does not have hostel facilities for PhD scholars. Students must arrange their own accommodation in Delhi during the coursework period.
The programme is compliant with UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degrees) Regulations, 2022.
IGNOU has its own Research Fellowship scheme - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Fellowship (for male scholars) and Savitribai Phule Fellowship (for female scholars) - offering Rs. 8,000 per month along with a contingency grant of Rs. 8,000 per annum for selected full-time PhD scholars.
Women candidates and Persons with Disabilities (40% or more) are given two years extra beyond the maximum duration of 6 years.

104 Views Last Year

7 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU PHDTS Fees

The Ph.D. Tourism and Hospitality Services Management programme at IGNOU is among the most affordable doctoral programmes in the hospitality and tourism domain in India. The total first-year fee is Rs. 17,850, covering registration and coursework. From the second year, a re-registration fee of Rs. 8,400 is payable annually. For a standard 3-year programme, the total fee is approximately Rs. 34,650. IGNOU does not have hostel facilities, so no hostel fee is applicable.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Registration Fee (one-time)	1,000
Course Work Fee (1st Year)	8,400
Research Fee (1st Year)	8,400
Re-Registration Fee (per year, from Year 2)	8,400
Thesis Submission Fee (one-time)	5,000
Examination Fee (per subject)	200
Application Fee (non-refundable)	1,000
Total Fees (3-year programme, approx.)	34,650

The application fee of Rs. 1,000 is non-refundable and is paid at the time of submitting the online application form.
Examination fee of Rs. 200 per subject is charged separately and is not included in the programme fee.
Thesis submission fee of Rs. 5,000 is payable at the time of thesis submission.
There is no hostel facility at IGNOU. Students must arrange their own stay in Delhi during the mandatory coursework period.
Fee is subject to revision by the university. Candidates should verify the latest fee structure from the official IGNOU website before applying.

IGNOU PHDTS Admission 2026

IGNOU Ph.D. Tourism and Hospitality Services Management admissions are conducted once a year for the July session. The programme was offered in the July 2025 session with 6 seats (UR=3, SC=1, ST=1, OBC=1) and in the 2024 session with 6 seats. Admission is based on UGC NET qualification (with or without JRF) followed by an interview at IGNOU Headquarters. The July 2026 session is expected to open around April 2026. Candidates must keep checking the official portal for updates.

IGNOU Ph.D. Admission Dates

Event	July 2025 Session (Actual)	2026 Session (Expected/Tentative)
Online Registration Opens	19 July 2025	April 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for Online Registration	16 August 2025	~21 days from announcement
Interview / Selection Process	October - November 2025	To be announced
Batch Commencement (Coursework)	January 2026 (Tentative)	July 2026 (Tentative)

UGC NET Exam Dates

Event	Phase 1 (2025-26)	Phase 2 (2026, Tentative)
Application Start Date	7 October 2025	1 April 2026 (Tentative)
Application End Date	7 November 2025	1 May 2026 (Tentative)
Admit Card Release	28 December 2025	1 June 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Dates	31 December 2025 - 7 January 2026	June 2026 (Tentative)
Answer Key Release	14 January 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Result Declaration	4 February 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must possess a Master's Degree in Tourism/Hospitality/Hotel Management from a university recognised by UGC, or any other qualification recognised as equivalent, with at least 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD categories).
Candidates seeking admission after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree programme must have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate (70% for reserved categories).
Candidates must have a valid UGC NET score (with or without JRF) in Tourism Administration and Management or a relevant subject from June 2024 onwards.

Admission Process

Register online at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in and pay the non-refundable application fee of Rs. 1,000.
Upload scanned copies of all required documents including photograph, signature, academic certificates, UGC NET/JRF certificate or score card, and category certificate (if applicable).
Part Time candidates must upload a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer in the prescribed format.
Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview at IGNOU Headquarters, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi.
Interview comprises Research Methodology (40%), Subject Domain (40%), and Communication Skills (20%).
Final merit list is prepared combining UGC NET score and interview performance (as applicable) and displayed on the IGNOU official website.
Offer letters are sent only to selected candidates.

Note: UGC NET is conducted by NTA. Candidates must qualify UGC NET (with or without JRF) in Tourism Administration and Management or a relevant subject to be eligible for IGNOU Ph.D. PHDTS admission. Candidates with JRF are directly called for interview (100% weightage). Candidates with UGC NET score (without JRF, Category 2 and 3 from June 2024 onwards) are shortlisted based on NET score (70% weightage) and interview (30% weightage). NET score validity for PhD admission is one year.

IGNOU PHDTS Scholarships 2026

IGNOU Ph.D. Tourism and Hospitality scholars can avail a range of fellowships and scholarships from both IGNOU and external funding agencies. IGNOU's own fellowship scheme provides financial support to full-time scholars, while government-funded fellowships like UGC-JRF and MANF are available to eligible candidates. These fellowships significantly reduce the financial burden and support dedicated research.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Remarks
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Candidates who qualify UGC NET with JRF in Tourism Administration and Management	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF, after 2 years)	Awarded by UGC/NTA; valid for 5 years; upgradation to SRF after 2 years subject to review
IGNOU Research Fellowship (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar / Savitribai Phule)	Full-time IGNOU PhD scholars selected by IGNOU's selection committee	Rs. 8,000/month + Rs. 8,000/year contingency grant	For male scholars: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Fellowship; for female scholars: Savitribai Phule Fellowship
MANF (Maulana Azad National Fellowship)	Minority community PhD scholars	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	Awarded by Ministry of Minority Affairs through UGC
NFOBC (National Fellowship for OBC)	OBC category PhD scholars	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	Awarded by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through UGC
NFSC (National Fellowship for SC)	SC category PhD scholars	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	Awarded by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through UGC
MOTA-NFST (National Fellowship for ST)	ST category PhD scholars	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)	Awarded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs through UGC

UGC-JRF fellowship is available only to candidates who qualify UGC NET with JRF. Part Time scholars are generally not eligible for JRF fellowship.
IGNOU Research Fellowship is available only to full-time scholars and is awarded through a separate selection process.
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.

IGNOU PHDTS FAQs

Ques. Is IGNOU Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality Management recognised for teaching positions in hotel management institutes?

Ans. Yes, IGNOU Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality Services Management (PHDTS) is fully recognised by UGC and is valid for faculty positions in hotel management institutes, tourism colleges, and universities across India. IGNOU is a Central University and its degrees carry the same recognition as those from any other UGC-recognised university.

Ques. Can hotel management graduates or BHM/MHM holders apply for IGNOU Ph.D. PHDTS?

Ans. Yes, candidates with a Master's Degree in Tourism, Hospitality, or Hotel Management from a UGC-recognised university are eligible to apply. The specific eligibility requires a Master's Degree in Tourism/Hospitality/Hotel Management with at least 55% marks, along with a valid UGC NET score.

Ques. What are the research areas available under IGNOU Ph.D. Tourism and Hospitality?

Ans. Research areas include Sustainable Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Ecotourism, Hotel Operations Management, Food and Beverage Management, Tourism Policy and Planning, Destination Management, Tourist Behaviour, Hospitality Marketing, and Technology in Tourism and Hospitality. The specific area depends on the availability of a supervisor with expertise in that domain.

Ques. How many seats are available for IGNOU Ph.D. Tourism and Hospitality and how competitive is admission?

Ans. The number of seats is limited - 6 seats were available in both the July 2025 and 2024 sessions. This makes admission highly competitive. Candidates with JRF have a significant advantage as they are directly called for interview with 100% weightage on the interview.

Ques. Is the coursework for IGNOU Ph.D. Tourism and Hospitality different from other PhD programmes at IGNOU?

Ans. Yes, the coursework for PHDTS is discipline-specific. It includes RTS-101 (Interdisciplinary Approach in Tourism and Hospitality) and RTS-103 (Research Methodology in Tourism and Hospitality), totalling 16 credits. This is conducted at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi, with mandatory 80% attendance.

Ques. Can I pursue IGNOU Ph.D. Tourism and Hospitality while working in the hotel industry?

Ans. Yes, the Part Time mode is specifically designed for working professionals including those in the hotel and tourism industry. However, the mandatory six-month coursework at IGNOU's New Delhi campus requires 80% physical attendance, so candidates must plan for leave or flexible work arrangements during this period and obtain an NOC from their employer.