Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (History) programme at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TMV), Pune is offered under the Nehru Institute of Social Sciences, a post-graduate and research department established in 1969 with a strong tradition of interdisciplinary social science scholarship. The programme is designed to develop advanced research skills in historical analysis, covering areas such as ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history, Maharashtra's regional history, colonial history, and historiography. The course spans a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years (extendable up to 6 years in special cases), with total fees of approximately Rs. 71,000 for the first two years and Rs. 20,000 per year thereafter. Admission is based on TMV's PhD Entrance Test (written + interview), with UGC-NET/JRF holders exempt from the written test. As per the 2026-27 notification, History is offered as a Part Time programme with 2 available seats. TMV's NAAC B++ accreditation and its deep-rooted connection to Maharashtra's national movement history make this programme particularly relevant for researchers in Indian and regional history.

Admission for the 2026-27 batch has been completed; the entrance examination was held on 10th August 2026 and the final list of selected candidates has been published (2 candidates qualified in History for 2026-27). For the 2027-28 batch, the next admission cycle is expected to commence around June 2027 (tentative), based on the previous year's schedule, with the entrance examination likely in August 2027.

Key Points

Offered under the Nehru Institute of Social Sciences, established in 1969, with a strong tradition of historical and social science research.
Part Time mode of study as per the 2026-27 notification, with 2 seats available per academic year.
Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF or M.Phil. (through entrance-based admission) are exempt from the written entrance test and directly appear for the interview.
Research areas include ancient Indian history, medieval history, modern Indian history, Maharashtra regional history, colonial history, and historiography.
Minimum 2 years required before thesis submission; maximum duration is 5 years from the date of Permanent Registration Number (PRN) allotment.
Candidates must publish at least one research paper in a refereed journal before thesis submission.
50% of total seats are reserved as per Government of Maharashtra reservation norms.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

TMV Ph.D. (History) Fees

The Ph.D. (History) programme at TMV involves a one-time set of fees payable at the time of admission (entrance, interview, course work, eligibility, and registration), followed by annual academic fees for each year of the research tenure. History falls in the same fee category as Sociology, Economics, and Political Science, with total fees for the first two years (including all components) amounting to Rs. 71,000, and an annual fee of Rs. 20,000 applicable from the 3rd to 5th year. The entrance examination fee (Rs. 5,000) and interview fee (Rs. 5,000) are non-refundable and are paid separately before admission.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Entrance Examination Fee	5,000
Interview Fee	5,000
Course Work Fee	10,000
Eligibility Fee	1,000
Registration / Admission Fee	5,000
1st Year Academic Fee	15,000
2nd Year Academic Fee	15,000
Examination Fee	15,000
Total Fees (First 2 Years, incl. all components)	71,000
Annual Fee (3rd Year onwards, per year)	20,000

Entrance Examination Fee (Rs. 5,000) and Interview Fee (Rs. 5,000) are non-refundable and must be paid via RTGS/NEFT to Bank of Maharashtra, Account No: 60149048265, IFSC: MAHB0000320.
Candidates exempted from the written entrance test (UGC-NET/JRF/M.Phil.) must pay the Interview Fee of Rs. 5,000 directly.
Foreign students are charged 3 times the total fees applicable to Indian students.
Candidates must pay annual fees for every year of their research tenure (up to 5 years, extendable to 6 years).
Fee structure shown is based on the latest available official data; candidates are advised to confirm the current fee structure from the TMV PhD department directly at phd@tmv.edu.in.

TMV Ph.D. (History) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (History) programme at TMV are conducted annually through a university-level entrance test. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed, with the entrance exam held on 10th August 2026 and the final selected candidates list published in October 2026. For the upcoming 2027-28 cycle, registration is expected to open around June 2027 (tentative), based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates holding UGC-NET/JRF or M.Phil. (through entrance-based admission) are directly called for an interview without appearing for the written test. With only 2 seats available per year, early and thorough preparation is strongly advised.

TMV PhD Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Opens	June 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for Online Registration	July 2026 (Tentative)
Entrance Examination	August 2026 (Tentative)
Result Declaration	Within 15 working days of exam
Interview	August-September 2026 (Tentative)
Final Selected Candidates List	September-October 2026 (Tentative)
Registration / Admission Completion Deadline	October 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement (Course Work)	November 2026 (Tentative)

UGC NET Exam Dates

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

Note: UGC-NET qualification (including JRF) exempts candidates from the TMV PhD written entrance test. Candidates still need to appear for the interview.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must have a Post Graduate degree (M.A.) in History from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent GPA).
Candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) and Physically Challenged/Disabled categories are eligible with a relaxation of 5% (i.e., minimum 50% marks).
Foreign candidates who have not obtained their Master's degree from Indian universities require a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent GPA.

Admission Process:

Candidates must fill the online application form available on the TMV website (www.tmv.edu.in) within the stipulated registration period.
Pay the non-refundable entrance examination fee of Rs. 5,000 via RTGS/NEFT and email the payment screenshot along with name, course applied for, and UID to phdtmv@gmail.com.
Appear for the written entrance examination (100 marks) comprising Research Methodology (40%), Subject Content - History (30%), Functional English (15%), and Computer Knowledge (15%). Minimum passing score is 50%.
Candidates qualifying UGC-NET/JRF/GATE/SET or holding M.Phil. (through entrance-based admission) are exempt from the written test and must pay Rs. 5,000 interview fee to appear directly for the interview.
Shortlisted candidates appear for an interview (50 marks) before the Research Committee.
Selected candidates complete provisional admission by paying the requisite fees within 15 days of result declaration.
After provisional admission, candidates undergo a one-semester Course Work covering Research Methodology, Computer Applications, Quantitative Techniques, and Literature Review.
On successful completion of Course Work (minimum 50% passing marks), candidates receive a Certificate and proceed to Ph.D. registration (PRN allotment).

TMV Ph.D. (History) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. (History) students at TMV can avail of both university-level fellowships and government scholarships. The university offers a fellowship for full-time scholars, while SC/ST students can benefit from national-level fellowships. Students with UGC-NET JRF qualification can additionally avail the UGC JRF fellowship as per applicable norms. These financial support options make the programme accessible to meritorious students from diverse backgrounds.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount
TMV University Fellowship (Full Time Scholars)	Full-time PhD scholars enrolled at TMV	Rs. 30,000/month (1st-2nd year); Rs. 32,000/month (3rd-4th year)
UGC-JRF Fellowship	Candidates qualifying UGC-NET with JRF	As per UGC norms (approx. Rs. 37,000/month for JRF; Rs. 42,000/month for SRF)
National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC)	SC category PhD students	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF); Rs. 28,000/month (SRF) + HRA
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) for ST Students	ST category PhD students	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF); Rs. 28,000/month (SRF) + HRA
Maharashtra DBT Scholarship	Maharashtra domicile students (various categories)	As per MahaDBT portal norms
National Scholarship Portal Schemes	Various categories (merit/means based)	As per scheme guidelines

TMV University Fellowship is available only for full-time scholars; Part Time scholars are not eligible.
UGC-JRF fellowship is available to candidates who have qualified UGC-NET with JRF; the fellowship is governed by UGC norms and is separate from the university fellowship.
SC/ST students should apply for NFSC/RGNF through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Maharashtra domicile students can apply for state government scholarships through the MahaDBT portal (mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in).
Scholarship amounts and conditions are subject to revision by the respective awarding bodies; candidates should verify current rates at the time of application.

TMV Ph.D. (History) FAQs

Ques. Is Ph.D. (History) at TMV offered in full-time or part-time mode?

Ans. As per the 2026-27 admission notification, Ph.D. (History) at TMV is offered in Part Time mode with 2 available seats. This makes it suitable for working professionals, history teachers, and researchers who wish to pursue doctoral studies alongside their existing commitments. Candidates should note that despite the part-time classification, all academic requirements including course work, six-monthly progress reports, and thesis submission must be fulfilled.

Ques. What are the popular research topics for Ph.D. (History) at TMV?

Ans. TMV's location in Pune, a historically significant city in Maharashtra, makes it particularly well-suited for research in Maratha history, the Indian independence movement (especially Lokmanya Tilak's era), colonial Maharashtra, social reform movements, and regional history of the Deccan. Candidates can also pursue research in ancient Indian history, medieval history, and modern Indian political and social history. The specific research topic is finalized with the allotted guide and the Research Recognition Committee.

Ques. I have an M.A. in a related social science subject but not History. Can I apply for Ph.D. (History) at TMV?

Ans. Candidates applying for interdisciplinary research areas may be considered on the basis of sufficient work experience, proven ability, and aptitude for research. Such proposals are examined by the Research Recognition Committee (RRC), and candidature for the entrance exam is confirmed only after RRC approval. Candidates with M.A. in related subjects like Political Science, Sociology, or Archaeology may apply and seek RRC approval for interdisciplinary research.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. (History) at TMV each year?

Ans. As per the 2026-27 notification, 2 seats are available for Ph.D. (History) at TMV per academic year. 50% of these seats are reserved as per Government of Maharashtra reservation norms. Given the limited intake, candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly for both the entrance test and the interview.

Ques. What is the process for guide allotment in Ph.D. (History) at TMV?

Ans. After provisional admission, the concerned department allots a guide based on the candidate's proposed research area. The candidate must then submit a brief outline of their research work through the guide within one month to the Head of Department. Subsequently, the candidate is called for a presentation before an Expert Committee to finalize the title of the PhD thesis, after which a confirmation letter is issued.

Ques. Can I submit my PhD thesis in Marathi at TMV?

Ans. Yes. TMV allows candidates to submit their thesis in English, Marathi, Hindi, or Sanskrit. However, if the thesis is submitted in Marathi or any language other than English, the candidate must also submit a gist/abstract of the thesis in English, covering the Hypothesis, Research Methodology, Findings, and Conclusions, for the convenience of the external referees during evaluation.