Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Part Time program at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is a doctoral research program offered under the Department of Media, Communication and Fine Arts, Faculty of Management, Commerce and Arts (FoMCA). Designed specifically for working media professionals, journalists, and communication practitioners, this program allows scholars to pursue advanced research without leaving their careers. With a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, the program carries an annual fee of Rs. 30,000 (plus a one-time registration fee of Rs. 10,000). The program is aligned with the latest UGC guidelines and is popular among journalists, PR professionals, media educators, and communication researchers who wish to contribute original knowledge to the evolving field of journalism and mass communication in India.

Admissions at MUJ for the Ph.D. program are conducted twice a year - in January and July. The January 2026 batch admission cycle has been completed (course work started January 21, 2026). The next admission cycle (July 2026) is expected to open tentatively in May-June 2026, based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates are advised to monitor the official MUJ PhD page at jaipur.manipal.edu/research-phd.php for the upcoming July 2026 cycle notifications.

Key Points

Designed for working media professionals, journalists, PR practitioners, and communication educators who wish to pursue doctoral research alongside their careers.
Research areas include digital journalism, media ethics, communication theory, broadcast media, social media studies, public relations, advertising, and political communication.
Admissions are held twice a year (January and July cycles), providing flexible entry points.
Candidates holding UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/GATE/SLET/M.Phil qualifications are exempted from the PhD entrance examination.
Part Time scholars must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of admission.
MUJ has a dedicated 90.8 FM Radio Manipal Jaipur station, providing a unique practical research environment for mass communication scholars.
Scholars are supported to attend and present at Scopus/WoS-indexed conferences with financial assistance of up to Rs. 30,000.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

MUJ Ph.D (Journalism & Mass Communication) Fees

The Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Part Time program at MUJ is one of the most affordable doctoral programs for media professionals in India. Scholars pay a one-time non-refundable registration fee of Rs. 10,000 at the time of joining, followed by an annual fee of Rs. 30,000 every year until the final thesis is submitted. The total fee over the minimum 3-year duration is Rs. 1,00,000, making it highly accessible for working professionals.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (INR)
Registration Fee (One-Time, Non-Refundable)	10,000
Annual Fee (per year, till thesis submission)	30,000
Annual Fee for 3 Years (Minimum Duration)	90,000
Total Fees (Minimum 3-Year Duration)	1,00,000

Registration fee of Rs. 10,000 is non-refundable.
Annual fee of Rs. 30,000 is payable every year until the final thesis is submitted.
If the scholar takes more than 3 years (up to a maximum of 6 years), the annual fee continues to be charged at Rs. 30,000 per year.
For foreign/NRI scholars: Registration fee is USD 300 and annual fee is USD 1,100.
Hostel accommodation is optional and not mandatory for Part Time scholars. Hostel fees (if availed) for 2026-27: Double Occupancy - Rs. 1,74,050 per year; Triple+Double Occupancy - Rs. 1,57,220 per year (excluding refundable security deposit of Rs. 24,250).
Fees can be paid via Demand Draft drawn in favour of 'Manipal University Jaipur' payable at Jaipur, or through online payment modes.

MUJ Ph.D (Journalism & Mass Communication) Admission 2026

The Ph.D. (Journalism and Mass Communication) Part Time program at MUJ follows a bi-annual admission cycle (January and July). Selection is based on a written entrance test followed by a personal interview conducted by the Directorate of Research. The January 2026 cycle has concluded. The July 2026 cycle is expected to open around May-June 2026 based on the previous year's pattern. Candidates with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/GATE qualifications are exempt from the entrance test and directly called for an interview.

MUJ PhD Admission Schedule

Event	January 2026 Cycle (Completed)	July 2026 Cycle (Tentative)
Call for PhD Applications	December 8, 2025	May 2026 (Tentative)
Application Deadline	December 27, 2025	June 2026 (Tentative)
PhD Entrance Test (Online)	January 5, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Interview of Shortlisted Candidates	January 6-8, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Declaration of Results	January 9, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Fee Submission and Document Verification	January 16, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date of PhD Registration	January 20, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)
PhD Course Work Starts	January 21, 2026	July 2026 (Tentative)

National Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Registration Start	October 7, 2025
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Registration End	November 7, 2025
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Exam Date	December 31, 2025 - January 7, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2026
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Registration Start	April 1, 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2026 (Tentative)
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2026 (Tentative)

Note: UGC-NET qualification (Mass Communication and Journalism paper) is the primary national exam accepted for PhD Journalism and Mass Communication admission exemption at MUJ. Candidates with valid UGC-NET/JRF scores are directly called for interview without appearing in the MUJ PhD entrance test.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (MA in Journalism/Mass Communication, M.Sc. in Communication, or equivalent) from a UGC-recognized institution with a minimum of 55% marks or CGPA of 5.5 on a 10-point scale.
Candidates with M.Phil/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/JRF/SLET/GATE/Teacher Fellowship are exempted from the MUJ PhD entrance examination.
For Part Time PhD, the candidate must be a working professional and must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of admission.

Admission Process

Apply online at admissions.jaipur.manipal.edu during the application window.
Appear for the MUJ PhD Entrance Test (online mode) - exempted for NET/JRF/GATE qualified candidates.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview conducted by the Directorate of Research.
Selected candidates submit the fee, NOC from employer, and complete document verification.
Register for the PhD program and commence coursework.
Identify a research supervisor from the approved list of eligible supervisors published by MUJ.

MUJ Ph.D (Journalism & Mass Communication) Scholarships 2026

The Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship at MUJ is exclusively available to full-time PhD scholars and is not applicable for Part Time scholars. However, Part Time scholars in the Journalism and Mass Communication program can benefit from conference presentation support provided by the university for research dissemination at Scopus/WoS-indexed venues.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Support	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
Dr. Ramdas Pai PhD Scholarship	Full-Time PhD scholars only (NOT applicable for Part Time)	Rs. 35,000/month (Year 1), Rs. 40,000/month (Year 2), Rs. 45,000/month (Year 3)	Maximum 3 years
Conference Presentation Support	All PhD scholars (Full-Time and Part Time)	Up to Rs. 30,000 (one-time)	Entire PhD duration

The Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship is not available to Part Time PhD scholars.
A total of 20 scholarships are awarded per academic year (10 per semester) under the Dr. Ramdas Pai scheme, exclusively for full-time scholars.
Conference support of up to Rs. 30,000 (one-time, for Scopus/WoS-indexed conference proceedings) is available to all PhD scholars including Part Time scholars.
Part Time scholars may explore external scholarships from bodies like ICSSR, Press Council of India research grants, or their respective employers.

Manipal University Jaipur Ph.D Journalism & Mass Communication Ranking

IIRF Ranking

#61 out of 100 in India 2023

#2nd in Rajasthan

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MUJ Ph.D (Journalism & Mass Communication) FAQs

Ques. Can I pursue the Part Time PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication at MUJ while working as a journalist or media professional?

Ans. Yes, the Part Time PhD at MUJ is specifically designed for working professionals. You need to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your employer at the time of admission. You are not required to be physically present on campus full-time; however, you must attend coursework sessions and periodic reviews as scheduled by the university.

Ques. What is the minimum and maximum duration for the Part Time PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication at MUJ?

Ans. The minimum duration is 3 years from the date of registration, and the maximum duration is 6 years. Scholars who do not submit their thesis within 6 years may have their registration cancelled.

Ques. Is the MUJ PhD entrance test mandatory, or can I get an exemption as a UGC-NET qualified candidate?

Ans. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET (Mass Communication and Journalism paper), CSIR-NET, JRF, SLET, GATE, or hold an M.Phil degree, or are Teacher Fellows are exempted from the MUJ PhD entrance test. They are directly called for a personal interview. All other candidates must appear for the online entrance test.

Ques. How many times a year does MUJ conduct PhD admissions, and when is the next cycle?

Ans. MUJ conducts PhD admissions twice a year - in January and July. The January 2026 cycle has already concluded. The next cycle (July 2026) is expected to open around May-June 2026. It is advisable to keep checking the official MUJ PhD page (jaipur.manipal.edu/research-phd.php) for the official notification.

Ques. What is the total fee for the Part Time PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication at MUJ if I complete it in 4 years?

Ans. The total fee for a 4-year Part Time PhD at MUJ would be: Registration Fee (Rs. 10,000) + Annual Fee for 4 years (Rs. 30,000 x 4 = Rs. 1,20,000) = Rs. 1,30,000 in total. The annual fee is charged every year until the final thesis is submitted.

Ques. Are Part Time PhD scholars in Journalism and Mass Communication at MUJ eligible for any financial support?

Ans. The Dr. Ramdas Pai Scholarship is exclusively for full-time scholars and is not available to Part Time scholars. However, all PhD scholars (including Part Time) are eligible for conference presentation support of up to Rs. 30,000 (one-time) for presenting research at Scopus/WoS-indexed conferences. Part Time scholars may also explore external funding from bodies like ICSSR or Press Council of India research grants.