Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work at Kristu Jayanti University, Bangalore is a research-oriented doctoral programme designed to develop advanced expertise in social work theory, research methodologies, policy analysis, and practice innovations. The programme prepares scholars for academic, research, and leadership roles in areas such as community development, social policy, mental health, child and family welfare, and participatory practice. The minimum duration is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years (full-time). The annual programme fee is Rs. 65,000 for full-time scholars, and the university provides a monthly fellowship of Rs. 15,000 for eligible full-time scholars after completion of coursework. Admission is through a university PhD entrance test or NET/JRF qualification, followed by a research proposal submission and interview. The programme is popular for its strong research culture, experienced faculty, and KJU's recognition as a research-active deemed university in Bangalore.

Admissions for the Spring 2026-27 batch are closed (deadline was 25th November 2026, entrance test was on 6th December 2026). The next admission cycle (2027-28) is expected to open around September-October 2027 based on previous year patterns. Candidates are advised to monitor the official KJU doctoral research portal for announcements.

Key Points

Research-oriented PhD programme in Social Work covering social work theory, research methodologies, policy analysis, community development, mental health, child and family welfare, and participatory practice.
Minimum duration: 3 years; Maximum duration: 6 years (full-time).
Full-time scholars are eligible for a monthly fellowship of Rs. 15,000 for up to 30 months after completion of coursework.
Annual contingency grant of up to Rs. 10,000 per annum for non-STEM disciplines (Social Work falls under non-STEM).
Scholars with National/State-level Fellowships (UGC-NET JRF, ICSSR, etc.) receive a 33% annual fee waiver.
Annual scholarship of Rs. 10,000 is provided to full-time scholars.
Admission requires qualifying the university PhD entrance test or NET/JRF, submission of a research proposal, and a personal interview.
KJU has a dedicated Research Centre in Social Work, providing a strong research infrastructure for doctoral scholars.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

Kristu Jayanti University (Deemed to be University) Latest Updates and News

14 Apr, 2026 Kristu Jayanti University Admission 2026-27 is open. Apply online @kristujayanti.edu.in.

KJU PhD Social Work Fees

The PhD (Social Work) programme at Kristu Jayanti University has an annual fee of Rs. 65,000 for full-time scholars and Rs. 60,000 for part-time scholars. Full-time scholars receive an annual scholarship of Rs. 10,000 and a monthly fellowship of Rs. 15,000 (after coursework completion), significantly offsetting the cost of the programme. Scholars with national/state-level fellowships receive an additional 33% annual fee waiver.

Annual Fee Structure

Fee Component	Full-Time (Rs.)	Part-Time (Rs.)
Annual Programme Fee	65,000	60,000
Annual Scholarship (Full-time only)	-10,000	N/A
Net Annual Fee (after scholarship)	55,000	60,000

Financial Support for Full-Time Scholars

Support Type	Amount
Monthly Fellowship	Rs. 15,000 per month
Fellowship Duration	Up to 30 months (after coursework completion)
Contingency Grant (Non-STEM)	Up to Rs. 10,000 per annum
Fee Waiver (National/State Fellowship holders)	33% of annual fee

Total Fees (Full-Time, 3 Years minimum)

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Annual Programme Fee x 3 Years	1,95,000
Total Fees (3 Years)	1,95,000

The fellowship of Rs. 15,000/month is available only to full-time scholars after completion of coursework and obtaining full registration order.
Fellowship recipients are required to engage in tutorial or laboratory work and evaluations for a minimum of 6 hours per week.
Part-time scholars are not eligible for the monthly fellowship.
Scholars holding UGC-NET JRF, ICSSR, or other national/state fellowships receive a 33% annual fee waiver.
Application fee details are available on the official KJU doctoral research portal.

KJU PhD Social Work Admission 2026

Admissions to the PhD (Social Work) programme at Kristu Jayanti University are conducted twice a year (Spring and Autumn cycles). The Spring 2026-27 admissions are now closed. The next cycle (Autumn 2027 or Spring 2027-28) is expected to open around September-October 2027. Admission requires qualifying the university PhD entrance test or NET/JRF, submission of a research proposal, and a personal interview.

Admission Dates (Spring 2026-27 - For Reference)

Event	Date
Application Open	1st October 2026
Application Deadline	25th November 2026
Entrance Test and Interview	6th December 2026
Status	CLOSED

Next Cycle (Autumn 2027 / Spring 2027-28 - Tentative)

Event	Tentative Date
Application Open	September-October 2027
Application Deadline	November 2027
Entrance Test and Interview	December 2027

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or equivalent from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent CGPA (50% for reserved categories as per institutional norms).
Candidates must qualify the university PhD entrance test OR hold a valid NET/JRF qualification.
Submission of a research proposal is required as part of the selection process.
A personal interview is conducted as part of the selection process.

Admission Process

Monitor the official KJU doctoral research portal (kristujayanti.edu.in/doctoral-research) for admission notifications.
Register online and pay the application fee when the admission cycle opens.
Submit the research proposal along with the application.
Appear for the university PhD entrance test (if not NET/JRF qualified).
Attend the personal interview at the KJU campus.
Receive admission offer based on entrance test/NET score, research proposal quality, and interview performance.
Complete coursework in the first year before obtaining full registration as a PhD scholar.

KJU PhD Social Work Scholarships 2026

Kristu Jayanti University provides comprehensive financial support for PhD scholars in Social Work. Full-time scholars receive a monthly fellowship, annual scholarship, and contingency grant. Additionally, scholars can avail external fellowships from UGC, ICSSR, and other funding bodies. The university also provides a fee waiver for scholars holding national/state-level fellowships.

Scholarship Details

Fellowship/Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Conditions
KJU Monthly Fellowship	Full-time PhD scholars (after coursework)	Rs. 15,000/month	Up to 30 months; 6 hrs/week teaching/lab duty required
KJU Annual Scholarship	Full-time PhD scholars	Rs. 10,000/year	Applicable each year
Contingency Grant (Non-STEM)	Full-time PhD scholars	Up to Rs. 10,000/year	For research expenses
Fee Waiver	Scholars with National/State Fellowship	33% of annual fee	UGC-NET JRF, ICSSR, etc.
UGC-NET JRF	Candidates qualifying UGC-NET with JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (1st 2 years), Rs. 42,000/month (extended)	Apply via NTA; valid for 5 years
ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship	Social Science PhD scholars	Rs. 25,000/month + contingency	Apply via ICSSR portal
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	SC/ST PhD scholars	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF)	Apply via UGC portal
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Minority community PhD scholars	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF)	Apply via UGC portal

KJU fellowship and scholarship details are subject to change; candidates should verify from the official doctoral research portal.
External fellowships (UGC-NET JRF, ICSSR, RGNF, MANF) are applied for separately through their respective official portals.
Scholars holding external fellowships receive a 33% fee waiver from KJU in addition to their external fellowship amount.

Kristu Jayanti University (Deemed to be University) Ph.D Social Work Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#36 out of 255 in India 2025

#4th in Bangalore

#4 in Karnataka

Indiatoday Ranking

#19 out of 194 in India 2025

#4th in Bangalore

#4 in Karnataka

The Week Ranking

#21 out of 93 in India 2025

#4th in Bangalore

#4 in Karnataka

TOI Ranking

#11 out of 70 in India 2025

#4th in Bangalore

#4 in Karnataka

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KJU PhD Social Work FAQs

Ques. What is the duration of the PhD (Social Work) programme at Kristu Jayanti University?

Ans. The minimum duration of the PhD programme at KJU is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years for full-time scholars. The programme includes a coursework phase in the first year, followed by full registration as a PhD scholar upon successful completion of coursework. The actual duration depends on the research topic, progress, and thesis submission timeline.

Ques. Is NET/JRF mandatory for PhD (Social Work) admission at Kristu Jayanti University?

Ans. No, NET/JRF is not mandatory. Candidates can qualify through the university's own PhD entrance test. However, candidates with a valid UGC-NET JRF or ICSSR fellowship are exempted from the entrance test and also receive a 33% annual fee waiver from KJU. Having NET/JRF significantly strengthens the application.

Ques. What financial support is available for full-time PhD scholars in Social Work at KJU?

Ans. Full-time PhD scholars receive: (1) a monthly fellowship of Rs. 15,000 for up to 30 months after completion of coursework, (2) an annual scholarship of Rs. 10,000, and (3) a contingency grant of up to Rs. 10,000 per annum for research expenses. Scholars with national/state fellowships (UGC-NET JRF, ICSSR, etc.) additionally receive a 33% annual fee waiver.

Ques. What research areas are available for PhD in Social Work at Kristu Jayanti University?

Ans. The PhD in Social Work at KJU covers a wide range of research areas including community development, social policy, mental health and psychiatric social work, child and family welfare, participatory practice, social work education, disability studies, gender studies, tribal welfare, urban poverty, and social entrepreneurship. Candidates should review the research supervisor profiles on the KJU doctoral research portal to identify a suitable guide for their research area.

Ques. Can working professionals pursue PhD (Social Work) at Kristu Jayanti University on a part-time basis?

Ans. Yes, KJU offers the PhD programme in both full-time and part-time modes. Part-time scholars pay an annual fee of Rs. 60,000 (slightly lower than full-time). However, part-time scholars are not eligible for the monthly fellowship of Rs. 15,000. Working professionals in social work, NGOs, government agencies, or academia often opt for the part-time mode to balance their professional commitments with doctoral research.

Ques. When is the next PhD (Social Work) admission cycle at Kristu Jayanti University?

Ans. The Spring 2026-27 admission cycle is now closed (deadline was 25th November 2026). KJU typically conducts PhD admissions twice a year. The next cycle (Autumn 2027 or Spring 2027-28) is expected to open around September-October 2027. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor the official KJU doctoral research portal at kristujayanti.edu.in/doctoral-research for updated admission notifications.