PhD in English Literature in India
Holding a doctoral degree in English Literature can get you to places of great success. Find out what's in store through a PhD in English Literature in India.
PhD in English Literature in India
PhD in English Literature in India - A PhD or Doctor of Philosophy programme in English Literature is a doctorate-level course. The duration of the course can be anywhere between 3 to 5 years. Students of postgraduate programmes in English and English Lit often aim to get a PhD. However, achieving this aim is no cakewalk. While some institutes that offer PhD programmes may admit students based on merit, more than often students have to take some entrance exam to bag a seat. Those who have completed their master’s degree in English language and have obtained a minimum of 55% marks are considered eligible for PhD entrance exams. The entrance tests are followed by personal interviews. Learn more about PhD in English Literature in India on this page. Also, find out what are some of the best institutes to pursue a PhD and more. Read on.
PhD in English Literature Course: Highlights
Some key details about PhD programmes in English Lit are provided in the table below.
| Particulars |
Statistics |
|---|---|
| Course Level |
Doctorate |
| Full Form |
Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature |
| Duration |
2-5 years |
| Examination Type |
Semester/Annual as per college norms |
| Eligibility |
Master’s degree in English Language with a minimum of 55% marks |
| Admission Process |
Merit-based or entrance-based |
| Course Fees |
INR 10,000 to INR 1,30,000 |
| Average Salary |
INR 4.5 to 6 Lakhs |
| Recruiting Companies |
Media Houses, Publishing Houses, Education Institutions, Translation Houses etc. |
| Job Roles |
English Professor, Translator, Journalist, English Teacher, Editor, Public Relation Officer, Critic Writer, Technical Writer |
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PhD in English Literature Eligibility Criteria
Aspiring PhD English Literature students must fulfil the following requirements.
- Aspirants should have completed their Master’s degree in English language with a minimum of 55% marks from a recognised University.
- There may be a relaxation of 5% marks for reserved category students.
- Aspirants should have obtained valid marks required in the entrance examination conducted by the college or university.
- Notably, in some colleges, an M.Phil is a prerequisite for getting admission to PhD English Literature courses.
PhD English Literature Entrance Exams
One of the most widely accepted entrance exams for admissions to PhD English Literature is UGC NET. Notably, some of the universities or colleges conduct their own entrance exams for providing admission to PhD. Such entrance exams, including UGC NET, are discussed in the space below.
UGC NET: The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals to become Assistant Professors as well as gain Junior Research Fellowships + Assistant Professor Positions in Indian Universities and Colleges. The exam is conducted twice a year, once in June and once in December.
GATE: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an examination that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science for admission into the Masters Program and Recruitment by some Public Sector Companies. GATE Examination is conducted jointly by the Indian Institutes of Technology on behalf of the National Coordination Board – GATE, The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India. A valid score of GATE is accepted by IITs for admission to PhD.
JNUEE: Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Exams (JNUEE) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to provide admission to several courses including M.Phil/ PhD.
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PhD English Literature Top Colleges
Some renowned colleges that offer PhD in English Literature are listed below.
| Top Colleges for PhD English Literature |
|---|
PhD English Literature Syllabus
Before getting into the course, students often seek to understand the syllabus of PhD programmes. The simple answer to this is that no definitive syllabi are associated with PhD programmes. The courses mainly consist of research work, theory and writing conclusions. Despite the lack of a defined syllabus, a PhD in English Literature in India may revolve around the following topics and subjects.
| PhD English Literature Topics | |
|---|---|
| Literature in the Twentieth Century |
Medieval Literature |
| Literary Criticism and Theory |
African-American Literature |
| Colonial and Post-Colonial Literature |
Lesbians, Gay and Bisexual Literature |
| Prose Fiction |
Renaissance Literature |
| Dramatic Literature |
English Poetry |
| Women’s Literature |
- |
What Entails a PhD in English Literature Course?
Another big question that arises in the minds of potential PhD students is what their lives will look like during their programme. What will they actually do? The straightforward answer to this is research. That, in fact, is true but there are other elements to the programme. Let's list them out.
- Advanced Course Work - PhD students often pick a literary period, style, genre, theory and the works of other great scholars to study and specialise in. Even though there are mentors, advisors and supervisors, their study is primarily self-guided. Sometimes it can go beyond traditional and former classroom experiences and the whole course experience may vary from person to person.
- Research - By definition, a PhD course involves a lot of research. This extensive research usually involves going through original works, papers, scholarly articles, essays, criticisms, etc. Based on this research, students are expected to document their findings, and their own criticisms and opinions.
- Seminars - PhD programmes feature numerous seminars where like-minded people come and discuss their research methods and trends, and discuss literary works.
- Proposal Development for Dissertation - This is just defining and outlining your original research topic that will be central to a student’s dissertation.
- Writing Dissertation - Commonly known as ‘writing a thesis’, this is seemingly the main event of a PhD programme. As the norm goes, this must be an original piece of work that adds to the knowledge and understanding of English Literature.
- Dissertation Defense - Dissertation Defense is the big finale of a PhD programme, where students present their work and answer any questions raised in front of a panel of faculty members.
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Aayushi is a BAJMC graduate and an ardent consumer of content with a keen passion for film, TV and books. She specialises in Mass Communication and Humanities related exams, entrances and courses.