M.Phil (Master of Philosophy): Full Form, Admission 2025, Course, Fees, Syllabus, Jobs, Salary, Top Colleges

MPhil is a course that can be pursued after a postgraduate degree. It is research-based. Candidates from any field can pursue an MPhil programme. The MPhil curriculum involves both theoretical and practical subjects. The MPhil Course has long been viewed as a link between the master's and doctorate programmes. The course is offered in India as well as abroad. The MPhil subjects are based on the specialisation opted for. The MPhil course duration is 2 years.

The MPhil Programme has long been considered a stepping stone between master's and PhD programmes. The course assists the candidates in developing a comprehensive approach to teaching the mind of the students about the complexities of research, as well as research knowledge and skills that would be helpful in pursuing a full-scale PhD programme. MPhil programme offers job security and high pay to the graduates and they can start earning salary between INR 5 to 10 lakh.

Research is a major component of MPhil programmes, offering chances to hone advanced research abilities. You'll gain information on how to plan and carry out independent research, evaluate data, and add to the corpus of knowledge already known in your profession. 

The M.Phil course duration used to be 2 years. Since the MPhil course has been discontinued, students can now directly pursue a PhD degree after they have completed a 4-year UG degree (3+1 year of research) if they graduate with at least 75% marks and are able to clear the UGC NET exam. 

An M.Phil course is an advanced, higher-level master's research degree that is pursued by students after completing their postgraduate degree.  It is a bridge course between a Masters programme and a PhD that allowed students to pursue supervised research projects to help prepare for a PhD. An M.Phil degree has now been discontinued by UGC under the NEP 2020.

The M.Phil degree is now invalid after the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India declared it as discontinued. Students cannot pursue an M.Phil degree from government colleges as it is no longer recognized. 

Only the students who wish to pursue an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology and M.Phil Psychiatric Social Work programs can pursue it since they have been allowed an extension till 2026.

However, some private colleges and institutes continue to offer MPhil in other specializations as well, and students still pursue an M.Phil despite the orders and warnings from UGC.

Hope this helps you.

Before it was discontinued, the eligibility criteria to pursue an M.Phil course required students to complete their postgraduate degree with at least 45–50% marks. The MPhil degree allowed students to explore research and develop skills that would help them in completing a PhD.

No, you should have completed a master's degree before pursuing MPhil. As per the eligibility criteria in Indian colleges you should have completed postrgraduate course with at least 45%-50% marks. If you are interested in research field and you have completed a 4 year bachelor's degree then you can pursue PhD directly after graduation.

No, to be eligible for MPhil course with Political Science specialisation you should have completed MA Political Science. Though International Relations falls under the larger domain of Political Science, we cannot consider MA Political Science and MA International Relations to be same. However, there could be some state universities or private institutes which can offer you admission in MPhil course irrespective of your specialisation in MA.

Hi!

Students who wish to take up an MPhil course can still pursue it through private institutes where it is still available. For admission to any university for an advanced postgraduate degree like an M.Phil, students are generally asked to submit documents like:

• Class X, XII Mark Sheet
• Graduation, Post-Graduation Degree
• Photo ID Proof (like: Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, etc.)
• Candidate's Photograph
• Candidate's Signature
• Caste Certificate (if the candidate applies for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD reservation)

To score well in PUBDET, candidates have to thoroughly go through the prescribed syllabus. Even if it's general topics that you have covered, go through them once again. Strategize your plans on an hourly, daily, and weekly basis. 

Here are some strategies that you can use in your preparation:

• Cover the subjects thoroughly and know the important topics which have to be covered.
• Segregate the subjects and topics into easy and difficult categories. Cover topics that you find challenging.
• Note down the topics which carry maximum weightage (based on previous years’ question papers).

Yes, MPhil can be pursued in distance learning mode as well. The MPhil programme lasts two years on average, but can be extended to one more year with payment of a penalty amount. Candidates, who are female and have a disability of at least 40%, are also given a one-year grace period to finish their degrees.

The course fees ranges from INR 7500 to INR 15,000 To complete the admissions process, students must successfully finish each university's unique entrance examination. In some circumstances, during the admissions process, work experience certifications must also be submitted.

Yes, an MPhil is considered a research-oriented degree(advanced postgraduate degree) that primarily focuses on conducting independent research, though some of the programs also include a coursework component. It involves substantial research work and is not as expensive as a PhD.

Hello!

IGNOU no longer offers an MPhil degree or specialization, as it has been declared invalid by the UGC in 2020. Master's graduates are now eligible to directly pursue a PhD after they complete their postgraduate degree. Students who wish to continue their education after their PG but are reluctant about a PhD programme can also go for PG Diploma courses, as they are generally shorter and offer specializations.

Hope this answers your doubt.

The books followed in MPhil course would depend on the colleges you have joined. Here are some books followed by Delhi University for MPhil English:

If you are going to pursue an MPhil in Geography then you will study subjects like Research methodology, Geography of regional development, Advanced social geography, Spatial aspects of Infrastructure and development, Population urbanization and migration and Dissertation.

The MPhil degree is comparatively tough. It is a challenging, transitional degree that allows students to conduct research under the supervision of their professors and hone skills that will help them conduct independent research. Since students are required to conduct research, write a thesis, and present their research, it becomes a particularly hard course and requires sincerity, interest, and critical and logical thinking. Students also learn how to compose their arguments in a well-structured manner.

Hello! 

The M.Phil degree was declared invalid after the announcement by UGC in 2020. However, students who wish to pursue an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology and an M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work programs still have the opportunity to pursue it till the academic year of 2025-26. The UGC has declared these courses as an exception, citing their essential role in service to society. The students who graduate with an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology and an M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work programs, generally pursue professions where they offer mental health services and help people treat mental issues and disorders. The M.Phil degree is an important stepping stone for these professions as it helps students pursue a license as a Clinical Psychologist in India. It is still undeclared what the procedure will be after the 2025-26 batch of students.

Students who wish to pursue the M.Phil in Clinical Psychology and an M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work programs are advised to visit the official website of University Grants Commission and read about the M.Phil course details.

Hope this answer helps you.

If you are thinking of pursuing an MPhil course then the fee structure of the college is an important criteria. You can find several colleges that offer MPhil with an affordable fee structure. You can also apply for scholarships based on socio-economic conditions and merit. Many colleges also offer concessions in fees to students who have shown exceptional performance in arenas except academics such as sports, arts etc.

I have mentioned the list of some government and private colleges that provide MPhil courses in India:

Almost every student just like you looks for placement scenario of the college before taking admission in MPhil course. The companies visit the college campus. The packages that will offer will depend on your college’s rank and various other factors. You would have to attend several rounds of the selection process which usually includes written test, interview and HR round.

I am have written the names of colleges with good placement records here:

 To become a professor, the first step that you need to clear is pursuing a Master. After completing the Masters, you should go for the UGC NET Exam. The UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is conducted by the National Testing Agency NTA to select the candidates for Lectureships and Junior Research Fellowships.

 The exam is conducted twice a year in 81 subjects like Humanities, English Literature, Management, etc. Make sure that you meet the required eligibility criteria before applying for this exam like qualification, age norms, etc. There are also other exams like CSIR NET SET, GATE, etc. That can help you pursue your dream of becoming a Professor.

 Many universities provide financial aid for MPhil students in the form of scholarships, fellowships, grants, or assistantships. These sources of funding can help with tuition costs, pay a stipend for living expenses, or even provide money for research.

Moreover, some MPhil programmes provide research assistantships,  in which students collaborate on studies with professors. These jobs may be salaried or come with stipends. A Ph.D. programme can be acquired through an MPhil. It enables you refine your research interests, acquire research experience, and even draft a research proposal for a PhD dissertation.

Yes! You are eligible to pursue a career as a teacher if you have completed an M.Phil degree. However, you should consider also pursuing a B.Ed. It will help you increase your chances of securing a job in a school, as most schools prefer to hire teachers with a B.Ed. If you want to become a government school teacher, you will also have to clear the TET examination, which is conducted annually and is used for hiring teachers in government schools across India.

Best of luck!

No, it is not necessary to have an MPhil to apply for a PhD although having an MPhil makes one more competitive as they are usually already familiar with the system. Having achieved a Master’s degree is the most common prerequisite for most, though not all, PhD programs. However, there are some exceptions:

1. Specific programme requirements: An MPhil might be needed for certain fields of study or for an integrated BPhil/PhD programme to be done before receiving a Ph.D.

2. Individual university requirements: Some universities may have their own unique admission requirements besides, MPhil may be required.

3. Research experience: Therefore doing an MPhil though not compulsory could prove useful in giving the student prior experience in his research task and to prepare him or her for the rigors of a PhD program.

While not always mandatory, publishing research papers during your MPhil can enhance your academic profile and help in pursuing further studies and careers.

No, the MPhil is not recognized internationally, because the University Grant Commission (UGC) of India has announced that it i no longer a recognized degree."The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India announced in 2022 that the MPhil degree is no longer valid, discontinuing it as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020."