Ph.D. in Management

Offered at: Pilani

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Cultivating Research Excellence in Management Studies


The Ph.D. in Management at BITS Pilani welcomes researchers to address leading-edge research in areas such as leadership, strategy, organisational dynamics and innovation. The programme supports full and part-time researchers who wish to research diverse and often practical research questions associated with business issues such as digital transformation, global supply chains, sustainability and human-centred management. At BITS Pilani, students work closely with faculty, researchers and industry experts- not just to deepen theory, but to turn ideas into practical solutions that make a difference in business and society. The programme emphasises methodological strength, ethical research behaviour and significant impact, resulting in graduates who pursue academic research careers, consultancy roles or senior management roles across public and private sectors.


Know More

Students offered an Institute fellowship will receive ₹37,000 per month. The fellowship may be enhanced to ₹40,000 or ₹42,000 after two years, based on performance.

Institute Fellows will also receive a contingency amount of ₹20,000 per year. Students admitted through Sponsored Projects will receive fellowship support in accordance with the funding agency guidelines.

Key Research Milestones

Research Areas Expanding the Foundations of Management

The Department offers a full-time Ph.D. programme in the following thrust areas of its research.

Finance & Accounting

Marketing

Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management

Operations Management & Decision Sciences

Information Technology & Technology Management

Strategy & Entrepreneurship

Ph.D. Admission and Support Information

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:


  • M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm./MBA/M.Phil. (or equivalent) with minimum 60% aggregate.
  • M.Sc./B.E./B.Pharm. (or equivalent) with minimum 60% aggregate.
  • M.A. degree holders with minimum 55% aggregate may apply.
  • Minimum one year of relevant work experience is mandatory.

Additional Notes

  • Meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee admission.
  • Departments may set additional shortlisting criteria—candidates must check departmental webpages for details.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written test and/or interview, as recommended by the Department Research Committee (DRC).
  • Coursework requirements:
    • First Degree holders (M.Sc., B.E., B.Pharm., etc.): Minimum 6 courses / 24 units in the first two semesters.
    • Higher Degree holders (M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm./MBA/M.Phil., etc.): Minimum 2 courses / 6 units in the first semester.
  • Admission is provisional and confirmed after clearing the qualifying exam and/or approval of the PhD proposal by the DRC.

  • All full-time PhD students admitted to the PhD program will receive a fellowship for up to a maximum of five years.
  • The fellowship could be from the Institute or the Sponsored Projects. PhD students may also be eligible for their own fellowship if qualified through the UGC/CSIR NET.
  • Students offered an Institute fellowship will receive ₹37,000 per month. The fellowship may be enhanced to ₹40,000/- or ₹42,000/- after two years, based on performance. Institute Fellows will also receive a contingency amount of ₹20,000/- per year.
  • Students offered admission through Sponsored Projects would receive the fellowship in accordance with the funding agency guidelines.
  • BITS Pilani provides International Travel Support of up to ₹1.5 lakh to full-time PhD students to present their work in an international conference

Application Process

  1. The online admission portal opens on 26 September 2025.
  2. Eligible candidates must apply through the official application form available at the provided admission website. No hard copy needs to be sent.
  3. Applicants must register online using a valid mobile number and email ID to generate login credentials.
  4. Candidates must select their preferred BITS Pilani campus(es) while filling the form.
    1. Preferences must be chosen carefully.
    2. They cannot be changed after submission.
  5. The completed application form and the prescribed application fee must be submitted online before the deadline.
  1. Last date to submit the application form: 17 November 2025, 5:00 PM.
  2. A non-refundable application fee of ₹2600 is payable at submission.
  3. Only one application is allowed.
    1. An edit option will be available until the deadline for correcting any mistakes.
  4. The final admission decision will be made by the Institute’s Admission Committee, and the decision will be binding on all applicants.

To learn more about the Ph.D admissions process at BITS Pilani, please visit the website https://www.bitsadmission.com

Faculty Shaping the Next Generation of Management Scholars

Abhishek Verma


Assistant Professor,
Department of Management, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Achint Nigam


Assistant Professor,
Department of Management, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Ajay Prasad Adepu


Instructor (Off Campus),
Department of Management, BITS Pilani

You Asked.
We Answered.

At BITS Pilani, the Ph.D in Management is a research degree with work across Finance & Accounting, Marketing, OB/HR, Operations & Decision Sciences, IT/Technology Management and Strategy & Entrepreneurship under faculty supervision.

Doctoral work at BITS Pilani combines department-approved coursework (typically 6 months), qualifying/selection milestones and guided research leading to a thesis.

For full-time entry, BITS Pilani lists 60% (or 6.0 CGPA) with degrees such as MBA, M.Phil (Social/Behavioral Sciences), M.E./M.Tech. in Industrial Engineering or any Higher Degree from BITS. Part-time applicants need the same academic minimum and must be working professionals.

Shortlisted candidates at BITS Pilani take a one-hour, application-based written test in Business & Management (to assess fundamentals and research aptitude), followed by interviews based on test performance.

Yes. BITS Pilani admits part-time Ph.D scholars who are employed, can obtain an employer No-Objection Certificate and have a workplace that supports research; an “Aspirant” route also exists for industry/ R & D collaborators.

At BITS Pilani, shortlisted Ph.D candidates complete department-prescribed coursework (about one semester) before advancing; the Department Research Committee sets what you must take.

The Management Ph.D runs across BITS Pilani’s Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa and Hyderabad campuses through the institute’s central Ph.D admissions.

Yes. Full-time Ph.D. scholars at BITS Pilani are eligible for fellowships. Institute Fellows receive ₹37,000 per month, which may increase to ₹40,000-₹42,000 after two years plus a ₹20,000 yearly contingency. Scholars through sponsored projects receive support as per funding agency rules.

Apply online via the central Ph.D admissions portal of BITS Pilani during the announced cycle; campus contacts and timelines are posted on the same portal.

BITS Pilani runs institute-wide recruiter engagement and campus hiring seasons; while doctoral outcomes vary by research area, the central placement ecosystem and networks support career exploration in academia and industry.

Campus
Pilani
Goa
Hyderabad
Program Type
PhD
Content Type
Courses
Degree
Doctoral Degree