PhD in Development Studies Course, Subjects, Syllabus, Online, Top Colleges 2023

PhD in Development Studies aka doctorate of philosophy in Developmental Studies happens to be a multidisciplinary course of 3-years duration with the examinations being conducted semester-wise primarily.

Although the candidates also have annual examinations to move ahead into the next session or year. The 3-year course is divided into 6 semesters. Primarily, developmental studies are a branch belonging to the stream of Arts and humanities. 

Doctorate in philosophy in Development Studies can be pursued by any candidate who aspires to be of substantial service to the world and bring about a change in the global and political Scenario of a country.

There are several colleges offering this 3-year course of doctorate in philosophy (Ph.D.) in Development Studies for candidates having completed their post-graduation in relevant art-based streams like history, social science, political science, humanities, economics, geography, philosophy, journalism, law etc. to name a few.

Minimum eligibility criteria which acts as a necessary requirement for the acceptance of candidates into doctoral in philosophy in Development Studies includes minimum passing with an aggregate of 55% during masters or any relevant post graduate courses in arts stream

Post-doctoral graduates are eligible to apply for different positions after the 3-year doctorate in philosophy in Development Studies course which may include foreign service officer, a senior executive in public or private sector company or firm, foreign or social diplomat, politician, community development worker, world peace activist etc.

They can even work as international youth workers, lecturers or teachers, professors in reputed universities, researchers and more. The average initial salary for newly joined candidates in government services happens to be INR 15,000.

City wise or state wise distribution of top colleges providing PhD or M. Phil in Development Studies are as follows:

The fee structure for the 3-year duration of the entire course is set up by the respective colleges of either the private or government sector. Although normally, the range of fees as asked for by government run universities starts from around 15,000 INR to 45,000 INR per annum.

Some of the major positions at avail to a PhD in Development Studies student includes economic policy analyst, foreign relations officer, market researcher, volunteer coordinator or recruiter, project coordinator, development manager, policy risk analyst, international youth worker, international communications expert, government relations advisor, intelligence officer, immigration officer, diplomat etc.

The average salary expectations that is met by a newly joined trainee immediately after completing his or her doctorate in Developmental studies happens to be around 15,000 INR per annum which may extend up to around INR 10-15 lakhs per annum after having gained some experience and expertise in the professional matters and execution.

For candidates who are interested to pursue further senior research fellowship in Developmental studies or post-doctoral courses they may opt for various disciplines which include industrial organization, urbanism, biostatistics, etc.

PhD in Developmental Studies: What is About?

Doctorate in philosophy in Developmental studies happens to be a multidisciplinary course with a duration of 3 years.

• After the completion of 3 years the PhD candidate is expected to have completed his or her thesis to get his or her post-doctoral fellowship.
• The 3 years are divided into 6 semesters and the examinations conducted are semester wise as well as session wise held.
• The major eligibility criterion for any candidate to appear for the entrance examinations happens to be having completed post-graduation or master's in any of the relevant Arts field which include social studies, humanities, psychology, political science, English literature, history, geography, anthropology, management, law, economics, international relations and other allied streams, with at least a minimum aggregate of 55% or more.
• The candidate if eligible needs to appear for the common entrance examinations conducted by respective colleges or universities or the national common PhD entrance examinations like GATE, CSIR-UGC NET, CUET etc.
• The candidate needs to qualify exceptionally well in both the entrance examination and the subsequent interview conducted by the respective university in order to finally enter the selection criterion for admission.
• The fee structure is unique to different universities as per their stipulated goals and net expenditures annually. Although, on an average the college fee ranges from INR 14,000 to INR 30,000 annually in a government college.
• Again, the expected salary varies in dependence with the company recruiting the post-doctoral candidate and his or her work efficiency and sincerity. But the initial starting fees for a newly recruited candidate happens to be around 15,000 INR per annum.

Why should a student opt for a PhD in Development Studies?

The answer is pretty simple and evident enough. This course is a very crucial requirement for students interested to make a difference in the current global and national trends, social inequalities persisting in the present era, to get rid of economic stagnancy, educational and employment unavailability to each and every citizen. 

• All the aspects that any non-governmental organization covers, can easily be taken control of by a postdoctoral candidate from Development Studies as he or she will have basic idea as to how to get rid of the real problem from its base so as to lead the path towards betterment and progress in the community as a whole.
•  The skills gained after the 3 months’ duration are varied but useful in the longer run be it the inculcated communication skills which help the candidate further in the field of consultancy, diplomacy or to pursue law. 
• Apart from that, critical and analytic skills help the individual to lay down a path as a policy analyst or business analyst. 
• The candidate overtime acquires organizational skills, the mere ability to plan an entire project and organize an event helps him or her as a developer in the longer run. 
• The quantitative and qualitative skills gained during essential study related surveys help the individual to grow as a researcher. 
• Besides, the interdisciplinary approach of teaching allows the candidate to draw references from different cultures and countries to draw out an appropriate conclusion as to how to not repeat past mistakes in the present era. 
• The ability to organize and manage a project by one's own self allows him or her to become productive as a future executive or proficient leader.
• The candidate can also successfully become an international communications expert after undergoing the 3-years-duration.
• Apart from that he can further specialize in trade relations and import export units as a diplomat or as a consultant.

Other Allied Courses:

PhD in Development Studies is not the only course oriented towards a common goal or with the eligibility criteria including post-graduation students from Arts stream like history, sociology, psychology, humanities, geography etc.

Candidates who have completed masters or M. Phil in these allied subjects may also opt for their corresponding PhD courses which are again mostly of 3-year duration similar to PhD in Development Studies.

Which are the PhD in Development Studies Top Colleges?

Name Of College	Average Course Fees	Average Placement Package
Presidency College, Chennai	INR 1500	INR 3.8 LPA
Hindu College University of Delhi, New Delhi	INR 16,590	INR 5 LPA
St. Stephen's College, Delhi	INR 35,000	INR 6.5 LPA
Madras Christian College (MCC), Chennai	INR 25,919	INR 2.31 LPA
Miranda House University of Delhi, New Delhi	INR 14,600	INR 6.40 LPA
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi	-	INR 4.95 LPA
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar	INR 9,500	INR 3.2 LPA
University Of Mysore	INR 11,000	INR 3.80 LPA
Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottyam	INR 28,600	INR 2.90 LPA
Indira Gandhi Institute Of Development Research	INR 32,000	INR 3.6 LPA

What are the PhD in Development Studies Job Prospects?

For a candidate who has finished junior research fellowship or doctorate in Development Studies, the probabilities of getting a decent paid job with decent manageable salary is innumerous provided he or she does want to go ahead with working as a part of any company or sector.

• In case the candidates do opt for certain predetermined jobs they can try stepping into the world of politics by being a member of any political organization, Non-governmental organizations, public or private sector.
• Having been trained in the art of management, planning and execution; they are highly skilled to work in managerial or executive posts in well-known companies.
• Apart from that their flair in linguistics and interpersonal and intercultural interaction skills be it via speech or writing, makes them especially good at consultations and diplomacy in trade relations and business sectors.
• Their flexible mannerisms while facing a major crisis during an ongoing project and critical or analytical intellectual capacities makes them great assets as project managers or designers or planners or organizers.
• Apart from that they are free to join the immigration department, foreign relations office, any community development association, any fundraising non-governmental organizations where they shall be tasked with voluntary work. Apart from that such candidates are also eligible to take a dive into the world of journalism and tourism. They can work as market researcher, research assistant, risk analyst etc.
• Besides, internationally they can work as world peace activists or human rights advocates. Many candidates opt for working in law firms and agencies as well. And many others try taking up lectureship in a reputed University. 

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Salary
Lecturer or Professor	A lecturer or professor is an individual charged with the task to teach students, prepare question papers, correct the students' answer sheets, invigilate during examinations etc.	INR 4.63 LPA
Social servant/worker	A social worker is a person who works in a nonprofit organization with the primary goal to bring about a change in the community and help each and every member of the society so as to cure it of all the dimensions be it economic, health, inequality etc.	INR 2.52 LPA
Brand Manager	A brand manager is responsible for supervising the activities of each and every individual under him, assign projects, oversee the progression of those projects and send them for approval etc.	INR 9.14 LPA
Policy Analysts	Such policy analysts are tasked with the work of making new policies, reviewing new terms and conditions, scraping out the outdated ones so as to increase the efficiency of the company or firm as a whole.	INR 6.5 LPA
Foreign Service Officer	Foreign service officer works with the country's foreign service agencies or embassies to ensure the safety of a foreign national or an Indian citizen travelling abroad. He is supposed to maintain diplomatic relationships with agents from other countries.	INR 4.8 LPA

What is the Future Scope in PhD in Development Studies?

PhD in Development Studies is not a very recent field that came into existence. Yet, it is growing in prominence especially when post-doctoral specializations and senior research fellowships are concerned in the field of environmental studies to:

• Understand the determinants or key factors harming and destabilizing the normal balance maintained in the biosphere, community development and public health sector to work in conjunction with the community medicine workers.
• Trade and investment, sustainable development and future goals to control environmental degradation and at the same time provide the necessities to the human race, studying the population statistics
• Key determinants of population boom, its effect on the globe as a whole and how to control overpopulation and the associated scarcity issues that arise with the same.
• Advocacy of world peace and as a part of United Nations Organizations, diplomats can pave the way for a much more harmonious earth.
• Other courses related to Development Studies include PhD Sociology, PhD in Humanities and Social Science, PhD in Psychology, and PhD in Political Science which try to bring out similar community based issues and social issues into light and how to solve them.