PhD Planning Admission, Colleges, Syllabus, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Jobs, Salary 2023

Q: What is the eligibility to apply for a PhD in Planning ?

Candidates should hold a Masters Degree in a field related to Planning such as Infrastructure / Housing / Transport / Urban Design / Urban Management from a recognized university/institution with a minimum aggregate of 60% marks or equivalent grade B in the UGC 7 point scale or equivalent.

PhD Planning is an academic research course for a minimum of 3 years. This course basically deals with the designs and organization of town planning or urban space based on the conditions determined for the community.

It focuses on the development of the built environment, ranging from the scaled specifics of street signs to the eye views of birds.

Check Top PhD Planning Colleges in India

The PhD Planning Syllabus is well divided into coursework and research work during which a thesis is carried out under supervision. The subject integrates Art, Science and Technology involving the creation of an interdisciplinary skill set, drawing on elements of Mathematics and Engineering, coupled with imagination and an awareness of Contemporary Technology, Social Issues, and Cultural Patterns.

To be considered eligible to apply to this course, candidates must hold a M.Arch. Planning degree with an aggregate of at least 60% marks.

Admission to this course will be done based on the performance of candidates in the entrance exam and personal interview. National level entrance such as UGC NET / GATE / SLET or university level test is required to secure a seat in the PhD program. This course provides the students with the quality education that serves the needs of the industry or the purpose of teaching and research. The average fees for PhD in Planning ranges from INR 60,000 to INR 7,00,000 in different colleges.

The average placement offer stands in the range of INR 3,00,000 to INR 30,00,000, depending on the candidate’s experience and skill sets.

On completion of this course, candidates will be able to find jobs as an Architecture Manager, Design Engineer, Architect, Project Manager, and so on in Planning, Designing, Town-planning, Urban Planning, Architecture, etc.

If the candidates wish to opt for further research in the field of Planning, they can also become independent researchers.

Table of Content

PhD Planning Course Highlights
PhD Planning: What is it about?

2.1 Why PhD Planning?

PhD in Planning Admission Process

3.1 Eligibility Criteria

3.2 Entrance Exams

PhD Planning Top Colleges

4.1 College Comparison

PhD Planning Syllabus
Course Comparison
PhD Planning Jobs Prospectus

7.1 Future Scope

FAQs

PhD Planning Course Highlights

The major highlights of the PhD Planning course are provided in the table given below:

Course level	Doctorate
Duration	3 years - 5 years
Examination Type	Semester
Eligibility Criteria	M.Arch in Planning or equivalent
Admission Process	Entrance Test + Personal Interview
Course Fee	INR 60,000 - INR 7,00,000
Average Salary	INR 3,00,000 - INR 30,00,000
Top Recruiting Areas	Architectural Services, Construction Sites, Consultancy, Real Estate, Public Administration and Defence Industries, Industrial Production/Manufacturing Plants, Scientific Research and Development Services, Educational Institutes, Colleges, etc.
Job Positions	Architect Technologist, Environmental Consultant, Rural Surveyor, Quality Surveyor, Town Planner, Architecture Manager, Design Engineer, Architect, Project Manager, etc.

PhD Planning: What is it about?

Read the points given below to know what PhD Planning is all about:

Why PhD Planning?

A PhD Planning course helps the students to understand the content of designs and the context in which they are being made, such as the location of mechanical systems and how they affect the operations of the building.
This course offers an opportunity to use computer-aided design and drafting technology as part of building information modeling to create plans.
Candidates can work in local or regional public, public policy, urban planning, and transport planning as an architectural planner.
It also offers an opportunity to collaborate with other engineers and architects who focus on the practical layout or construction project aesthetics.
With this course, students will be able to earn handsome salaries ranging between INR 3,00,000 and INR 30,00,000. However, how much you can earn will totally depend on you.
It improves your prospects of highly-paid employment and opens up a wide range of opportunities.
The Planning sector is growing with a high growth rate and if your concepts are clear, this program can place you in the topmost and prestigious positions of the top firms.

PhD in Planning Admission Process

PhD admissions are done mainly through Entrance Exam followed by Personal Interview conducted by the respective institute/university.
Candidates who have qualified National level Entrance Tests such as UGC NET / GATE / SLET are exempted from the university level exams but will have to qualify the personal interviews before securing a seat in the college.
Application forms for admissions are invited generally during January and June for the PhD program on web portals/newspapers/websites of the college/university.
Reservation in seats will be offered to SC / ST / EWS / OBC NCL / PwD candidates as per Govt. of India rules.

Entrance Based Admission

Candidates need to register on the official website by providing their email id, mobile number, and password.
Fill the online application form.
On the given exam date, candidates will have to appear for the entrance exam.
Results will be announced based on the marks obtained by the students and institutes cut off, seats and academic records of the candidate. Afterwards, seats are allocated.
Candidates who have appeared and qualified National level entrance exams are exempted from university-level exams but they have to appear for a personal interview round.

Merit Based Admission

Admission applications are available on the website/college sales counter.
The application should be filled with personal details and academic details with required documents and submit the same with the application fee.
Institute / College may specify a higher credit requirement for their PhD program.
The Selection Committee will call eligible candidates possessing the minimum educational qualifications and satisfying score in the entrance exam and satisfying additional and stiffer criteria set from time to time, for an interview and/or test.
Based on the academic record and the performance of the candidates in selection criteria, candidates found suitable for admission will be accepted.

PhD Planning Eligibility Criteria

The candidates wanting to pursue a PhD in Planning should fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria mentioned below :

Candidates should hold a Master’s Degree in a field related to Planning such as Infrastructure / Housing / Transport / Urban Design / Urban Management from a recognized university.
Bachelor of Architecture or Planning followed by a Master’s Degree in any Specialization/ Bachelor of Civil Engineering followed by a Master’s Degree in any specialization of Planning.
Minimum aggregate of 60% marks or equivalent grade B in the UGC 7 point scale or equivalent in the Master’s Degree.
Candidates holding a B.Arch securing a CGPA of 7.5 on a point scale of 10 can be considered for PhD in Planning.
In the case of reserved category SC / ST / OBC / PH candidates, relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade is given as per UGC guidelines.
Candidates with NET JRF / NET LS / M.Phil. are exempted from appearing for university conducted entrance written tests, but need to appear for the personal interview round.
There is no requirement bar of age to apply for the course.
Candidates should have good communication skills or the ability to express themselves verbally as well as in writing.

PhD in Planning Entrance Exams

Candidates need to qualify the entrance exams conducted by UGC, State, or university to secure a seat in the PhD program. Below is a list of some of the top entrance exams:

Entrance Exam	Registration Date	Exam Date
CSIR UGC NET (June Session)	2nd week of March – 2nd week of April 2023	3rd week of June 2023
UGC NET (July Session)	December 29, 2022 – January 23, 2023	February 21, 2023 – March 10, 2023
ICAR AICE JRF/SRF	To be Announced	To be Announced

How to prepare for a PhD Planning Entrance Exam ?

Some of the important tips that students can follow in order to perform well in the entrance exam are given below:

Candidates should know the basics of the topics covered in Planning.
Be well versed with subjects studied while pursuing a Postgraduate degree.
Based on the previous year’s paper, lay out a study plan which will allow you to cover the syllabus as well as revise it efficiently.
The PhD Planning entrance exam question paper is divided into objective type (Multiple Choice Questions) and subjective type questions, and the examination period is two hours, or in some cases three hours.
Practicing sample question papers and model tests certainly offers students an advantage because they can learn the exam's style and layout well beforehand.
Consulting a student who is pursuing a PhD in Planning can give a clear picture and a lot of guidance for the test.

How to get admission in a top PhD Planning College?

To secure a seat in a good college for a PhD Planning degree, candidates must hold an exceptional academic record.
Candidates must look out for advertisements for PhD Admissions in order to be aware of the vacancy in the research area of your choice.
Candidates must appear for National Entrance Tests and score high ranking marks to secure a seat in a good college.
Candidates should put their time and effort in the preparation of the entrance exam.
Be thorough with post-graduation subjects.
Look out for the eligibility, cut-offs, selection criteria, admission process, application procedure, and other updates to benefit you for better preparation.

Top Colleges for PhD Planning

Some of the top colleges offering PhD Planning course in India are as follows:

NIRF Architecture Ranking	Name of the Institute	City	Admission Process	Average Course Fee	Average Placement Package
1	IIT Kharagpur	Kharagpur	Entrance Test	INR 25,000	INR 15,00,000
2	IIT Roorkee	Roorkee	Entrance Test	INR 43,780	INR 10,00,000
4	CEPT University	Ahmedabad	Entrance Test	INR 3,80,000	INR 4,50,000
5	School of Planning and Architecture, SPA	Delhi	Entrance Test	INR 2,40,000	INR 6,50,000
8	NIT Trichy	Tiruchirappalli	Entrance Test	INR 59,250	INR 15,00,000
9	School of Planning and Architecture	Vijayawada	Entrance Test	INR 64,500	INR 6,50,000
10	Jamia Millia Islamia University	New Delhi	Entrance Test	INR 41,610	INR 5,00,000
13	Birla Institute of Technology	Ranchi	Entrance Test	INR 75,000	INR 10,40,000
18	Anna University	Chennai	TANCET	INR 1,250	INR 5,54,000
20	Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science	Chennai	HITSEEE	INR 40,000	INR 4,88,00

Source: College Websites

College Comparison for PhD Planning

Given below is the college comparison of the top PhD Planning offering colleges in terms of several parameters like average fee, college overview, admission process, top recruiter, and many others.

Parameters	IIT Kharagpur	CEPT University	School of Planning and Architecture
Overview	It is the first-ever IIT to be established and is recognized as an institute of national importance.	It was established in 1962 as a private university which offers a large number of courses at the UG, PG and the Research level	It was established in 2008 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and offers a large number of Planning and Architecture courses.
Location	Kharagpur	Ahmedabad	Vijayawada
NIRF Architecture College Ranking	1	4	9
Eligibility Criteria	M.Arch in Planning	M.Arch in Planning	M.Arch in Planning
Admission Process	Entrance Test	Entrance Test	Entrance Test
Average Annual Fees	INR 25,000	INR 3,80,000	INR 64,500
Average Annual Salary	INR 15,00,000	INR 4,50,000	INR 6,50,000
Top Companies Visited	Abbott India Limited, Amity University, Bharti SoftBank, Justdial Ltd, BCG, ZS Associates India Pvt Ltd, Flipkart, IPSOS, etc.	Turner, Alkins, SPCL, MEGA, JMC Projects, Adnani, HCP, Shapoorji Pallonji, L&T, etc.	ATKINS, Amaravathi Development Corporation, AECOM, Deloitte, E-GIS, Kakinada Smart City Corporation, IBI Group, Seeds India, IPE Global, LEA Associates, Space Matrix, etc

Source: College Websites

PhD Planning Syllabus

The course has a variable time duration of 3 years to 5 years and the syllabus is divided into various papers of areas related to the discipline of planning.

The PhD coursework component will normally be completed in your first year. You will then prepare a synopsis of your project, and be assigned a suitable supervisor to direct your work.

The course work of PhD Planning shall involve the following papers:

Subjects of Study
Research Methodology
Planning Theory and Techniques
Planning Studio/Workshop
Planning Legislation and Professional Practice
Planning and Design
Seminar
Field Study
Dissertation
Project Work
Thesis Generation

Course Comparison

PhD Urban Planning is the closest course to PhD Planning. While Planning underlines a holistic strategy of designing, Urban Planning is about the designing of Urban Settings. Some of the prominent differences between these two courses are given below:

PhD Planning vs PhD Urban Planning

PhD in Planning vs PhD Urban Planning are almost similar courses except for a few differences. The below comparison is given keeping in mind all the important parameters of differences :

Parameters	PhD Planning	PhD Urban Planning
Degree Type	Doctorate	Doctorate
Overview	Planning underlines a holistic strategy that involves mechanisms and strategies for environmental policy and economic development, international growth, climate, and natural resources, environmental design, and planning.	Urban planning, designing, and controlling the uses of space that concentrate on the physical structure, economic functions, and social impacts of the urban environment and the location of different activities within it.
Examination Type	Semester	Semester
Average Annual Fees	INR 60,000 - INR 7,00,000	INR 60,000 - INR 1,50,000
Duration	3 years - 5 years	2 years - 3 years
Eligibility Criteria	M.Arch in Planning with 60% marks	M.Arch in Planning with 55% marks
Admission Process	Merit Based / Entrance Test	Merit Based / Entrance Test
Top Colleges	IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, School of Planning and Architecture, CEPT, Jamia Millia Islamia	School of Planning and Architecture, CEPT University, Amity University, Birla Institute of Technology, NIT Bhopal.
Top Recruiting Area	Architectural Services, Construction Sites, Consultancy, Real Estate, Public Administration and Defence Industries, Industrial Production/ Manufacturing Plants, Scientific Research and Development Services, Educational Institutes, Colleges, etc.	Planning and Architecture Companies, Construction Companies, Designing Companies, Town Planning Companies, Education and Research Centers, etc.
Job Positions	Architect Technologist, Environmental Consultant, Rural Surveyor, Quality Surveyor, Town Planner, Architecture Manager, Design Engineer, Architect, Project Manager, etc.	Urban Planner, Urban Designer, City Planner, Planning Manager, Architects, Survey Researchers, Transport Planner, etc.
Average Annual Salary	INR 3,00,000 - INR 30,00,000	INR 5,00,000 - INR 10,00,000
Further Studies	Research	Research

Source: College Websites

PhD Planning Jobs and Career Options

Candidates who have completed their PhD in Planning program successfully have a multitude of opportunities to explore various aspects of life.

They have a broad scope for exploring their knowledge, skills, training, and applying tools in areas such as Architecture, Planning, Design, Town Planning, Urban Planning, Municipal and State Government, Research and Development, etc.

Here are some job positions available after completing a PhD Planning:

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Salary
Architect Planner	Manage the design, planning, and execution of building projects. Develop and execute master plans for building projects including new or existing renovations.	INR 6,50,000
Researcher	Researchers are responsible for communicating their work, partnering with others where appropriate, and sharing and leveraging information for the good of the company, the community, and the entire society.	INR 7,00,000
Architectural Manager	Architectural managers are responsible for creating the general design of a new product or for addressing the technical problems that prohibit a project from being completed.	INR 10,00,000
Design Engineer	Design Engineers apply their experience of architectural and construction methods, architecture management strategies, application-building, and project design.	INR 6,00,000
Architect	Architects build prototypes for existing, altered, and redeveloped building projects. They use their professional expertise in construction and high-level drawing skills to design practical, healthy, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing buildings.	INR 18,00,000
Project manager	It is the duty of Project Managers to plan, design, and create projects. They design the goals of the project and the progress metrics and decide how to assess and track progress.	INR 12,00,000

Source: College Websites

PhD Planning Future Scope

PhD in Planning is the highest degree a person can obtain in the related field.
The career is diverse in terms of the specializations from which one might choose.
A career in this field may address climate change-related issues, helping to protect rural areas, waterways, and shorelines, or fostering energy efficiency within your town or country.
This career path also includes a strong emphasis on civic engagement, as well as a concentration on the future of spaces and places.
You can work in local or regional public, public policy, urban planning, and transport planning as an architectural planner.
The central government, a local authority, or even some private construction and regeneration company may be your employer.
Regardless of where they start their careers, graduates have the necessary knowledge, skills, and expertise to get relatively high compensation.
Students have wide research options. They can go for higher studies like DSc.

Check the full list of top Universities offering DSc Degrees in India.

FAQs

Ques. When can you apply for a PhD in Planning?

Ans. The University / Institute admits candidates twice a year in the months of January and July. However, applications are invited throughout the year and seats are available based on the vacancy in the research area. Candidates need to check the website of the college timely.

Ques. What are the alternatives for a personal interview for a PhD?

Ans. Due to Covid-19, in the current situation colleges and institutes are opting for video-conference mode for shortlisted candidates for Personal Interview for the PhD program.

Ques. What is the eligibility to apply for a PhD in Planning ?

Ans. Candidates should hold a Master’s Degree in a field related to Planning such as Infrastructure / Housing / Transport / Urban Design / Urban Management from a recognized university/institution with a minimum aggregate of 60% marks or equivalent grade B in the UGC 7 point scale or equivalent.

Ques. Is financial aid provided to pursue a PhD?

Ans. Research Scholars who have cleared National level exams with JRF or equivalent get financial assistance from the concerned funding agency. Non NET UGC fellowships are provided for research scholars who do not have any financial assistance.

Ques. Who are the top recruiting areas of the Planning degree holder?

Ans. The top recruiters of the Planning degree are Architectural services, Construction sites, Consultancy, Real estate, Public administration and defense industries, Industrial production/manufacturing plants, Scientific research and development services, Educational institutes, Colleges, etc.

Ques. What is the difference between PhD and M.Phil. ?

Ans. A PhD degree has a high edge over an MPhil degree. PhD is generally used as training in advanced research work. In a PhD degree, the research work generally has to be original. While in M.Phil. the work in the dissertation should not be compulsorily original but may reproduce a study already performed.

Ques. What is the difference between M.Arch. and M.Plan.?

Ans. The M Arch includes higher research in architectural fields such as Urban Architecture, Landscape Design, Architectural Conservation, and the M.Plan. includes higher studies in fields such as Regional Policy, Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, etc.

Ques. What is the selection process for a PhD?

Ans. Only those applications, which have been completed accurately and in full, and that, include the relevant certificates and other documents, as attachments will be considered. Candidates will be shortlisted, and those candidates who have been selected are required to take the entrance examination and appear for a personal interview.

Ques. Is M.Phil compulsory to pursue a PhD?

Ans. It is not mandatory to pursue M.Phil before applying for a PhD. Candidate who has completed M.Phil adds more value to the doctorate degree. While some universities offer direct admissions to M.Phil holders.

Ques. Who usually opts for a PhD in Planning ?

Ans. A doctorate sounds fascinating for skilled planners compared to doing a regular job in a municipality. Although candidates who enjoy studying and learning, and want to contribute in this field, or interested in teaching the subject at university can opt for this course.

Ques. Is there any extension for the application procedure?

Ans. Yes, most of the institutes have extended the application procedure. You can check the official website to be updated with the new dates for the application process. The admission committee monitors the announcements from the authorities of UGC, GATE, and so on.

Ques. Is work experience necessary to pursue a PhD in Planning ?

Ans. It is usually recommended that students hold some work experience in the planning area before pursuing their PhD.

Planning underlines a holistic strategy that involves mechanisms and strategies for environmental policy and economic development, international growth, climate, and natural resources, environmental design, and planning.
It is widely connected with the move towards sustainability through the democratization of planning approaches.
It helps explain the forces that form towns and cities and the challenges of climate change.
It set out to study an original subject independently, with the help of at least one academic with applicable knowledge and experience at your university.
It also offers community-based learning as well as research in studios and workshops and offers case studies in urban design and environmental design, as well as physical and spatial design.
It seeks applicants with excellent academic credentials, intellectual skills, and expertise required to contribute to scholarly research.
- A PhD Planning course helps the students to understand the content of designs and the context in which they are being made, such as the location of mechanical systems and how they affect the operations of the building.
- This course offers an opportunity to use computer-aided design and drafting technology as part of building information modeling to create plans.
- Candidates can work in local or regional public, public policy, urban planning, and transport planning as an architectural planner.
- It also offers an opportunity to collaborate with other engineers and architects who focus on the practical layout or construction project aesthetics.
- With this course, students will be able to earn handsome salaries ranging between INR 3,00,000 and INR 30,00,000. However, how much you can earn will totally depend on you.
- It improves your prospects of highly-paid employment and opens up a wide range of opportunities.
- The Planning sector is growing with a high growth rate and if your concepts are clear, this program can place you in the topmost and prestigious positions of the top firms.