Doctor of Literature (D.Litt) is a 2-year higher doctorate degree, it is considered an honorary degree, which is given to those who show excellence in the field of literature or the humanities. It covers areas such as literature, writing, poetry, and fiction. Through this honored degree, students can specialize their knowledge in fields like International literature, historical literature, or even contemporary literature.
The eligibility criteria for the Doctor of Literature (D.Litt) are that the candidate must hold a PhD in Literature or a qualification equivalent to that with an aggregate of 55% marks. Admission to the Doctor of Literature is based on merit. However, some institutions may conduct entrance exams.
Doctor of Literature fees can vary from institution to institution. For example, the top universities like National Law Universityand Banaras Hindu University, their fees for the D.Litt program vary widely depending on the institution. For example, top universities like Apex Professional University and Ranchi University offer the course with an average fee of INR 50,000 – 1,50,000.
Completing a Doctor of Literature opens up numerous high-level career opportunities, considering it is the highest and honorary degree in literature. Candidates can pursue roles like Senior Research Scientist, Assistant Professor, or even Senior Political Advisor. The average salary a candidate can get after completing a Doctor of Literature is between INR 2,00,000 – 10,00,000.
D.Litt Course Highlights
Given below are some basic details about the Doctor of Literature degree:
Particulars | Details |
Course Name | Doctor of Literature (D.Litt) |
Course Level | Postgraduate Degree/ Higher Doctorate |
Duration | 2-Year/ 4 Semester |
Course Type | Full Time |
Admission Process | Merit Based/ Entrance Based |
Eligibility Criteria | A PhD in Literature with a minimum of 55% or a degree equivalent to that |
Course Fees | INR 50,000 – 1,50,000 |
Subjects | Literary theory, criticism, Cultural & literature, Literature research, reading fiction, poetry, modern drama, classical literature, |
Top Colleges | Apex Professional University, Ranchi University, Srinivas University, Rabindra Bharati University, Sunrise University |
Job Profiles | Senior Research Scientist, Assistant Professor, Senior Political Advisor, Chief Research Scientist, Operations Manager |
Top Recruiters | Pandorum, Eurofins, Kaplan Test Prep, Sitec Labs, Nilsan Nishotech, Synsmart |
Average Salary in India | INR 2,00,000 – 10,00,000 |
D.Litt Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for pursuing a Doctor of Literature are as follows:
- The Eligibility criteria for pursuing a Doctor of Literature are that the candidate must hold a PhD in literature with an aggregate of 50% marks.
- If not a PhD in literature, any degree that might be equivalent to that will be acceptable as long as the candidate has English in their major subjects.
- The acceptance of an individual is solely based on their merit.
D.Litt Entrance Exams
The majority of the colleges in India accept on the basis of merit, but some colleges conduct an entrance exam due to the rush of candidates looking to join their institution. Here are some entrance exams conducted by the Institutions.
Exams | Application Date (Tentative) | Exam Date (Tentative) | Application Fee |
UGC NET 2025 | 16 Apr-12 May 2025 | 21-30 June 2025 | INR 1150 |
D.Litt Colleges in India
Listed below are some of the few good colleges candidates can pursue a Doctor of Literature:
Colleges | Course Fees (Approx.) |
Apex Professional University | INR 75,000 |
Ranchi University | INR 28,000 |
Srinivas University | INR 1,20,000 |
Rabindra Bharati University | - |
Madurai Kamaraj University | - |
Singhania University | INR 80,000 |
D.Litt Admission Process 2025
Candidates who are interested in pursuing the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature can take admission through a competitive entrance. However, some colleges conduct an entrance exam to test the ability of students.
Admission may vary depending on the college, to give you a brief idea, the admission process listed below is for the Apex Professional University.
Step 1: Start with filling up the registration form for admission through the official website of Apex Professional University. After you’ve registered yourself, verify your email with the automated mail received through the college that will contain a verification link.
Step 2: Only after verification, candidates will be allowed to fill up the application form. Upload all the required documents carefully.
Step 3: After submitting the required documents, the candidates need to pay an online processing fee of INR 5,000.
Step 4: Along with the application, the Apex Professional University asks these things: Candidate’s biodata with full particulars. They ask for details for the contribution the candidate made to society in any of these areas - social, education, development, finance, and global policy.
D.Litt Syllabus
The Doctor of Literature is a highly advanced degree in the field of literature. It is an honorary degree, that is to be given and earned, rather than following a structured approach on the syllabus, the institution covers what matters the most. The syllabus of the D.litt. is taken from the Sunrise University, is listed below:
Subjects | |
Literary Theory and Criticism | Research Methodologies in Literature Studies |
Historical and Cultural Context | Genre Studies |
Author Studies | Comparative Literature |
Creative Writing | Independent Research |
Dissertation/ Thesis | Literature and Society |
Translation Studies | Literature and Film/Visual Arts |
D.Litt Job Opportunities in India
Completing a higher doctorate not only opens dozens of career opportunities, but it also gives candidates respect in every field. Some of the jobs candidates can pursue after earning the Doctor of Literature degree are:
Job Profile | Experience | Recruiters | Average Salary |
Academic Administration | 3-7 Years | Lakshya CA Campus | INR 3,00,000 – 6,00,000 |
Senior Research Scientist | 3-7 Years | TCG Lifesciences | INR 3,00,000 – 26,00,000 |
Assistant Professor | 1-3 Years | Christian Medical College | INR 5,00,000 – 7,00,000 |
Senior Advisor | 10-18 Years | Dell | INR 18,00,000 – 35,00,000 |
Operations Manager | 3-7 Years | Amazon | INR 15,00,000 – 28,00,000 |
D.Litt Recommended Books
Listed below are some of the books that are highly recommended to the candidate who wants to pursue or is pursuing the Doctor of Literature to gain a deeper understanding of their field:
Books | Authors |
Beloved | Toni Morrison |
The Collector | John Fowles |
Christodora | Tim Murphy |
Passing | Nella Larsen |
Gardening in the Tropics | Olive Senior |
Mouth Full of Blood: Essays, Speeches, Meditations | Toni Morrison |
The Long Song | Andrea Lavy |
The turn of the Screw | Henry James |
The Book of Salt | Monique Truong |
D.Litt FAQs
What is the difference between a PhD and a Doctor of Literature?
A PhD focuses on original research, typically leading to academic careers. A D.Litt. recognizes significant scholarly achievements, often in literature and humanities, and may not require new research. It's a higher doctorate acknowledging published works and contributions, suitable for roles in education, publishing, and cultural institutions.
Does a Candidate need to be invited for Doctor of Literature?
It is an honorary degree, the higher doctorate; some institutions invite the candidate to pursue a Doctor of Literature from their Institution. For that to happen, you need to contribute some real changes to society in terms of literature. If you’re a novel writer with some of the best-selling novels in the field of culture and society, you might get invited to pursue a Doctor of Literature.
What is the Doctor of Literature award?
It is a higher doctorate, basically an honorary degree for those who have contributed the most for society, in terms of culture, social class, identity, etc.
What career opportunities are available after completing a D.Litt.?
After you’ve completed your Doctor of Literature, there’s a wide spectrum of opportunities that open for you. For example, you can pursue roles in academia, publishing, cultural institutions, and education. These sectors would be the perfect fit for someone of their caliber.
How does the D.Litt. differ from a PhD in terms of research focus?
Doctor of Literature is the highest level of doctorate in literature and it contributes to the literature, whereas a PhD focuses more on original search and contributing knowledge to a field.
