Updated on Mar 20, 2025
Ahana Bhaduri
PhD Geography: Courses, Admissions, Eligibility Criteria, Entrance Exams, Top Colleges, Fees, Syllabus, Top Recruiters, Jobs, Salary
PhD Geography is a 5-year doctorate course that requires students to complete their postgraduation from a recognized university with an aggregate score of 55% and above or an equivalent CGPA. Candidates applying for PhD Geography courses must clear their NET or SET exams, after which they must present their research paper.
The average course fee for pursuing PhD Geography courses ranges between INR 10,000 and 50,000. After completing the course, candidates are placed across various job profiles, such as geologist, assistant professor, teacher, cartographer, and nature conservation specialist.
PhD Geography Course Highlights
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Doctor of Philosophy in Geography |
| Duration | 5 years |
| Eligibility Criteria | Postgraduation with an aggregate score of 55% and above or an equivalent CGPA |
| Admission Process | Entrance exam |
| Entrance Exams | UGC NET CSIR UGC NET RET |
| Course Fees (INR) | 10,000 - 50,000 |
| Top Colleges as per NIRF Rankings 2024 | Jadavpur University Aligarh Muslim University Delhi University Jamia Milia Islamia Calcutta University |
| Jobs | Assistant Professor, Geologist, Cartographer, Teacher |
| Top Recruiters | Consultancies, Geological Institutes, Schools, and Colleges |
| Average Salary (INR) | 12 LPA & above |
PhD Geography Eligibility Criteria
The list of eligibility criteria that must be fulfilled to be able to pursue PhD geography courses is listed below for your reference.
- Candidates must complete their graduation and postgraduation with an aggregate score of 55% and above or an equivalent CGPA from a recognized university.
- 5% relaxation on the total aggregate score is given to students from reserved categories such as SC/ST/OBC/PwD.
- They must then clear entrance exams such as UGC NET or CSIR UGC NET, followed by presenting their research topic which, after presenting, if it gets selected, candidates can start their PhD geography courses.
PhD Geography Admission Procedure
The admission procedure for PhD Geography courses at the Presidency University Kolkata is discussed below in detail for your reference.
- Visit the official website and look for PhD admission notification for the geography program.
- Make an account and complete the online application by entering all the necessary details.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee using the SBI Collect Portal using the application number that the system produced.
- Candidates are required to compile the required paperwork, such as report cards and mark sheets, certifications, and an overview of the topic they want to study.
- A hard copy of the application, the necessary paperwork, and a copy of the payment receipt should be sent or dropped off at the Secretary, Faculty Councils, Presidency University, 86/1, College Street, Kolkata-700073.
- An all-India PhD Entrance Test (RET) will be administered by the university.
- To be eligible for the interview or viva voce, candidates must receive at least 50% of the possible points on the admission exam.
- The department will call the selected candidates for an interview or viva voce if they clear the admission exam.
Important Documents Required
The list of crucial documents that must be presented for securing admission at the Presidency University Kolkata for PhD Geography courses is listed below for your reference.
- Self-attested copies of the 10th and 12th mark sheet.
- Self-attested copies of Graduation and Postgraduation marksheets.
- Self-attested copies of MPhil or other relevant exam mark sheets.
- Migration Certificate.
- Details of NET or other qualified exam.
- Employment Certificate.
PhD Geography Entrance Exams and Application Deadlines
The list of various entrance exams conducted for PhD geography courses is tabulated below for your reference.
| Entrance Exams | Application Deadlines | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| UGC NET | April 2025 (tentative) | 2nd week of June 2025 (tentative) |
| CSIR UGC NET | December 30, 2024 - January 2, 2025 | February 28 - March 2, 2025 |
| RET | March 2025 (tentative) | July 2025 (tentative) |
PhD Geography Syllabus
The detailed course curriculum for PhD Geography courses is tabulated below for your reference.
| Research Framework and Research Publication Ethics (Theory) Total Marks: 25+25=50 | |
|---|---|
| Unit I: Research Basics | |
| Concept of Research: Meaning and objectives of research, Research process. | Problem Identification: Knowing and choosing the field. |
| Problem Identification: Professional experience, Inference from theory, Indicative literature, Technological and social changes. | Problem Formulation: Definition and statement of the problem. |
| Problem Evaluation: Feasibility of undertaking research on concerned problem, originality and significance of the problem. | Ability of the researcher to probe the problem. |
| Unit II: Framing the Research | |
| Identifying Research Questions | Doing a Literature Review: Basic Guidelines, Types, and Sources of Bibliographic Information. |
| Hypothesis Building: Importance of a Hypothesis; Hypothesis Formulation: Richness of background knowledge, Deductive reasoning. | Citation, Bibliographic Management, and Style of Referencing; Preparation of Footnotes, Endnotes, Glossary, Abbreviations, and Acronyms. |
| Use of analogies in hypothesis formulation; Criteria of a usable hypothesis; Hypothesis statements; Hypothesis Testing | - |
| Unit III: Research Publication Ethics | |
| Ethical Issues in Research Publications | Plagiarism Checking Tools and Preventing Plagiarism |
| Meaning and seriousness of Plagiarism; Types of Plagiarism | UGC Guidelines on Research Ethics |
| Research Methods | |
|---|---|
| Unit: I Quantitative Aspects | Unit: II Qualitative Aspects |
| Types of data and their sources and limitations | Qualitative Approach to Inquiry: Phenomenological Research |
| Collection of Primary Data—Concept of Questionnaire Survey | Idea of Triangulation in Qualitative Research |
| Sampling Techniques: Qualitative and Quantitative Variables | Quantification in Qualitative Research |
| Multivariate Regression, PCA, ANOVA, Statistical Hypothesis Testing | Grounded Theory |
| Using Statistical Softwares | Project in handling Qualitative Analytical Software |
| Research Tools | |
|---|---|
| Unit: I Field Aspects | Unit II: Geoinformatics Tools |
| Practice of geographical observation, data collection, and interpretation techniques during the field trip. | Aspects of Map Design: Marginal Information and Map Body Presentation: Best Practices |
| Stages of fieldwork: Selecting a research setting, gaining access and presenting oneself, gathering information. | Spatial Analyst Tool of ArcGIS 10.0 |
| Field notes: Types, coding, analysis | Geomorphometric Analysis in MapInfo Professional GIS |
| Types of Field Observation: Participant and Non-participant, Structured and Non-structured, Empirical and Measured. | - |
| Conducting an Interview: Framework and Guidelines | - |
| Techniques of Socio-economic survey: Preparation of questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion, along with master table preparation. | - |
| Mode of collecting Primary Data using Instruments | - |
| Research Writing | |
|---|---|
| Unit I: Pursuing Geographical Enquiry | |
| Theory of Observation: Methodological issues in geographical observation, Types of geographical enquiries. | Introduction, nature, purpose, and practice of geographical data collection from the field. |
| Organisation and maintenance of a Field Book containing information, observations, and findings. | - |
| Unit II: Academic Writing and Publishing | |
| Meaning and Types of Academic Writing | Challenges in Academic Writing; Nature of Scientific Writing: Styles and Techniques of Dissertations, Thesis, Reports and Research Papers and their Structure and Organisation. |
| Preparation of Papers for Journals: Framing the Paper Structure; Writing the Abstract and Introduction; Organising and Presenting an Argument; Engaging in Academic Discussions and Debates and drawing Conclusions; Norms for successful submission. | Dealing with Objection and Rejection |
| Importance of Revision (Review Reports, Response Sheets) | Norms towards Acceptance for Publication (revision, editing, proofreading, and printing). |
| Unit III: Preparation of Abstract, Research Proposal, Executive Summary, and Assignment | |
| Framing a Research Proposal: Main Elements | Research Proposal Writing and Discussion Clinic |
PhD Geography Top Colleges
The list of top colleges as per NIRF, along with their fees for PhD geography courses, is tabulated below for your reference.
| NIRF Ranks as of 2024 | Name of the Colleges | Average Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Jawaharlal Nehru University | 8,000 - 10,000 |
| 3 | Jamia Milia Islamia | 10,000 - 13,000 |
| 5 | Banaras Hindu University | - |
| 6 | University of Delhi | - |
| 8 | Aligarh Muslim University | 10,000 |
| 9 | Jadavpur University | 5,000 |
| 18 | Calcutta University | 8,000 |
| - | Presidency University | - |
PhD Geography Jobs and Salary
The various job profiles along with the tentative salaries offered after completing PhD geography courses are tabulated below for your reference.
| Job Profiles | Average Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Geologist | 8.55 LPA - 12 LPA |
| Cartographer | 7.40 LPA - 10 LPA |
| Assistant Professor | 12 LPA & above |
| Teacher | 8 LPA & above |
*Note: The source of the salaries mentioned above is Glassdoor. However, the salaries might vary from website to website. Experience and educational degree also contribute as deciding factors while determining the salary of a particular job profile.
PhD Geography: FAQs
What is the duration of PhD in geography courses?
The total duration of a PhD in geography course is 5 years.
What is the scope of a PhD in geography?
A doctorate will increase a candidate's chances of conducting and leading research projects. In addition, they could be a climatologist, geography writer, urban planner, environmental consultant, meteorologist, or cartographer. There are numerous government laboratories and organizations where they can work as researchers.
What are the eligibility criteria for pursuing a PhD in geography?
PhD Geography is a 5-year doctorate course that requires students to complete their postgraduation from a recognized university with an aggregate score of 55% and above or an equivalent CGPA.
What are the entrance exams for PhD in geography courses in India?
The list of entrance exams that must be cleared to be able to pursue a PhD in geography courses is as follows:
- UGC NET
- CSIR UGC NET
- RET
Which are the top 5 universities in India offering PhD in geography courses?
As per the NIRF ranks 2024, the top 5 universities offering PhD Geography courses are,
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Jamia Milia Islamia
- Banaras Hindu University
- University of Delhi
- Aligarh Muslim University.
How would you rate your experience with this page up to now?
🎓 Top Colleges
📖 Popular Courses
Get Expert Guidance Now! ✨
Built in India
Regular Helpdesk:+91 95997 49001
Online Helpdesk:+91 97178 19001
© 2025 INDO INTERNET PRIVATE LIMITED