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The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) has announced the launch of its Ph.D. programme in Mass Communication and Journalism, set to commence from the upcoming academic year. The institute has also notified detailed rules governing admission and eligibility for the new doctoral programme.

Following the deemed-to-be-university status granted to IIMC by the Ministry of Education in 2024, the institute is now authorised to offer degrees, including doctoral qualifications. This status applies to its New Delhi campus as well as five regional centres in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), Amravati (Maharashtra), Aizawl (Mizoram), Kottayam (Kerala), and Dhenkanal (Odisha).

An IIMC post announced, “Rules for the Ph.D. programme have been notified today. Details of the admission process will be announced in due course.”

IIMC's Rules For Ph.D. Programme In Mass Communication & Journalism

As per the notification, candidates seeking admission through the regular mode must possess a Master’s degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, or related disciplines with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade. Applicants with an M.Phil. degree in allied subjects or equivalent foreign qualifications recognised by accredited agencies are also eligible.

The rules specify that candidates with a four-year Bachelor’s degree followed by research must have a minimum of 75% marks or a CGPA of 7.5 on a 10-point scale. Relaxations in qualifying marks will be provided for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled persons, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and other reserved categories as per government regulations.

Admission will be based on criteria aligned with the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) revised National Eligibility Test (NET) and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) rules issued in March 2024. NET candidates will be classified into three categories with varying eligibility for Ph.D. admission, JRF award, and Assistant Professor appointments. For non-JRF candidates, admission will consider 70% weightage for test scores and 30% for interview performance.

The programme will be available in both full-time and part-time modes. Part-time candidates must be in regular employment with at least three years’ experience in media-related fields and produce a “No Objection Certificate” from their employer permitting them to pursue doctoral studies.

The minimum duration for the Ph.D. programme is three years, including coursework, with a maximum tenure of six years. Extensions of up to two years may be granted in special circumstances, with female scholars and persons with disabilities eligible for an additional two-year extension.