PhD Of Arts

PhD Of Arts

Home  /  Courses  /  PhD Of Arts

What is PhD Of Arts?

A PhD Arts is a 3-year doctorate course which has been designed in a manner to have a specialization in either Humanities subjects like Psychology, History, Journalism, or Performing Arts like Music or on Visual Arts like Video, Animation and Filmmaking.

Key Highlights of PhD Arts

  • Full-Form: Doctor of Philosophy in Arts
  • Duration: Minimum 3 years
  • Eligibility: Post Graduation in Arts
  • Admission Process: Entrance exam followed by personal interview. 
  • Top Entrance Exam: UGC NET, UGC CSIR NET. 
  • Top Colleges: Loyola College, Christ University, Madras Christian College. 
  • Average Course fees: INR 24,000 to INR 1,50,000.
  • Job Options: Professor, Lecturer, Teachers, Therapist, Performer, etc. according to his/her specialisation. 
  • Average Salary Package: INR 3,00,000 to INR 11,00,000

The admission process is by merit or by entrance exam and this may vary from college to college. The students will also have to go through a personal interview round where they will be asked questions about their research proposal. 

The average fees for a PhD Arts course will be around INR 24,000 - INR 1,50,000. Many top colleges in India provide this course, some of which are listed in the table below. 

India Today Ranking 2019College Name Location Admission Process Average Annual Fees 
7Loyola College Chennai Entrance Based INR 10,000 - 30,000
8Christ University Bangalore Entrance Based INR 50,000 
5Madras Christian College Chennai Entrance Based INR 10,000 - 50,000 
17Women's Christian College Chennai Entrance Based INR 27,830
24KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce Mumbai Entrance Based INR 6,000

The subjects taught in this course will vary according to specialisation. The most common subjects include Indian History, Indian Culture and Heritage, Human Psychology and Behaviour, etc. 

Alert: The exam dates of UGC-NET and UGC-CSIR-NET have been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Check the latest dates of UGC-NET.

A student who has completed a Phd has career opportunities in Colleges as well as in sectors where they can work as Professor, Lecturer, Teachers, Therapist, Performer, etc. according to his/her specialisation. 

After completing a PhD Arts course, the candidates can expect an average annual salary of around INR 3,00,000. The highest annual salary of around INR 11,00,000 can be expected. 

After completing this course, some people do further research work and publish their own research papers. They can get awarded with a DLit degree for their contribution in the Arts sector. 

PhD Arts: What is it About?

A PhD Arts is a doctoral degree that gives the students advanced skills required to advance in the career of their choice of Arts and Humanities.

  • One would be required to submit a dissertation based on the research area that one chose to do the thesis, at the end of the course. 
  • Students will gain an in-depth understanding of various art forms, the process, the history, etc, depending on the specialisation they choose. 
  • This course is perfect for those who are creative and passionate about art.
  • This course covers all the areas of the chosen specialisation in complete detail. Some of the specialisations available include Visual Arts, Music, History, English Literature, Psychology, etc. 
  • After completing this course, the candidates can become teachers and researchers in colleges, universities and research institutions. 

Phd Arts

PhD Arts Course Highlights

PhD Arts Course Highlights

The major highlights of the PhD Arts course are tabulated in the table below. 

Course LevelDoctoral
Full-FormDoctoral degree in Arts
Duration3 years
Examination TypeSemester/Year wise
EligibilityMaters or M.Phil. in the relevant subject.
Admission processEntrance based
Course feesFrom INR 15,000 to INR 2,00,000 
Average SalaryINR 4,00,000 
Top Recruiting CompaniesArt galleries, Colleges, Boutiques, Fashion Houses, Textile Industry
Job positionResearcher, Art Consultant, Art therapist, Sculptor

PhD Arts vs PhD Fine Arts

Sometimes many people get confused between PhD Arts and PhD Fine Arts, but these two are very different courses. Here, we have compared these two courses on the basis of Overview, Duration, Eligibility, Admission Process, etc. 

Parameters PhD ArtsPhD Fine Arts
Overview This course involves the study of the complete Arts stream and all its specialisations like History, English Literature, Political Science, etc. It also involves Visual Arts and Music. This course involves the study of various artworks and art forms like mosaic, ceramics, different types of paintings, antique artworks, craftsmanship, stc. 
Duration 3-5 years 3-5 years 
Eligibility Master degree with minimum 55% marks. Master degree in relevant discipline 
Admission ProcessEntrance exam followed by interviewEntrance exam followed by interview
Top Colleges Loyola College, Christ University, Madras Christian College. Amity School of Fine Arts, Lucknow University, LPU. 
Average Fees INR 24,000 - INR 1,50,000 INR 10,000 - INR 2,75,000
Job Roles Professor, Lecturer, Teachers, Therapist, Performer, etc. according to his/her specialisation. Painters, Designers, Interior Decorator, etc. 
Average Salary INR 3,00,000 - INR 11,00,000 INR 3,00,000 - INR 10,00,000 

Phd Arts Vs Phd Fine Arts

Source: College Websites 

PhD Arts Specializations

PhD Arts Specializations

There are various PhD Arts specializations that are provided to help candidates to specialize in the area of their choice. Some of these specializations are:

PhD Visual Art: PhD Visual Arts course aims to equip students to create pieces that mainly utilize the visual environment.

Average FeesINR 2,00,000
Average SalaryINR 2,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 

PhD Psychology: PhD Psychology course includes advanced level research on human behaviour and psychological disorders. 

Average FeesINR 2,00,000
Average SalaryINR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 

PhD History: PhD History course includes a detailed study of all forms of history, ancient, contemporary and modern. It focuses on both Indian History and World History. 

Average FeesINR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000 
Average SalaryINR 3,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 

PhD English Literature: PhD English Literature course involves the study of English Literature, major writer, and history of some major literature works. 

Average FeesINR 10,000 to INR 1,00,000 
Average SalaryINR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 

Top Colleges for PhD Arts

These are the few top colleges in India that offer this program.

India Today Ranking 2019College Name Location Average Annual Fees 
7Loyola College Chennai INR 10,000 - 30,000
8Christ University Bangalore INR 50,000 
5Madras Christian College Chennai INR 10,000 - INR 50,000 
12Mithibai College of ArtsMumbai INR 5,000 to INR 50,000 
17Women's Christian College Chennai INR 27,830
24KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce Mumbai INR 6,000
25St. Xavier’s College Ahmedabad NA
30Kishinchand Chellaram College Mumbai NA
38Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous CollegeMumbai NA
51Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women Bangalore INR 10,000 to INR 30,000

Top Colleges for Phd Arts

Source: College Websites 

College Comparison for PhD Arts

A comparison between the best colleges offering PhD Arts in India

ParametersChrist University Women's Christian College KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce 
OverviewIt is a deemed university located in Bangalore. It was started in 1969 as an autonomous college. It has five campuses, three in Bangalore, one in Ghaziabad and one in Pune. It offers UG, PG and PhD level courses in Science, Engineering, Arts, Commerce and other streams. Women's Christian College is a Catholic college in Chennai especially for women. It offers UG, PG and PhD courses in Science, Arts and Commerce streams. This college comes under the bracket of KJ Somaiya group of institutions. It is especially dedicated to Arts and Commerce subjects. It offers many courses in these two streams across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate level. 
India Today 2019 Rank81724
LocationBangalore Chennai Mumbai 
EligibilityMaster Degree with minimum 60% marksMaster degree with minimum 55% marksMaster degree with minimum 55% marks
Admission ProcessEntrance Based Entrance Based Entrance Based 
Average FeesINR 50,000 INR 27,830INR 6,000
Average Annual SalaryINR 6,85,000INR 2,40,000 INR 2,75,000
Top Recruiting CompaniesDeloitte, KPMG, Ernst and Young, Accenture, etc. Accenture, Amazon, Axis Bank, Capgemini, etc. Wipro, HDFC, Kotak, etc. 

Phd Arts Colleges Comparison

Source: College Websites 

What are the Subjects Taught in PhD Arts course?

What are the Subjects Taught in PhD Arts course?

Though the actual syllabus depends on the specialisation, here we have given a combined syllabus of all the major specialisations and the most important subjects covered in them. 

Year IYear II
Year III
Indian History: Ancient, Medieval and ModernHistory of Photography 
Indian Culture and its HeritageSocio-economic Aspects of Medieval India
Research MethodologyProse Fiction
Data Collection and Survey MethodsWomen's Literature 
Colonial Literature Literature in the Twentieth Century 
Political Philosophy Indian Administration 
Political HistoryPsychological Process 
Development of Human Behaviour Psychological Methods
History of Indian Music
The World History
Advanced Research on Psychological Disorders
International Economics: Theories and Policies
The Art of Thesis Writing
Research Idea and Viva - Voce

Which are the Important Books for PhD Arts?

The following books are very important for the PhD Arts candidates which will help them to carry on their research work properly. 

BookAuthor
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working ArtistsSharon Louden
Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and CreativityDavid Lynch
Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of ArtmakingDavid Bayles & Ted Orland
Creative BlockDanielle Krysa

What are the Jobs Available for PhD Arts Candidates?

What are the Jobs Available for PhD Arts Candidates?

Students who have completed PhD Arts will get jobs in Colleges as well as in both Public and Private sectors. They can work in the Advertising companies, Boutiques, Art Studios, Theatres, Fashion Houses, Animation and Textile Industry. 

Some of the important job profiles for such candidates are given in the table below. 

Job PositionJob DescriptionAverage Annual Salary 
Art TherapistA person who works in improving the mental health of adults and children by using different forms of art.INR 2,80,000 
Gallery ManagerA person who is in charge of organizing exhibits and the selling of art pieces.INR 3,00,000
ResearcherA person who researches a particular field about a particular topic and tries to find solutions on the same.INR 4,00,000 
Journalist The candidate tries to find out the latest updates on all the happenings around the world and reveal them either in print media or in Electronics media. INR 3,50,000 to INR 7,00,000 
WriterThe candidate writes something new. It can either be fictional or non fictional literature work. They can also work as academic writers and write study materials and books. INR 3,50,000 to 5,00,000 
HistorianThe person who studies every aspects of history in great detail and try to present it in a new aspect in his own publications. INR 3,50,000 to INR 6,00,000 

Salary trend graph for Phd Arts

What are the Future Scopes After PhD Arts?

What are the Future Scopes After PhD Arts?

The degree helps you to work closely with the fine art of your choice. It provides you with an opportunity to do something creative and innovative as well as offer you respect in society. It helps you to do something unconventional and remain different from the rest. 

  • You can work as an Art Therapist, Gallery Manager, Designer, etc.
  • You can set up your boutique showcasing your masterpieces of creativity as well as by encouraging new talent by holding art exhibitions.
  • You can work independently as an artist like being a sculptor, painter, film actor, etc, and contribute to society creatively and innovatively.
  • You can work in Universities as an Arts Professor or Assistant researcher by being impressionable on young minds.

PhD in Arts has various and wide career options which therefore makes it easier for you to choose based on the area of preference. You can also go for higher studies.

Admission Process

 

What is the Admission Process to PhD Arts Course?

Most of the universities follow the system of an entrance exam, few of the colleges might have a round of personal interview also. Few colleges allow admission through a merit basis. The general admission process is discussed below.

  • Most of the colleges take in candidates who have a good score in UGC recognized entrance exams, or National Level tests like UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET, DBT (JRF), ICMR, etc.
  • In the cases of merit-based admission, once the application is processed, the result is usually declared based on the marks scored in the qualifying exams. 
  • In the case of entrance exams, admission is based on the candidate’s performance in the entrance exam. This is calculated on completion of the entrance exam.
  • In both the cases, there will be a personal interview round for final selection. In this round, the candidate will have to describe his research proposal to the panel. If the panel gets satisfied, then the candidate will be granted admission to the course. 

Admission Process

  • Study at least 4 hours every day and try to complete the syllabus given.
  • Keep a track of all the news updates of the colleges that you want to apply to.
  • In case of any doubt with regards to admission, call the management, and get updated information.
  • Keep solving past question papers and model papers.
  • Strategize on how you will attempt the paper based on your strong and weak points.
  • Ensure you have followed all the admission requirements correctly.

Who is Eligible to Study PhD Arts?

  • The applicant should have graduated with a master’s degree or equivalent in the relevant field from a recognized college or university.
  • The applicant should have graduated with a minimum of 55% in aggregate.
  • The applicant must qualify in the national or university level entrance exams to get eligible for the course. 

Which are the Top Entrance Exams for PhD Arts Course?

Some of the major entrance exams for admission to PhD Arts course are discussed below. 

Exam Application DateDate of Entrance Exam
UGC NET 2023To be AnnouncedTo be Announced
IIS RET 2023To be AnnouncedTo be Announced
Savitribai Phule Pune University Exam 2023January 14, 2023To be Announced

How to Prepare?

The syllabus of the exams are similar to the UGC Net: 

  • The exams are usually online exams so practice online mock exams
  • The syllabus is usually the sub-subjects that comes under the major discipline that the candidate have chosen so revise what you have studying in your masters
  • Most of the exams usually have a personal interview round also so prepare for it by asking someone to conduct mock interviews on you.

Some important points to keep in mind while preparing for the entrance exams are discussed below:

  • Study the syllabus provided thoroughly as well as the exam pattern.
  • Make notes while studying. These can help up with last-minute quick revisions.
  • Focus on your weak subjects and allocate more time to them.
  • Study from the recommended books of UGC- Net as this will help in preparation for other exams also.
  • If previous years question papers are available, then it is good to solve them as it will build up your confidence. While solving the previous papers, keep in mind that there are negative marks so attempt accordingly.

Why this Course?

There are many reasons why you might want to study a PhD in Arts. Here are a few of the most common reasons:

  • To gain a deeper understanding of your chosen field of art. A PhD in Arts will allow you to study your chosen field in great depth, from its history and theory to its current practices and trends. This can be a valuable experience for anyone who is passionate about art and wants to learn more about it.
  • To develop your research skills. A PhD in Arts will require you to conduct original research on a topic of your choice. This will give you the opportunity to develop your research skills, which can be valuable in a variety of careers, including academia, research, and the arts.
  • To prepare for a career in academia. A PhD in Arts is a prerequisite for many teaching positions in academia. If you want to teach at the college or university level, a PhD in Arts is a good way to prepare for this career.
  • To advance your career in the arts. A PhD in Arts can also be helpful for those who want to pursue a career in the arts, such as in museum curatorship, art therapy, or arts administration. A PhD can give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in these fields.


Admission Process

 

What is the Admission Process to PhD Arts Course?

Most of the universities follow the system of an entrance exam, few of the colleges might have a round of personal interview also. Few colleges allow admission through a merit basis. The general admission process is discussed below.

  • Most of the colleges take in candidates who have a good score in UGC recognized entrance exams, or National Level tests like UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR-NET, DBT (JRF), ICMR, etc.
  • In the cases of merit-based admission, once the application is processed, the result is usually declared based on the marks scored in the qualifying exams. 
  • In the case of entrance exams, admission is based on the candidate’s performance in the entrance exam. This is calculated on completion of the entrance exam.
  • In both the cases, there will be a personal interview round for final selection. In this round, the candidate will have to describe his research proposal to the panel. If the panel gets satisfied, then the candidate will be granted admission to the course. 

Admission Process

  • Study at least 4 hours every day and try to complete the syllabus given.
  • Keep a track of all the news updates of the colleges that you want to apply to.
  • In case of any doubt with regards to admission, call the management, and get updated information.
  • Keep solving past question papers and model papers.
  • Strategize on how you will attempt the paper based on your strong and weak points.
  • Ensure you have followed all the admission requirements correctly.


Who is Eligible to Study PhD Arts?

  • The applicant should have graduated with a master’s degree or equivalent in the relevant field from a recognized college or university.
  • The applicant should have graduated with a minimum of 55% in aggregate.
  • The applicant must qualify in the national or university level entrance exams to get eligible for the course. 


Which are the Top Entrance Exams for PhD Arts Course?

Some of the major entrance exams for admission to PhD Arts course are discussed below. 

Exam Application DateDate of Entrance Exam
UGC NET 2023To be AnnouncedTo be Announced
IIS RET 2023To be AnnouncedTo be Announced
Savitribai Phule Pune University Exam 2023January 14, 2023To be Announced


How to Prepare?

The syllabus of the exams are similar to the UGC Net: 

  • The exams are usually online exams so practice online mock exams
  • The syllabus is usually the sub-subjects that comes under the major discipline that the candidate have chosen so revise what you have studying in your masters
  • Most of the exams usually have a personal interview round also so prepare for it by asking someone to conduct mock interviews on you.

Some important points to keep in mind while preparing for the entrance exams are discussed below:

  • Study the syllabus provided thoroughly as well as the exam pattern.
  • Make notes while studying. These can help up with last-minute quick revisions.
  • Focus on your weak subjects and allocate more time to them.
  • Study from the recommended books of UGC- Net as this will help in preparation for other exams also.
  • If previous years question papers are available, then it is good to solve them as it will build up your confidence. While solving the previous papers, keep in mind that there are negative marks so attempt accordingly.

Why this Course?

There are many reasons why you might want to study a PhD in Arts. Here are a few of the most common reasons:

  • To gain a deeper understanding of your chosen field of art. A PhD in Arts will allow you to study your chosen field in great depth, from its history and theory to its current practices and trends. This can be a valuable experience for anyone who is passionate about art and wants to learn more about it.
  • To develop your research skills. A PhD in Arts will require you to conduct original research on a topic of your choice. This will give you the opportunity to develop your research skills, which can be valuable in a variety of careers, including academia, research, and the arts.
  • To prepare for a career in academia. A PhD in Arts is a prerequisite for many teaching positions in academia. If you want to teach at the college or university level, a PhD in Arts is a good way to prepare for this career.
  • To advance your career in the arts. A PhD in Arts can also be helpful for those who want to pursue a career in the arts, such as in museum curatorship, art therapy, or arts administration. A PhD can give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in these fields.