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PhD in English: Courses, Fees, Syllabus, Eligibility, Top Colleges, Scope & Salary 2023

Course

Abhishek Dogra

Updated on 18th August, 2023 , 10 min read

A PhD in English is a three to six-year doctorate program that focuses on technical writing in prose, poetry, theater, and fiction as well as translations, international literature, and ancient literature. There are several job prospects for English PhD candidates in India and overseas in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. Graduates can begin their careers as a lecturer, professors, school teachers, private tutors, education consultants, vice principals, program managers, English teachers, language trainers, proofreaders, or customer support associates, among other positions.

 

PhD in English students must have earned their Masters's degrees in order to enroll in a PhD English course. Before applying for admission to a PhD in English, an M.A. in English or an M.Phil. is required. They should receive at least 50% of the possible points in their exams. Additionally, several colleges and universities accept job applications for English research positions. These roles are typically referred to as research fellows. This may serve as yet another entry point for a PhD English course. There are PhD entry exams at some universities.

PhD in English: Course Highlights

COURSE LEVEL

DOCTORATE

Full Form

Doctor in Philosophy in English

Duration

3 to 5 years

Examination type

Annual, Subjective

Eligibility

M.Phil in English or M.A in Englis

Admission Process

Based on direct interviews of short-listed candidates

Course Fee

INR 2000 to 1.25 Lakh per year

Average Salary

INR 5 to 10 lakhs

Top Recruiting Companies

TATA Consultancy, Adobe, KPMG companies, HP, Lenovo, HCL, IBM, Indiatimes, Hindustan Times, Zee News, CNN, IBN7, Delhi University

Job Positions

Editorial Assistant for big publishing houses, Advertising agency copywriter, Author, Public relations Office

Why Pursue PhD in English?   

A PhD in English literature is a fantastic way to advance your abilities in critical thinking, cooperation, communication, independent research, and many other areas and discover more about your areas of interest, and get the skills you need to advance particular study topics significantly. 

 

Who should pursue PhD in English?

It's important to note that pursuing a PhD in English is a significant commitment, often requiring several years of research, academic writing, and critical analysis. Prospective PhD candidates should be passionate about their chosen area of study, dedicated to research, and have a strong desire to contribute to the academic and intellectual discourse within the field of English language and literature.

 

PhD in English: Duration

PhD in English is a three-year program. It deals to impart students with the required theoretical background and research skills where students research and comprehension of works published in the English language in various historical periods, from prehistoric times to the post-modern era.

 

PhD in English: Fees

Some of the top Colleges/Universities offering Ph.D, location, along with their fees are given below: 

 

Institute

Location

Annual Fees

Christ University

Banglore

INR 30,000

Chandigarh University College

Chandigarh

INR 70,000

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)

Bhuvaneshwar

INR 31,568

Loyola college

Chennai

INR 6,000

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT)

Bhubaneshwar 

INR 68,000

PhD in English: Eligibility

The minimum eligibility for PhD English Literature is a master's degree in the English language with a minimum of 55% aggregate in the discipline passed from a recognized university.

 

PhD in English Admission Process

The completion of a Masters-level degree is the primary qualification for admission to PhD English programs. An M.A. in the arts or an M.Phil. Students who are taking final exams may also apply to take the entrance test. Such students should be ready for the State Level Eligibility Tests (SLETs), the CSIR-NET, or the GATE entrance exams.

 

It's critical to keep in mind that passing results on these tests are a criterion for admission. Additionally, keep in mind that SLET results are only important for the state. However, GATE and CSIR-NET exam results are accepted at all Indian universities. Only a few Indian universities accept GATE scores, but all Indian institutes accept CSIR-NET scores.

 

PhD in English Entrance Examinations

There are several routes for a deserving student to gain admission to a PhD in English. In addition to the admission tests mentioned above, the relevant universities also hold university-level exams. Merit-based admissions are used by several universities.

 

PhD English: Important dates of Entrance Exams

Written below are the important dates for PhD in English entrance exam:

 

ExaminationsRegistration PeriodDate of Examination
CSIR UGC NET (June Session)  2nd week of March – 2nd week of April 20233rd week of June 2023
GATEDecember 29, 2022 – January 23, 2023February 21, 2023 – March 10, 2023
JNUEETo be AnnouncedTo be Announced

PhD in English: Syllabus

Deep reflection and social awareness are key components of a PhD in English course. The following domains make up the learning experiences for PhD students, though the names of the subjects may vary from university to university.

A detailed syllabus for the PhD The English course is provided in the table below. The presentation is thorough in the syllabus. Depending on the situation, individual universities may add additional sections.

 

Paper I: Research Methodology (Theory)

Research: Nature and functions

Types of literary research

Error, evidence, and truth

Textual study and the search for the authoritative text

Problems of Authorship

Research Design

Literature review: necessity, methods and Utilization

Making Notes

Selecting and limiting the topic

Data collection: process, sources, types, and tools

Development of goals and theory (Meaning, Importance, Types, Sources, Characteristics, Forms,  Difficulties in Formulation, Testing).

Data collection: process, sources, types, and tools

Data: classification, tabulation, presentation, and analysis

Offering suggestions and recommendations

How to write a dissertation/ thesis?

What is a research paper? How to write a research paper?

Documentation Skills

Abbreviations from MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (sixth edition).

A scholar and a critic: Vocations

                          —  

 

                                                      Practical Work

  • Preparing a Research Proposal in the first term.

Preparing at least two Research Papers one in each term.

  • Learn to use libraries and online sources for research. Students will visit the British Library, INFLIBNET, and at least two university libraries and prepare a project.

 

 

                        â€” 

Part A: Language

ELT: an introduction (History, Place, Position, Problems, Prospects, and Future)

 

Paper II: English Language and Literature (Theory)

Language acquisition and language learning

Listening

Part B: Speaking

Reading

Writing

Communicative Language Teaching

Computer aided language learning

English for academic purposes

English for specific purposes

Business English Communication: Business letter, Report Writing, E-Communication

Part A: Theory of Translation

Translation: An Introduction.

 

Paper III Translation: Theory

Nature, meaning and its function.

Principles of correspondence

Theories of Translation

Art of translation

Sorts, process, issues and impediments of interpretation

Time: tense, mood and aspect

Concepts and notions

Idiom: from one culture to another

Transference, free rendering and transcreation

Translation and transliteration

Machine Translation

Translating literary, religious and scientific texts

Indian Literature in English Translation

Translation Theory: An Indian Perspective

Part B: Books in Translation:

Patel, Pannalal: Endurance: A Droll Saga (Manvi Ni Bhavai) trans. Prof. V. Y. Kantak, Sahitya Akademi Publications.

Tagore, Rabindranath: Gitanjali, trans. William Radich, Penguin.

Beckett, Samuel: Waiting for Godot, Faber, and Faber.

Gandhi, M.K.:My Experiments with Truth (Satya na Prayogo) trans. Mahadevbhai Desai, Navjivan Press.

                      

                         â€”

 

Practical Work

  • Interpretation of at least 30 pages from English to L1 or the other way around

Students will learn to use computers in translation.

  • Translation of at least two oral discourses from English into L1 and vice versa. Audio CD and recording will be used for the same.

           

 

                          â€”

 

Paper IV: Dissertation

The research scholar will be required to write a dissertation on a topic to be selected in consultation with the faculty.

In consultation with the faculty, the research scholar has the option of translating a book from L1 into English that is at least 100 pages long, or the other way around. The researcher will discuss issues, problems, solutions, and other difficulties encountered while deciphering the work that is currently being done.

Ghosh, Amitav: The Shadow Lines, Mariner Books, 2005

Literature Without Borders

Bhagat, Chetan: One Night at the Call Center, Rupa, 2005.

Shakespeare, William: Hamlet, Penguin.

 

Practical Work

Computer orientation

Use of Language Learning Software to improve LSRW.

Computer-aided language learning and teaching.

 

                          â€”

 

PhD in English: Colleges in India

IIT Delhi

Chandigarh University

Loyal College

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh

University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

PhD in English: Colleges in Delhi

PhD in English: College Comparison

PhD in English at Loyal College vs PhD in English at Chandigarh University

 

ParametersLoyal CollegeChandigarh University
OverviewEstablished in 1925, Loyola College has enjoyed autonomy since that year. This college offers UG, PG, and PhD programs in the humanities, the sciences, and business.The Punjab State Legislature passed an act on July 10, 2012, creating the university. It is recognized by University Grants Commission under Section 2(f) with the right to confer degrees as per Section 22(1) of the UGC Act, 1956
NIRF Ranking0627
LocationChennaiChandigarh
Average FeesINR 6,000 per yearINR 70,000 per year
Average Salary PackageINR 3,50,000INR 4,00,000
Top RecruitersAmazon, GenMedic, IBS, Stratagem Solutions

Google, Amazon, VMWare, Dell, Deloitte, Sapient, HP, L&T infotech, HCL, Godrej, Everest, Apollo

 

PhD in English: Salary

A PhD holder's pay will vary depending on their subject and job. PhD in English jobs in India are available in both the public and private sectors.  The typical pay for new hires is between INR 3.5 and 5 LPA. Depending on your qualifications and expertise, it might rise to INR 6–12 LPA. The work scope will expand with experience and expertise. Additionally, government universities will pay professors INR 6 LPA in salaries.

 

Given below are the PhD in English jobs along with their respective salaries:

 

Job Profiles

Average Salary

Content Writer

INR 4.5 – 5 LPA

Head of Department English

INR 10 – 12 LPA

Technical Writer

INR 6.5 – 8 LPA

Movie Critic

INR 3.8 – 4.5 LPA

Journalist

INR 5.5 – 6 LPA

Translator Public Relations Office

INR 3.5 – 4 LPA

PhD in English: Job 

After earning a PhD in English, jobs in the creative and educating industries are available. Schools and colleges are the first significant locations where PhD in English-qualified scholars may apply for jobs because they are where English is taught the most. They have the option of beginning as Teacher Assistants and moving up to Department Head. Critics may work in the creative field if they have a PhD in cinematography or broadcast media certification. Like articles moderators, and critics. Publisher houses that check and edit books before they are eventually published may also have critics.

The types of work profiles that research scholars completing Ph.Ds in English you obtain are listed below. At this point, it's crucial to keep in mind that a PhD graduate may begin at entry-level or even nominal levels. The prospect doesn't become qualified for higher positions until after a few years of work experience. However, compared to graduates and postgraduates with master's degrees, this frequently happens more quickly.

 

Listed below is a table that shows a few of the job profiles after completion of the PhD in English.

 

Job Profile

Job Description

Content Writer

 

Sites that rely on information are more likely to use this position. Experts in this field are becoming more and more sought-after.

Head of Department English

The English department's head of division oversees the faculty. They take care of the department's professors and raise the students' standards of instruction.

Technical Writer

For programming, medical, and literary fields, technical writers create and draft correspondences.

Movie Critic

A critique evaluates a movie's value. These might appear in movies, books, or broadcasts.

Copy Editor

This job role is popular in publishing houses. The appointee has to proofread and make write-ups error-free.

PhD in English: Future Scope

PhD English has very promising potential. Despite having a majority of Hindi speakers, English is used in nearly every industry. The most popular career options in India right now are working as a critic, penning publications, and reviewing books and movies.

 

1. PhD in Religious Studies

In this students probably read a few religious texts as an English major, and regardless of your affiliation (if any), you comprehend their significance. Actually, you don't have to be religious to pursue a PhD in religious studies. Studying religion entails studying ethics, convictions, societies, and individuals.

 

2. PhD in Linguistics

Language studies, also known as linguistics, cover all facets of language as well as the techniques used to study and model them. When reading a line of dialogue in literary fiction, did you notice how clear the dialect was

 

3. PhD in History

Record, of course, is the study of the past. At the same, background helps us understand change and how the community we now live in came to be.

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again".– Maya Angelou.

A component of being a student of history is gaining the ability to sort through varied, usually conflicting interpretations. Your bachelor's degree in English will set you up for success.

 

4. PhD in Media Studies

The works of writers give us direct access to what it means to be human in all its complexity and mystery, just like all other forms of art do. If you discovered that your favorite aspect of majoring in English was the art and literature you encountered, you might want to think about pursuing a PhD in something like Media Studies.

 

5. PhD in Political Science

Political science and English may at first seem like odd bedfellows. But during your undergraduate studies, you already developed a solid foundation in critical reading and thinking, approached literary analysis through a variety of lenses, and identified the influences of culture, politics, and social issues scattered throughout a work.

Many great works contain references to political, economic, and their interactions. Understanding the historical and philosophical roots of political values is possible through the study of political science.

 

6. PhD in English

Predictably, a significant in English greatly aids in your preparation for an English Ph.D

A PhD in English provides students with the in-depth understanding of literary criticism they need to meet faculties around the world, from the earliest poetic developments in Old English to the most recent creative work currently being published. You can research literature from the Middle Ages, African American literature, or literature written during the American Revolution, depending on your area of expertise.

Your English bachelor's degree provided you with a large overview, but your PhD will enable you to focus on one area of expertise and develop it further.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Doctorate in English entail?

After earning a PhD in English, there are numerous career options. Writing, training, authorship, and public relations officers can all pursue careers that allow them to interact with people.

What is the average salary for a PhD in English?

The average salary for a Ph. D in an English career in India for the doctorates is around INR 7LPA.

What is the eligibility for PhD in English from IGNOU?

Students must have finished their Master's Degree from a University recognized by UGC.

How useful is a PhD in English?

A PhD in English Literature offers a great opportunity to gain valuable skills in critical analysis, communication, independent research, collaboration, and many more.

Is a Doctorate entrance exam required?

Entrance exams are the main factor in determining PhD admittance in 2023, but some universities also accept merit-based applications.

Can someone do PhD without a Master's?

The chances of being accepted into a PhD program are slim to none if candidate don't have the appropriate educational background in the field.

What is the duration of PhD in english course?

The duration of PhD course is between 3 to 5 years.

Does IGNOU offer PhD in English?

Yes, IGNOU offers PhD in English.

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