ADBU Ph.D Commerce: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. The ADBU PhD entrance test is conducted online. The written test comprises two equal sections: 50% questions on Research Methodology and 50% questions on the subject-specific area (Commerce). Candidates who have qualified NET/JRF/SET/GATE are exempted from the written test and need to appear only for the Personal Interview. The interview requires candidates to present a research proposal of up to 300 words covering their proposed area of study, its relevance, and their motivation for choosing it.

Ans. The Department of Commerce at ADBU offers doctoral research in a wide range of thrust areas including Finance, Economics, Consumer Behaviour, Accounting, Developmental Studies, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship, Rural Development, Marketing Management, Taxation, Organisational Behaviour, and Green Marketing. Candidates are advised to review the available supervisors and their research interests on the ADBU Research Cell website (rdc.dbuniversity.ac.in) before applying, to ensure alignment between their research interests and the available faculty expertise.

Ans. All candidates admitted to the PhD programme at ADBU must complete a mandatory coursework of one semester (six months) before formal registration as a research scholar. Candidates must secure a minimum grade point of 6.00 in the coursework to proceed. The coursework period is included within the overall PhD duration. Formal registration must be completed within 18 months of the date of admission. The thesis must be submitted within five years of the date of formal registration.

Ans. ADBU requires PhD scholars to have at least two research publications co-authored with their supervisor in Scopus-indexed, Web of Science, or peer-reviewed journals, with affiliation to Assam Don Bosco University, before submitting the thesis. A research paper jointly published by two research scholars may be given equal weightage to both, with justification about their contribution provided by the supervisor and countersigned by the Head of the Department. This requirement ensures that scholars contribute meaningfully to the academic community during their research tenure.

Ans. Yes, ADBU offers the PhD programme in both full-time and part-time modes. The part-time PhD has a duration of 4 to 7 years. Working professionals applying for the part-time mode must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their current employer at the time of the interview. The semester fee for part-time scholars is Rs. 50,000 per semester (same as full-time for Humanities). Candidates should note that the mandatory coursework and research publication requirements apply equally to both full-time and part-time scholars.

Ans. ADBU allows extensions beyond the standard duration (5 years from formal registration for full-time scholars) on a case-by-case basis. However, any extension granted will require payment of semester fees at the rate prevalent at the time of the extension, not at the rate applicable when the scholar originally joined the programme. This means that if fee rates have increased over the years, the scholar will be required to pay the higher current rate during the extension period. Candidates are strongly advised to plan their research timeline carefully to avoid incurring additional costs due to extensions.