MPhil, or Master of Philosophy, is a two-year postgraduate academic research degree. Candidates can enrol in an MPhil program regardless of their field of study: humanities, commerce, science, law, teaching, etc. 

Aspirants to the MPhil program must study both theoretical and practical material. Candidates must also undertake research and submit their findings to add to this. Candidates can pursue a PhD program after finishing an MPhil course.

Candidates who want to enrol in an MPhil program must complete the eligibility requirements. Although the requirements may change depending on the university, students must have at least a 55 per cent grade point average in the topic they choose to study for an MPhil degree at the postgraduate level. 

Typically, applicants are chosen for admission to an MPhil program based on how well they performed on an entrance exam, followed by a Personal Interview (PI) phase.

The MPhil program in India typically lasts two years to complete. Sometimes the course lasts between one and five years. The MPhil Course is available as a full-time or online option.

In India, the MPhil program has been considered a transitional step between the postgraduate and PhD programs. The School of International Studies (SIS) Department of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, initially offered the programme in India in 1971. 

The course is considered necessary to develop the academic research writing skills required for the PhD Course. The course curriculum is structured so applicants know about developing research methodologies and identifying gaps in their study area. Let's look at a few more examples of how an MPhil program might benefit a candidate's potential career.

Why study M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) in India?

• This degree serves as a prerequisite for the PhD Course. Long considered to be a void between master's and PhD programs, the MPhil Course. The course aids applicants in developing a comprehensive approach to educating their minds about the complexities of research and developing research abilities and information that would help them complete a full-scale PhD program.
• The MPhil program assures students of a profitable investment. Candidates typically pay between INR 110,000 and INR 200,000 for an MPhil programme (The numbers are considerably higher for private colleges). An M.Phil. candidate makes, on average, INR 508,600 per year. As a result, the applicants can swiftly recover their study costs. Other benefits, including health insurance and free dental care, are available to MPhil students in India.
• The MPhil program provides several speciality options so applicants can select from various academic specializations based on their areas of interest. In India, there are more than 30 different specialities. With more than 150 million Indians needing therapy, the MPhil in Psychology specialized program is becoming increasingly popular in India.
• Teaching or research organisations often hire candidates who have finished their MPhil programs. Teaching is one of India's professions with the most excellent job security. The Honourable Supreme Court of India advocated for the employment security of all teachers in India in 2018. This was done in 2018. According to a study by Naukri, the teaching industry hired the second-highest number of people in December 2022, after the healthcare sector, even amid the COVID 19 epidemic.
• According to previously said, most MPhil graduates choose to become teachers. After receiving their MPhils, many graduates open coaching facilities. According to The Times of India, 7.1 crore students choose to take classes at various levels, opening up prospects for the business.

Who should do M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) in India?

• Candidates who desire to pursue a career in research in several educational subjects enrol in the MPhil program.
• The MPhil program is popular for students who want to work as teachers or contribute to creating the country and who want to prepare for a PhD degree.
• Candidates unable to dedicate the 4-5 years necessary for the exhaustive study required by the PhD programs may also pursue an MPhil course.
• A MPhil degree can be useful and enhance the resumes of individuals who wanted to earn a research degree if, by chance, they cannot complete the PHD program due to unforeseen circumstances.
• Candidates should enrol in the MPhil Program if they intend to engage in research and development initiatives (whether they are public or private). The government of India has reported that INR 71,969.15 crore was spent on research and development programs overall in 2017–18. There is, therefore, a tremendous potential for MPhil applicants.

M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) in India:  Perfect time to join

• After finishing their master's degree, candidates can begin their MPhil programs.
• Candidates who desire to pursue a PhD degree but want to develop their research skills should enrol in the MPhil program.
• The MPhil program's second-year curriculum mandates that applicants focus on developing a dissertation project and a thesis. Therefore they must devote enough time to study and research to complete the course.
• The MPhil program at private institutions is rather pricey. Thus candidates must save money before enrolling in the program.

Top M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) colleges in India

Here is a list of top M. Phil colleges in India with NIRF ranking:

Top M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) colleges in India: Tuition Fees

Here is a list of top M. Phil colleges in India with tuition fees:

M.Phil (Master of Philosophy)  in India: Specializations

Most students who complete an MPhil do so in a field related to their Master's degree. The typical MPhil specialities offered in India include the following:

• M. Phil in Psychology
• M. Phil in English
• M. Phil in Management
• M. Phil in Education
• M. Phil in Economics
• M. Phil in Clinical Psychology
• M. Phil (Physical Education)
• M. Phil Sociology
• M. Phil in Law
• M. Phil Social Work
• M. Phil Physics
• M. Phil Maths
• M. Phil in Life Sciences
• M. Phil Botany
• M. Phil Biotechnology
• M. Phil Commerce
• M. Phil in Human Development Studies
• M. Phil Computer Science
• M. Phil Chemistry
• M. Phil History
• M. Phil in Sociology
• M. Phil in Human Development Studies
• M. Phil in Applied and Regional Economics and so on.

M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) in India: Admission Requirements

For the candidates, accomplishment in their individual MPhil admission exams is crucial. Making revision notes on key ideas in tables, charts, diagrams, and other visual aids can help you review successfully and quickly. This will go along with your study resources. If there are practice examinations and sample papers accessible for those exams, you should take as many of them as you can to do better on test day.

Candidates should be well-versed in the exam's format, including the number of questions, question categories, etc. Some of the typical subjects for these entrances are included in the table below.

• Research Aptitude
• Comprehension
• Logical Reasoning
• Teaching Aptitude
• Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude
• People, Development and Environment 
• Communication
• Data Interpretation
• Higher Education System

Eligibility Criteria

Although the MPhil Eligibility Criteria for MPhil Admission vary from university to university, the fundamental standard or criterion is the same for the majority of institutions. Following are the essential eligibility criteria for studying M. Phil in Top Universities in India:

• The most fundamental requirement for MPhil eligibility is that candidates should have completed their postgraduate program at a reputable university with a minimum overall score of 55%.
• Candidates from the restricted categories are granted a 5 per cent relaxation.
• When applying for admittance, he or she must not have unfinished business in any PG-level topic, including compartments.
• In addition to the qualifying requirements listed above, many schools and institutions could have extra requirements that students must meet to be admitted.
• To be eligible for the advantages that apply to them, students in the reserved category must show their reservation certificates, which the appropriate authorities have granted.
• Candidates must take the entrance test, which is offered at the national or institute level, to enrol in the MPhil programs. GATE, the MPhil Admission Test, UGC JRF, JNUEE, and other entrance exams are among them.

In addition, some of the colleges' notable qualifying requirements include

• Candidates must provide a domicile certificate proving they have lived in the state for more than ten years while applying to the University of Calcutta. Candidates must also have their original certificates when submitting their applications.
• The BHU Research Entrance Test determines admission to the Banaras Hindu University (RET). The University's Academic Council sets the standard for the entrance requirements, which vary each year significantly.
• Candidates who finished their master's degree before September 19, 1991, are eligible for a 5% waiver from the admissions requirements at Delhi University.

Entrance Exam in India

Let's go into depth about the top entrance exam for M. Phil in India.

JNUEE

For admission to the university's many courses, the National Testing Agency administers the JNUEE, or Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination, at the university level.  The JNUEE enrollment period is anticipated to begin in June 2022, and the admission test is tentatively slated to take place in September 2022.  Three hours will be allotted for the admission test, administered offline. A postgraduate grade point average of 50% is required for enrollment in the MPhil program. The application cost is INR 310 for restricted categories and INR 530 for general categories.

CUCET

The 14 central universities administer the Central Universities Common Entrance Test, a national-level entrance test, to candidates for admission to various UG, PG, and PhD programs. The COVID 19 epidemic has caused the CUCET registration procedure to be delayed. The 2-hour admission test lasts two hours. For general/OBC applicants, the entrance test application fee is INR 800; for SC/ST applicants, it is INR 350. The colleges taking part in CUCET offer 136 MPhil/PhD programmes.

M. Phil Entrance Test (MET)

For admission to its MPhil programs, the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Bombay, administers the MPhil Entrance Test.  A tentative date for the entrance exam for this examination is the end of June 2022.  The entrance examination will last three hours and be broken into two sections, Paper I and Paper II.   Paper I has two MCQ-based parts (A and B), each worth 20 points.  There are two 30 Marks sections in Paper II (A and B). The answers are lengthy essays in length.  The registration procedure is anticipated to be started within the first two weeks of June 2022.

GATE

For admission to graduate and research level programs at India's top schools and universities, one of the IITs administers the GATE, or Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, nationwide.  IIT Kharagpur would host the GATE 2022 examination.  The three-hour entrance exam consists primarily of multiple-choice (MCQs) and a few numerical-type questions.  The registration procedure's projected start and end dates are September 2022 and November 2022. The GATE test costs INR 1500 for general students and INR 750 for female candidates in reserved categories.

UGC NET

The UGC NET is one entrance test for admission to many research-related programmes in India. The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the UGC NET twice a year, in June and December. Candidates must have earned a minimum grade point average of 55% (or 50% for restricted categories) in their post-graduate work or equivalent from an accredited university. The 3-hour computer-based entrance test consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). After the results of the December cycle examination are announced, the new registration will start. The UGC NET application cost is INR 1000 for unreserved categories and INR 500 for reserved categories.

BHU RET (2022)

The Banaras Hindu University administered the BHU Research Entrance Test (RET) for those seeking admission to its PhD and MPhil programs. The admission examination has a 120-minute time limit, and 300 are required to pass.

Test A and Test B are the two sections of the admission test. Analytical and logical thinking problems make up Test A. To be eligible for the next phase, applicants must receive at least 35 per cent on Test A. The application form costs INR 400 for SC/ST and PwD applicants and INR 800 for unreserved and OBC applicants.

M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) in India: Skills required

Candidates who wish to enrol in an MPhil program in India must be passionate about their chosen field. In addition, applicants who are considering pursuing an MPhil program must be very devoted and hardworking. The following are some essential skills that a candidate should have when competing for an MPhil program:

• Decent analytical abilities
• Reasoning Ability
• Dedicated
• Hard-Working
• Inquisitive
• Good at Research
• Self-Motivated
• Keen Observer
• Good Writing Capacity
• Organised, and so on.

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M. Phil (Master of Philosophy) in India: Career and Job Scope

Candidates have a wide range of alternatives, whether looking at national or worldwide opportunities, with a Master of Philosophy degree in their specialised field. A candidate may be able to pursue a doctorate (PhD) in the relevant field after completing the program's research component. Candidates can start looking for jobs in several businesses and academic institutions related to the field of work they have chosen to specialize in.

Upon completing the MPhil programs, candidates can find employment in various fields related to their field of study, including civil service, archaeology, economics, etc. After completing their MPhil courses, most M. Phil graduates choose to work in research or education.

Following are the different fields where the graduates of M. Phil in India can work:

• Editorials
• Magazines
• Social Services
• Academic Institutions
• Private Companies
• Law Firms 
• Publishing Houses
• Social Media
• NGOs and INGOs
• Government offices, and so on.

The following table lists some of the most common job postings after earning an MPhil in India: