Message from the Chairperson
The Doctoral Programme in Management at IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA), one of the country's first doctoral programmes in management, remains the first choice for students interested in pursuing a career in management in India.
IIMA aspires to be a leading school in management research. To that end, we seek researchers with the potential to become global knowledge creators and research leaders in methodology and practice. The emphasis is on knowledge creation and knowledge expansion. Our doctoral students are expected to demonstrate independent research thinking by publishing in prestigious academic journals and giving scholarly presentations on their work. We encourage and support collaborative research with faculty from other universities. We encourage students to join academic, research, and professional networks as early in their careers as possible.
The IIMA Doctoral Programme offers specializations in Economics, Finance and Accounting, Food and Agribusiness, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Innovation and Management in Education, Marketing, Organizational Behaviour, Operations & Decision Sciences, Public Systems, and Strategy. We strongly encourage multidisciplinary research.
We have excellent research facilities, including a library with an impressive collection of management literature, journals, and databases. We provide high-performance computing capability, subject-specific research centres, fellowships, and financial assistance for research and conference attendance.
If this excites you, we invite you to apply to the Doctoral Programme and become a member of the IIMA community. 
Sandip Chakrabarti
Chairperson, Doctoral Programme in Management
Why Ph.D. at IIMA?
Thinking of doing your Ph.D.? If you have outstanding academic credentials, intellectual curiosity, discipline required for deep and meticulous research then the Ph.D. Programme at IIMA is where you should be. You will acquire a solid foundation within your discipline, exposure to new ideas, and mastery of the tools necessary to engage in research as you investigate in-depth today’s most challenging problems.
Why Ph.D. at IIMA?
Thinking of doing your Ph.D.? If you have outstanding academic credentials, intellectual curiosity, discipline required for deep and meticulous research then the Ph.D. Programme at IIMA is where you should be. You will acquire a solid foundation within your discipline, exposure to new ideas, and mastery of the tools necessary to engage in research as you investigate in-depth today’s most challenging problems.
Why Ph.D. at IIMA?
Thinking of doing your Ph.D.? If you have outstanding academic credentials, intellectual curiosity, discipline required for deep and meticulous research then the Doctoral Programme in Management at IIMA is where you should be. You will acquire a solid foundation within your discipline, exposure to new ideas, and mastery of the tools necessary to engage in research as you investigate in-depth today’s most challenging problems.
Vision of the Programme
The objective of the Doctoral Programme in Management is to equip students with necessary skills to identify and carry out research on complex issues in a specialized field of management. The programme is strongly committed to preparing thought leaders, both for the academic and corporate world. Graduates of the Doctoral Programme in Management are placed in world class organizations in teaching, research and consulting positions. A total of 471 doctoral students have graduated from IIMA so far.
The Doctoral Programme in Management seeks candidates with outstanding academic credentials, intellectual curiosity and discipline needed to make scholarly contributions that advance the frontiers of knowledge. It provides a diverse set of opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and research. The student opts for one of eleven functional/sectoral areas and acquires super specialized theoretical knowledge and mastery of practical aspects of the area.
The small class size allows close interaction with faculty members, who provide the intellectual stimulus and help develop the student's research interests and professional goals. Students generally spend a little over four years to complete their Ph.D. which includes two years of rigorous course work.
Course work in the first year provides a general management overview and develops basic skills for analyzing managerial problems. In the second year, students take advanced Doctoral courses in their areas of high levels of specialization. After completing the course work, students have to pass an area comprehensive examination to demonstrate that they have reached a level of proficiency in the area of high levels of specialization.
The Ph.D. dissertation, for the next couple of years, provides them with an opportunity to make original contribution to an area of management or to one of its source disciplines. Students admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Management receive a comprehensive fellowship that covers all costs and in addition provides a modest living allowance.
Vision of the Programme
The objective of the Ph.D. Programme in Management is to equip students with necessary skills to identify and carry out research on complex issues in a specialized field of management. The programme is strongly committed to preparing thought leaders, both for the academic and corporate world. Graduates of the Ph.D. Programme in Management are placed in world class organizations in teaching, research and consulting positions. A total of 422 doctoral students have graduated from IIMA so far.
The Ph.D. Programme in Management seeks candidates with outstanding academic credentials, intellectual curiosity and discipline needed to make scholarly contributions that advance the frontiers of knowledge. It provides a diverse set of opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and research. The student opts for one of eleven functional/sectoral areas and acquires super specialized theoretical knowledge and mastery of practical aspects of the area.
The small class size allows close interaction with faculty members, who provide the intellectual stimulus and help develop the student's research interests and professional goals. Students generally spend a little over four years to complete their Ph.D. which includes two years of rigorous course work.
Course work in the first year provides a general management overview and develops basic skills for analyzing managerial problems. In the second year, students take advanced Ph.D. level courses in their areas of high levels of specialization. After completing the course work, students have to pass an area comprehensive examination to demonstrate that they have reached a level of proficiency in the area of high levels of specialization.
The Ph.D. dissertation, for the next couple of years, provides them with an opportunity to make original contribution to an area of management or to one of its source disciplines. Students admitted to the Ph.D. Programme receive a comprehensive fellowship that covers all costs and in addition provides a modest living allowance.
Announcements
Ph.D. Experiences
My two years journey at IIM Ahmedabad has been very rewarding. Professors, here, are very knowledgeable and supportive. There are abundant research opportunities with hundreds of research seminars occurring every year. Campus has excellent infrastructure including classes, sports facilities, hostels and the library is probably the best in India with plethora of resources. Ph.D. office, library and administration staff is also very friendly and cooperative. Apart from academics, there are plenty of avenues to explore cultural and sports interests. 
Atul Karwasara Year of Joining: 2018, Area: Strategy
Ph.D. in innovation and management in education is offered only in IIM A across India, and this unique interdisciplinary course of management and education provides ample opportunity to research in the diverse field within the education sector. The option to choose multiple courses from different management sub-disciplines during coursework in the Ph.D. programme at IIM A has helped me broaden my understanding and knowledge about management education and research. Ph.D. programme at IIM A provides a unique platform in terms of the diverse cohort to hone research skills as the mix of qualitative and quantitative researchers help and support each other in mutual and shared learning.
Nirved Kumar Year of Joining: 2020, Area: RJMCEI
My experience with IIM A, till now, can be summarized in three words
- rigour, learning, and development. The coursework is vast and intense. I would admit that the first year of coursework has helped me take a quantum leap into the world of academics. The faculty members are extremely supportive and patient. Additionally, there is ample scope, here, to pursue one’s extra-curricular interests. The community is very tightly knit and my batch profile is so diverse that the past one year was peppered with numerous instances of peer learning - academic as well as
non-academic.
Lokesh Malviya Year of Joining: 2020, Area: OB
Admissions
View allThe Doctoral Programme in Management of the IIMA admits students who have a strong academic background, are highly motivated and who have the intellectual curiosity to undertake original research.
Doctoral Specializations
FAQs
What is Doctoral Programme in Management?
Doctoral Programme in Management at IIMA consists of 11 different specializations of management. It prepares students to pursue a career, which requires high scholastic aptitude and academic research. The programme is primarily designed to help students seek research careers in academia or elsewhere.
Where can I get more information about the Doctoral Programme in Management?
Doctoral Programme in Management Office, Indian Institute of Management, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380 015, Tel +91-79-7152 4640/41
What is the average completing time for the Doctoral Programme in Management?
The average completion time is between four to five years.
Is it possible to complete the Doctoral Programme in Management on a part-time basis?
No. However, a student may seek employment at the end of four and a half years with the concurrence of his / her thesis advisory committee and Doctoral Programme in Management Chair.
Who should apply? What are the typical backgrounds of doctoral students?
Doctoral Programme in Management looks for highly motivated students interested in pursuing research careers in high levels of specialization requiring high scholastic aptitude. Typical students have varied backgrounds. Please follow the link to know about backgrounds of current students.
What are the qualities which IIMA is looking for in applicants to the program?
The Programme looks for highly motivated and disciplined candidates with strong academic preparation who exhibit curiosity, desire to learn, and have an inclination towards high levels of specialized research.
How will I sustain myself for 4-5 years, if I have a family?
IIMA provides sufficient fellowship (including fees, boarding, lodging and stipend) for five years to doctoral students. Please refer later section for details.
Does it help to have an MBA degree before entering the Doctoral Programme in Management?
Not really. From the first year itself the student takes doctoral level courses alongwith some PGP courses as recommended by his/her Academic Adviser. Hence, a student coming from non-management background is equally placed with those having a management background. Please check the area pages in the Doctoral Programme in Management Brochure for specific requirements. For example, O&DS area encourages students who have a quantitative training from various disciplines to apply for their programme. Similarly, students with a background in Psychology may find the work done in the Organizational Behaviour useful.
How do I apply? What is the process of admission to the programme? Where can I get the forms? Can I apply online?
Please refer to the Admission Page.
What is the purpose of the interview? What is expected at the interview for IIMA? Does it help if I come prepared with a research proposal?
The purpose of the interview is to gauge the academic preparation of the candidate for her/his chosen high level of specialized area in the programme. It also gives the candidate an opportunity to find out if the programme meets the requirements of the student. The student is not expected to have prepared any research proposal. In addition to interview, some of the Areas may conduct written test.
Does the programme accept international students?
Yes, the programme accepts international students. The eligibility requirements are the same as for domestic students. Please write to us specifically for details on the admission process and fees.
How selective is IIMA? What are my chances of getting admitted? How many students are admitted each year?
The selection process is very rigorous and involves four levels of screening and interviews. The number of seats are not fixed for the programme and depend upon the calibre of the applicant who goes through a fair and rigorous selection process.
What are the important stages in the Doctoral Programme in Management?
The key stages are
1. First two year of coursework
2. Area comprehensive examination,
3. Thesis Proposal defense,
5. Thesis seminar,
6. Thesis defense
How much flexibility exists in the Doctoral Programme in Management? Can I change my area of research during my stay at IIMA?
IIMA Doctoral Programme in Management offers a mix of flexibility and rigidity to the students. Students are allowed to change their chosen area of specialized work during the first year at IIMA, if they fulfil specified criteria. Specific deadlines for doing so are provided in the Doctoral Programme in Management Manual. IIMA offers high degree of flexibility in choosing areas of research. However a student is required to complete his/her area comprehensive exam by beginning of third year and thesis proposal defense within 9 months of the completion of area comprehensive examination. Details are available in the Doctoral Programme in Management manual.
How do I choose my research topic?
A research topic requires interest and motivation of student and availability of a suitable guide interested in the area of high level of specialization. Each doctoral student forms a Thesis Advisory Committee with whom the student has to work towards her/his thesis.
What support is available for presenting research papers in Indian and international conferences?
Please refer to the Admission Page.
How do I find a job, after completing my doctoral studies?
Jobs depend on a student's competence and high level of specialization achieved during the programme. There are recruiters coming to the campus, faculty advisors provide references, and also through other informal/formal channels.
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