Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

IIM Kozhikode offers three doctoral programmes leading to the award of the PhD degree: the Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM), DPM (Teaching Track), and DPM (Practice Track).

DPM: The DPM is a full-time doctoral programme focused on rigorous training in theory, empirical analysis, and research methods for academic careers.

DPM (Teaching Track): The DPM (Teaching Track) is designed for individuals with prior academic or knowledge-oriented experience who wish to strengthen teaching and research capabilities.

DPM (Practice Track): The DPM (Practice Track) is intended for experienced professionals seeking to integrate managerial practice with advanced research.

The DPM is offered in a full-time mode.

Individuals with prior experience in teaching, training, research, or similar knowledge-oriented roles who wish to pursue advanced doctoral training in management education.

Experienced professionals with substantial full-time work experience who aim to engage in doctoral-level research grounded in managerial practice.

Eight Areas are offered: Decision Sciences & Operations Management, Economics, Finance, Accounting & Control, Humanities & Liberal Arts in Management, Information Systems, Marketing Management, Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management, and Strategic Management.

Yes. All three programmes lead to the award of the PhD degree.

Yes. The degree certificate will indicate the relevant track.

Applicants must possess an eligible postgraduate degree, a professional qualification with a bachelor’s degree, or a four-year bachelor’s degree, with minimum marks or CGPA as specified for each programme.

Yes. The minimum marks/CGPA requirements vary by programme and qualification type.

Final-year candidates may apply only to the DPM, subject to the conditions specified for provisional admission.

Yes, provided the professional qualification is held along with a bachelor’s degree and meets the prescribed minimum marks.

Yes, subject to meeting the programme-specific minimum marks.

Yes, if awarded by institutions accredited or recognised by authorised bodies in their home countries.

Yes. Candidates from SC/ST/PwD/NC-OBC/EWS categories are eligible for a 5% (or equivalent) relaxation in minimum eligibility marks.

Yes. Applicants to the DPM must submit a valid qualifying test score unless exempted.

Accepted tests are Area-specific and include CAT, GATE, GMAT, GRE, UGC-NET/JRF, the IIMB Test, and other approved tests for certain Areas.

Test scores must not be older than three years as on the application closing date, except for the IIMB Test.

Yes. Graduates with a PGDM/MBA from any IIM, or an Executive PGDM/MBA from IIM Kozhikode, are exempted, subject to minimum academic performance criteria.

No. There is no work experience requirement for the DPM.

A minimum of three years of full-time experience after graduation in teaching, training, research, or equivalent knowledge-oriented roles.

A minimum of eight years of full-time work experience after graduation; higher requirements apply for certain Areas (e.g., Strategic Management).

Yes. Applicants may apply to one or more programmes through a single application.

Yes. Only one Area may be selected, and it applies to all programme choices.

Three stages: Application Screening; Written Ability Test (WAT) and Doctoral Orientation Conversation (DOC); and Doctoral Area Conversation (DAC).

The WAT is a 30-minute, in-person, paper-and-pen essay test. The DOC is a face-to-face interaction assessing doctoral motivation, learning orientation, analytical articulation, perseverance, and programme fit.

The DAC is an online academic interaction assessing Area-specific understanding, research orientation, and doctoral readiness.

Final selection is based on a Final Composite Score, computed using programme-specific weightages across academic performance, work experience (where applicable), WAT, and DAC.

DPM: No tuition fee; monthly fellowship of ₹42,000 initially, revised to ₹45,000 after the comprehensive qualifying examination, and ₹50,000 after successful thesis proposal defence.

DPM (Teaching Track): Programme fee of ₹5,00,000 for the standard duration; no fellowship.

DPM (Practice Track): Programme fee of ₹9,50,000 for the standard duration (a revised fee is under consideration); no fellowship.

The typical duration is five years. Across all three programmes, candidates must complete a minimum of three years before becoming eligible to submit the draft thesis.