Doctor of Philosophy in Geology Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary 2023

Doctor of Philosophy or Ph.D. (Geology) is a 3-5 years doctorate program that prepares students for various Geoscience careers. Geology comprises the study of Mineralogy, Palaeontology, Structural Geology, and Geomorphology.

The basic eligibility criteria for pursuing the course is a Master’s degree in the areas such as Geology/ Applied Geology/ Earth Science/ Marine Geology from any recognized university with 55% aggregate marks.

Some of the institutes that offer the course in India are listed below:

Admission to the course is based on merit obtained by candidates at the master’s level. Some government institutes also conduct entrance exams for providing admission.

The average tuition fee charged for the course in India ranges between INR 10,000 to 2 lacs. However, successful doctorates can expect anything between INR 2.5 lacs to 9.5 lacs as the average starting salary which increases with their experience and expertise.

Such students are hired in the job positions such as Volcanologists, Petroleum Geologists, Environmental Geologists, Earth Science Teachers, Glacial Geologists, Structural Geologists, Hydrogeologists, Engineering Geologists, and Palaeontologists.

Top Colleges for Ph.D. (Geology)

Ph.D. (Geology): Course Highlights

The following table comprises some major highlights of the course:

Course Level	Doctorate
Duration	3-5 years
Examination Type	Semester system/ Year wise
Eligibility	Master’s degree from a recognized university with at least 55% marks.
Admission Process	Merit Based/ Entrance Test
Course Fees	INR 1 lakh to INR 2 lacs
Average Starting Salary	INR 2.5 lacs to INR 9.5 lacs
Top Recruiting Companies	Geological Survey of India, Central Ground Water Board, Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Hindustan Zinc Limited, Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation, Coal India, Mineral Exploration Ltd., Indian Bureau of Mines, Indian Space Research Organization, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.
Top Recruiting Areas	Research & Educational Institutes, Mining, Oil and Gas, Minerals and Water Resources, Mineralogy, Volcanology, Hydrology or Oceanography.
Job Positions	Volcanologists, Petroleum Geologists, Environmental Geologists, Earth Science Teachers, Glacial Geologists, Structural Geologists, Hydro geologists, Engineering Geologists, Palaeontologists

Ph.D. (Geology): What is it about?

Geology is the study of the Earth in which students study about Earth materials, how materials are made of, and processes that affect them over time. Students who are engaged in the study of geology are known as Geologists.

After getting a doctorate degree from reputed institutes or universities students can work both in domestic as well as international areas.

Students enrolled in the course are taught to:

Work in deserts, ocean floors, mountains etc.
Identifying rock, minerals and fossils
Measure Earth’s gravity and magnetic field
Research for natural gas and minerals

Top Institutes offering Ph.D. (Geology)

The following table shows the list of top institutes in India that offer the course:

Name of Institute	City	Average Annual Fees in INR
Banaras Hindu University	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	19, 000
Central University of Karnataka	Gulbarga, Karnataka	20, 000
Gulbarga University	Gulbarga, Karnataka	12, 395
JIS University	Kolkata, West Bengal
Karnatak University	Karnataka	12, 010
M.G. Science Institute	Ahmedabad, Gujarat	9000
Maharaja Ganga Singh University	Bikaner, Rajasthan	9000
MES Ponnani College	Kerala	22, 600
Mizoram University	Mizoram	17, 650
Mohanlal Sukhadia University	Udaipur, Rajasthan	30, 500
National College Trichy	Tamil Nadu	39, 650
NIMS University	Jaipur, Rajasthan	1, 05, 000
Osmania University	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh	3000
Panjab University	Chandigarh	12, 000

Eligibility for Ph.D. (Geology)

All interested students are required to fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria in order to apply for the course which is as below:

Postgraduate degree in a relevant area such as Geology/ Applied Geology/ Earth Science/ Marine Geology from any recognized university.
Minimum 55% marks for the general category in master’s degree
Minimum 50% marks for SC/ ST/ OBC category candidates

Ph.D. (Geology): Admission Process

Admission to the course is strictly done on the basis of marks obtained by candidates in a master’s degree. However, different universities or colleges have different admission rules.

Some of the universities conduct an entrance examination followed by a round of personal interview for admission to the particular course on the basis of which students are shortlisted.

Latest Ph.D. (Geology) Admission Alert

Ph.D. (Geology): Syllabus and Course Description

The following table shows the detailed syllabus of the program:

Name of the Course	Topics Covered
Review of Literature	Need and process of a systematic review of Literature to understand Regional and Local-Geology, Geomorphology, Stratigraphy, Structural and Tectonic Setting, Mineral Deposit and Hydrogeology etc.
Geological Surveying	Nature and scope, Important Field Equipment, Toposheets, Geological Mapping Methods, Base Map, Collection of Geological and Structural Data
Remote Sensing	Application of Remote Sensing Techniques in Geological Studies
tSampling	Purposes and Types of Samples, Techniques of Sampling, Sampling Patterns, Preparation of Samples for further studies
Microscopy	Preparation and Studies of Thin sections and Polished sections, Types of Microscopes and their Applications in Geology.
Geochemical Analysis	Geochemical Techniques and Instruments for Analyses of Rocks, Soils and Water Samples.
Geo-Scientific Writing	Pre-Writing Stage: Scientific Paper, Technical Report, Illustrations (Maps, Line Diagrams, Graphs, Photographs) Writing Stage: Qualities of Scientific Paper, Aids to Writing, Writing Practices. Post Writing Stage: Oral and Poster Presentation, Modes of Preparation and use of various kinds of Oral Aids, Poster Presentation

Ph.D. (Geology): Career Prospects

Geologists can start working in industries related to Mining, Oil and Gas, Minerals and Water Resources. Students can also work in a college and university as a teacher. There are some other areas where students can work like Mineralogy, Volcanology, Hydrology or Oceanography.

The following table shows the various job positions along with corresponding salaries and descriptions:

Doctor of Philosophy in Geology annual salary

Job Position	Job Description	Average Annual Pay Scale in INR
Petroleum Geologists	The duty of Petroleum Geologists is to discover the location and amount of useful fuel such as Oil and Natural Gas in sediments or reservoirs	4, 93, 325
Environmental Geologists	They study the Physical characteristics and composition of the earth and its natural resources	4, 50, 000
Earth Science Teacher	Earth Science Teacher teaches the course in Physical Sciences except Physics and Chemistry	3, 01, 462
Hydro geologists	They help in the study the location, movement, and quality of water formations below the surface of earth	5, 00, 000