TISS invites applications for M.Phil and PhD. Programmes with the various Schools and Independent Centres of the Institute across TISS Mumbai, Tuljapur and Guwahati Campuses. 

Admissions to the PhD and M.phil programs are done on the basis of the Research Aptitude Test (RAT). 

UGC JRF qualified candidates, postgraduates, students in the final year post-graduation in Social Sciences and allied fields and individuals with M.Phil. and/or industrial, academic and field-based experience in Social Sciences, Social Work, Disaster Management, Development Studies and allied fields are invited to apply. Check TISS Courses and Fees

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants will be shortlisted for the Research Aptitude Test (RAT) on basis of them meeting the following considerations with regard to educational qualifications, work experience and research proposal:

• Educational Qualifications: The minimum academic qualification for admission to the integrated M.Phil. & Direct PhD programmes is a Second Class Master’s or equivalent degree in the relevant subject awarded by a recognised university in India or abroad, with at least an average of 55% of aggregate marks, or a grade point average of 3.5 under the seven-point scale of the University Grants Commission (UGC). In the case of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, the minimum eligibility is an average of 50 per cent of aggregate marks, or a grade point average of 3.05.
• Candidates who are likely to complete all the requirements of their final year Master’s Degree examinations by July 1, are also eligible to apply for M.Phil., provided they have successfully completed their first year Master’s degree. In such cases, admission will be provisional. If a provisionally admitted student successfully completes the admission formalities such as clearing the Research Aptitude Test, but fails to score the minimum required mark/grade at the end of the final year examination of his/her Master’s degree, the offer of provisional admission will be automatically cancelled.
• Work Experience: A minimum of five years of post-graduation work experience is required for Direct PhD programmes. In case of the Integrated M.Phil. - PhD Programme, there is no requirement of work experience. However, candidates with one to two years of work experience, will be preferred.
• Research Proposal: Candidates must prepare their research proposal based on the research interests mentioned in the Information brochure
• Candidates who have an M.Phil. or equivalent degree awarded by a recognized university in India or abroad are also eligible for a Direct PhD

Selection Process

Selection is made on the basis of fulfilling the eligibility criteria and the score obtained in the Research Aptitude Test (RAT).

RAT Exam Pattern

1. The scoring for RAT is 100 marks and the interview is for 100 marks. RAT will assess research and analytical abilities and the personal interview will assess your research aptitude, competence, subject knowledge and suitability to join the research stream.
2. The duration of the test paper is for 2 hours, carrying 100 marks. For applicants applying for two programmes, the duration will be three hours.
3. The test paper consists of Part I and II. You are expected to answer all the parts.
4. Part I will assess analytical skills and it is for 40 marks. You are required to answer one question from this part. Both the choices carry equal marks and you need to answer all the questions within that.
5. Part II will assess conceptual and interpretative skills and it is for 60 marks.
6. These questions will assess your subject specific competence in answering the questions. Detailed instructions are provided later in the question paper. Each answer carries 20 marks.
7. This paper is common to both M. Phil and Ph.D. candidates.

How to apply?

Online procedure:

• Visit the application page by clicking here.
• Click on “Click Here to Register”
• Enter the Email id and Captcha code
• An email is sent on your registered id with the login details.
• Login to you account
• Fill in the boxes with the required details to be taken to the ‘application home page.’
• Fill in your basic details, academic details and have to mention the programmes they wish to apply for in the order of preference.
• Choose to pay the fee online (credit/debit card or net banking) OR offline (SBI challan).
• Scan and upload photograph, signature, mark sheet of last exam passed and other necessary certificates.          

 Payment of application fees

Application fee: General candidates – Rs.1535/-

SC/ST candidates (parental income less than 2.75 lakhs) and OBC candidates (parental income less than 1 lakh) – Rs.410/-

You can choose between two modes of payment namely Cash and Payment gateway.

Payment Gateway (online payment)

Payment gateway pertains to payment made through credit/debit card or online transactions.

Cash (Offline payment)

• If you choose to pay through cash then deposit the cash amount mentioned on the challan in any branch of State Bank of India.
• The bank will return two copies of the challan copy (Student Copy and TISS Copy) with the bank’s seal, signature and journal number on it.
• Candidates have to then scan the 'TISS Copy' of the challan, login back to the online application system and upload it.
• Please note that in case of payment by cash deposit in an SBI branch, the SBI will charge Rs.50/- as their processing fee, which has to be paid separately, and is not a part of the application fees.

NOTE: If you are eligible for the concessional fee of Rs.410/- then you would have to upload the caste and income certificate. 

Photograph for Admit Card

Photograph with the following specifications needs to be uploaded.

• The photograph should be a recent colour photograph taken against a plain background.
• The photograph should show only your face and shoulders.
• The photograph should not have any other object or person in part or full.
• 4The photograph should be a good resolution; clear photograph in png, jpeg format and its size should not exceed 2MB.

Offline procedure:

Candidates from remote places where no Internet and Telecommunication facilities are available can get a printed copy of the application form from the Institute. Please send request for printed form by Speed Post with application fees to

Assistant Registrar(Academic),

Tata Institute of Social Sciences,

Deonar

Mumbai, 400088.

Please note that candidates applying through the E-application form should not send the application form by post.

FAQs