IIM Kozhikode PhD Admission 2026 Registration Begins
The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) has officially opened the registration window for its Doctoral Programmes in Management (DPM) and PhD for the academic year 2026-27. Aspiring scholars can apply online through the official website, iimk.ac.in, until January 23, 2026.
About the Programmes
The doctoral pathways at IIM Kozhikode are designed for scholars, academics, and working professionals seeking advanced research training across various management disciplines. The programmes include:
- Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM)
- DPM (Teaching Track)
- DPM (Practice Track)
Each of these programmes leads to the award of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.
Fellowships and Financial Support
Selected candidates admitted to the DPM will receive an initial monthly fellowship of ₹42,000, which will increase to ₹45,000 after completion of the qualifying examination. Upon successful defence of the thesis proposal, the fellowship will rise to ₹50,000. Additionally, tuition fees are fully waived for DPM scholars.
Each doctoral scholar is also eligible for up to ₹5,00,000 in contingency and conference support.
Specialisations Offered
IIM Kozhikode offers admission across three doctoral routes, available in the following eight areas of specialisation:
- Decision Sciences and Operations Management
- Economics
- Finance, Accounting and Control
- Humanities and Liberal Arts in Management
- Information Systems
- Marketing Management
- Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
- Strategic Management
Programme Structure
The programme structure includes:
- Coursework
- Comprehensive qualifying examination
- Thesis-proposal seminar
- Pre-submission seminar
- Final thesis defence
Scholars benefit from close faculty mentorship, a strong research ecosystem, and publication-linked research enhancement incentives.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- A postgraduate degree with a minimum percentage (60% for DPM and Teaching Track; 55% for Practice Track).
- A professional qualification (CA/CS/CMA) with the required graduation marks.
- A four-year bachelor’s degree with the prescribed minimum percentage.
- 5% relaxation is applicable for candidates from SC, ST, EWS, NC-OBC, and PwD categories.
Work Experience Requirements
- DPM: No experience required.
- DPM (Teaching Track): Minimum three years full-time experience in teaching, research, training, or related roles.
- DPM (Practice Track): Minimum eight years of full-time work experience (15 years for Strategic Management area applicants).
Qualifying Test Scores
For the DPM, applicants must have a valid score in accepted tests such as:
- CAT
- GATE
- GMAT
- GRE
- IIMB Test
- UGC-NET
Note that test scores are subject to area-wise criteria. Applicants to the Teaching Track and Practice Track do not need a qualifying test score.
Selection Process
The selection process comprises three stages, as per the 2026-27 admission policy:
- Stage 1: Verification of eligibility, academic records, test scores, and experience.
- Stage 2: Written Ability Test (WAT) & Doctoral Orientation Conversation (DOC), held at designated centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, or Kozhikode. This stage evaluates writing clarity, analytical ability, motivation, and fit for doctoral study.
- Stage 3: Doctoral Area Conversation (DAC), conducted online by faculty members in the chosen specialisation. This assesses conceptual clarity, analytical reasoning, research orientation, and doctoral readiness.
Final selection will be based on the Final Composite Score, computed using weights assigned to academics, work experience (where applicable), WAT, and DAC performance.
Application Fees
The application fee structure is as follows:
- DPM: ₹1,000 (₹500 for reserved categories)
- DPM Teaching Track: ₹2,000 (₹1,000 for reserved categories)
- DPM Practice Track: ₹4,000 (₹2,000 for reserved categories)
Applicants applying to more than one programme must pay the fee for each programme separately.
Important Dates
Candidates can check the complete admission schedule:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application window opens | 24 November 2025 |
| Last date to apply | 23 January 2026 |
| Stage 2: WAT and DOC | 6 February – 28 March 2026 |
| Stage 3: DAC (online) | After Stage 2 shortlist |
