Mphil PhD Admissions

Integrated MPhil-PhD in Inclusive Development and Social Justice

Location: Mumbai

Centre: Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies

Intake: 10

Eligibility

Candidates are requested to check the eligibility criteria before filling the application form. Candidates found ineligible will be rejected at any stage in the admission process and no grievances will be entertained in this regard.

Applicants will be shortlisted for the Research Aptitude Test (RAT) on the basis of their educational qualifications and research proposal.

• Educational Qualifications: The minimum academic qualification for admission to the integrated M.Phil-Ph.D. programme 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 per cent 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 OBC (NC) , 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 1st are also eligible to apply for the integrated M.Phil-Ph.D., provided they have successfully completed their first year Masters degree. In such cases, the 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.

• Research Proposal: Candidates are expected to prepare their research proposal taking into account the research focus of the integrated M.Phil-Ph.D. Programme. The broad research themes that fall within the focus of the programme pertain to issues of social exclusion, marginalization, discrimination and atrocities suffered by people belonging to Scheduled Castes/Dalits, Scheduled Tribes/Adivasis, and Religious Minorities, and how the State tries to address them through inclusive, protective and development policies, and the various challenges faced in the process. For more details with regard to the research focus/themes of the programme, refer the Information brochure available under Intergrated M.Phil-PhD and Direct PhD Admissions 2017 on the TISS Website. The candidate admitted to the programme considering his/her proposed research theme is expected not to deviate from/alter the specified research theme after admission. His/her Ph.D. theme is also expected to fall within the research focus of the programme.

• The Centre does not offer any direct Ph.D. programme.

Description

Integrated M.Phil-Ph.D. Programme:

Ever since its establishment, the CSSEIP has undertaken number of research on various issues pertaining to the excluded castes and communities and the role of state and non state actors in addressing such issues. The details of which can be obtained in the TISS annual reports and also from the Centre library. Given below are the details pertaining to the Centre's Integrated M.Phil-Ph.D. Programme in “Inclusive Development and Social Justice. The programme was first introduced in 2014.

The Integrated M.Phil-Ph.D. programme in Inclusive Development and Social Justice (IDSJ) is aimed at enabling every selected scholar to explore and understand:

a) why people belonging to certain castes, Tribes and religious Minorities of India face discrimination, marginalization, exclusion and even brutal violence, and

b) what would be the implications of such exclusions and violence to the concept of development, citizenship, social justice, and fraternity.

The programme is aimed at meeting these ends through taught courses, relevant literatures drawn from diverse sources and disciplinary orientations, and through his/her own research, besides other possible modes. The scholars would be exposed to number of contesting and complementing ideologies and perspectives so as to help them understand in a more nuanced way the forces and process of social exclusion and exploitation on the one hand, and the role of the State and other actors in dealing with such issues on the other, and the challenges faced in the process. Exclusive courses are offered to build students' research skills to unravel the objective and subjective dimension of field reality.

The thrust areas of research:

The thrust areas of research for the students of this programme include all issues pertaining to the deprived/excluded/marginalized castes, Tribes and religious Minorities. 

Pedagogy:

The course work would be based on class room teaching along with other interactive methods of seminar presentations and discussions by the students and faculty concerned. The research work would be based on a one-to-one interaction between the guide and the student. The students are expected to coordinate with the M.Phil./Ph.D. and decide on a date in advance for the presentation of his/her chosen research topic. They are expected to contact the faculty members of the Centre whose academic expertise is related to their research interest for academic guidance.

M.Phil. thesis:

A total of 30 credits is devoted to dissertation writings, of which 6 credits exclusively for research proposal which is to be finalised and defended by the end of second semester. Soon after the completion of the second semester, the students are expected to begin the process of data collection, whether primary or secondary. By the mid of third semester, the students engaged in collecting primary data from the field are expected to return to the campus and start the processing and analyzing of the data and writing the dissertation. The entire task of dissertation writing is to be completed within the stipulated two year period of the programme under the guidance of a faculty supervisor.

Evaluation of Course Work and M.Phil Thesis

The students’ performance in the course work would be evaluated on the basis of their performance in the examinations/term papers, class presentations or any other mode of evaluation adopted for the purpose. The students are expected to submit reports on regular intervals on the progress of their research work to the M.Phil-Ph.D. programme coordinator with the signature of the research guide concerned. Prior to the submission of final dissertation, each M.Phil. student is required to make a presentation on the research done. Three copies of the dissertation have to be submitted to the Centre. The evaluation of the dissertation or research work would be as per the norms and regulations of the UGC.

Distribution of Credit Hours:

Programme Structure:

The Integrated M.Phil-Ph.D. programme in Inclusive Development and Social Justice carries a total of 48 credits, distributed over three components: 1) Compulsory courses, 2) Optional courses and 3) Dissertation as given below:

Semesterwise Courses:

First Semester Courses:

Second Semester Courses: 

Fee Structure:

Fee Structure for Integrated M.Phil and Ph.D Programme and Direct Ph.D Programme

(Prices in INR and subject to revision)

The full fees and deposits should be paid within the stipulated time after the announcement of the admission results. In addition, Rs. 50/- towards bank processing charges should be paid in any branch of the State Bank of India. If students fail to pay the fee on time, their candidature can be cancelled. Once the students details have been entered into the Online platform, a scanned copy of the fee receipt must be submitted via the online platform. Non-adherence to the above will be considered as equivalent to non-payment of fees.

*subject to revision