Ph.D. in Sociology Admissions Announcement: Monsoon Session 2025

The Department of Sociology at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence runs a vibrant doctoral program that is alive to the plurality of South Asian cultures and societies and welcomes comparative or focused analyses in field sites around the world. Individual faculty members have varied interests in both classical and contemporary themes.Thedepartmentemphasizescriticalempiricismascentraltothefieldworkand ethnographic tradition of sociology and social anthropology and sustained theoretical and interdisciplinary research.

Some of the faculty areas of interest and expertise include:

  • Law and Society
  • Anthropology of the Body and Mind
  • Military Cultures
  • Ethnography and Methodology
  • Political Anthropology
  • Research/Art Interface
  • Atmospheres and Ecologies
  • Biopolitics and the Social
  • Identity and Governance
  • Discourses of Respectability and Self-Respect
  • Nomadism and Pastoralism
  • The City and Urban Research
  • Religion and Spiritual Theology
  • Material Cultures
  • Anthropology of Death and the Dead
  • Hierarchy and Inequality

The Doctoral Program is for 5 years and is fully funded.

During their doctoral program, Ph.D. scholars will undertake coursework, conduct a pilot study, write an extended proposal on their area of research, and proceed to theirindependentresearch, fieldwork, and thesis writing.Scholars will serveasteaching/ research assistants during their stipend tenure except for the fieldwork year.

Financial Support & Research Grants for Ph.D. Scholars

All full-time Ph.D. scholars admitted to the program will receive a doctoral award (teaching and research assistantship), which includes a monthly stipend of ₹45,000 for the first two years and ₹50,000 for the next three years, subject to benchmarked performance. The continuation of this award depends on satisfactory performance in the program, which is continuously evaluated, and compliance with all university regulations. Additionally, all full-time Ph.D. scholars will receive an annual tuition waiver of ₹60,000 and an annual hostel fee subsidy of ₹60,000. Deserving Ph.D. students will also be eligible for a travel research grant of ₹1,50,000 to support conference travel (only for Scopus-indexed conferences), both domestic and international, during the five-year Ph.D. program.

Detailed information about the fee structure and the nature of assistantships is available on the SNIoE admission website.

Application Fee

Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of ₹ 1,200 (One Thousand Two Hundred Only) by credit card/debit card/UPI/Net banking.

Coursework

Details of course work are available here.

Information on the Ph.D. Program

https://snu.edu.in/admissions/graduate-programs

Faculty Profiles

All interested candidates are advised to review the faculty research themes here before applying.

Important Dates

  • Application Deadline: 15 June 2025
  • Interviews: First Week July 2025
  • Start of Monsoon 2025 Semester: 18 August 2025

Guidelines for Application

The Department of Sociology at SNU invites applications for its Ph.D. program, commencing in September 2025.

Please note that applicants are admitted once every year.

Eligibility

Interested students must have a four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum aggregate score of 7.5 CGPA or 75% and above marks and/or a master’s degree in Sociology, Social Anthropology, or other related disciplines with 55% and above aggregate scores.

Suppose the Qualifying degree is in a field other than the one to which admission to the Ph.D. program is sought. In that case,the candidate will be expected to demonstrate sufficient mastery of the fundamentals in the field through the interview.

Selection Process

All candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria (as above) must submit supporting documents. In addition, all candidates must submit the following:

A Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose should be between 500 and 1000 words and consist of the candidate’s background and motivation to pursue a Ph.D. in sociology/social anthropology.

Research Proposal

The research proposal should have a minimum of 3500 words and a maximum of 5000 words.Itmust also include the leading research questions,engagement with literature, and methodological intentions. Detection of plagiarism will disqualify an applicant.

A Writing Sample

(Minimum 3000 to maximum 8000 words)Detection of plagiarism will disqualify an applicant.

Candidates will be shortlisted based on the above submissions. All shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview in the first week of July 2025.

Candidates are advised to check the department website for updated in formation on dates and other information: https://sociology.snu.edu.in/

Check list of Documents for Eligibility

All interested applicants must apply online using the link below or through the website. Please ensure you follow the instructions carefully.

  • Fill in all the mandatory fields.
  • Please upload the following documents online:
    • Passport-size color photograph
    • Current CV including names and contact information of 3 referees
    • All Mark sheets/Degree Certificates (10th Standard onwards)
    • Standardized Examination Certificate - CSIR, UGC, GATE, etc. (If applicable)

Please note that the application is only considered complete once all the prescribed documents and application fees are submitted online.

Questions: If you have questions of an academic nature, write to Dr.RaviNandan Singh at [email protected] for clarification.

For other information, please contact Mr. George Nellickal Chacko at [email protected]..