Research Programmes at Symbiosis International (Deemed University), SIU

Preamble: Symbiosis International (Deemed University) is a multi-disciplinary university offering its

students and faculty a vibrant learning ecosystem designed around its multi-cultural and innovative
ethos. Established in 1971 by Prof. Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, it is a ‘home away from home’ for International
students. The Institution is based on the principles of Vedic thought of "World as One Family". You
can visit https://siu.edu.in/ for details.

Research Ecosystem at SIU : The University has developed a good ecosystem through dedicated
research centres and administrative support system. Several initiatives have been taken to foster
research culture.

In its continuous pursuit of giving back to Society through academics and research, the University has
established various research centres namely, Symbiosis Centre for Advanced Legal Studies and
Research ( SCALSAR), Symbiosis Centre for Waste Resource Management (SCWRM), Symbiosis
Centre for Stem Cell Research (SCSCR), Symbiosis Centre for Behavioral Studies (SCBS), Symbiosis
Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (SCNN), Symbiosis Centre for Medical Image Analysis
(SCMIA), Symbiosis Centre for Applied Artificial Intelligence ( SCAAI), Symbiosis Centre for
Research on International Higher Education ( SCRIHE), Symbiosis Centre for Urban Studies (SCUS),
Symbiosis Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability ( SCCCS), Symbiosis Centre for Ambedkar
Studies (SCAS), Symbiosis Centre for Research in Media and Creative Industries (SCRMCI). hese
Centres are led by the researchers of repute in respective disciplines and are being developed as the
Centres of Excellence of the future.

You may visit https://siu.edu.in/research.php for details.

Symbiosis Centre for Research and innovation (SCRI): Established in 2009, is the dedicated
department of SIU for promoting and facilitating research among students and faculty. Through its
academic and administrative services, SCRI enables researchers to achieve excellence in their work,
and eventually, translates SIU’s vision of creation of knowledge for the benefit of the Society into
reality. SCRI has four verticals Research Programmes, Research Publications, Research Projects and
Intellectual Property. It also supports the research centres and takes part in all the incidental committees
pertaining to research at the University.

You may visit https://siu.edu.in/research.php for details.

About Ph D Programme: Symbiosis International (Deemed University) offers research programmes

leading to award of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) through SCRI in the following Faculty of Studies.

1. Law,
2. Management
3. Computer Studies
4. Medical and Health Science
5. Media and Communication
6. Humanities and Social Sciences,
7. Engineering.
You may visit https://scri.siu.edu.in/ for details
Type of Enrolment: The doctoral programme is offered both in Full Time and Part Time module.
Though the University encourages more full timers to join the doctoral programme, working
professionals can enrol for the programme as Part Time working with External Organizations ( PTEO).
Faculty/staff members of SIU can join as Part Time Internal (PTI) students. The University has
collaborative arrangements with several research establishments and the researchers from such
organizations can enrol as Part Time candidates working with Centre for Research Collaborations
(PTCRC).

About the Degree Certificate: The degree is offered strictly in compliance with the University Grants
Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.PhIL./Ph.D. Degrees) Regulations,
2016 and 2022 and amendments thereof. The degree certificate mentions Faculty of Studies and Thesis
Title.

Sub-streams/ subject areas: The University offers the Ph D programmes based on expertise and
capabilities of their existing Ph D supervisors. Ph D entrance examination and personal interviews are
strictly according to the sub-streams on offer. There are no sub-streams in Faculty of Law and
Management. The sub-streams change every year depending on vacancies with available supervisors.
There are no programmes in Languages/ Literature, Psychology, Sociology, History, etc. The current
sub-streams on offer can be found out by visiting https://scri.siu.edu.in/

Eligibility: Post graduate degree is needed with 55 % marks ( 50 % for SC/ST /DA) in the relevant
discipline is a must. The nomenclature of degree shall be as per the section 22 of UGC Act. Full time
PG Diploma of IIMs, XLRI are eligible, CA/CS with 55 % marks are eligible. Those who are holding
PG diplomas from other institutions have to submit equivalence ( & not approval) as given by statutory
bodies like AICTE/ UGC/ BCI. AIU equivalence is not acceptable for PG diploma programmes.
Experience not compulsory. Graduate degree with long experience/ without experience are not eligible.
Please read the rule book available at https://scri.siu.edu.in/

How to Apply: Normally online applications are invited once in year in the Month of April/May. The
advertisement in given in print & digital media. Please look out for admissions link available at
https://scri.siu.edu.in/ during the above period for details of applications and enclosures.

Selection Process: The selection is done strictly on the merit basis on the combined scores obtained
in of Ph D Entrance Test (70 % weightage) and Personal Interview (30 % weightage). The University
maintains the communication with the applicants through log-in credentials on https://scri.siu.edu.in/
The applicants can get their admit cards, results, final selection letters through dedicated log-in
credentials.

Ph D Entrance Examination (PET): Eligible applicants are required to appear for Computer based
Test at designated centres. The examination may be held in proctored mode if situation warrants. PET
is multiple choice-based test with no negative marking having two parts: Research Methodology ( 50
Marks) and sub-stream ( 50 Marks). Minimum passing marks are 50/ 100 ( 45/100 for SC/ST/DA
candidates). The syllabus and sample questions are available at https://scri.siu.edu.in/ The University
does not recommend any books. The University does not have past test papers as the papers are
generated out of the question banks by toggling questions and choices from the question bank.

Exemption from Ph D Entrance Examination (PET): Those holding NET/ SET/ GATE/M Phil/
other fellowships are exempted from the entrance exam. The score must be valid on date of application.
But personal interview is compulsory. Long experience does not entitle any exemption from entrance
test.
Personal Interviews: Personal Interactions are conducted by a panel of experts as per the sub-streams
(specializations in case of Faculty of Management) on assigned dates and time slots. Suitable marks
allocated for articulation of the research problem, understanding of the subject, critical thinking,
suitability of the research topic to SIU agenda, extent of proposed research topic to contribution to the
new body of knowledge, research publications in past and overall research idea being proposed.

Available Seats: The University announces vacancies in each Faculty and sub-stream after getting
inputs from the respective Deans of Faculties. The vacancies are based on preferred seats the
Supervisors would like to admit depending upon their academic designations. As per the prevailing
UGC norms Professor can supervise 8 students, Associate Professor :6 students and Assistant Professor
: 4 students at any given point of time. The seats on offer are displayed at https://scri.siu.edu.in/

Reservation: The University offers 15 % reservations to SC, 7.5 % to ST, 3 % to DA. 2 seats are
reserved for Kashmiri Migrants. 15 % seats over and above sanctioned intake is given to International
students.

Fellowships: A few full-time students shall be offered financial assistance in terms of junior research
fellowship at par with GoI norms. Once a student completes two years as junior research fellow, he/she
may be given senior research fellowship after stringent review. The University encourages the student
to get their own fellowships from various agencies.

Fees: Selected candidates need to pay the Registration Fees of Rs.15,000/- (Non-refundable), Course-
work Fees of Rs. 30,000/- and Security Deposit of Rs.15,000/-( Refundable) as the first instalment. The
admission shall remain provisional till the student obtains approval to his/her research proposal by the
Research Advisory Committee (RAC).

Once confirmed in the programme the candidates need to pay semester fees of Rs.25,000/- per semester
till he/she submits the Ph D Thesis. Since the programme is non-tenured, the total fees shall depend
upon the time taken to complete the programme.

Tenure of Programme: The doctoral degree programme is non-tenured, non-tutored programme. The
student has to complete the pre-requisite of coursework in approximately 6 months. Seek confirmation
by submitting and presenting the proposal within a year. Minimum duration for submission of thesis is
two years from the date of confirmation The norms of minimum and maximum duration shall be
followed in letter and spirit.

Ph. D Supervisor: The student has to choose a supervisor from the pool of approved supervisors
depending upon his/her research area, available vacancies. The supervisor has to be full time faculty
member of the University. The University does not allocate the supervisors, but the student is required
to identify and submit consent of the supervisor. A co-supervisor can be inducted with approval of
Research Recognition Committee.

Pre -Ph. D Coursework Requirements: Admitted students are required to undergo a minimum of 12
credits of pre-Ph D coursework (Credits taught by the Faculty and credits are earned through self-study
assigned by the supervisor). The student qualifies coursework once he/she maintains attendance of 75
% and secure 55 % marks in each course. The students are advised to be ready for physical classes on
weekdays. The coursework is organized by Deans of the Faculty and students are supposed to contact
the respective Deans for knowing more about the course work. Those students who have passed M Phil
with B+ grade and Research Methodology as one of the courses are exempted from coursework.
Submission of Research Proposal: The students who qualify Ph D coursework are required to submit
research proposal in a prescribed format as per the deadlines given by the University.

Confirmation: The student has to make a presentation to a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) to
get confirmation depending upon the feasibility, unbiased research methodology and potential of adding
new body of knowledge to the research area. A few research proposals will need clearance of
Independent Ethical Committee of the University.

Semesters Progress Monitoring: Each confirmed student has to pay fees, register in every semester
and make a presentation at the end of the semester. Failure to submit two consecutive progress reviews/
two consecutive unsatisfactory grades lead to cancellation of admission.

Mid Review: Upon completion of 50 % research work, a student has to present mid review progress
before the RAC at a mutually convenient date and time.

Pre-submission Seminar: Upon completion of full investigations, completion of writing and

publication of min of two research papers, a student has to give a pre-submission seminar before RAC
at a mutually convenient date and time. Once RAC is fully satisfied with the research work, the student
is allowed to submit his/her thesis for formal examination by the external examiners.

Requirement of Publications: A minimum of two Scopus indexed papers shall be published by the
student to allow him/her to submit the thesis to the University for formal evaluation by the external
examiners.

Thesis Examination and Viva – voce: The thesis is examined a panel of two eminent examiners and
reviewed by an international reviewer. Once the examiners give unequivocal verdict on award of
degree, Viva- voce is conducted at a mutually convenient date and time to the examiner & RAC.

Administrative Requirements : Qualifying pre-Ph D coursework, confirmation within prescribed

deadlines, payment of fees, requisition in every semester, obtaining satisfactory remarks at the end of
each semester are the basic requirements. Submission of thesis within the maximum deadlines and
completion of minimum duration of two years after confirmation are mandatory for each student.

Academic Requirements: Generation of new knowledge using unbiased research methodology, strict
adherence to good academic practices, strict adherence to ethical practices, maintain a maximum
similarity of 10 % while writing thesis and publication of minimum two research papers/ equivalent IP
elements are mandatory requirements.

Important Milestones of Ph D Programme: Application, Ph D Entrance Test- Personal Interaction

for Selection- Selection- Admission- Induction- Pre Ph.D.-Coursework- Research Proposal
Submission- Confirmation- Actual Research Work ( Including Publications)- Mid Review- Pre-
submission Seminar- Thesis Submission- Thesis Examination – Viva- voce Examination- Provisional
Award of Degree- Convocation

Further details: Prospective students may visit https://scri.siu.edu.in/ SIU research page is available
at https://siu.edu.in/research.php You may contact SCRI office at 020-6693-6918/ 6919, 7972282128,
8668988218 ( during working hours).