30 years for full-time program and no age bar for part-time/executive program.

No, work experience is not mandatory for admission to full time residential PhD Programme.

But minimum 5 years of work experience after MBA degree is required for admission to Part-time PhD Programme.

No. IFMR GSB does not have any quota system. Admissions are purely based on merit.

In 1982, IFMR became an approved research institution to conduct research leading to award of PhD by the University of Madras. Now, since integration with Krea, PhD program is being offered by the IFMR Graduate School of Business, under Krea University. The supervisors are experienced faculty with more than 20 years of mentoring and supervision.

Please fill the Application form from the PhD admission section in IFMR GSB’s website. The application fees is INR 500/-

31 March 2026

Yes, the applicant needs to write an entrance test conducted by IFMR GSB, Krea University, if there are no valid scores of standardised tests (CAT, CMAT, GATE, GMAT, GRE, NET JRF, NMAT, XAT)

* These dates are tentative and subject to change. This page will be updated periodically during the admission cycle.
** Shortlisted will be intimated by an email with all details. Interviews will be conducted online or in person as decided by the university.
*** Candidates who have applied to the Part-time PhD programme must provide NOC from their employer.

Shortlisted candidates not having a valid test score from national level tests can appear for the Krea Research Eligibility Test conducted by IFMR GSB for admission to PhD program at IFMR GSB. The test consists of two parts: Part-A and Part-B. Part-A evaluates quantitative aptitude (+2 level mathematics and Statistics including data interpretation) and Part-B assesses the candidate’s writing skills in English (write an essay on a topic relevant to management research). Each part will carry equal weightage and a candidate must secure at least 50 percent marks in Krea Eligibility Test to be eligible for appearing for personal interview (PI). However, final shortlisting of candidates for PI round will depend on the relative performance of the eligible candidates.

IFMR Graduate School of Business (IFMR GSB) offers a PhD degree under the auspices of Krea University.

Krea University has been enacted by the Legislature of the State of Andhra Pradesh as per The Andhra Pradesh Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 2018 vide the gazette notification published on April 30, 2018 and listed in the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) website.

* The non-refundable application fee of INR 500/- is to be paid using Debit Card / Credit Card / Internet Banking, through application portal before final submission of application form.
**Waived for full-time PhD students on stipend
***Currently, the dining fee is INR 5,400 per month

The PhD program at IFMR GSB, Krea University is 2 years of course work followed by work on dissertation.

Please refer to the PhD brochure which you can download from our website.

Students are admitted to the PhD programme and, in due course, have the option of choosing from the following areas of specialisation:

• Data Science and Information Systems
• Economics
• Finance, Accounting & Quantitative Finance
• Marketing
• Operations
• Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources
• Strategic Management

Yes, Part-time PhD Programme is available.

The Part-time PhD Programme at IFMR GSB, Krea University is for working Professionals who have a MBA degree and five years of work experience. This programme emphasises academic rigour and problem solving. The programme is ably supported by IFMR GSB faculty with exceptional research credentials.

Students admitted to the Part-time PhD programme will be required to do courses consisting of in-person and hybrid lectures for the first part of their coursework. They return to campus for term-end examinations, presentations, etc

IFMR GSB, Sri City, India has been accredited by SAQS (South Asian Quality Assurance System) for a period of five years from December 14, 2017. SAQS is an international system of strategic audit and accreditation designed for the assessment of institutions in widely different national contexts.

IFMR GSB, Sri City is ranked amongst the top 75 B-schools in India, as per the National Institutional Ranking (NIRF 2023) by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.

Yes. Krea University is governed by UGC norms.

https://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/Private%20University/Consolidated_List_Private_Universities.pdf

We consider LOR from the academia and industry as well. We have not given any fixed format so as to give the flexibility to the recommender.

Yes, depending upon their capability, research specialization and requirements of the research centres.

The 3,00,000 sq.ft world-class campus in 40 acres of land has air-conditioned classrooms, wi-fi campus, ATM, along with a health centre. The other facilities include, air-conditioned hostel rooms, laundromat, convenience store, fitness studio, student lounge, student hub with indoor games, snack vending machine, unisex salon, basketball court, cricket nets. Coffee shop, 4 bedded Medical centre operated by Kauvery Hospitals with a Doctor and nurse available 24×7,Pharmacy,First Aid Boxes on all floors and campus BLS Ambulance, 12,000 sq ft futsal with night playing facilities and 1,10,000 sq ft open air Amphitheatre.

A 1650 sq. ft fitness studio for boys and girls and indoor games [such as table tennis] are available. Facilities are provided for yoga, playing cricket, football, volleyball, and more to help students unwind and relax after assignments and lectures. An open air auditorium and other recreational facilities have also been set up.

A beautiful water body, a walkway and enough greenery makes the campus aesthetically and physically soothing. The entire campus is wi-fi enabled. Complete security and safety are built-in as basic requirements. There are plans being implemented to make the campus not only a higher education institution, but also a vibrant Ecosystem.

IFMR GSB has state-of-the-art facilities for students and faculty in a WiFi enabled campus with high bandwidth connectivity. A world-class campus occupying 3,00,000 sq.ft in 40 acres of land, students can enjoy the benefits of a Multimedia enabled air conditioned classrooms equipped with labs for simulated and real trading on NSE, with live feeds. In addition to this, the HT Parekh Library in the campus facilitates electronic journal access, apart from books and multimedia and is proudly recognised as a World Bank repository.

Other facilities include ATM, launderettes, hostel rooms on twin-sharing basis with attached bath & geyser, dedicated TV rooms, mess, QSR and Indian fast food outlet, and a store for stationery items, soft drinks, packed snacks and personal care products.

Full-time PhD scholars are required to stay on campus. Krea will provide hostel rooms (sharing type) on campus for a monthly fee. However, if accommodation is not available on campus, students have to make their own arrangements outside campus. Students who stay outside the Krea campus need not pay monthly room rent to Krea.

IFMR GSB – PhD in Management.

SIAS – PhD in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Politics, History, Environmental Studies, Computer Science and Psychology and Sociology.