Prof. Jyoti P Mukhopadhyay, IFMR GSB faculty

PhD Programme Chairperson's Message

Welcome to IFMR GSB, Krea University’s full-time and Executive (part-time) PhD Programme.

The IFMR GSB’s PhD Programme, now under the aegis of the Krea Doctoral College, has focused on cutting-edge research in finance and management since the inception of the programme in 1982 as part of the then IFMR (Institute for Financial Management and Research). The diversity within Krea University and the interdisciplinary approach to research have further enhanced the quality of the doctoral curriculum at IFMR GSB.

The doctoral coursework has two phases. The first phase comprises the first two years, during which the doctoral scholars undergo selected graduate-level (MBA level) and doctoral-level courses which lay the foundation of research by exposing them to various functional areas (Data Science & Information Systems, Economics, Finance, Accounting, & Quantitative Finance, Marketing, Operations, Organisation Behaviour, and Strategy) within management. The coursework helps PhD scholars gain an in-depth understanding of management research from both theoretical and applied perspectives, thus preparing them to become successful management educators. In addition to various courses, an integral part of the coursework is the Independent Research Study, which prepares the PhD scholars to embark on writing their doctoral dissertation by instilling in them the required research skills. At the end of the first phase, PhD scholars need to qualify in comprehensive oral and written examinations.

The second phase begins from the third year when the PhD scholars start working on their research topic under the guidance of faculty members. During this phase, PhD scholars make presentations periodically to update the progress made in doctoral research. Finally, the doctoral degree is awarded after the submission of the thesis, its subsequent evaluation by external subject experts, and a successful public viva-voce.

Krea University provides generous financial aid to PhD scholars and strongly encourages them to participate in reputed peer-reviewed conferences, colloquiums, and workshops both in India and abroad. The library at Krea University has a rich collection of books, journals, and periodicals and subscribes to several databases required for empirical research.

It gives me immense pleasure to inform you that our PhD graduates have joined reputed academic institutions and research organisations in the past.

If you are keen to embark on an enriching journey of doing doctoral research, please reach out to us.

Dr Jyoti Prasad Mukhopadhyay
Chairperson, PhD Programme
IFMR GSB, Krea University

About PhD Programme

The Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) was established in 1970 and has an impressive and long record of contributing to the expansion and enrichment of the knowledge base in the financial services industry. In 1982, IFMR became an approved research institution to conduct research leading to award of PhD by the University of Madras. Initially, the PhD degree was in the area of Finance and then since 2014 in the area of Management.

In 2018, IFMR was re-christened as IFMR Graduate School of Business (IFMR GSB) and integrated within the newly formed Krea University under the IFMR Society. IFMR GSB offers MBA and PhD programmes under Krea University from 2018. Krea Doctoral College will now oversee the PhD programmes of the university, in both schools – IFMR GSB and SIAS. IFMR GSB strives to provide a stimulating research environment to its research students, supported by faculty with exceptional research credentials. IFMR GSB endeavours to be an institution that contributes in the space of higher education by training students who then go on to become thought leaders and teachers themselves.

The alumni of the PhD programme have assumed positions as faculty in prestigious academic institutions such as Ashoka University, Great Lakes Institute of Management, the Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, IIM Kashipur, IIM Shillong, IIM Amritsar, IRMA, Madras School of Economics, Mahindra University, and Rajagiri Business School. Other alumni are in significant roles in research institutes, think- tanks and corporates such as Centre for Excellence in Fiscal Policy and Taxation, CRISIL, Deloitte, ICICI, Institute for Human Development, and SCOPE international.

IFMR GSB’s in-house journal, “Journal of Emerging Market Finance” reinforces IFMR GSB’s research credentials. With the support and guidance of faculty, PhD students publish extensively in peer-reviewed journals and present their research in various national and international conferences. The annual research symposium at IFMR GSB provides an excellent platform for students to showcase their work and interact with researchers from the Krea ecosystem and other national and international institutions.

IFMR GSB offers a research programme leading to the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The PhD programme combines rigorous coursework and a flexible curriculum with in-depth research requirements while staying true to the Krea vision of interwoven learning, ethical values, critical thinking and interdisciplinary education.

The University now offers the PhD programme to full-time and part-time students

Full-time students receive tuition waiver and stipend for four years. Extension up to one year may be granted, following review by the Dissertation Committee. Part-time PhD students are required to do coursework which is a blend of in-person and hybrid lectures and return to campus for end-of-year 1 examination and comprehensive examination, and proposal, synopsis, and thesis defense. Both part-time and full-time students are awarded a PhD in Management.

Admissions Process

Visit this section to find important admissions deadlines, along with a link to our application.

Course Structure

Know information on departments, coursework and thesis requirements

FAQs

Click here for answers to many of the most frequently asked questions.

Why Join IFMR GSB Doctoral Programme?

Opportunities For Excellence In Research And Teaching “All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind” – Dr Martin H. Fischer
  • Prepared not just for a career in academics but also for corporate
  • An excellent platform to showcase work in the annual research symposium
  • Opportunities to work with Research Centres on various topics of applied research and public policy
  • Excellent Placements Possibilities
  • Access to world-class digital library and latest databases on world economy and corporate annual reports
  • Networking opportunities with faculty from renowned international institutes through IFMR GSB’s international collaborations
  • Annual tuition fee waiver, and monthly stipend for the full-time students
  • Funding support for national and international conferences for the full-time students
Excellent Placements Possibilities

Some of the organisations where IFMR GSB PhD alumni work todayFaculty in prestigious academic institutions such as
  • Ashoka University
  • Dr. B. R. Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bengaluru
  • BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus
  • Center for Development Studies
  • Great Lakes Institute of Management
  • Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, Trivandrum
  • IIM Amritsar
  • IIM Indore
  • IIM Kashipur
  • IIM Shillong
  • IRMA
  • Madras School of Economics
  • Mahindra University
  • Rajagiri Business School
  • The Loyola Institute of Business Administration
Significant roles in research institutes, think-tanks and corporates such as
  • Centre for Excellence in Fiscal Policy and Taxation
  • CRISIL
  • Deloitte
  • Ernst & Young
  • ICICI
  • Institute for Human Development
  • SCOPE International

Excellent Placements Possibilities

The alumni of the PhD programme have assumed positions as faculty in prestigious academic institutions such as Ashoka University, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, IIM Kashipur, IIM Shillong, IIM Amritsar and the Madras School of Economics. Other alumni are in significant roles in research institutes, think-tanks and corporates such as CRISIL, SCOPE International, ICICI, Institute
for Human Development and Centre for Excellence in Fiscal Policy and Taxation.

Full-time PhD Programme

Academic Departments

Data Science & Information Systems

Data Science

View Programme

Operations Management

Operations Management

View Programme

Finance & Accounting

Finance & Accounting

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Strategy Management

Strategic Management

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Marketing

Current PhD Scholars

Christon Thomas

PhD Student | Admitted 2023

Gogireddy Naga Malleswara Reddy

PhD Student | Admitted in 2024

Jyothis Maria Franklin

PhD Student | Admitted 2022

Kumar Ashutosh

PhD Student in Economics | Admitted 2020

Mohammed Hashim

PhD Student | Admitted 2021

Mugdha Kinhikar

PhD Student | Admitted 2022

P A Lavanya

PhD Student | Admitted 2023

Pratibha Jain

PhD Student | Admitted in 2024

Shraddha Paliwal

PhD Student | Admitted in 2024

Soumyabrata Basu

PhD Student | Admitted 2022

Utkarsh Choudhary

PhD Student | Admitted 2022

Vishesh Unni Raghunathan

PhD Student in Finance | Admitted 2023
IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University
List of PhD. Alumni *
S. No.NameAreaTitle of ThesisYear Awarded
1N ChandrasekaranFinanceMarket Structure and Financial performance –
A study of the Indian Cement Industry during 1971-86.
1990
2G RamachandranFinanceBehaviour of Share Prices –
A Statistical Analysis
1991
3K LakshmiFinanceFinancial Performance of Diversified Companies –
A strategic analysis.
1991
4Uma SubbaramanEconomicsExchange Rate Economics:
Micro Analysis of India’s Exchange Rate Experience
1994
5S ManjulaFinanceWorking Capital Management:
A case study of fertilizer industry in India
1995
6L V RamanaFinanceInitial Public Offerings in India:
Analysis of their performance and pricing
1997
7R MeenakshiEconomicsForeign Direct Investment (FDI) in India
(An Analysis of its impact on the Economy and on the Corporate Sector)
1998
8Sucharita KumarFinanceCorporate Behaviour in Raising Capital –
A Study of the Indian Corporate Sector.
1998
9S K ShanthiEconomicsEconomics of Public Debt:
India’s experience (1960-61 to 1990-91)
1999
10B GayathriFinanceCredit Risk Modeling of Hire Purchase Transaction2001
11S VijayalakshmiFinanceAgency Cost, Ownership Structure and
Financial Policies in the Indian Corporate Sector
2002
12C R AravindFinanceFinancial Structure and value of the firm –
An Empirical study of Indian firms in the post liberalisation period
2003
13P R RamakrishnanFinanceCorporate Bankruptcy and Restructuring of Firms in India2003
14Ponmudi VasudevanFinanceCorporate diversification, financial policies and firm value:
an empirical analysis of the Indian corporate sector
2008
15C.A. YoonusFinanceNoise Trading Model – Evidence from the Indian Capital Market2012
16Surenderrao KomeraFinanceEssays on Capital Structure Choice and Corporate Bankruptcy2014
17Dilip KumarFinanceVolatility Estimation and Forecasting: A Study of the Unbiased Extreme Value Volatility Estimator2015
18Khanindra Ch. DasEconomicsEssays on Outward Foreign Direct Investment from Developing Countries2015
19Swati DuttaEconomicsPoverty and Vulnerability Analysis in India: As Asset based Approach2015
20Jyoti Prasad MukhopadhyayEconomicsInterrelated Essays in Development Economics2016
21Praveen Bhagawan MFinanceCorproate Risk Management:Emprical Evidence from Indian Non-Financial Firms2016
22Lakshmi PadmakumariFinanceAn Investigation into the Level Dependence in the Volatility of Asset Returns2018
23Parthajit KayalEconomicsModelling Alternatives to Market Efficiency via
Excess Volatility and Mean Reversion
2018
24Lakshmi ViswanathanFinanceAn investigation into the empirical regularities of stock returns: Non-normality of stock returns and the determinants of correlation across global stock indices2019
25Santosh Kumar DashEconomicsThree Empirical Essays on Inflation2019
26Muneer ShaikEconomicsRobust Estimation of Volatility using Extreme Values of Asset Prices2019
27Priyanka MenonEconomicsEssays on Financial Development2022
28George VargheseEconomicsEmpirical Essays on Nonlinear Dynamics in Primary Crude Oil Benchmarks2022
29Kunal SahaManagementLong Memory and Anti-Persistence in Exchange Traded Funds and Underlying Indices: An Analytical Study2022
30Kanvinde Mukta PushkarEconomicsTesting Market Efficiency: A Random Walk Approach2022
31Aishwarya KrishnaswamyEconomicsEnvironment, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosure and firm performance: An empirical analysis of Indian Companies2022
32Aiswarya ThomasEconomicsEssays on International Spillovers of Monetary Policy2022
33Blessy AugustineEconomicsEmpirical Essays on Debt2023
34Gourab ChakrabortyManagementMeasurement of Extreme Market Risks – An Empirical Analysis across Asset Classes and Financial Markets2023
35Ann MaryEconomicsA Study on Spatial Inequalities and Policy Responses in India2023
36Anjali KEconomicsEssays in Financial Economics
37Gurmeet SinghEconomicsEmprical Essays on Inflation and Financial Markets2024
38Sruthy BabuPsychology – Management StudiesImpact Of Cultural Intelligence On Work Outcomes And Wellbeing Among Expatriates In Gcc2025
* The PhD degree was awarded by Madras University

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