Doctoral Program for Working Professionals | IIM Shillong

ADMISSION NOTIFICATION: Doctoral Program for Working Professionals 2026

IIM Shillong invites applications from experienced professionals for its Doctoral Program for Working Professionals for the academic session 2026. This program is specifically designed to provide an opportunity for working executives to enhance their research skills and transition into thought leadership roles without pausing their careers.

Program Overview

The Ph.D. for Working Professionals aims to develop independent researchers with strong ethical values who can solve real-life business problems.

Duration: 4 Years.

Format: Designed for working professionals (Non-residential).

Target Audience: Industry practitioners, senior consultants, policy makers, and academicians seeking professional advancement.

Areas of Specialization

Candidates can pursue research in the following diverse disciplines:

1. Economics and Public Policy
2. Finance and Control
3. Information Systems & Analytics
4. Marketing
5. Operations and Quantitative Techniques
6. Organizational Behavior and Human Resources
7. Strategy and Liberal Studies

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfill the following criteria regarding experience and education:

1. Professional Experience:

Minimum 5 years of professional experience is mandatory.

2. Educational Qualification (Any ONE of the following):

Master’s Degree (including 5-year Integrated Masters) with at least 60% marks (or equivalent CGPA).

4-Year Bachelor’s Degree (e.g., B.Tech) with at least 6.5 CGPA or equivalent.

Professional Qualification (CA / ICWA / CS) with at least 55% marks in B.Com degree. (Note: A relaxation of 5% marks is allowed for SC/ST/DA categories).

Selection Process & Test Scores

Candidates are required to submit a valid score in GMAT, GRE, CAT (last 2 years), GATE, or JRF (UGC/CSIR).

✅ Exemption from Standard Tests: The following candidates are exempted from submitting test scores and will instead need to submit two reference letters:

Senior Leaders: Individuals with at least 10 years of managerial experience in Government or non-Government sectors.

PGP Alumni: Graduates of 2-year PGP programs from IIMs or Top 50 NIRF Institutes with a CGPA of 6.5 and minimum 5 years of post-PGP experience.

Program Fees

Total Fee: INR 11,00,000/- (Eleven Lakhs) + GST as applicable.

Application Fee: INR 3,000/- (Non-refundable).

Important Dates

Application Window: 1st November 2025 – 24th March 2026.

Shortlist Announcement: 5th April 2026.

Interviews: 11th and 12th April 2026.

Commencement: May 2026.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must fill up and submit the application form online.

Official Application Link: Click Here

Contact for Queries: Admissions Office Indian Institute of Management Shillong Email: admissions@iimshillong.ac.in, phd@iimshillong.ac.in Phone: 0364-2308000