Can I Do a Ph.D. After an MBA? A Complete Guide

MBA graduates usually get into corporate, consulting, or startups to launch their careers. However, there has been a rising trend in the pursuit of Ph.D. programmes after finishing an MBA. Many MBA graduates are now shifting towards research and teaching rather than a conventional corporate job.

So, if you find yourself asking, “Can I do Ph.D. after MBA?”; short answer? yes, you can. Long answer? Yes, but not before you understand the intricacies of this academic journey. In this article, let’s examine various important factors to help you make the right choice: benefits, eligibility, salary prospects, specialisations, steps for admission and more.

Below are some important highlights that should be considered while looking for a suitable Ph.D. course after your MBA.

There are a lot of reasons that you’d want to pursue a Ph.D. after doing an MBA. Let’s look at some of the reasons to understand a possible career trajectory that’s suitable for you.

• India Today found out that 60% of the faculty in the top institutions in India hold a Ph.D. degree. This means that every institute is now in the great race to solidify its teaching legacy. They seek quality so that they can create quality. Hence, all disciplines, no matter old, new or emerging, require teachers and thought leaders that are not only proficient in their fields, but also proven in their ability to conduct research and create change.
• In 2025, a parliamentary panel report revealed that over 56% of professor-level positions in premier institutions like IITs, IIMs, NITs and IISERs are vacant, signifying a high demand for qualified Ph.D. holders in different fields of academia.
• At IIT Bombay, over the last 5 years, the number of Ph.D. graduates rose by 30%, indicating a growing interest as well as output in doctoral research.
• According to OECD, Scholars with Ph.D. have shown substantially higher employability rates when compared to other graduates; close to 93%, as opposed to 81% (other). This demonstrates a consistent market demand and a stronger job security for Ph.D. holders.
• A report by Inomics, which collected data about the incomes of individuals from varying fields and levels of graduation, indicated that in some fields, Ph.D. holders earn up to 49% more than those only equipped with a master’s degree. This means that advanced doctoral qualifications can translate into significantly higher pay in many disciplines.

Now that you know about the demand for such a qualification, let’s take a look at how it would benefit you personally.

Doing a Ph.D. after an MBA has a lot of personal benefits. Let us look at some of them to help you understand their importance in your career.

• A Ph.D. after an MBA often leads to a fruitful academic career as well as status in the academic community.
• Arming yourself with a Ph.D. with a background in management presents strong opportunities to be responsible (or influence) policy and research done at a national or regional level.
• A Ph.D. opens doors to higher research leadership roles in places like consultancies and corporate research labs.
• Since a Ph.D. is a highly specialised course, unlike an MBA (which is often generalised), scholars are highly preferred when it comes to their domains, due to them being more proficient in their skillset as well as the limited number of proficient people (of a scholar’s level) in a specific field.
• Scholars are often presented with opportunities like international publications, important conferences, research grants and more.

Let’s understand the process to apply for a Ph.D. after an MBA-

• The first requirement is having an MBA or PGDM (basically anything equivalent to a master’s degree) with at least 55% marks.
• The next step is to clear entrance exams: UGC-NET, GATE, or any other university-specific tests.
• The next step of the process is to present a research proposal to test the candidate’s thoroughness with the chosen field, as well as the relevance of the research project.
• The final step (in most universities) would be an in-depth interview at depth to understand the capabilities of the candidate and their dedication, to see if they are a fit for the university. This will be followed by a test to determine the research aptitude of the candidate.

Usually, this is the format that most universities and research institutes follow. However, sometimes they might have additional steps involved, which makes it important to check out the webpages of the universities that you are shortlisting.

Now that you’ve decided on pursuing a Ph.D., let’s understand what you can do to ensure that you get admitted to an institute that caters to your academic needs in order to fulfil your research goals.

• Choosing the Research Area and Topic
  The first step for ensuring that you have a strong admission profile is to choose a research area and topic that is emerging and relevant. It would also help to have a low entry barrier, which means there are relatively fewer students who are specialising in the field of your choice.

• Shortlisting Institutes
  The second step is to shortlist institutions. The best way to go about this is by understanding what institutes excel in; some institutes might be more proficient in management-related fields, while others might have a better approach to policy.

• Preparation for Entrance Exams
  The next step would be to prepare for entrance exams like NET, GATE and more. Some specific universities might have university-specific tests as the norm or an added measure, so make sure to understand if that’s the case with the institutions that you have shortlisted.

• Writing the Preliminary Research Proposal
  This step involves writing a preliminary research proposal. This will be used to evaluate the relevance and yield of your research. Based on this, different institutes will determine if your research is a good fit for their profile, whether they have the infrastructure to support your research, etc.

• Clearing the Interviews
  Once the above steps have been cleared, interested institutes will invite you for a round of interviews. These typically consist of a Research Aptitude Test (RAT) as well as a Personal Interview (PI). However, some institutes might have additional rounds like Group Discussions (GD) as well as multiple PI rounds.

• Document Submission and Enrolment
  The final step to get admitted as a Ph.D. scholar is to submit the required documents and fee payments (In some cases, there is a one-time fee payment).

Here is a list of Ph.D. specialisations that hold relevance after an MBA.

The salaries offered to a Ph.D. scholar vary from field to field. However, it is almost always higher than what most management students receive. Here are some salary ranges for Ph.D. scholars.

Here are a few things to consider to choose the right Ph.D. programme for you:

• Research area alignment
• Supervisor expertise
• Coursework strength
• Research labs + facilities
• Industry and research collaborations
• Availability of scholarships and assistantships
• Publication support
• Duration flexibility
• Reputation & accreditation

Mahindra University offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary Ph.D. ecosystem that accommodates candidates from varied academic and professional backgrounds, including MBA graduates who are looking to pivot into research.

Here, Ph.D. programmes span both management and non-management domains. Through its various schools candidates can pursue a Ph.D. in fields such as:

• Ph.D. in Engineering
• Ph.D. in Educational Studies
• Ph.D. in Business Administration
• Ph.D. in Centre for Life Sciences
• Ph.D. in Humanities and Social Sciences
• Ph.D. in Media and Communication
• Ph.D. in Law
• Ph.D. in Design Innovation
• MU-VT center Ph.D. Programme
• Ph.D. in Enterprise Risk Management

The research infrastructure at Mahindra University is designed for depth and understanding, utilising elements such as state-of-the-art labs and interdisciplinary research teams.

For MBA holders, this means that you can transition to doctoral-level research depending on your academic career, whether in business-related topics or entirely different domains. This makes Mahindra University one of the best places to do your Ph.D. after an MBA.

Pursuing a Ph.D. after an MBA is an increasingly relevant choice for graduates aiming to move beyond traditional management roles into research, academia, policy and advanced consulting. With the rising demand for qualified scholars and growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making, doctoral qualifications offer strong career security and specialised expertise.

The pathway requires clarity on eligibility, entrance exams, research proposals and institute selection, but the academic and professional rewards are substantial. For MBA graduates seeking deeper impact, intellectual growth and high-value career opportunities, a Ph.D. is a strategic and future-ready step in 2026 and beyond.

• Can I Do Ph.D. after an MBA in India?
  Yes, MBA graduates in India can pursue a Ph.D. in various management, economics, analytics and interdisciplinary fields.

• How many years is a Ph.D. after an MBA?
  Typically, a Ph.D. after an MBA takes 3 to 6 years, depending on the research area and coursework.

• Can you pursue a Ph.D. after an MBA?
  Yes, MBA holders are eligible for doctoral programmes, provided they meet the university’s eligibility criteria and entrance requirements.

• What specialisations can I choose for a Ph.D. after an MBA?
  You can pursue Ph.D. in Management, Finance, Marketing, HR, Operations, Business Analytics, Economics, Public Policy, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Management and Sustainability.

• What career opportunities does a Ph.D. after an MBA offer?
  Graduates can work as university faculty, research scientists, policy analysts, consultants, R&D professionals, or take on senior research and strategy roles in academia and industry.