Bangalore-based Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) offers two categories of Ph.D. programmes: full-time (residential) for students and part-time (non-residential) for interested scholars and serving academicians.

The full-time course normally takes about four years to complete. During the first 10 months scholars are provided training through a pre-Ph.D. coursework followed by dissertation work. The doctoral scholars admitted under the programme are given fellowships for three years and provided with hostel facilities for up to five years.

The programme is also open for working candidates to pursue Ph.D. on a part-time basis.Preference is given to those working in the universities and institutions of higher learning under the Faculty Improvement Programme.

Part-time candidates should pass the pre-Ph.D. course work. They are welcome to attend the classes, though attendance is not compulsory. The part-time Ph.D. admission does not carry any form of financial assistance from ISEC. Candidates are required to pay fees according to University norms and an annual fee of Rs. 3,000 to ISEC.

ISEC is presently affiliated to universities of Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Osmania, besides the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) for the award of Ph.D. degree. The candidates will be selected through an admission test, and subsequent interview. in the following disciplines/specialisations:

Agricultural Economics or Rural Development, Development Studies, Economics, Education, Environmental Economics/Ecological Economics/ Natural Resource Economics, Political Science/International Relations/Public Administration, Population/ Demographic Studies and Sociology/Social Anthropology.

More details at the ISEC website:
http://www.isec.ac.in.