The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a Deemed to be University, has marked a historic milestone by formally launching its inaugural PhD programme on January 1, 2026.
This move elevates the 60-year-old institution from its traditional focus on professional media training to advanced academic research and scholarship.
The launch coincides with rapid transformations in media, communication technologies, and public discourse. IIMC aims to foster a new generation of researchers equipped to analyse and influence India’s dynamic media ecosystem.
Online applications for the 2025-26 academic session opened on January 1 and will close on January 30, 2026.
The institute has introduced a streamlined two-track admission process:Candidates qualified in UGC-NET will proceed directly to interviews.
Part-time applicants without NET qualification are required to take an entrance exam scheduled for February 15, 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be announced on February 23, 2026, with interviews commencing from March 9. The admission process concludes on March 27, and coursework begins on April 1, 2026.
At the launch of the PhD admission portal, Vice-Chancellor Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur emphasised the programme’s broader vision: “The objective of this PhD programme is to make a real contribution to research for a developing India.” She stressed the importance of innovative, socially relevant research that addresses key societal and nation-building challenges.
In a symbolic gesture, Dr Paliwal Gaur planted a ‘Kovidar’ (or Kovidara) sapling, designated as the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ (Gyan Vriksh), on the New Delhi campus, signifying growth in academic inquiry.
The interdisciplinary programme covers key areas including:
- Journalism and mass communication
- Digital media
- Political and strategic communication
- Media industry management
- Development communication
- Film studies
- Advertising and public relations
It encourages integration with fields like technology, governance, society, and markets.For IIMC’s prominent alumni network in Indian media, this development fulfils a long-standing expectation, positioning the institute alongside leading universities that produce both practitioners and thought leaders in media studies.
As India’s media landscape becomes increasingly complex, the PhD initiative underscores the need for deeper scholarly engagement alongside professional training.
With admissions underway, IIMC is set to nurture scholars who will define the future of media and communication in the coming decades.
Signpost News is an Imphal-based media house that focuses on delivering news and views from Northeast India and beyond.
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