Ph.D in Clinical Research is a doctoral program of 3 to 6 years, depending on the progress of the research. This program is focused on building expertise in clinical trial research to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of novel treatments and therapies to enhance human health.
A candidate must hold a master's degree in medical science, pharmacy, or a related field, with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks to pursue this course. ICMR JRF, UGC-NET, CUET-PG, and GPAT are some of the most sought-after entrance exams for a Ph.D in Clinical Research.
Ph.D in Clinical Research offers candidates an education in research conducting, including methodologies, ethical issues, and data analysis methodologies. A few of the positions one can apply for after a PhD are Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Trial Manager, and Regulatory Affairs Specialist. Clinical Research PhD recipients can expect an average package between INR 10 - 15 lakhs annually.
Table of Contents
- PhD Clinical Research Highlights
- What is PhD Clinical Research?
- Why Pursue a PhD in Clinical Research?
- Who should pursue Ph D in Clinical Research?
- PhD Clinical Research Eligibility
- PhD Clinical Research Entrance Exams
- PhD Clinical Research Top Colleges in India
- PhD Clinical Research Admission Process 2025
- PhD Clinical Research Syllabus
- PhD in Clinical Research Vs Ph D in Pharmacology Vs Ph D in Public Health Course Comparison
- PhD Clinical Research Jobs
- PhD Clinical Research FAQs
PhD Clinical Research Highlights
The basic details of a Ph.D in Clinical Research are as follows:
What is PhD Clinical Research?
Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Research is a 3 to 6-year doctoral course that deals with advanced study in clinical trials, drug development, and healthcare innovations. The program equips the students with knowledge of disease patterns, treatment efficacy, and patient safety in order to enhance medical practices and healthcare policies.
Following a Ph.D in Clinical Research, research can be conducted on the effectiveness of a new cancer medication, and its effect on patients and possible side effects can be examined. This assists in creating safer and more efficient treatment plans.
A PhD in Clinical Research equips applicants with skills in biomedical research, data analysis, and regulatory affairs. Applicants learn to be expert critical thinkers, scientific investigators, and designers and implementers of clinical trials with accuracy.
Why Pursue a PhD in Clinical Research?
A Ph.D in Clinical Research provides candidates with various career options in the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare institutions, regulatory agencies, and academia. The course also provides in-depth knowledge of drug development, medical ethics, and clinical trial methodologies.
The demand for clinical research professionals is growing due to the increasing need for new treatments, medical innovations, and evidence-based healthcare decisions. Experts in Clinical Research play an important role in advancing medicine and ensuring patient safety.
Who should pursue Ph D in Clinical Research?
Given below are some of the basic course highlights for the Ph D in Clinical Research:
- Candidates with a Master’s degree in Clinical Research, Life Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, or Allied Health Sciences who want to advance their academic and research careers.
- Medical and healthcare professionals (MBBS, MD, Pharm.D, M.Pharm, M.Sc. in related fields) aiming to specialize in clinical trials, drug development, and medical research methodologies.
- Students who wish to work as independent researchers, principal investigators, or clinical trial specialists in hospitals, pharma companies, or research institutions.
- Individuals passionate about drug discovery, medical device testing, regulatory affairs, and evidence-based healthcare solutions.
- Those aspiring for teaching and academic positions in universities, medical colleges, or research institutes.
- Professionals who want to contribute to policy-making, ethics committees, or global regulatory frameworks in clinical research.
- Candidates aiming for careers in biopharma, CROs (Contract Research Organizations), regulatory agencies, and public health organizations.
PhD Clinical Research Eligibility
The candidates should have the following eligibility to be admitted to the Ph.D Clinical Research:
- The candidates must have a master's degree in medical science/pharmacy or a related area, with an aggregate of 55% from a recognized university.
- Candidates should have cleared entrance exams like UGC-NET, ICMR JRF, GPAT, and CUET-PG.
PhD Clinical Research Entrance Exams
Some of the popular entrance exams for a Ph.D in Clinical Research include UGC-NET, ICMR JRF, GPAT, and CUET-PG. The important dates of these exams are mentioned below:
PhD Clinical Research Top Colleges in India
Some of the top colleges for Ph.D Clinical Research based on NIRF Ranking 2024 are as follows:
PhD Clinical Research Admission Process 2025
The admission to the Ph D in Clinical Research is based on the entrance exam score of the candidate. Students need to have a valid entrance exam score if they wish to pursue the course at a renowned university.
Given below is the step-by-step admission process for Sharda University for your reference:
Step 1: Start by visiting the official website of Sharda University. Students need to register with the website.
Step 2: In order to pursue the course from Sharda University, students need to have a valid score in entrance exams such as UGC NET/CSIR NET/GATE.
Step 3: Start by filling out the application form online, choosing the PhD in Clinical Research, filling out the necessary paperwork, submitting the application fees, and submitting the application form along with the necessary documents.
Step 4: The university will evaluate your paperwork and will contact you for a short interview and thesis submission/writing.
Step 5: After getting shortlisted in the interview, students need to pay a token amount to confirm the seat in the university.
Step 6: After successful payment, the confirmation email will be released which will include the program commencement date.
PhD Clinical Research Syllabus
Given below is the generalized Ph D Clinical Research syllabus for the students taken from the Galgotias University.
PhD in Clinical Research Vs Ph D in Pharmacology Vs Ph D in Public Health Course Comparison
Given below is the detailed course comparison for the Ph D in Clinical Research, Ph D Pharmacology, Ph D in Public Health for the students.
PhD Clinical Research Jobs
There are various job roles available for PhD holders in Clinical Research. As per Payscale, the average package of various job roles according to the years of experience is mentioned in the table below:
PhD Clinical Research FAQs
What are the typical research topics students can choose from in the PhD Clinical Research program?
The Ph.D in Clinical Research students can choose any of the research topics to work on from their curriculum. Some of the topics include drug development, patient safety, clinical trial design, epidemiology, and healthcare policies. These help them improve medical treatments and healthcare systems.
How does the internship component benefit PhD Clinical Research program candidates?
The internships usually provide practical or hands-on experience to the students. The internships also provide a very good idea of the type of work the companies and organizations would be expecting from them.
What are the key challenges students face when writing a dissertation?
Students struggle with time management, gathering reliable data, and maintaining motivation. Writing a well-structured, research-backed dissertation requires critical thinking and strong analytical skills.
How does PhD support students in balancing academic coursework and clinical research?
PhD programs support students by offering flexible schedules, mentorship, and structured timelines. This helps them manage academic studies while conducting research.
