Institute for social and economy change

Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) was founded by Professor VKRV Rao in 1972. Its primary objective is to provide high quality academic training to Ph D scholars to prepare them as distinguished researchers and teachers in the field of social sciences. ISEC is presently affiliated to Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Osmania Universities and the National Law School of India University for the award of PhD degree. We are in the process of collaborating with IGNOU, Maastricht University and Central Asian University. Every year the Institute offers up to 12 fellowships, including one fellowship under the salary protection scheme. Fellowships are made available to the selected candidates by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and ISEC. The Institute also admits part-time and external candidates for Ph.D. programme, but without fellowship. The programme takes about four years to complete. The first nine months are devoted to pre Ph D course work including, class work, dissertation and examination. Those students who qualify in the pre-Ph D programme are eligible to pursue doctoral research under the guidance of faculty of the ISEC.

Location

ISEC is located amidst sylvan landscape of 16-hectare at Nagarabhavi, Bangalore, adjoining to campuses of Bangalore University and National Law School of India University. The Institute’s campus is well maintained with sprawling gardens and lawns and also preserved a variety of flora and fauna. ISEC campus is situated 12 Kms away from Central Railway and Central Bus station with very good networks of buses. To find the location of the ISEC campus please visit our website: http://www.isec.ac.in/Path

Organisation

The Institute has eight academic research centres with different discipline in social sciences. These include, Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation (ADRTC), Centre for Decentralisation and Development (CDD), Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources (CEENR), Centre for Economic Studies and Policy (CESP), Centre for Human Resource Development (CHRD), Centre for Political Institutions, Governance and Development (CPIGD), Centre for Study of Social Change and Development (CSSCD) and Population Research Centre (PRC). The faculty of these centres provide guidance to the Ph D Scholars for pursuing research in the individual disciplines. The strong point of training at ISEC is its emphasis on inter-disciplinary and socially relevant research.

Hostel and Guest House

The Institute has well equipped Hostel for boy and girl scholars and an excellent and well furnished Guest House for visiting scholars. Full time Ph D Scholars are provided hostel accommodation with reasonable rent. Visiting scholars and academicians are provided guest house accommodation.

Library

Dr. V K R V Rao Library is a treasure house of books, documents, reports and journals with more than 1.17 lakh collections. The library subscribes more than 300 professional foreign and Indian journals. UNDP, World Bank, UN and a number of other international organisations have recognized it as a Depository Library. The housekeeping operations and catalogue is computerized using Libsys integrated library software and the database can be accessed online. Further, the library is being digitized with financial assistance provided by Government of Karnataka. This will provide web access to large number of rare documents and connection with similar libraries across the world. Besides, this will also create access for Universities and Institutions in Karnataka.

Computer Lab

The Institute has state-of-art computer laboratory with web enabled network 2 mbps lease line connection for internet browsing. This is an exclusive Computer Lab facility created for the use of PhD Scholars

Alumni

The Institute has so far trained 140 PhD Scholars in different social science disciplines. The scholars who obtained Ph D from ISEC are occupying high academic positions and crucial positions in many institutions in India and abroad. ISEC maintains information on its alumni on the website (http://www.isec.ac.in/phd-alumni.htm ).

PhD Programmes

ISEC offers three types of Ph D Programmes in order to meet the needs of PhD aspirants viz., full-time- (residential) for students, part-time and external (non-residential) for serving academicians and interested scholars. The hallmark of our Ph D Progrmme is its biannual seminars preceded by student’s presentation before doctoral committee comprising of subject experts. The Institute constitutes a Doctoral Committee to provide valuable inputs to the PhD Scholars besides monitoring the progress of their thesis work. Every PhD Scholar is required to make presentations in the bi-annual seminars of the Institute.

i. Full Time (Residential)

Full time residential PhD course at ISEC normally takes about four years to complete. During the first 10 months Scholars are provided rigorous training through a pre-Ph D coursework followed by the dissertation work which commences in the eleventh month. The doctoral scholars admitted under this Programme are given fellowships for three years and provided with hostel facilities up to 5 years. A separate hostel is available for lady scholars. Candidates are required to pay fees according to University norms and an annual fee of Rupees One thousand to ISEC.

ii Part Time (Residential/Non-Residential)

This Programme is open for working persons to pursue PhD on a part-time basis. Preference is given to those working in the Universities and Institutions of higher learning and ISEC employees under Faculty Improvement Programme. Eligibility requirements and selection criteria are similar as in the case of the full-time PhD Programme mentioned above except that of age, which is relaxable. Part-time candidates should pass the pre-PhD course work. They are welcome to attend the classes, though attendance is not compulsory. The part-time PhD 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 Rupees Three thousand to ISEC. The part-time PhD Scholars must adhere to all the conditions and regulations stipulated by the University/Institute. The Part-time scholars require on-campus stay for the period stipulated by the supervisor.

iii. External (Non-residential)

External PhD Programme has been introduced in the Institute recently. Candidates should apply in the prescribed application form along with a research proposal. Application and research proposals are scrutinized and evaluated by a Committee. The candidates cleared by the Committee will be called for personal interaction to assess the eligibility for admission. The Supervisor will be allotted to the external PhD Fellows by the PhD Supervisors Committee. The external candidates must adhere to all the conditions and regulations stipulated by the University as well as the Institute. There will be no financial obligation of any kind on the part of the Institute on account of the external candidates. External candidates must complete the stipulated period of stay at the Institute as decided by the Doctoral Committee. Candidates will be required to pay fees according to University norms and Foreign Scholars an annual fee of Rupees Ten thousand to ISEC; Indian Scholars are required to pay an annual fee of Rupees Five thousand to ISEC.

Doctoral Committee and Bi-annual Seminar

In addition to the PhD Supervisor, every PhD Scholar will have an advisory Doctoral Committee consisting of faculty across disciplines. Doctoral Committees meet regularly and advise the scholars at various steps in research. Bi-annual seminar provides an opportunity for research scholars to make presentations about progress of their PhD work and receive valuable inputs from Panel of experts.

Disciplines of Specialisation

The test for admission will be administered only in the disciplines/specializations mentioned here. Eligibility requirements are the same for all candidates. The disciplines or specializations available for taking up entrance test for PhD in the Institute are:

i. Agricultural Economics or Rural Development

ii. Development Studies

iii. Economics

iv. Education

v. Environmental/Ecological/Natural Resource Economics

vi. Political Science/International Relations/Public Administration

vii. Population/Demographic Studies

viii. Sociology/Social Anthropology

Eligibility

The aspirants for ISEC Ph D Programme and research fellowships must satisfy the following requirements:

i. Master's degree or equivalent in any of the above disciplines with at least 55% marks in the aggregate (50% in case of SC/ST applicants);

ii. A pass in UGC-NET or JRF or SLET or M Phil is desirable (Please see Item No.13);

iii. Age limit for ICSSR fellowships - below 35 years, 40 years in case of teachers and members of professional staff in Research Institutes.

iv. There is no age limit for ISEC Fellowship, Part-time or External PhD Programme.

Other Discipline-wise Eligibility Requirements:

Candidates applying in Agricultural Economics/Rural Development should have a Master’s Degree in Economics, Statistics, Agricultural Economics or Rural Development.

Candidates applying in Economics should have a Master’s Degree in Economics/ Statistics/ Econometrics.

Candidates applying in Environmental/Ecological Economics/Natural Resource Economics should have Master’s Degree in Economics or other relevant disciplines including Biological Sciences and engineering.

Candidates applying in Education should have a Master’s Degree in Education preferably with specialisation in Economics of Education/Sociology of Education/Educational Planning and Management.

Candidates applying in Political Science/International Relations/Public Administration should have a Master’s Degree in Political Science/International Relations/Public Administration.

Candidates applying in Population/Demographic Studies should have Master’s Degree in Demography/Population Studies or Economics/Statistics/Sociology or Anthropology or Geography, preferably with specialisation in Population Studies.

Candidates applying in Sociology/Social Anthropology should have Master’s Degree in Sociology/Anthropology (Social Anthropology).

Candidates applying in Development Studies should have Master’s Degree in any of the Social Sciences, MBA or acceptable Master’s degree by IDS, Mysore.

Fellowship

Candidates who have passed UGC-JRF are paid the fellowship as per the UGC norms. The candidates who qualify with UGC-NET or SLET are paid a fellowship of Rs.6,000 p.m. while others are paid Rs.5,000 p.m. The fellowship is for a period of three years. In addition, the scholars are eligible for an annual contingency grant of Rs.12,000 during the fellowship period.

D M Nanjundappa Endowment Prize

The Institute has instituted a Endowment Prize in honour of Dr. D M Nanjundappa, an eminent economist, with a view to encourage fellows perform better and reward fellows of excellence. There will be two prizes - one in economics and another in non-economic disciplines. The prizes shall be awarded to the highest scoring fellow in the first attempt in the aggregate marks in Part A of Ph.D. course work. Each award shall carry a Plaque, a certificate and prize worth Rs 1200/-.

How to Apply
The prescribed application form can be downloaded (only on A4 size paper) from the ISEC Website: http://www.isec.ac.in/ . The duly filled application form with all the relevant enclosures should be submitted along with the application fee of Rs. 200/- (Rs. 60/- in case of SC/STs) in the form of a Demand Draft drawn in favour of the Registrar, ISEC, Bangalore. Candidates who are awaiting their second year PG results may also apply. However, it is mandatory to produce the proof of final PG examination results at the time of the admission test. The Pre-PhD Coursework begins in the first week of August, every year.

When to Apply

Applications from eligible candidates are accepted for all category of Ph D programme i.e. full time, part time and external throughout the year. However, the Institute will invite applications by placing its advertisement in the month of April, every year. The duly filled applications with all relevant supportive documents received up to mid-May every year will be taken up for processing.

Completed application form should reach the following address on or before May 15, every year.

Registrar
Institute for Social and Economic Change,
Professor V K R V Rao Road,
Nagarabhavi P.O.,' Bangalore-560 072, (Karnataka)

Selection Procedure

(A) For Full Time/Part Time PhD Programme

After preliminary screening of applications, the short listed candidates will be called for a written test to be held on July 15 of every year. The list of candidates called for written test shall be displayed on our website www.isec.ac.in on 1st July, every year. Candidates qualifying in the written test will be required to appear for an interview at Centre level on July 16-17, every year.

(B) For External PhD Programme

The application and the Research Proposal will be scrutinised and evaluated by a Committee consisting of the Director, VC of APC, VC of RPC, Head of the concerned Centre, Ph D Programme Coordinator and two outside experts nominated by the Director. Candidates cleared by the Committee will be called for interaction and upon satisfactory performance admitted to the Programme. There shall be no entrance test for this category.

Instructions for Filling the Application Form

The candidates should clearly mention the preferred discipline in which they are interested to take up Entrance Test (written test) in the application form.

i. The application form should be duly filled and incomplete applications are liable to be rejected.

ii. Do not use dash (-) or dots (...) If any item in the application is not applicable to you, write as N.A.

iii. Attach only attested photocopies of certificates and testimonials to the application.

iv. The completed application form must be accompanied by a typewritten research proposal within 8000 words or 15 pages. This Proposal will be evaluated critically and used as yardstick for short-listing candidates for the written test. The Research Proposal should not bear name of the applicant anywhere. The proposal should be original and shall provide a detailed description of research work that the candidate intends to carry out and, shall include the following:

Purpose of the study with scope and significance

Statement of problem, review of literature and theoretical underpinning

Objectives of the study and the analytical framework.

Methodology and the sources of data with sampling techniques, the tools of data collection and analysis.

The potential intellectual contribution of your research study to the discipline and its social, economic and developmental relevance.

v. Selected applicants must be in a position to furnish the migration certificate at the time of joining the Ph D Programme from the Institution attended earlier.

vi. Candidates selected for Fellowship Programme shall submit an undertaking to complete the Programme. Those leaving in the middle shall repay the entire fellowship/contingency amount received by them with interest.

List of Documents to be Submitted

The candidate must submit the following documents along with the application form:

i. Matriculation Certificate (as a proof for date of birth).

ii. Master's Degree Certificate and Marks Card.

iii. UGC-NET or JRF or SLET Certificate/letter (if applicable).

iv. M. Phil Certificate (if applicable)

v. Research proposal (without applicant’s name or identity anywhere).

vi. Copies of academic publications (if applicable)

vii. Testimonials of work experience (if applicable).

viii. Caste Certificate (applicable to SC/ST candidates only)