PhD Human Ecology

The PhD programme in Human Ecology at the School of Human Ecology (SHE), Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi, is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme focused on understanding the complex interactions between human societies, non-human life, and the biophysical environment.

The programme is guided by the understanding that contemporary environmental concerns, including ecological degradation, climate change, biodiversity loss, resource conflicts, agrarian transitions, public health challenges, and sustainability crises, emerge through dynamic relationships between ecological, social, political, historical, and economic processes. Distinctive to the programme is its integration of perspectives from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, combined with strong emphasis on field-based research, empirical inquiry, and methodological diversity. The programme encourages scholars to move beyond disciplinary silos and develop nuanced, grounded, and analytically rigorous approaches to socio-ecological questions.

Research at SHE engages with themes including environmental governance, political ecology, conservation and biodiversity, ecological restoration, agrarian change, development, environmental justice, public health, sustainability transitions, livelihoods, and socio-ecological transformations across rural and urban landscapes.

The programme is designed to foster independent and original research while enabling scholars to develop interdisciplinary depth, critical thinking, methodological competence, and meaningful engagement with contemporary environmental challenges.

The programme consists of two broad components:

Coursework
Dissertation

The coursework component is intended to strengthen interdisciplinary foundations, research design, methodological competence, theoretical engagement, and domain-specific expertise relevant to the scholar’s research area.

A minimum of 16 credits of coursework is required for candidates entering with an MA/MSc degree, while coursework requirements for candidates with MPhil or equivalent qualifications are determined by the SHE Research Studies Committee (RSC) and Research Advisory Committee (RAC), in accordance with University regulations.

The programme encourages methodological plurality and interdisciplinary engagement through:

PhD-level courses
Bridge courses from the MA Environment and Development programme
Independent study and reading courses
Research methodology and field-based training
Research seminars and presentations

The coursework phase is generally completed during the initial semesters of the programme and is followed by:

Synopsis development and defence
Fieldwork and data collection
Periodic RAC review meetings
Pre-thesis presentation
Thesis submission and final viva voce examination

Year	Semester	Milestone/Requirement	timeline	Extension/ applicable norms
1	Semester I	Allocation of Supervisor and constitution of RAC	At the beginning of programme	As per University regulations
	Semester I	Coursework Registration and commencement	Semester I	As per University regulations
	Semester II	Completion of coursework	Semester II	As per University regulations
	End of Semester II	Coursework evaluation and approval *(Minimum 12 credits including Mandatory UGC Research and Publication Ethics* course—2 credits)**	Within Year 1	As per University regulations
1 to 2	Semester I to IV	Development and submission of Synopsis	Within 24 Months	Extension subject to RAC recommendation
2	During Semester III to IV	Public Defence of Synopsis	After completion of coursework and within 2 yrs. from date of registration	Extendable up to 6 months subject to RAC recommendation and SCR approval
All	At least once every semester/6 months	RAC Meetings	At regular intervals—once every 6 months	Mandatory for continuation of registration
2 to 3	Semester IV onwards	Fieldwork and data collection	Depending on research design (recommended 8-10 months)	Duration varies according to research requirements
Throughout		Participation in seminars/workshops/ conferences	Encouraged throughout programme	Subject to prevailing University/UGC norms
Before Thesis Submission		Research publication/paper presentation	Prior to thesis submission	Subject to prevailing University/UGC norms
Pre-Submission Stage		Pre-submission presentation	Before final thesis submission	Revisions may be recommended
Final Stage		Submission of final thesis	Within 3 months from the date of pre-submission presentation	Extensions governed by University and UGC regulations
Final Stage		Final Viva Voce Examination	Within 6 months from the date of submission of the final thesis	As per University procedures
PhD Completion			Minimum 3 years (including coursework duration) to a maximum of 6 years from the date of registration to the PhD programme	· Extendable for up to 2 years (A maximum of 8 years in total) subject to approval of the RSC and re-registration · For female scholars, an additional 2 years’ extension (2+2 years on top of the 6 years’ limit) subject to approval of the RSC Note: In this case, the total permissible period should not exceed 10 years from the date of registration

Graduates of the PhD programme in Human Ecology will:

Develop advanced interdisciplinary expertise in socio-ecological research
Conduct original and independent research addressing complex environmental questions
Integrate perspectives from ecology, social sciences, and humanities
Build strong methodological competence across qualitative, quantitative, spatial, and field-based approaches
Critically engage with contemporary debates in environment, development, sustainability, and justice
Contribute to academic scholarship, policy, and practice through rigorous research
Develop advanced analytical, writing, teaching, and communication skills
Engage ethically and reflexively with communities, institutions, and landscapes
Produce theoretically informed and empirically grounded doctoral research

Frequently Asked Questions

A. Programme Overview

1. What is the PhD in Human Ecology?

PhD in Human Ecology is an interdisciplinary doctoral programme focused on advanced research examining relationships between environment, society, ecology, development, governance, culture, and sustainability.

2. What kind of research does the programme support?

The programme supports research on a wide variety of themes including, but not limited to political ecology, Conservation and biodiversity, Climate change, Agrarian and rural transformations, Environmental governance, Sustainability and livelihoods, Ecological restoration, Public health and environment, Urban ecology, Environmental justice, Socio-ecological transitions

3. Is the programme interdisciplinary?

Yes. The programme integrates approaches from ecology, social sciences, humanities, public health, environmental sciences, geography, economics, and related disciplines.

4. Is fieldwork important in the programme?

Yes. Doctoral projects involve substantial field-based, archival, empirical, ethnographic, spatial, or ecological research.

B. Eligibility and Admissions

1. Who can apply for the programme?

Applicants from relevant disciplinary backgrounds may apply subject to University eligibility criteria and doctoral admission regulations.

2. Is prior research experience necessary?

Prior research experience is desirable, especially for applicants undertaking empirical or field-intensive research.

3. How are supervisors assigned?

Supervisors are assigned based on the availability of faculty members and alignment between the applicant’s proposed research topic and faculty expertise within the School.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to go through faculty profiles available on the School website prior to applying and may also contact faculty members directly to discuss broad areas of research interest and potential supervision.

Final allocation of supervisors is subject to faculty availability, research compatibility, and approval by the School and University as per institutional regulations.

4. Is there an interview process?

Admission procedures may include written examinations and/or interviews as notified by the University during admissions.

C. Coursework and Academics

1. Does the PhD include coursework?

Yes. Coursework is compulsory for scholars entering with MA/MSc qualifications and includes PhD-level courses, methodology training, and seminars.

2. What kinds of courses are offered?

A list of offered courses is available in the Courses section

3. Are interdisciplinary methods encouraged?

Yes. Scholars are encouraged to integrate qualitative, quantitative, archival, ecological, ethnographic, and spatial methods where relevant.

4. Can scholars take courses outside the School?

Yes. Subject to recommendation of the supervisor/RAC, scholars may undertake relevant courses from other Schools or Centres within the University.

D. Research Progression and Milestones

1. What is a Synopsis Defence?

The synopsis defence is a School-level formal presentation of the scholar’s proposed doctoral research before the RAC committee and other faculty and students for academic review and approval.

2. What are RAC meetings?

Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings are periodic review meetings where scholars present their research progress, receive feedback, and discuss future work plans.

3. Are RAC meetings compulsory?

Yes. Regular RAC reviews are mandatory for continuation and monitoring of doctoral progress.

4. Is a pre-thesis presentation compulsory?

Yes. Scholars are required to present a pre-thesis or pre-submission presentation before final thesis submission.

5. Is publication mandatory before thesis submission?

Publication and conference presentation requirements, if applicable, are governed by prevailing University and UGC regulations. However, irrespective of it, scholars are encouraged to actively participate in the same.

6. What is the final viva voce examination?

It is the final thesis presentation followed by a viva-voce, conducted after thesis evaluation, where the scholar defends their doctoral research before examiners.

E. Attendance, Registration, Fee Requirements

1. Is semester registration mandatory?

Yes. Scholars must complete semester registration and fee payment within prescribed timelines.

2. Are there attendance requirements during coursework?

Yes. Attendance requirements during coursework are governed by University regulations.

3. What happens if deadlines are missed?

Late submissions, delayed fee payment, or pending academic requirements are addressed according to University regulations and approved extension norms.

F. Fellowships and Funding

1. Are fellowships available?

Eligible scholars may avail/apply for UGC-JRF, other Government scholarships, External research grants and fellowships. Those without such external fellowship support can apply for the University PhD fellowship.

2. Can scholars apply for external grants?

Yes. Scholars are encouraged to apply for conference grants, dissertation fieldwork funding, and research fellowships from national and international agencies.

3. Does University provide conference travel grants?

Conference support may be available through faculty projects, University provisions, or external funding agencies subject to availability.

G. Career Prospects

1. Graduates may pursue careers in:

Academia and higher education
Research institutes and think tanks
Conservation and sustainability organizations
Environmental policy and governance
International development organizations
Public health and environmental programmes
Environmental consulting
Interdisciplinary research and advocacy

2. Does the programme prepare scholars for academic careers?

Yes. The programme emphasises advanced research, academic writing, analytical rigour, teaching engagement, and scholarly dissemination.

H. Student Support and Grievances

1. Whom should scholars contact for academic queries?

Scholars may contact:

Supervisor

PhD Programme Coordinator: pcphdhe@aud.ac.in

School Office: sheoffice@aud.ac.in

2. How can scholars raise grievances?

Academic and administrative grievances may be addressed through:

School administration
University grievance redressal mechanisms
Research committees

3. Where can scholars find official notifications and deadlines?

Official notifications, submission deadlines, fee notices, RAC schedules, and academic updates are available on the University website and School notice channels.

Course Code	Course Name	Credit
SHE3ED104	Environmental History of South Asia	4
SHE3ED106	Environmental Law, Policy-Making and Governance	4
SHE3ED101	Methods in Human Ecology	4
SHE3ED105	Social and Political Nature	4
SHE3ED103	Development and Social Change	4

No content available.