PhD Neuroscience Salary, Jobs, Admission, Syllabus, Colleges 2023

PhD Neuroscience is a research-level program which is of duration 3 to 5 years. This course acquaints candidates with the different aspects of the nervous system, blending it with the discipline of neurology.

Check Top PhD Neuroscience Colleges in India here.

This program offers candidates an integrated view of neuroscience combining it with the intricacies of research.

To be eligible to apply to this course, students must hold an MSc or MPhil degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized university with an aggregate of at least 55% marks.

Admission to this program will be done based on the candidate's performance in the entrance exam which is followed by a personal interview round conducted by the college or university. However, there are some institutes that offer admission to this program based on merit in the Master’s degree exam. The average tuition fees for PhD in Neuroscience courses in Indian colleges usually range between INR 15,000 and INR 3,20,000 per annum.

Alert: The exam dates of GATE have been announced. Check the latest updates.

On completion of a Ph.D. Neuroscience courses, students have many job opportunities in India as well as abroad. Students will be able to find work as Neural Engineers, Computational Neuroscientist, Biotechnologist, Database and Databank Managers etc. in the areas like Genetic Counselling Centres, Psychology Centres, Pharmaceutical Companies, Forensic Science Labs etc.

Table of Content

PhD Neuroscience Course Highlights
PhD Neuroscience: What is it about?

2.1 Why Study?

PhD Neuroscience Admission Process

3.1 Eligibility Criteria

3.2 Entrance Exams

3.3 How to get admission to a good PhD Neuroscience college?

PhD Neuroscience Top Colleges

4.1 College Comparison

PhD Neuroscience Syllabus
Course Comparison
PhD Neuroscience Job Prospects

6.1 Future Scopes

PhD Neuroscience FAQs

The average salary offered to PhD Neuroscience degree holders is around INR 3,00,000 to INR 7,00,000, but this can be higher on the basis of experience and other factors.

If students wish to do further research, they can become independent researchers and publish their research papers. They can also earn a DSc (Doctor of Science) degree in the related domain in future.

PhD Neuroscience Course Highlights

Highlights for PhD Neuroscience program are provided in the table given below:

Course	PhD Neuroscience
Level	Research level
Duration	3 to 5 years
Eligibility	Master’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university
Admission Process	Merit/ Entrance-Based + Personal Interview
Average Annual Fees	INR 15,000 to 3,20,000
Job Positions	Neural Engineer, Computational Neuroscientist, Biotechnologist, Database and Databank Manager etc.
Top Recruiting Areas	Genetic Counselling Centres, Psychology Centres, Pharmaceutical Companies, Forensic Science Labs etc.
Average Annual Salary	INR 3,00,000 to 7,00,000

PhD Neuroscience: What is it about?

Information and details about the PhD Neuroscience program are as follows.

The field of Neuroscience integrates the study of aspects related to Neurology and its other disciplines.
This course explores the field of biology which is a combination of life sciences, ancillary, Biochemistry and Health Sciences.
Doctorate in Neuroscience enables candidates to gain proficiency in polishing their skills of communication, analysis and diagnosis of serious ailments.
The program covers the aspects of Neuroscience which builds in them the competence to conduct research about the serious ailments, enabling them the ability to work independently, interpret and develop a hypothesis to bring a solution for the ailments.
In this course, students are imparted the experience of generating reports, enhancing their writing skills, expressing complex ideas with proficiency. They are also skilled in the aspects of recording data, analyzing it, imbibing in them the ability to experience MRI and spectroscopy with the knowledge of experimental designing.
The course curriculum of this course is designed in a manner to make students competent to dissert information as well as carry on their research work.
The course prepares candidates to become proficient researchers and neuroscientists with finesse.

Why study PhD Neuroscience?

The goal to attain a PhD in Neuroscience degree will depend on each individual’s aspirations and goals. Some of the benefits and perks of pursuing PhD Neuroscience degree program has been mentioned below:

Open ways to various professions, and more lucrative positions: There are a large number of positions that require a PhD degree. A PhD may win you more significant compensation, however not be vital. For example, you can be an advisor without a PhD, however it gives you a major favorable position.
Will boost up your confidence: At the point when you take a shot at your PhD, you'll fundamentally be working alone, settling on your own choices, and wrestling with the results of your work. In an ideal situation, you additionally have a strong tutor and labmates, however this isn't ensured.
You'll get five years of extraordinary research experience: A little bit of the populace can say that they've worked in a lab by any means, even better for 5.5 years all alone, autonomous undertaking. This experience will give you understanding into the cycle of science and, when done right, open you to important exploration aptitudes for the seat and past.
On completion of this course, students can easily get an average salary package ranging between INR 3,00,000 and INR 7,00,000 per annum.
After completing this course, students will be able to find jobs in various sectors such as Genetic Counselling Centres, Psychology Centres, Pharmaceutical Companies, Forensic Science Labs etc.

PhD Neuroscience Admission Process

Most of the colleges and universities follow an entrance-based process for admission to PhD Neuroscience courses.
On cracking the entrance test, candidate’s research topic, proposal, methodology etc. are checked and an interview is held.

Merit-based admission

Submit the application to the colleges or universities you are interested in for admission.
Perform well in the undergraduate examinations as the scores obtained in these form the basis of the entire admission process.
In due course of time colleges release their cutoff lists. Check if you are eligible for admission into the desired course.
If eligible, visit the college and submit all the required documents.

Entrance Based Admission

Most of the colleges and universities offer admission to PhD Neuroscience program on the basis of entrance exams like JEST, UGC NET, CSIR NET etc.

The step-by-step procedure for entrance-based admission is as follows:

Step 1: Students have to register on the official website.
Step 2: Fill the application form with correct details.
Step 3: After examination, a cutoff list will be released on the website. Seats will then be allotted to candidates based on their scores in the entrance exam.
Step 4: Some colleges also conduct personal interviews and group discussion for admission to this course.
Step 5: On meeting all the eligibility criteria, a student will then be offered admission to the course.

What is the PhD Neuroscience Eligibility Criteria?

The common PhD Neuroscience eligibility criteria that candidates need to fulfil to be considered eligible for admission to this course is as follows:

Candidates should have completed their M.Sc. in Neuroscience or M.Phil degree in the respective field with a minimum aggregate of 55% and above from a recognized university.
They should have passed the entrance examination conducted by the university for admission to the program such as PET, JGEEBILS, JEST, NET etc.

PhD Neuroscience Eligibility in MAHE, Manipal	PhD Neuroscience Eligibility in University Of Calcutta, Kolkata
PhD Neuroscience Eligibility in Amity University, Noida	PhD Neuroscience Eligibility in OPJS University, Churu

Which are the popular PhD Neuroscience Entrance Exams?

There are many national and state-level entrance exams to appear for the admission into PhD Neuroscience program. Listed below are some of these popular PhD Neuroscience entrance exams.

GATE: GATE is a national-level exam conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and IITs to select candidates for the award of PhD degree jobs or lectureship in Indian universities and colleges.

GATE Preparation Tips	GATE Pattern and Syllabus	GATE Practice Papers

UGC NET: The National Testing Agency conducts this exam on behalf of the University Grants Commission. Qualified candidates are granted admission to the various doctorate level courses. This test is also used for deciding the eligibility for JRF or post of Assistant Professor in colleges and universities.

The application dates, exam dates and the mode of the exam of the above mentioned exams are provided in the table below.

Exam Name	Application Period	Exam Date	Exam Mode
GATE	August 30, 2022 – October 7, 2022	February 4, 5, 11 and 12, 2023	Online
UGC NET	April 30 – May 30, 2022	July 9 – July 12, 2022, and August 12 – August 14, 2022	Online
CSIR NET	July 11 – August 10, 2022	September 2022	Online
ICAR AICE JRF/SRF	July 21 – August 19, 2022	To be Announced	Online
JNUEE	October 31 – November 20, 2022	December 07 to December 10, 2022	Offline

How to Prepare for a PhD Neuroscience Entrance Exams?

The syllabus for PhD Neuroscience entrance exams will vary from college to college. Some of the important tips that students can follow to excel in entrance exams are given below:

Go through the detailed syllabus of the written test, start studying them, revise your concepts.
One important hack to crack entrance exams is to develop a reading habit, be it a newspaper, novel, books, biographies and case studies.
Time management is one of the most important aspects to crack entrance exams, this is not only applying to the study schedule but attempting the most exam as well.
Practicing sample papers and mock test papers will assure you of the time management skills by the time your entrance exam starts.
Practice is the thumb rule for cracking entrance exams. Ensure that your concepts are clear and you are aware of all the right ways to solve questions within the time frame.
Start learning from the basic step and thereafter move to higher and difficult levels of concepts.

How to get admission to a good PhD Neuroscience college?

To get admission in the top PhD Neuroscience college, the following points must be kept in mind:

Candidates are shortlisted by the college through respective entrance exams followed by an interview.
To get a good college for PhD Neuroscience, appearing for the UGC NET exam is the best way and for some of the colleges’ UGC NET is also considered good to approach.
A few private institutes are there offering the course to admit students based on their performance in a relevant entrance test followed by a round of Personal Interview.
Getting into a good college for the admission in PhD Neuroscience program, candidates need to score well in the respective entrance exams.
Candidates should put their time and effort into the entrance test as well as be prepared for a personal interview round.
They should be well versed with their research topic so that they can impress the interview panel with their research idea.

Which are the top PhD Neuroscience Colleges?

The table below shows the best PhD Neuroscience colleges and universities that offer the course in a full-time mode.

NIRF Overall Ranking	Name of the College/ University	Admission Process	Average Annual Fees	Average Annual Salary
2	IISc, Bangalore	Entrance-Exam followed by Interview	INR 35,200	INR 7,00,000
11	University of Calcutta, Kolkata	Entrance-Exam followed by Interview	INR 47,800	INR 6,54,000
14	MAHE, Manipal	Entrance-Exam followed by Interview	INR 59,000	INR 5,25,000
63	Amity University, Noida	Entrance-Exam followed by Interview	INR 1,00,000	INR 4,50,000
--	OPJS University, Churu	Merit-Based	INR 85,000	INR 5,26,000
--	SRHU, Dehradun	Merit-Based	INR 90,000	INR 6,78,000
--	Era University, Lucknow	Entrance exam followed by Interview	INR 50,000	INR 6,57,000

Comparison of Average Annual Salary of Top PhD Neuroscience College

PhD Neuroscience College Comparison

The tabulation below depicts the comparison made among the three top PhD Neuroscience colleges in India.

Parameter	IISc Bangalore	University of Calcutta, Kolkata
Overview	Indian Institute of Science was founded by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata in 1909 and offers various level of programs such as Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral courses.	The University of Calcutta is a public state university located in Kolkata, West Bengal which offers a large number of courses at the UG, PG and Doctoral level.
NIRF Overall Ranking	2	11
Location	Bangalore	Kolkata
Eligibility Criteria	Hold a Master’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university	Hold a Master’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university
Admission process	Entrance-Based followed by Interview	Entrance-Based followed by Interview
Average Fees	INR 35,200	INR 47,800
Average Salary	INR 7,00,000	INR 6,54,000
Job Positions	Neural Engineer, Computational Neuroscientist, Biotechnologist, Database and Databank Manager etc.	Neural Engineer, Computational Neuroscientist, Biotechnologist, Database and Databank Manager etc.

What is the Syllabus of PhD Neuroscience?

Although the PhD in Neuroscience program syllabus varies from college to college, it mostly consists of some common foundation courses that students can select based on their interests.

The common subjects that are included in the structured PhD Neuroscience syllabus are provided in the table given below:

Subjects of Study
Research Methodology - Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information about a topic.
Advanced study of Genetics and Molecular Biology - Genetics & Molecular Biology studies organisms at a molecular and cellular level, and helps us understand how molecules such as the DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates determine the behavior of living organisms.
Neuroanatomy and Developmental Neurobiology - Developmental neurobiology explores how a few early embryonic cells can transform into an intricately organized nervous system that controls an entire organism.
Neurochemistry - Deal with study of chemicals, including neurotransmitters and other molecules such as psychopharmaceuticals and neuropeptides, that control and influence the physiology of the nervous system.
Nanotechnology and Bioinformatics for Neuroscience - Study of nanotechnologies and bioinformatics that are vital for Neuroscience.
Dissertation/ Thesis
Seminar
Project

PhD Neuroscience vs PhD Microbiology

PhD Neuroscience deals with the study of how the body fights infections whereas PhD Microbiology deals with the Microorganisms.

Check the list of Top PhD Microbiology Colleges in India.

Check the table below for more comparative details:

Parameters	PhD Neuroscience	PhD Microbiology
Overview	PhD Neuroscience course offers students an integrated view of neuroscience combining it with the intricacies of research.	This program covers aspects of the Biochemistry, Physiology and Genetics of Microorganisms. This program is meant to prepare students for a prosperous career in the field of Microbiology.
Duration	3 to 5 years	3 to 5 years
Eligibility Criteria	Master’s degree in relevant discipline from a recognized university	Postgraduate degree with minimum 55% marks aggregate.
Exam Type	Annual/ Semester	Annual/ Semester
Admission Process	Entrance + Personal Interview	Entrance/ Merit-Based followed by Interview
Average Fees	INR 15,000 to 3,20,000	INR 20,000 to 3,00,000
Job Positions	Neural Engineer, Computational Neuroscientist, Biotechnologist, Database and Databank Manager, etc.	Laboratory Technologist, Medical Technologist, Laboratory Scientist, Lecturer, Technical Specialist etc.
Average Salary	INR 3,00,000 to 8,00,000	INR 8,00,000 to 16,00,000

What are Job Prospects and Career Options after PhD Neuroscience?

After getting a degree in this field, a candidate can get a variety of jobs to choose from. It will be easy for them to work for the government and private organizations and many other sectors. They can also choose to teach as a professor or a lecturer in colleges or universities.

PhD Neuroscience degree holders can find employment in the area of Public Health Sciences, Genetic Counselling Centres, Psychology Centres, Pharmaceutical Companies, Forensic Science Labs, Mental Health Sciences as well as in the position of professors at reputed universities and colleges.
PhD degree holders in Neuroscience seek positions in various sectors as a Psychophysicist, Neurologist, Biotechnologist, Neuropathologist, Community Mental Health Worker, Researcher etc.

The table given below shows some of the most common PhD Neuroscience job profiles and career prospects after completing the course are as follows:

Job Role	Job Description	Average Annual Salary
Neurophysiologist	The job role of a Neurologist includes curing various ailments related to the nervous system, diagnosing and monitoring the disorders.	INR 5,70,000
Neural Engineer	The job of a Neural Engineer includes designing systems, artificial devices, and organs to replace body parts, and evaluate its safety and effectiveness.	INR 6,75,000
Computational Neuroscientist	The job of a Computational Neuroscientist is to study the brain condition by monitoring the images on the computer.	INR 4,25,000
Biotechnologist	The job role of a Biotechnologist includes conducting and monitoring experiments, analyzing, researching and developing procedures.	INR 6,00,000
Neurologist	The job of a Neurologist is to diagnose and treat ailments related to the brain.	INR 4,88,000

What are the Future Scopes of PhD Neuroscience?

PhD degree is a doctorate level degree and is the highest educational degree one can earn in the country. Generally one does not pursue further studies post completion of the PhD Neuroscience.

Employability is high and graduates are hired quickly upon completion of their degree in high pay job profiles. With this knowledge, there is no limit to learning and knowledge.

Students may opt for teaching jobs in colleges/universities after this course and then clearing the UGC-NET exam required for becoming a permanent lecturer.
They have many jobs in Genetic Counselling Centres, Psychology Centres, Pharmaceutical Companies, Forensic Science Labs etc. after completing this program.
Students can also opt for a DSc (Doctor of Science) degree in any related field.
After gaining adequate experience in the related field, Neurologists can work in govt. and private hospitals.
Once you finish your PhD you can also be qualified for a lecturer post in Neuroscience and also to teach in colleges and universities with UGC scales.

PhD Neuroscience FAQs

Some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to the PhD Neuroscience program are as follows:

Ques. How long does a PhD Neuroscience program take to complete?

Ans. The PhD Neuroscience program takes 3-5 years to complete.

Ques. How competitive are neuroscience PhD programs?

Ans. Regardless of your undergraduate major, you should be at the top of your game academically. Neuroscience programs in the U.S. receive anywhere between 5 and 875 program applicants — 170 on average.

Ques. Is Neuroscience hard?

Ans. A PhD in Neuroscience is a challenging course, but it's challenging in a particular way, and there are other ways in which it is easier than some hard sciences.

Ques. Is Neuroscience a good career?

Ans. Yes, you can opt for jobs as a Neural Engineer, Computational Neuroscientist, Biotechnologist, Database and Databank Manager etc. after completing PhD in Neuroscience program.

Ques. Do you need to master calculus for Neuroscience?

Ans. If you specialize in Neuroscience or Biological Psychology, you will need additional Maths classes such as Psychological research methods, Biochemistry and Statistics.

Ques. Is Neuroscience harder than Psychology?

Ans. Yes, Neuroscience is more difficult.

Ques. Which country is best for pursuing a program in Neuroscience?

Ans. According to THE Times Rankings, England is the best country with 24,009 papers published in the subject.

Ques. What subjects do you need for Neuroscience?

Ans. We require grades AAA-ABB, including two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths (the Hard Sciences). You must have a minimum of grades AB in at least two Hard Sciences and pass the practical assessments in these subjects.

Ques. What would Neuroscience fall under?

Ans. Neuroscience has traditionally been classed as a subdivision of Biology. These days, it is an interdisciplinary science which liaises closely with other disciplines, such as Mathematics, Linguistics, Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Philosophy, Psychology and Medicine.

Ques. Do Neuroscientists work in hospitals?

Ans. Neuroscientists typically perform research in offices or laboratories. Some work in clinics and hospitals to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients. Neuroscientists begin experiments by preparing tissue and cell samples.