Ph. D. in Sustainable Development

Program Background

"In our approach to sustainable development, we should not forget that it is by strengthening the people at the base of the pyramid that the entire edifice of society becomes healthy and strong."

- Dr. Sri. Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

India's socioeconomic growth and development depends upon the sustenance of its rural communities, as 70% of its population are still living in rural villages. These communities form the backbone of the country. Despite the country's overall progress, the rural population has been facing numerous pressing problems which need to be addressed. Some of the challenges they face include: extremely poor access to basic facilities and infrastructure, poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, waste management, along with the unexpected impact of climate change and extreme weather conditions that result in devastating natural disasters.

At Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita), our faculty and students have a mission and a vision to work towards our country’s progress, thereby delivering a sustainable future and creating a global impact. Under the guidance of our Chancellor, Dr. Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (affectionately called as “AMMA”, meaning Mother), a world-renowned humanitarian and meliorist, we have pledged to the motto -“Education for living and Education for life”. Along with academic learning which is important to make a living, education must impart a culture of the heart—a culture based on enduring values, that is essential for life (E4LIFE). AMMA then suggested us to provide opportunities to students from all over the world to spend quality time in the villages that will help them experience, understand and solve the problems faced by the villagers.

To this end, Amrita adopted 100+ villages and got committed to use applied research as the foundation of socio economic progress and sustainability. Further, to make this accessible to the international academic community, the Live-in-Labs®, Amrita’s flagship program was launched in 2013. The Live-in-Labs® is a credit-based program which adopts a multidisciplinary theory–into–practice approach.

Related Links: Amrita Live-in-Labs®

Program Overview

Our Chancellor’s exemplary vision and untainted intent of care for people in real need, has laid the foundation for this PhD Program. This program is integrated with a comprehensive yet flexible curriculum called- the “Experiential Learning Curriculum” that aims to enroll and cater to candidates from various disciplines and work towards the sustainable development of the adopted villages.

• Avail opportunities for a double/joint PhD in affiliation with international universities
• Engage with the Industry
• Work in funded projects by UN, Govt of India, European Commission, World Bank etc.
• Join world class research centers and work with distinguished international Professors 

We work on the following thematic areas to make these villages self-reliant: 

1. Education
2. Health ∓ Well Being
3. Energy
4. Water & Sanitation
5. Waste Management
6. Agriculture
7. Environment
8. Livelihood
9. Gender Equality
10. Climate Change & Risk Management
11. Peace, Justice, & Strong Institution

A detailed study of each of these areas in every community gives rise to a combination of problem statements intertwined with dynamic challenges such as the psychosocial beliefs, language barriers, cognitive behaviour, social issues prevalent based on caste, gender, politics etc. that are very unique to every community. These problem statements and challenges are being analysed meticulously by interdisciplinary teams of students and expert researchers in order to address them.

Curriculum & Faculty

Amrita’s PhD program in Sustainable Development provides an interdisciplinary grounding with its integrative courses. We offer this program in two modules:

1. Academic Learning Module:

   The academic learning module will be designed and tailored to suit the need of implementing the proposed research and development. It will constitute a highly comprehensive, flexible yet customized set of Core courses and Elective courses. Wherever applicable, we will arrange:

   • International faculty lectures to offer various specialised courses and academic workshops;
   • Technical workshops from industries to enhance technical knowledge and
   • Allow undertaking MOOCs from reputed Universities with transferable credits.
   • Funded opportunities for Joint or Dual PhD in collaboration with highly reputed international universities are available for ALL candidates.

   List of our Partner Universities:

   • University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, USA
   • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
   • Politecnico di Milano, Italy
   • University of Trento, Italy
2. Experiential Learning Module:
   • Organized community visits
   • Theory-into-practice approaches to effective community engagement
   • Explore and feel the pulse of rural communities in India that are very diverse in terms of their culture, language, literacy, natural resources and socioeconomic development
   • Identify pressing problems of rural communities through one’s own experience by embracing and engaging with them
   • Develop sustainable solutions and ensure empowerment of the rural communities

The course structure is designed to combine flexibility to pursue an individual field of study, with the development of broad-based skills and knowledge in relation to sustainable development. The students can decide on a list of core courses and electives after discussion with their allocated guides at Amrita. The students should maintain an overall B+ average with no lower than a B in any of the core classes.

Faculty at Amrita:

For a list of Faculty at Amrita, please visit

Funding Information

Amrita is currently offering 100 fully funded fellowships for international and Indian students who wish to join for a full-time PhD program under the various thematic areas of Sustainable Development. The fellowships will be awarded purely based on academic excellence. It is mandatory for the enrolled PhD students to spend quality time in the villages selected for their study program, ensuring timely and effective outcomes.

Funding for international candidates:

ALL international students who successfully enroll in the PhD program at Amrita will acquire the E4LIFE International Fellowship.

Each fully funded fellowship will include:

**Not exceeding a maximum of INR 25,000/month
**The selection of international partners, the period and duration of travel will be subject to approval by the Amrita Centre for International Programs (ACIP) office and your PhD guide. 

Terms and Conditions:

All costs towards the implementation of the proposed solution in rural communities will be borne by the University, considering the following:

• The Fellowship is valid for a minimum of 3 years and can go upto a maximum of 4 years based purely on academic evaluation. Credibility of the candidates and competency of the projects will be given top priority.
• Fund per fellowship: A minimum of USD 19,000 (INR 13,50,000 Lakhs) upto a maximum of USD 35,000 (INR 25,00,000) based on the scope and credibility of the proposed research and implementation of sustainable solutions. 
• It is mandatory that each PhD candidate’s research work (awarded with fully funded fellowship) results in the implementation of a sustainable technological solution, addressing a problem statement in one of the 100+ adopted villages of Amrita.

Funding for Indian candidates:

ALL Indian students who successfully enroll in the PhD program at Amrita will acquire the E4LIFE  Fellowship. 

Each fully funded fellowship will include:

*Subject to availability

**The selection of international partners, the period and duration of travel will be subject to approval by the Amrita Centre for International Programs (ACIP) office and your PhD guide

Funded opportunities for Joint or Dual PhD in collaboration with highly reputed international universities are available for ALL candidates.

Terms and Conditions:

All costs towards the implementation of the proposed solution in rural communities will be borne by the University, considering the following:

• The Fellowship is valid for a minimum of 3 years and can go upto a maximum of 4 years based purely on academic evaluation. Credibility of the candidates and competency of the projects will be given top priority. 
• Fund per fellowship: A minimum of INR 10,00,000 upto a maximum of INR 25,00,000 based on the scope and credibility of the proposed project. 
• It is mandatory that each PhD candidate’s research work (awarded with fully funded fellowship) results in the implementation of a sustainable technological solution, addressing a problem statement in one of the 100+ adopted villages of Amrita.

Other funding available:

Amrita also offers a wide range of partially funded scholarships for ALL students who could not qualify for our E4LIFE international fellowships. They are open under:

• Dean’s scholarships
• Department scholarships
• Short-term scholarships
• Industry sponsored scholarships
• Research and Teaching assistantships

Application Deadline: October 15, 2021

Who Can Apply?

International and Indian students can apply for the program with fellowship through the online Registration form. Applicants from a wide range of academic disciplines can apply, including:

• Engineering (Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Wireless Sensor Networks & Applications)
• Health Sciences (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy & Toxicology Dentistry)
• Biotechnology
• Microbiology
• Geo Sciences
• Pure Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)
• Environmental Science
• Life Sciences
• Business & Management
• Social Sciences

Eligibility Criteria

• Completed a Master's degree or must be in their final semester of Master’s program
• CGPA above 8.0 at the preceding degree (mandatory for fellowship)
• Age limit: Below the age of 50 years (Exceptions could be made upon discretion by the Admissions committee)
• ALL students are exempted from taking an entrance exam at Amrita

Applicants must have:

• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work in an interdisciplinary team
• Experience related to social work is helpful but not mandatory
• Willingness to work in rural communities of India
• We welcome applications from prospective full-time students ONLY. This PhD program will take 4 years to complete when enrolled as a full-time student.