Symbiosis International (Deemed University), established in 1971 by Prof. Dr. S. B. Mujumdar, runs its doctoral programme through the Symbiosis Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI) across campuses in Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Noida. Its current Ph.D. Rules, notified in 2025 under Notification No. 1712, require two research papers in peer-reviewed and indexed journals before the draft thesis is submitted, with at least one of them preferably in a journal indexed in Scopus, SCI, SSCI, AHCI, ABDC, ABS or FT50. This page sets out what those rules actually require, where the wording leaves room for faculty interpretation, and the full sequence to submission.
📍 Part of our Maharashtra university requirements guide. See also: Paper Publication in Maharashtra · SPPU · Scopus · Publication Cost
SIU PhD Publication Requirement — What the 2025 Rules Say
| Governing rules | Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Ph.D. Rules, 2025 — Notification No. 1712, framed under the UGC Regulations 2022 |
| Administered by | Symbiosis Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI) |
| Papers required | Two research papers in peer-reviewed and indexed journals, before submitting the draft thesis |
| Higher-index condition | At least one of the two preferably accepted or published in Scopus / SCI / SSCI / AHCI / ABDC / ABS / FT50 at the time of thesis submission |
| Pre-submission seminar | Academic assessment by the Research Advisory Committee before formal submission |
| Course work | Approximately six months |
| Confirmation | Proposal submitted and presented within one year |
| Minimum duration | Two years from the date of confirmation to thesis submission |
| Applicability | Earlier rule books continue to govern scholars who registered under them |
| Campuses | Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Noida |
Sourced from the SIU Ph.D. Rules 2025 published by SCRI. Last verified 17 August 2026. SIU Ph.D. Rules 2025 (PDF) · SCRI. Confirm your faculty's interpretation before relying on this.
The Clause That Catches Symbiosis Scholars Out
Read the publication rule carefully, because two separate conditions are stacked in one sentence:
- The hard requirement: two research papers, in journals that are both peer-reviewed and indexed. Not two papers of any kind — both must clear that bar.
- The soft requirement: at least one of the two preferably in Scopus, SCI, SSCI, AHCI, ABDC, ABS or FT50, at the time of thesis submission.
The word 'preferably' is not an accident, but it is also not a guarantee. A 2024 SIU programme flyer stated a stricter position — a minimum of two Scopus-indexed papers before thesis submission. The 2025 Rule Book governs, but the gap between the two documents tells you that faculties have historically read this clause more strictly than the wording requires. Before you choose target journals, ask SCRI or your Research Advisory Committee to confirm in writing whether your faculty treats the higher-index condition as mandatory. Doing that early costs you an email; doing it late can cost you a review cycle.
Note also that the timing is anchored to thesis submission, not to when you drafted the paper. Indexing status can change, so verify your journal's standing on the date you submit.
Which Index Lists Actually Apply to You
SIU's accepted list is broader than most Maharashtra universities and reflects its multi-faculty structure. Which entries matter depends on your discipline:
| List | What it is | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Scopus | Broad multidisciplinary abstract and citation database | All faculties — the usual default route |
| SCI | Science Citation Index | Engineering, health and applied sciences |
| SSCI | Social Sciences Citation Index | Social sciences, economics, psychology |
| AHCI | Arts & Humanities Citation Index | Humanities, media, cultural studies |
| ABDC | Australian Business Deans Council journal quality list | Management, commerce, finance |
| ABS | Chartered Association of Business Schools Academic Journal Guide | Management and business research |
| FT50 | Financial Times list of 50 business journals | Top-tier management research |
ABDC, ABS and FT50 are journal quality lists rather than citation indexes. Their inclusion opens routes for management scholars that a Scopus-only rule would close — and it is worth knowing about, because an ABDC-listed journal in your field may have a shorter and more predictable review cycle than a marginal Scopus title.
Why Your Registration Year Matters at SIU
Symbiosis states explicitly that rules previously published continue to apply to scholars who registered under them, for their respective periods of enforcement. Most universities leave this ambiguous; SIU does not. The practical consequence is that the current Rule Book may not be your Rule Book. A scholar who registered in 2023 is governed by the 2023 rules, including whatever publication clause those carried.
Before acting on anything here, check which version of the SIU Ph.D. Rules was in force on your registration date, and work from that document. If you cannot locate it, SCRI can confirm which notification applies to your cohort.
Which Journals to Target
Both papers need peer review and indexing; at least one should sit in the higher-index list. Realistic routes and timelines:
| Route | Realistic timeline | Indicative cost (INR) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCI / Web of Science | 3–6 months | From 25,000 | Q1–Q3 requirements |
| Scopus | 4–12 weeks | From 15,000 | Indexed-journal clauses |
| IEEE | 2–5 months | From 18,000 | Engineering & computing |
| Springer | 2–5 months | From 18,000 | Multidisciplinary work |
| UGC-CARE | 3–6 weeks | From 3,000 | Peer-reviewed clauses |
| Fast track | 7 days – 4 weeks | From 5,000 | Deadline already close |
Full breakdown on our paper publication cost page.
SIU Thesis Submission Checklist
- Course work complete — roughly six months from admission
- Research proposal submitted and presented within one year, and confirmation received
- Research Supervisor identified from the approved list on the SIU website, with a signed letter of consent — SIU does not allocate supervisors, you approach them
- Minimum two years elapsed from the date of confirmation
- Two papers in peer-reviewed and indexed journals, published or accepted
- At least one in Scopus / SCI / SSCI / AHCI / ABDC / ABS / FT50, verified as of the submission date
- Pre-submission seminar cleared before the Research Advisory Committee
- Semester requisitions, fees and satisfactory progress remarks kept current throughout
Plan Backwards From Your Pre-Submission Seminar
The RAC pre-submission seminar, not the thesis date, is where publication compliance is checked. Work backwards from it:
- T−14 months — confirm with SCRI whether your faculty applies the higher-index condition as mandatory, and which Rule Book governs your cohort.
- T−12 months — first paper submitted, targeting the higher-index list while you have time to absorb a rejection.
- T−9 months — second paper submitted in parallel, not after the first resolves.
- T−5 months — revisions and resubmissions handled; reroute anything that has stalled rather than waiting on it.
- T−2 months — acceptances in hand, indexing status re-verified.
- T−0 — pre-submission seminar before the RAC.
Because SIU charges fees until you submit, every month of publication delay has a direct cost. That makes running both submissions concurrently more valuable here than almost anywhere else in Maharashtra.
Frequently Asked Questions — SIU PhD Publication
How many papers are required for a PhD at Symbiosis?
Two. Under the Symbiosis International (Deemed University) Ph.D. Rules 2025, a scholar must publish two research papers in peer-reviewed and indexed journals before submitting the draft thesis. At least one of the two should preferably be accepted or published in a journal indexed in Scopus, SCI, SSCI, AHCI, ABDC, ABS or FT50 at the time of thesis submission.
What does 'preferably' mean in the Symbiosis rule?
It is doing real work in that sentence. The two papers must be in peer-reviewed and indexed journals; the higher-index condition on one of them is worded as a preference rather than an absolute bar. In practice faculties interpret this differently, and a 2024 SIU programme flyer stated a stricter position of two Scopus-indexed papers. The 2025 Rule Book is the governing document, but get your faculty's interpretation from SCRI in writing before you choose target journals — this is the clause most likely to be applied more strictly than it reads.
Which indexes does Symbiosis accept?
The rules name Scopus, SCI, SSCI, AHCI, ABDC, ABS and FT50. The inclusion of ABDC, ABS and FT50 is unusual and reflects SIU's management and business faculties — those are business-school journal lists rather than citation indexes, and they open routes that a purely Scopus-based rule would close. Law, media and humanities scholars should check which of these their faculty actually recognises.
Do the rules change if I registered before 2025?
No, and SIU is explicit about this in a way most universities are not. Rules previously published continue to apply to scholars who registered under those regulations during their respective periods of enforcement. If you registered under the 2023 Rule Book, that is your governing document — check which version applied on your registration date rather than assuming the newest one binds you.
What is the Symbiosis pre-submission seminar?
An academic assessment by your Research Advisory Committee before the thesis is formally submitted to the university for examination. It is the checkpoint at which publication compliance is normally verified, so treat it as the effective publication deadline rather than the thesis submission date itself.
How long does a Symbiosis PhD take?
The programme is non-tenured and non-tutored. Course work runs roughly six months, confirmation follows by presenting your proposal within a year, and the minimum duration for thesis submission is two years from the date of confirmation. Because fees are charged until you submit, the total cost depends directly on how long you take — which makes publication delays expensive here in a way they are not at fee-capped state universities.
Does Symbiosis offer a practice-based PhD?
Yes, in the Faculty of Media and Communication. Scholars may produce artefacts — a feature or documentary film, a photography project, a product design, multimedia work — alongside a written exegesis. The submission has two parts, and the academic core is still expected to carry theoretical and methodological rigour.
Not Sure Your Paper Is Ready?
Send your draft and target list for a free readiness check. You will get an honest assessment of whether the manuscript is competitive where you are aiming, which of the SIU-accepted lists best fits your discipline and scope, and a realistic timeline measured against your pre-submission seminar.
📄 Free Manuscript Evaluation — SIU Scholars