Alliance University, Bengaluru, launches new PhD programme; admissions open, eligibility

Alliance University, Bengaluru, has launched a new PhD programme, PhD VISTA, curated by start-up mentor and author Nagaraja Prakasam. PhD VISTA stands for Venture Innovation for Social Transformation and Advancement. The programme aims to create scholar-entrepreneurs who will convert research into real-world impact.

The programme has been designed to transcend disciplines, such as business, law, liberal arts, and engineering. It will involve 20% theory and 80% practical and industrial exposure, preparing the students for a “scalable” impact on the world.

PhD admission in Alliance University is now open, and those interested can know more about the programme at https://www.alliance.edu.in/programme/phd-in-vista.

The full-time programme will span three to six years, depending upon the student’s research progress. It will include a compulsory course, “Solving for Bharat”, based on Prakasam’s book “Back to Bharat - in search of a sustainable future”.

This course will be taught by Prakasam himself, inspired by his own journey with impact-driven startups.

Alliance University PhD: Eligibility

Those who want to apply for Alliance University’s PhD VISTA programme should have.

• Minimum 55% marks in a Master’s degree

• Entrance test

• Interview

• Preliminary business problem statement

Also read IIMC counselling 2025 starts on May 28; admission through CUET PG scores

The programme will encourage students to engage with NGOs, government agencies, and communities. Support will be provided to students for startup ideation and practical implementation “... in legal, financial, branding, HR, and intellectual property domains. The university also offers joint ownership of innovations and assists in patenting, licensing, and commercialisation,” the official statement said.

Prakasam said, “With PhD VISTA, we are cultivating a new generation of scholar-practitioners, individuals who don’t just publish research but live it, breathe it, and apply it to solve real-world problems. This programme transforms intellectual curiosity into scalable impact, especially in underserved communities.”