Fellow Program in Management (FPM)

About the FPM

FPM offers aspirants from the Industry, many an opportunity to conduct high-end research among the multi-disciplinary fields of management, with a special focus on the contemporary challenges across industry, corporate, and businesses. 

FPM aims to create and contribute to management knowledge and practice, thus enabling lifelong learning among its learners.

The program can be pursued in either full-time or part-time mode depending on the candidate and his / her requirements. Candidates who are looking for a doctoral degree in management can opt for the FPM program.

Objectives of the FPM

  • Support the FPM scholars to understand the foundations of management, latest updation in the area and the relevant methods and techniques of management research.
  • Promote the need and significance of various pedagogical tools used in management education and to be an effective communicator.
  • Enable FPM scholars to establish a definite perspective on the existing body of management thought and contribute to the same.
  • Develop researchers with standards in ethos and ethical research and related practice.

Basic Eligibility for Admission to the FPM

1.0 Admission Eligibility of Students

  1. Master’s Degree or equivalent in Engineering and Technology/ Management/ Economics/ Social Science/ Biological Science/ Pure Science/ Commerce/ Humanities with FIRST CLASS shall be considered for admission to Fellow Programme.
  2. Those appearing for their final examination in the respective discipline can also apply. Such students if selected shall be provisionally admitted provided they complete all requirements in obtaining their Master’s Degree before 30th September of the year of admission. The admission of these candidates shall remain provisional until they produce the mark sheet proving that they satisfy the eligibility criteria. The deadline for submitting the final year mark sheet is 31st December.

2.0 Admission Procedure

Admission to the Fellow Programme shall normally be made once a year, coinciding with that of AICTE approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management or equivalent Degree/ Diploma. Accordingly, the advertisement shall be made along with such Post Graduate Degree/ Diploma.

2.1 Application Procedure

The application shall be made in the prescribed form available with the Institution. Attested copies of all the necessary Certificates and testimonials are to be attached with the applications. The candidate must submit an abstract of about 5000 words on the area of research interest (tentative research proposal) along with his/ her application.

2.2 Selection Criteria

Selection for the Fellow Programme in the Institutions approved by AICTE for the Fellow Programme shall be on the basis of the following criteria:

  1. Academic qualifications and work experience
  2. Tentative research proposal and its presentation before the Selection Committee
  3. Personal interview
  4. The decision of the Institution Selection Committee regarding admission shall be final. Communication shall be sent only to the selected candidates. The Institution shall not entertain any queries or correspondence in respect of those not selected.
  5. Approved Institution to conduct Fellow Programme in Management can admit only maximum of 20 candidates in each Academic Year after ensuring availability of the Guide as per AICTE Norms/Standards.

2.2.1 Research Guidance  -

Selection of Guide(s)

Each candidate shall have one/ two Guide(s) under whose supervision the research work in relation to the Programme shall be carried out. The Guide(s) shall be nominated by the Director of the Institution. All Guides shall be internal. In exceptional cases, where external guidance shall be required, recognized Guides from reputed Institutions shall be allowed as co-guides with the permission of AICTE. Research Guides shall be allotted to the selected candidates after completion of the necessary course work and related formalities. The research Programme and areas of research shall be finalized by respective Guides after discussion with the candidates and should be forwarded to the Director for concurrence.

Faculty with Ph.D and with at least 2 publications in recent times (within 3 years) in high quality journals of repute are eligible to Guide the Fellow Programme candidates. Each such Faculty shall be assigned a maximum of 2 candidates in each admission year.

2.3 Absence of Guide during the Programme

In Case of temporary absence of a Guide for a period of more than one year a new Guide shall be nominated for the Fellow Candidates. In case of a Guide who has guided for more than a year, he/ she shall be allowed to resume the guidance after his/ her return from temporary absence.

If the period of absence is less than 2 years, the pervious Guide shall act as Co-Guide on his/ her return. If the period of absence is more than 2 years he/she shall cease to be a Guide for the Fellow candidate.

2.3.1 Change of Guide

Change of a Guide shall be permitted in exceptional circumstances on the recommendation of the Director.

2.3.2 Number of Research Fellows per Guide

At any given time, the number of Research Fellows working with a Guide shall not exceed five.

2.3.3 Research Advisory Committee

The Director shall nominate a Research Advisory Committee for each Fellow based on the recommendation of the Guide(s).

2.4 Course Study/ Credit Requirements

In partial fulfilment of the requirement of the Fellow Programme, a minimum number of Course credits are required to be earned as prescribed below

2.4.1 Credit Requirement

Particular

Code No.

Course Title

Credits

Module 1

FP01

Research Methodology

3

FP02

Managerial Statistics

3

FP03

General Management

3

FP04

System Approach to Management

3

Module 2

FP05

3 Stream specific Course of 3 credits each

9

FP06

Credit Seminar (General)

3

Module 3

FP07

Credit Seminar (Specific)

3

FP08

Review paper based on the literature on theThesis related topic

3

Total Credits

30

2.4.2 Details of Courses and Seminar

The stream specific Courses and Seminars shall be decided as approved by the Director on the recommendation by the candidate’s Guide(s) and the Research Advisory Committee.

2.4.3 Duration for earning Credit

All the credits specified above shall be earned within a maximum of three years from the date of admission to the Programme. Extension after the three years shall be approved by the Director for a period of one year with a review of progress every six months. Final approval shall be given by the Director of the Institution.

2.4.4 Credit Course Requirement

A research scholar shall undergo 4 Courses of the total 12 credits in the first module and during the second module he/ she shall undergo three streams-specific Courses of 9 credits and give three credit Seminar on general management topic in the third module, the candidate shall give three credits Seminar and write a review paper on the literature related to his/ her research topic for publication purpose of 3 credits. Thus a candidate shall earn 12 credits in the first and second module and 6 credits in the third module together adding up to 30 credits in all.

2.4.5 Grading System of Credit Courses/Seminar

The minimum of CGPA of 6.5 on a 10 point scale or 60% is required for passing Course/ Seminar. A candidate getting less than 60% shall be given one more opportunity to repeat the Course/ Seminar. If he/ she still does not pass in the Course/ Seminar, he/ she shall be terminated from the Fellow Programme.

2.5 Registration Seminar and Progress Seminar

Each research scholar needs to register his/ her research proposal. The registration procedure is given below.

2.5.1 Pre-registration Seminar

Each research scholar shall give a pre-registration Seminar before a Committee constituted by the Director. The Committee shall include the Guide(s), experts drawn from Institution’s Faculty members and Director. The Seminar shall be given after completion of the three modules. The Research Scholar shall submit 5 copies of the pre-registration Report (in about 15-20 pages) 15 days before the date of the Seminar. The Report shall include the proposed title of the Thesis, are and frame work of the proposed research objectives, scope of the study, hypothesis if any, and methodology to be followed. This stage is considered to be very important for screening the candidate for further progress in the Programme. In case the research scholar fails to defend his/her Thesis proposal successfully, he/she shall be allowed to resubmit the modified research proposal as suggested by the above mentioned Committee. He/ she needs to give a fresh Seminar based on the modified research proposal and in case he or she fails to defend it in the second time, the research scholar shall be terminated from the Programme.

2.5.2 Application for registration

A candidate must apply for formal registration within one month after successful completion of the pre-registration Seminar. The application for registration to be made in a prescribed form and shall be accompanied by the following:

1. Title and summary of the Thesis proposal approved by the Guide(s)

2. Registration Fee of Rs. 2500/-

2.5.3 Effective Date of Registration

The registration shall be effective from the date of application for the registration.

2.6 FPM based areas of specialization

  1. General Management
  2. Human Resource Management & Organizational Behaviour
  3. Finance
  4. Information System
  5. Economics
  6. Operations, Supply Chain
  7. Analytics and Data Sciences
  8. Marketing & International Business
  9. Strategic Management
  10. Hospital and Healthcare Management
  11. Mental Health / Behavioral Sciences

When applying for admission, the candidate must indicate a primary area and a secondary area of interest.

2.6.1 FPM Course work structure

The FPM typically takes four to five years of study. FPM scholars are required to complete a set of courses, which would expose them across

  • Fundamental theories, concepts and applications in management and related fields and
  • Necessary skills to conduct academic research, write and publish in top international journals. The coursework can take between 12 to 24 months, depending upon the student’s previous educational background and performance.

2.6.2 Duration of the Programme

2.6.3 Time Limit

A Candidate shall submit his / her Thesis only after a minimum period of two years after registration. However, the maximum period allowed for the submission of the Thesis is five years from the date of admission to the Programme.

If a candidate fails to submit the Thesis within the prescribed upper time limit due to reasons beyond his/her control, he/she shall apply to the Director for an extension .If the Institution is satisfied with the candidate’s justification, the Director shall permit him/her to re-register to the Programme subject to the payment of re-registration Fee. This re-registration shall, however, be effective only for a period of two years beyond which no extension shall be permitted.

2.6.4 Break or Unauthorized absence from the Programme

Any break or unauthorized absence from the Programme before registration shall lead to the cancellation of admission. Any authorized break or leave of absence shall not be counted for the minimum period of 2 years stipulated for submission of Thesis but shall be counted in the maximum period of 5 years permissible for submission of the Thesis.

2.7 Submission and Evaluation of the Synopsis and Thesis

2.7.1 Pre-Synopsis Seminar

Every research scholar before submission of his / her Thesis must give pre-synopsis seminar at the Institution. The procedure for the pre-synopsis seminar is as follows:

2.7.2 Submission of 5 copies of the pre-Synopsis Report (not more than 40 pages). The Report shall include the focus and the summary of the Thesis. Highlighting his/ her own contribution, details of the methodology, results, analysis, conclusions, limitations and scope for future research. It is to be submitted through the Guide(s).

2.7.3 For seeking the approval, the candidate shall present pre-Synopsis Seminar before the Committee consisting of Director, Guide(s) and two Faculty experts in the relevant area of research. An outside expert, having expertise in the area of research shall be included in the Committee

2.7.4 The Committee shall judge the work with regard to its accept ability and suggest modification or elaboration of the work, if necessary, after incorporating the suggested changes / modifications to the satisfaction of the Committee, an abridged version of the same in about 15-70 pages shall be submitted as Synopsis for the purpose of sending it to prospective examiners.

2.8 Submission of the Synopsis

Five copies of the Synopsis with necessary modification incorporated shall be submitted within a period of one month from the date of the pre-Synopsis Seminar to the Institution with a Certificate by candidate and the Guide(s) stating:

2.8.1 That there is a prima facie case for consideration of the Thesis;

2.8.2 That the work does not include any work which has at any time previously been submitted for an award of Fellow in Management or other equivalent Degree.

2.9 Selection of Examiners

On receipt of Synopsis, the Director shall draw up a list of 6 possible examiners of the Thesis in consultation with the Research Advisory Committee and Guide(s). The examiners shall be from outside Institution, one from India and one from abroad, having good academic and research standing in the field. Two examiners shall be selected by the Director from the list.

2.10 Submission of Thesis

The Thesis shall be submitted in six type written/ printed copies and a soft copy with necessary Certificates and clearance with in a period of 6 months from the date of submission of the Synopsis. An examination Fee of Rs. 25000/- which includes an honorarium of US$250/- for foreign examiner and Rs. 5000/- Indian Examiner must be paid along with the Thesis submission.

2.10.1 Recommendations of the Examiners

2.10.2 A critical review and evaluation of the quality and extent of the work of the candidate as embodied in the Thesis.

2.10.3 A definite recommendation as to whether the Thesis is of a sufficient standard and suitable for the award of Fellow in Management : and

2.10.4 If the examiner is not in a position to make definite recommendation for the award of the “Fellow in Management”, He/ She shall indicate the required modification/ revision involving rewriting of Chapters but not involving further research work OR Complete rewriting of the Thesis with an additional research work reinterpretation of Data.

2.11 Acceptance / Rejection of Thesis

The Thesis shall be accepted if all the examiners make positive recommendations. If recommendations for rejection or inconclusive recommendations are made by anyone of the examiner, Director shall refer the Thesis to another examiner or examiners(s) from the panel. If such a panel of examiner(s) rejects the Thesis, it shall stand rejected.

2.11.1 Re-submission of the Thesis

A Thesis which needs modification/ revision shall be resubmitted after revision within a period of one year. Rejection of the Thesis after re-submission shall normally disqualify the candidate of further consideration for the award of the Fellow in Management.

2.11.2 Viva-Voce

On acceptance of the Thesis, the Director shall appoint a panel of examiners to conduct a viva- voce examination and open defense at which the candidate shall be required to defend his/ her Thesis. The panel of examiners shall consist of:

  • The Chairman, Dean (Academic or Research) or his/ her nominee not below the rank of Professor of the Institution nominated by the Director
  • The Guide(s)
  • Indian External Examiner who examined the Thesis and accepted it

The panel of Examiners shall submit their Report to the Director of the Institution.If a Thesis has been accepted, but the candidate fails to defend it successfully at the Vice-voce examination, he/ she shall reappear for the viva-voce examination within six months.

2.12 Award of Fellow in Management

On successful completion of the viva-voce and on the recommendations of the Institution’s Governing Board, the Institution shall award “Fellow in Management” to the Research scholar. The title of the Thesis shall be mentioned in the Certificate of award.

2.13 General Regulations

  • Candidate must furnish a periodical Report of progress of the Course work and research work for consideration of Institution, Research Advisory Committee and the Guide(s). Unsatisfactory progress in research shall render the candidate terminated from the Programme.
  • The candidate shall pay all the prescribed Fee as and when they fall due.
  • The Courses prescribed, but not successfully completed by the candidate shall be reconsidered by the Director. Research Advisory Committee shall suggest alternative Course(s) depending upon the relevance of the Course(s) to the research work of candidate.
  • The research scholar shall face automatic disqualification and termination from the Programme, if he/ she is found to be admitted to any other equivalent Degree Level Programme.
  • The Council reserves the right to amend, modify or change Regulations as may be necessary, from time to time. All such changes shall be binding on the research scholar in the Institution.

Duration of the programme

The FPM student is generally expected to complete the programme in about 4 to 5 years. The maximum time limit permissible time for the completion of the FPM is is 7 years. Students failing to complete the requirements within this period will be deemed to have withdrawn from the program and their candidature in the programme will be closed.

Fellow title

The student is conferred the title "Fellow in Management" on successful completion of all the requirements of the programme.

Contact Us

Dr Gururaj B Urs, Professor (OB-HR) & Head - FPM Program

The FPM Office, 

MS Ramaiah Institute of Management (MSRIM)

Gate No 8, General Science Building, MSRIT campus,

MSR Nagar, Bengaluru 560054.

Landline - Tel : 080-2360 6640, 6641, 6642, 8769.

Email - fpm@msrim.org