The Doctoral Programme at XLRI is well structured and typically phases over four years that includes two years of rigorous course work.

Phase-I: Fundamentals of Management

The first year of the programme is intended for acquiring the required proficiency in general management and a broad understanding in the area of specialization. All FPM students irrespective of their areas of specialization, take all the courses offered in the first year of the Postgraduate Programme. Students take courses in major functional and general management areas such as accounting and control, computer and information systems, finance, marketing, operations, personnel and industrial relations, and strategy. Students are also exposed to basic disciplines of economics, behavioural sciences and quantitative methods.

During summer, at the end of the first year of course work, all students complete a research project either with a faculty member at the Institute or in any other organization. Phase-I ends with successful completion of all the courses with a minimum prescribed proficiency and the completion of the summer project. While students need to meet certain academic requirements across all courses, a higher performance is required in certain Area Specified Courses.

Phase-II: Specialization

In the second year, students take advanced courses in their area of specialization and related fields for the purpose of acquiring in-depth knowledge. In addition, all students have to take a compulsory package of FPM courses which are specially designed to develop quantitative and research skills and an ability to integrate their learning. During this phase students interact closely with their area faculty and are encouraged to start exploring areas of research in their specialization.

Once Phase-II courses are successfully completed, the student undertakes two comprehensive examinations. These examinations are administered at the end of the second year or at the beginning of the third year and test whether the student has obtained a satisfactory level of knowledge in her/his area of specialization. Areas specify their requirements for comprehensive examinations.

Phase-III: Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation or thesis provides the student with an opportunity to undertake original research in their area of interest. The dissertation should be a scholarly contribution to the knowledge pertinent to the understanding and resolution of management problems. Research is an essential part of doctoral student's training at XLRI. Throughout the programme, starting as early as Phase-I, students are encouraged to be actively involved in research activities at the Institute and with faculty members.

Phase-III begins with the formation of the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) in the initial part of third year. Students are encouraged to meet faculty members with whom they share research interests and seek their assistance in identifying a dissertation topic as early as possible. This interaction, in addition to close working relationship during the course work, helps the student find a thesis advisor and form the Thesis Advisory Committee. The thesis advisor advises the student on his / her dissertation and chairs the thesis advisory committee comprising at least two other members.

The student develops a written proposal and with the agreement of the thesis advisor gives a seminar on the thesis proposal. The proposal has to be approved by the Thesis Advisory Committee. From then onwards, the student works closely with her / his Thesis Advisory Committee on the dissertation. When the candidate's advisor judges that the dissertation is complete, the student gives a seminar on the dissertation work and defends orally the dissertation before a thesis examination committee. The Director of XLRI appoints the thesis examination committee comprising the Thesis Advisory Committee and two external members.

While the course work formally gets over with the completion of Phase-II, doctoral students are encouraged to continue taking advanced courses of interest even during this last stage of their study.