BHU PG Diploma Women Studies: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

The 1-Year Post Graduate Diploma in Gender and Women Studies at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a full-time, on-campus programme offered under the Centre for Women Studies and Development, Faculty of Social Sciences. The course is designed to provide graduates with a comprehensive understanding of gender theory, feminist perspectives, women's rights, and development issues. The programme spans one year (two semesters), with a seat intake of 32 students at the main BHU campus and an additional 37 seats at Vasanta College for Women, Rajghat, Varanasi. The total course fee is Rs. 8,000 per semester (Rs. 16,000 per annum), plus regular university fee. Admission is merit-based, conducted through BHU's Special Courses of Study (SCS) process. The programme is popular among graduates from humanities, social sciences, and law backgrounds who wish to specialise in gender studies, women's rights advocacy, and development work.

Admissions for the SCS 2026-27 session followed the standard BHU SCS timeline, with the application window opening around November 2026 and closing in December 2026. As of March 2027, the 2026-27 batch is currently underway. For the 2027-28 session, the application window is tentatively expected to open in November 2027 on bhuonline.in.

Key Points

The course is offered under the Centre for Women Studies and Development, Faculty of Social Sciences, BHU, one of the pioneering centres for gender studies in India.
The programme is also offered at Vasanta College for Women, Rajghat, Varanasi, providing an additional 37 seats for women students.
The course code under BHU's SCS system is 920 (Full Time).
Minimum 10 and maximum 32 seats are available at the main campus; if applications fall below the minimum, the course may not run for that session.
The fee is payable in two instalments of Rs. 8,000 per semester, making it one of the more affordable gender studies programmes in India.
SC/ST candidates are exempt from the minimum percentage requirement in the qualifying examination.
The programme is open to graduates from any discipline, making it accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds.

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FAQs

BHU PGD Women Studies Fees

The PGD in Gender and Women Studies at BHU carries a course-specific fee of Rs. 8,000 per semester (Rs. 16,000 per annum). The university's regular fee of approximately Rs. 2,000 per annum is added to this, bringing the total academic fee to approximately Rs. 18,000 per year. Hostel accommodation is available on campus but is not mandatory; hostel fees are approximately Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,375 per year depending on the hostel allotted.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Per Annum)
Course-Specific Fee (SCS Fee)	Rs. 16,000 (Rs. 8,000 per semester)
Regular University Fee (approx.)	Rs. 2,000
Total Academic Fee	Rs. 18,000
Hostel Fee (optional, approx.)	Rs. 4,000 - Rs. 5,375
Total Fees (without hostel)	Rs. 18,000
Total Fees (with hostel, approx.)	Rs. 22,000 - Rs. 23,375

The course fee is payable in two instalments: Rs. 8,000 at the start of Semester 1 and Rs. 8,000 at the start of Semester 2.
The regular university fee is approximate and may vary slightly; the exact amount is communicated at the time of admission.
Hostel accommodation is not guaranteed and is subject to availability.
It is not mandatory for this course.
A caution/security deposit (refundable) of approximately Rs. 2,000 may be charged at the time of hostel allotment.
Application processing/entrance test fee: Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS candidates; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
No EMI option is available; fees are payable as per the semester schedule.

BHU PGD Women Studies Admission 2026

Admission to the PGD in Gender and Women Studies at BHU is conducted through the university's Special Courses of Study (SCS) admission process, managed via the BHU entrance test portal (bhuonline.in). The process is merit-based, with selection determined by performance in the qualifying examination and, where applicable, a written test or interview conducted by the Centre for Women Studies and Development. The 2026-27 admission cycle followed the standard SCS timeline, with applications opening in November 2026. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the process is expected to follow a similar schedule.

BHU SCS Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026-27)
Availability of SCS Online Application Form on bhuonline.in	November 2026 (tentative)
Last Date for Online Submission of Application Form	December 2026 (tentative)
Issue of Call Letters for Counselling/Interview	January 2027 (tentative)
Counselling / Admission Process	January - February 2027 (tentative)
Commencement of Classes (Semester 1)	February - March 2027 (tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Entrance Exam Dates	Details
No separate national-level entrance exam is required for this course.	Admission is based on merit in the qualifying examination (Bachelor's degree). BHU may conduct an internal written test or interview at the departmental level if the number of applicants exceeds the available seats. There is no CUET-PG or other external exam requirement for this SCS programme.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed a Bachelor's Degree (10+2+3) with at least 50% marks or its equivalent in any discipline from any UGC-accredited institute in India or abroad.
SC/ST candidates are exempt from the minimum percentage requirement; they must have passed the qualifying examination.
OBC-NCL and PwBD candidates get a relaxation of 5% marks in the minimum eligibility requirement compared to the unreserved category.

Admission Process

Register on the BHU entrance test portal at bhuonline.in and fill the online application form for SCS 2026.
Select course code 920 (PG Diploma in Gender and Women Studies) and upload required documents (photograph, signature).
Pay the application processing fee online (Rs. 600 for General; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Shortlisted candidates will receive a call letter via email for counselling/interview conducted by the Centre for Women Studies and Development.
Carry all original documents (qualifying exam marksheets, category certificate if applicable, transfer certificate, migration certificate) at the time of counselling.
Final admission is granted based on merit in the qualifying examination; in case of a tie, higher marks in the qualifying exam, then higher marks in the relevant subject, then seniority in age is considered.

BHU PGD Women Studies Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial assistance programmes to students, primarily through government schemes and university-level grants. Students from Uttar Pradesh can benefit from the UP Government Post-Matric Scholarship, which can reimburse a significant portion of fees and hostel charges. National-level scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) are also available. The course fee of Rs. 16,000 per annum is relatively low, and government scholarships can substantially offset this cost for eligible students.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
UP Government Post-Matric Scholarship	UP domicile students; family income below Rs. 2 lakh (SC/ST) or Rs. 2.5 lakh (OBC/General-EWS)	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance (varies by category)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - Post-Matric Scholarship	SC/ST/OBC/Minority students; family income limits apply	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance as per central norms
BHU Merit Scholarship (Rank Holders)	1st rank holder in the programme	One-time cash reward of Rs. 4,000
BHU Merit Scholarship (2nd Rank)	2nd rank holder in the programme	One-time cash reward of Rs. 3,000
BHU Scholarship for Economically Weak Students	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh per annum; good conduct and 75% attendance	Free meals (lunch and dinner) for at least 7 months; Rs. 2,000 annually for 100 students
BHU Scholarship for Blind/Physically Challenged Students	Blind or physically challenged students enrolled at BHU	Free meals under Annadaan Yojana; Rs. 4,000 - Rs. 5,000 annually
Earn While Learn Programme	Financially needy students	Part-time work opportunities on campus with financial compensation

Students already receiving any other scholarship are not eligible for BHU's internal scholarships simultaneously.
UP Scholarship applications are typically submitted online through scholarship.up.gov.in after admission.
NSP scholarships are applied for through scholarships.gov.in; deadlines are typically October-November each year.
BHU internal scholarship forms are available from the university administration office.
Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to remain eligible for BHU scholarships.

BHU PGD Women Studies FAQs

Ques. Is the PGD in Gender and Women Studies at BHU open to male students, or is it exclusively for women?

Ans. The programme at the main BHU campus is open to students of all genders, as it is offered under the Centre for Women Studies and Development, Faculty of Social Sciences. The additional seats at Vasanta College for Women, Rajghat, are specifically for women students. Male students can apply for the main campus seats. The course focuses on gender studies broadly, not exclusively on women's issues.

Ques. What career options are available after completing this diploma from BHU?

Ans. Graduates of the PGD in Gender and Women Studies can pursue careers in NGOs, government agencies, international organisations (UN Women, UNICEF, etc.), research institutions, and academic settings. Career roles include gender specialist, women's rights advocate, development programme officer, social researcher, policy analyst, and community development worker. The diploma also serves as a strong foundation for pursuing an MA or M.Phil. in Gender Studies or Women's Studies.

Ques. Can this diploma be used as a bridge to pursue higher studies in Gender Studies or Women's Studies?

Ans. Yes, the PGD in Gender and Women Studies from BHU is a recognised qualification that can strengthen applications for MA, M.Phil., or PhD programmes in Gender Studies, Women's Studies, Sociology, or Social Work at various universities. BHU itself offers higher-level research programmes in related disciplines. The diploma provides a solid theoretical and practical foundation for advanced academic work in gender studies.

Ques. Is the course available at Vasanta College for Women the same as the one at the main BHU campus?

Ans. Yes, the PGD in Gender and Women Studies offered at Vasanta College for Women, Rajghat, Varanasi, is the same programme under the same SCS framework (course code 920). The curriculum, fee structure, and admission process are the same. The Vasanta College centre provides 37 additional seats specifically for women students, while the main BHU campus offers 32 seats open to all genders.

Ques. What is the minimum number of seats required for the course to run, and what happens if applications are insufficient?

Ans. The course requires a minimum of 10 applicants to run at the main campus. If the number of eligible applicants falls below 10, BHU reserves the right to not run the course for that session. In such a case, applicants are given the option of either obtaining a refund of the application fee or choosing another SCS course for which they are eligible and seats are available.

Ques. Does BHU's Centre for Women Studies and Development conduct any research or outreach activities that students can participate in?

Ans. Yes, the Centre for Women Studies and Development at BHU is an active research centre that conducts studies on gender issues, women's empowerment, and development. Students enrolled in the PGD programme can participate in seminars, workshops, and research projects organised by the centre. The centre also has collaborations with national and international organisations working on gender and development, providing students with networking and exposure opportunities beyond the classroom.

BHU: 1 Answered Question

How is 5 years integrated law course of BHU and how is the placement there?

Ujjval GuptaA lawyer in the making

BHU LLB Course is better than most Indian Colleges. Some of its salient features are:

Fee is higher than the 3-year course
Tough competition as limited seats are available
It’s a self-financed course
Ranked amongst the 8-10 Law Colleges of India
The amenities at BHU- Infrastructure, Faculty, Exposure, Security all add to its wonderful experience
Massive lush green campus

Placements-

The placements at BHU are above average. You might get to work in law firms, practicing in courts under a senior lawyer. Other corporate sectors or legal advisory jobs are also available. Many BHU students also prefer pursuing Judiciary.

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