Is CUET UG mandatory for all BHU UG admissions in 2026?

Yes, CUET UG 2026 is the only route for BHU UG programmes including BA, B.Sc, B.Com, Agriculture, and Veterinary Science. Class 12 board marks carry zero weight in BHUs merit list. The CUET UG normalised score alone determines allotment.

What CUET UG score is needed to get into BHU?

In 2026, BHU CUET UG Round 1 cutoffs for the General AI category ranged from 73 to 217 across programmes. High-demand courses like B.Sc (Hons) and BA English require scores at the higher end. Check bhucuet.samarth.edu.in for subject-wise cutoffs after the merit list is released.

Does BHU have a management quota or NRI quota?

No. BHU is a central university and all seats fill through merit and centralised counselling only. No management quota or NRI quota exists for any programme at BHU, including MBBS and MBA.

Is CAT the only accepted exam for IMS BHU MBA?

Yes. CAT is the only exam accepted for IMS BHU MBA and MBA-IB. XAT, GMAT, CMAT, and MAT scores are not accepted. Apply on bhumbaadm.samarth.edu.in during the November-January window each year.

What CAT percentile is needed for IMS BHU MBA shortlisting?

The CAT 2025 shortlisting cutoff for IMS BHU MBA (General category) was 85 percentile overall with a minimum 50 percentile required in each section. The final admission composite uses CAT 50%, Academic Record 20%, and GD-PI 30%.

What is the BHU LLB admission process for 2026?

The 3-year LLB at BHU (286 seats) admits through CUET LLB 2026 scores. The 5-year BA LLB (74 seats) admits through CUET UG 2026. Both programmes are at the Faculty of Law, BHU, in Varanasi.

How does BHU PhD admission work and who can apply?

BHU PhD admission requires a Masters degree with 55% (General/EWS) or 50% (SC/ST/PwD). UGC-NET and JRF holders go directly to the department interview. Final merit is 70% entrance score plus 30% interview. Apply on bhuonline.in.

What scholarships does BHU offer for economically weaker students?

Government schemes via NSP cover most students: CSSS (merit-based), Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST (tuition + maintenance), Merit-cum-Means for minority students, and Top Class Education Scheme for eligible SC students (tuition, hostel, books). BHU's own Student Welfare Fund provides one-time grants and emergency aid for students in acute financial need.

BHU Ph.D Applied Arts: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, offers a Ph.D. in Applied Arts as a full-time, on-campus doctoral programme under the Department of Applied Arts, Faculty of Visual Arts. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, focusing on advanced research in areas such as graphic design, illustration, typography, advertising art, and visual communication. The total course fee is approximately Rs. 20,468 for the complete duration, making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes in the fine arts domain in India. Admission is primarily through UGC/CSIR NET or JRF qualification, and the programme is popular among students with a background in fine arts and design who wish to pursue research at a premier central university.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session have been completed. The first round of admissions concluded in February 2027, with reporting to the department on February 10, 2027. A second admission cycle was initiated from February 12, 2027, for any remaining vacant seats. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the notification is expected to be released around November-December 2027, based on the previous year's pattern, with applications likely to open in December 2027.

Key Points

Ph.D. (Applied Arts) at BHU is offered under the Department of Applied Arts, Faculty of Visual Arts, one of the oldest and most reputed fine arts faculties in India.
The department runs BFA (4-year), MFA (2-year), and PhD programmes in Applied Arts, providing a strong academic ecosystem for research scholars.
Research areas include graphic design, illustration, typography, advertising art, visual communication, printmaking, and the history and theory of applied arts.
BHU follows a structured PhD programme as per UGC guidelines, including mandatory coursework in the first year, pre-submission seminars, and thesis submission.
Scholars with UGC-JRF fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (for the first two years) and Rs. 35,000 (from the third year onwards).

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

BHU Ph.D. (Applied Arts) Fees

The Ph.D. (Applied Arts) programme at BHU is highly affordable compared to private art and design institutions. The total fee for the entire 3-year programme is approximately Rs. 20,468, with the major component being the annual academic and examination fees. Students with JRF/fellowship are additionally supported through monthly stipends. Below is the component-wise fee structure based on the last published data:

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Admission Fee	1,418	-	-	1,418
Examination Fee	2,000	2,000	200	4,200
Other Charges (Annual)	4,950	4,950	4,950	14,850
Total Fees	8,368	6,950	5,150	20,468

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel	Fee (Rs.)
Male Hostel (per year)	5,375

Some fee components are refundable at the time of leaving the university.
Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability; it is not mandatory.
Students with JRF/CSIR fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (Years 1-2) and Rs. 35,000 (Year 3 onwards), which significantly offsets the cost of study.
No EMI option is available; fees are paid annually at the time of re-registration.

BHU Ph.D. (Applied Arts) Admission 2026

Admissions to Ph.D. (Applied Arts) at BHU are conducted through a merit-based process primarily relying on UGC NET/JRF qualifications. For the 2026-27 session, BHU opened applications in December 2026 and conducted interviews in January 2027 (Visual Arts faculty interviews were held from January 10 to January 16, 2027). The process is transparent and merit-driven, with separate merit lists for JRF holders and NET-qualified candidates. For the 2027-28 session, the admission process is expected to follow a similar timeline.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Window	December 6 - December 16, 2026
Correction Window	December 17, 2026
Issue of Call Letters	December 20 - December 24, 2026
Interviews (Visual Arts Faculty)	January 10 - January 16, 2027
Result Publication and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2027
End of First Admission Round	February 5, 2027
Reporting to Department	February 10, 2027
Second Admission Cycle (if applicable)	From February 12, 2027

Exam	Event	Date
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2026
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Exam Date	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Registration	April 1 - May 1, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2027

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts (4-year BFA) and a Master's degree in Fine Arts (MFA) in Applied Arts or a related discipline from a recognized university.
Minimum 55% marks in the qualifying degree for General/OBC candidates; 50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Candidates with UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, ICMR-JRF, DBT-JRF, or equivalent national fellowships are given priority and are exempted from the written entrance test.

Admission Process

Release of official notification on the BHU admission portal (bhuonline.in / admission.bhu.ac.in).
Online registration and submission of application form with required documents.
Payment of application fee online.
Shortlisting of candidates based on JRF/NET qualification or RET score.
Personal interview/viva voce conducted by the Department of Applied Arts, Faculty of Visual Arts.
Merit list preparation: 70% weightage to NET/qualifying exam score + 30% to interview (for NET mode); 100% interview for JRF mode.
Issue of offer letter and fee payment to confirm admission.
Reporting to the department on the specified date.

BHU Ph.D. (Applied Arts) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. (Applied Arts) students can avail of several fellowships and scholarships that make the programme financially accessible. The most significant support comes through national fellowships like UGC-JRF, which provides a substantial monthly stipend. Additionally, BHU offers its own research fellowship for students who do not hold a national fellowship. The combination of low tuition fees and available fellowships makes this programme one of the most cost-effective doctoral options in the fine arts domain.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Duration
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 31,000/month (Yr 1-2); Rs. 35,000/month (Yr 3+)	UGC NET JRF qualified	Up to 5 years
BHU Research Fellowship	As per university norms	Selected PhD students without national fellowship	Duration of PhD
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Rs. 28,000/month	Minority community students with UGC NET	Up to 5 years
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	Rs. 28,000/month	SC/ST students	Up to 5 years

JRF fellowships are awarded by UGC and are not directly given by BHU; students must qualify the respective national exams.
BHU Research Fellowship is subject to availability and university budget; students must apply separately after admission.
MANF and RGNF are government fellowships administered through UGC; application deadlines are announced separately.
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.

BHU Ph.D. (Applied Arts) FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between Ph.D. (Applied Arts) and Ph.D. (Visual Arts) at BHU? Are they the same?

Ans. No, they are different. Ph.D. (Applied Arts) is offered specifically by the Department of Applied Arts and focuses on research in graphic design, illustration, advertising art, typography, and visual communication. Ph.D. (Visual Arts) is a broader category. Applied Arts is a specialization within the Faculty of Visual Arts at BHU.

Ques. What is the minimum qualification required to apply for Ph.D. (Applied Arts) at BHU?

Ans. Candidates must have a 4-year BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree followed by a 2-year MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Applied Arts or a closely related discipline, with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD). A general MA or MSc degree is not sufficient; the fine arts background is mandatory.

Ques. Is UGC NET available for Applied Arts / Fine Arts subjects? Which subject code should I use?

Ans. Yes, UGC NET is available for Visual Arts (subject code 70). Candidates who qualify UGC NET in Visual Arts are eligible to apply for Ph.D. (Applied Arts) at BHU. Those who qualify with JRF are given priority in admissions.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. (Applied Arts) at BHU while working as a professional designer or artist?

Ans. No, the Ph.D. (Applied Arts) at BHU is a full-time programme. Students are required to be physically present at the university for coursework, seminars, and research activities. Part-time PhD is not offered in this programme.

Ques. Are there studio facilities and labs available for Ph.D. (Applied Arts) students at BHU?

Ans. Yes, the Department of Applied Arts at BHU has well-equipped studios and labs for research scholars, including facilities for printmaking, graphic design, digital art, and illustration. Research scholars have access to the department's resources throughout their PhD tenure.

Ques. What are the career prospects after completing Ph.D. (Applied Arts) from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors in Fine Arts/Applied Arts departments at universities and colleges (UGC-NET qualification required), researchers at design institutions, or senior professionals in advertising, publishing, and media industries. A PhD from BHU's Faculty of Visual Arts is highly regarded in academic circles and opens doors to positions in central universities, national design institutes, and cultural organizations.

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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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