BHU Ph.D Dravya Guna: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Varanasi, Uttar PradeshCentral UniversityEstd 1916NAAC Grade A
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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

The Ph.D. (Dravya Guna) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 3-year full-time doctoral programme offered under the Department of Dravyaguna, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS). Dravyaguna is the Ayurvedic science of medicinal substances, encompassing pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and therapeutics of herbs and natural products. The department at BHU is one of the most reputed Dravyaguna departments in India, with faculty actively engaged in research on identification and standardisation of medicinal plants, pharmacotherapeutics of single drugs, and clinical pharmacology of Ayurvedic formulations. The total course fee is approximately Rs. 33,055 for the entire 3-year duration. Admission is through the BHU Research Entrance Test (RET) or the RET-Exempted route. Note: Seat availability varies each year; in some sessions, seats may not be advertised if no faculty vacancies exist. Candidates must verify seat availability in the official notification before applying.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session have been completed. The first cycle concluded with reporting to the department by February 10, 2027, and the second cycle began from February 12, 2027. Admissions for the 2027-28 session are expected to open tentatively in December 2027, based on the previous year's pattern.

Key Points

  • Dravyaguna at BHU is offered under the Faculty of Ayurveda, IMS, one of the oldest and most prestigious Ayurveda faculties in India.
  • Research focus includes identification of medicinal plants (Dravya Parichay), pharmacotherapeutics of single drugs, standardisation of Ayurvedic formulations, and clinical pharmacology.
  • The qualifying examination for this programme is MD (Ayurveda) or MS (Ayurveda) recognized by CCIM, or a Master's degree in allied subjects.
  • Seat availability is subject to faculty vacancies and may be zero in some sessions; candidates must check the official BHU PhD bulletin before applying.
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BHU Ph.D. (Dravya Guna) Fees

The Ph.D. (Dravya Guna) at BHU is highly affordable, with a total course fee of Rs. 33,055 for the entire 3-year duration. Year 1 fees are Rs. 11,585 (inclusive of admission/registration charges), while Years 2 and 3 are Rs. 10,735 each. Hostel accommodation is available separately at approximately Rs. 5,375 per year for male students and is not mandatory.

Fee Breakdown

Fee ComponentYear 1 (Rs.)Year 2 (Rs.)Year 3 (Rs.)Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee8,0008,0008,00024,000
Admission/Registration Fee1,418--1,418
Examination Fee2,0002,0002,0006,000
Other Charges1677357351,637
Yearly Total11,58510,73510,73533,055
Total FeesRs. 33,055
  • Hostel fee (if opted): approximately Rs. 5,375 per year for male students (not mandatory, subject to availability).
  • Fees are subject to revision by the university.
  • Application processing fee for RET: Rs. 600 to Rs. 1,500 depending on category (General/OBC: Rs. 1,500; SC/ST/PwD: Rs. 600).
  • No EMI option is available; fees are paid year-wise at the time of admission.

BHU Ph.D. (Dravya Guna) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Dravya Guna) at BHU are conducted annually through the BHU Research Entrance Test (RET) or the RET-Exempted route, subject to seat availability. For the 2026-27 session, online applications were invited from December 3 to December 16, 2026, followed by document verification and interviews in January 2027 under the Faculty of Ayurveda schedule. The 2027-28 admission cycle is expected to follow a similar pattern, with notifications likely in December 2027. Candidates must verify seat availability in the official BHU PhD bulletin before applying, as seats may not be advertised in all sessions.

Admission Dates

Event2026-27 (Actual)2027-28 (Tentative)
Online Application StartDecember 3, 2026December 2027
Online Application Last DateDecember 16, 2026December 2027
Correction WindowDecember 17, 2026December 2027
Call Letter / Admit Card IssueDecember 20-24, 2026December 2027
Physical Verification and Interview (Ayurveda)January 5-16, 2027January 2028
Publication of Result and Offer LetterJanuary 24 - February 5, 2027January-February 2028
Fee Submission DeadlineFebruary 5, 2027February 2028
Reporting to DepartmentFebruary 10, 2027February 2028
Second Cycle Admission BeginsFebruary 12, 2027February 2028

Entrance Exam Dates

EventExpected Dates
BHU RET Notification ReleaseJanuary 2028 (Tentative)
BHU RET Application StartJanuary 2028 (Tentative)
BHU RET Application DeadlineMarch 2028 (Tentative)
BHU RET Test A (Written MCQ)August-September 2028 (Tentative)
BHU RET Test B (Proposal + Interview)September-October 2028 (Tentative)
Results / Merit ListOctober 2028 (Tentative)

Note: BHU RET dates above are based on official BHU notifications and prior year patterns. Candidates should regularly check bhuonline.in and admission.bhu.ac.in for official updates.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Candidates must hold MD (Ayurveda) / MS (Ayurveda) recognized by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), OR a Master's degree in allied subjects from a recognized university.
  • Minimum 55% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in the qualifying examination; relaxation of 5% for SC/ST/PwD/OBC-NCL candidates.
  • Candidates in the final year of their qualifying examination are not eligible to apply until results are declared.

Admission Process:

  • Register online at bhuonline.in or admission.bhu.ac.in and fill the application form.
  • Choose between RET mode (written test) or RET-Exempted mode (for UGC-NET JRF, CSIR-NET JRF, or equivalent holders).
  • Upload required documents: photograph, signature, marksheets, CCIM-recognized degree certificate, category/exemption certificates.
  • Pay the application processing fee online (Rs. 600 to Rs. 1,500 based on category).
  • Download admit card from the portal 7-10 days before the RET Test A.
  • Appear for RET Test A (100 MCQs, 300 marks, 120 minutes): 40 questions on research methodology and 60 questions on subject knowledge.
  • Candidates scoring minimum 35% in Test A are shortlisted (approximately 4x seats) for Test B.
  • Appear for RET Test B: submit a 1-2 page research proposal (25 marks) and attend a viva-voce interview (25 marks).
  • Final merit list is prepared based on combined Test A and Test B scores.
  • Selected candidates undergo physical document verification and pay admission fees.

BHU Ph.D. (Dravya Guna) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Dravya Guna can avail multiple fellowship and scholarship options. Given the Ayurveda orientation of this programme, CCRAS (Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences) fellowships and UGC-JRF are the most relevant. BHU also provides an institutional fellowship of Rs. 8,000 per month for scholars not receiving any other financial assistance.

Scholarship Options

Scholarship / FellowshipAwarding BodyAmountEligibility
UGC-JRFUGCRs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)Qualify UGC-NET with JRF
CCRAS Junior Research FellowshipCCRAS (Ministry of Ayush)As per CCRAS normsQualify CCRAS JRF exam
DBT-JRFDBTRs. 37,000/monthQualify DBT-JRF exam
BHU Institutional FellowshipBHURs. 8,000/monthFor scholars not receiving any other fellowship
INSPIRE FellowshipDSTRs. 80,000/year + Rs. 20,000 contingencyTop rankers in qualifying exams
Malaviya Post-Doctoral Fellowship (BHU IoE)BHU (IoE)As per IoE normsPost-doctoral; for BHU scholars
  • CCRAS JRF is the most relevant fellowship for Ph.D. Dravya Guna given the Ayurveda focus.
  • Fellowship amounts are as per the latest government revision (effective January 2026).
  • BHU institutional fellowship is available for scholars who do not receive any central government fellowship.
  • Candidates must apply for fellowships separately through the respective awarding bodies.
  • HRA (House Rent Allowance) is provided in addition to the fellowship amount as per institutional norms.

BHU Ph.D. (Dravya Guna) FAQs

Ques. What is Dravya Guna and what does the PhD programme at BHU focus on?

Ans. Dravya Guna is the Ayurvedic science of medicinal substances, covering the properties (Guna), actions (Karma), and therapeutic uses (Prabhava) of herbs and natural products. The PhD programme at BHU focuses on advanced research in identification and standardisation of medicinal plants, pharmacotherapeutics of single Ayurvedic drugs, clinical pharmacology of herbal formulations, and pharmacognosy. It bridges traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern scientific methods.

Ques. Is MD (Ayurveda) mandatory for Ph.D. Dravya Guna at BHU, or can BAMS graduates apply?

Ans. MD (Ayurveda) or MS (Ayurveda) recognized by CCIM is the primary qualifying degree. BAMS graduates are generally not directly eligible unless they hold a Master's degree in an allied subject. Candidates with a Master's degree in Botany, Pharmacognosy, or allied subjects may be eligible as allied discipline candidates, subject to the seat matrix announced in the official bulletin.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. Dravya Guna at BHU?

Ans. Seat availability for Ph.D. Dravya Guna at BHU varies each year based on faculty vacancies. In some sessions (e.g., 2026-27), no seats were advertised. Candidates must check the official BHU PhD Admission Information Bulletin on bhuonline.in each year to confirm seat availability before applying.

Ques. What are the career prospects after Ph.D. Dravya Guna from BHU?

Ans. After completing Ph.D. Dravya Guna from BHU, graduates can pursue careers as faculty members in Ayurveda colleges (Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in Dravyaguna), researchers in CCRAS institutes, CSIR-CIMAP, NBRI, or pharmaceutical companies specialising in herbal products, quality control scientists in Ayurvedic drug manufacturing companies, or consultants for medicinal plant cultivation and conservation projects.

Ques. Can I apply for Ph.D. Dravya Guna at BHU without appearing for the RET exam?

Ans. Yes. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET JRF, CSIR-NET JRF, or equivalent fellowships are eligible for direct admission under the RET-Exempted mode. Under this mode, candidates skip Test A (written MCQ) and directly appear for Test B (research proposal and viva-voce interview). However, seat availability must be confirmed first.

Ques. What is the difference between Dravyaguna and Pharmacognosy, and why is BHU's programme significant?

Ans. Dravyaguna is the classical Ayurvedic discipline that studies the properties and actions of medicinal substances from a traditional perspective, while Pharmacognosy is the modern science of natural drugs. BHU's Department of Dravyaguna integrates both approaches, making it unique. The department's location in Varanasi, a hub of traditional Ayurvedic knowledge, and its affiliation with IMS BHU provide scholars access to both classical texts and modern research infrastructure.

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