BHU is ranked by several ranking agencies such as NIRF, India Today. Some of these rankings are as follows-
- #6 out of 50 under NIRF Ranking 2025.
- #7 out of 50 under India Today Ranking 2019.
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BHU Ph.D: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility
Varanasi, Uttar PradeshCentral UniversityEstd 1916NAAC Grade A
BHU offers PhD programs across more than 100 specializations spanning humanities, sciences, social sciences, engineering, medicine, agriculture, management, and fine arts. Duration is three to five years and admission follows three modes: JRF qualification, NET qualification, and direct PhD for eligible candidates. Fees range from INR 3,096 to INR 1,83,600 per year depending on faculty and program type. BHU admits students in two annual cycles and ranks 16th in Research by NIRF 2025.
📋 Admission Status: Applications for the current cycle are complete. Next session notification expected in October to December 2026 for the January 2027 intake.
Key Points
- BHU has over 100 PhD specializations across 130 plus departments, making it one of the broadest doctoral campuses in India for subject variety.
- BHU allows direct PhD admission for candidates with strong academic records, bypassing JRF/NET through a department-level written test and interview.
- JRF fellowship holders at BHU receive their stipend directly from the funding agency and are exempt from tuition fees under UGC norms.
BHU PhD Fees 2026
BHU PhD fees vary by faculty and funding status. JRF and fellowship holders are typically exempt from tuition and pay only examination and development charges.
| Program Category | Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| PhD in Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences (Arts, Commerce, Science, Law, Education and others) | INR 11,585 per year |
| PhD in Management (Faculty of Management Studies) | INR 3,096 per year |
| PhD in Medical, Dental, Specialty and Self-Finance Programs | INR 11,585 to INR 1,83,600 per year |
- Fees are annual. JRF holders may be exempt under UGC norms.
- Fees are subject to change. Verify with official sources.
BHU PhD Admission 2026
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| January 2026 PhD session application deadline | 16 December 2025 |
| January 2026 PhD session admissions | Complete |
| Next intake (July 2026 session) notification | Expected August to September 2026 |
| Session 2 (January 2027) applications expected | October to December 2026 |
- Exact dates on bhu.ac.in. Two PhD cycles per year.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must hold a postgraduate degree in the relevant subject with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD) from a recognized university.
- For JRF mode, a valid JRF award letter from UGC, CSIR, DBT, DST-INSPIRE, or ICMR issued within the validity period is required.
- For Direct mode, candidates must have at least 55% in both graduation and postgraduation and must clear a department-level written test and interview.
Admission Process
- Apply online through the BHU PhD admission portal at bhu.ac.in and select the relevant department and admission mode.
- JRF holders attach their valid award letter. NET holders without JRF must clear the BHU Research Eligibility Test (RET) administered by the department.
- Shortlisted candidates appear for a research proposal presentation and interview before the departmental selection committee.
- Selected candidates must identify a supervisor willing to guide research in the proposed area before final enrollment.
BHU PhD vs Other Colleges
Here is how BHU PhD compares with peer central universities on admission modes and ratings.
| College | BHU, Varanasi | JNU, New Delhi | University of Hyderabad | AMU, Aligarh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | 3 K to 1.84 L/yr | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Exams | JRF NET Direct | JRF NET/JNUEE | JRF NET UH-RET | JRF NET Direct |
| Cutoff | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Salary | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| CD Rating | 3.9/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.1/5 |
✓ Opt for this if
- You have a JRF award and want to pursue PhD at a large campus with interdisciplinary faculty across sciences, humanities, medicine, and agriculture
- You need the direct PhD route and prefer a campus where department-level selection is the entry mechanism
- You are researching Sanskrit, Vedic studies, Indian languages, or classical humanities where BHU has dedicated internationally recognized departments
✗ Skip if
- You want to pursue PhD in physical sciences or mathematics where JNU, IISc, or TIFR have stronger research publication records
- You prefer a campus with smaller PhD cohorts and tighter supervisor-student ratios for closer mentoring
- You are targeting economics or political science where JNU’s School of Social Sciences has higher global research reputation
BHU PhD Scholarships 2026
PhD students at BHU can access national fellowships from central funding agencies in addition to university-level support schemes.
| Fellowship | Amount | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSIR-UGC JRF and UGC JRF | INR 37,000 to INR 42,000 per month | Candidates who cleared CSIR or UGC NET JRF | As per CSIR/UGC schedule |
| DBT-JRF (Biotechnology) | INR 37,000 per month (Year 1 and 2) | Candidates who cleared DBT JRF exam | As per DBT schedule |
| DST-INSPIRE Fellowship | INR 31,000 per month | Top 1% in graduation or postgraduation | As per DST schedule |
| NSP Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST) | INR 3,000 to INR 20,000 per year | SC/ST students enrolled full-time | As per NSP schedule |
- JRF holders are exempt from BHU tuition under UGC norms.
BHU Ph.D Ranking
| Ranking Agency | Latest | Previous |
|---|---|---|
 | #601-800 out of 801 (2020) | #501-600 out of 800 (2019) |
BHU PhD FAQs
Ques. How does BHU’s Direct PhD mode work and who qualifies without JRF or NET?
Ans. BHU’s Direct PhD mode allows candidates with a postgraduate degree of minimum 55% to apply without JRF or NET. Departments conduct a written test assessing subject knowledge and research aptitude, followed by an interview before a selection committee. Admission depends on departmental seat availability and a faculty supervisor’s willingness to guide the proposed research topic. Direct PhD candidates do not receive fellowship stipends unless they separately clear JRF or join a project-funded research position.
Ques. Can CSIR, DBT, and DST-INSPIRE JRF holders pursue PhD at BHU while receiving their full fellowship?
Ans. Yes. BHU is approved as a research institution by UGC, CSIR, DBT, and DST, so fellowship holders can enroll and receive their stipend directly from the funding body. CSIR and UGC JRF pays INR 37,000 per month for Years 1 and 2, rising to INR 42,000 from Year 3. DBT JRF pays INR 37,000 per month. Under UGC norms, enrolled JRF and SRF holders are exempt from tuition at BHU and pay only lab, examination, and registration charges.
Ques. Does BHU PhD include a mandatory coursework component and how long does it last?
Ans. Yes. UGC regulations require at least one semester of coursework covering research methodology, statistical analysis, and subject-specific seminars. At BHU this coursework falls within the first year of enrollment and is evaluated through internal assessment and end-semester exams. Candidates must pass coursework to proceed to the thesis-writing phase. Total PhD duration from enrollment to submission is between three and five years, with extension available on supervisor recommendation.
Ques. Can BHU PhD students appear for UGC NET during enrollment to gain lectureship eligibility?
Ans. Yes. BHU PhD students who have not cleared UGC NET can appear for it during their PhD tenure. Clearing NET for Lectureship Eligibility qualifies the candidate for assistant professor positions in central and state universities after PhD is awarded. Clearing NET JRF while enrolled activates the JRF fellowship per UGC’s current rules. There is no conflict between ongoing PhD enrollment and appearing for NET in any cycle.
Ques. How does BHU PhD in Management from FMS compare to IIM FPM programs for academic careers?
Ans. BHU FMS PhD costs INR 3,096 per year. IIM FPM programs provide full stipends of INR 30,000 to INR 55,000 per month plus waived fees. IIM FPM graduates are shortlisted more actively by IIMs and premier B-schools for faculty positions. BHU FMS PhD is recognized for assistant professor roles in state and central universities through UGC NET. For government university faculty careers both degrees are equally valid.
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Found 22 Comments
Yes, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) offers a Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) program. This is a 4.5-year undergraduate course focused on naturopathy and yoga, followed by a mandatory 1-year internship. The applicants must have qualified in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG, as BHU considers NEET scores for admission to this program
BHU is yet to release the admission notice for the Ph.D in Commerce program. The admission process generally begins in the months of April and May every year. The admission notification as well as the application portal will be released on the university’s website.
Yes, BHU offers Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Science program. You can apply for admission in this program after passing Class XII examination with at least 50% marks from a recognized board taking PCB subjects. Admission is offered based on the merit of NEET followed by counseling.
The Banaras Hindu University will release the application portal on its website. You must submit your application using the online portal. You can apply for the B.Sc Nursing program if you have passed Class XII examination with at least 50% marks from a recognized board taking PCB subjects.
BHU does not offer admission to its B.Sc Nursing program based on CUET. Admission to this program is based on the merit of NEET UG followed by counseling.
If you have qualified for CSIR NET, you will be exempted from appearing in the BHU RET. You can directly attend the personal interview session conducted by the university. Admission will be offered based on your performance in the PI.
Does BHU provide MA in Psychology? If not then how to do specialization?
Yes, Banaras Hindu University MA Psychology to the students. The total fee of the course is INR 8,290. Admission to the course is based on CUET PG examination scores.
To apply for admission in the BNYS program of BHU, you must have passed Class XII examination in Science stream from a recognized board. Admission will be granted based on the merit of CUET UG followed by counseling. If you have taken CUET UG 2022, you can register and participate in the counseling.
The Banaras Hindu University does not offer B.Sc Statistics program. The university offers Statisctics program only at the PG and Doctoral levels.
BHU offers good placement opportunities for its students including M.Sc Agronomy students. The placement cell of the university organizes placement programs from time to time in which reputed companies participate and offers exciting packages. You can check the placement statistics of the university from BHU Placements.
To get admission in the B.Pharma course you must have passed Class XII examination from a recognized board with at least 50% marks taking English and PCB subjects. Admission is granted now based on CUET UG.
Banaras Hindu University does not offer any distance education courses including B.Sc. Honours to the students. The university offers B.Sc. Honours in Mathematics in regular mode.
If you want to take admission in Ph.D. in library and information science then you must have a master's degree with a minimum of 55% marks from a recognized university. Admission will be done through an entrance examination.
To get admission to the B.Ed courses of BHU you must take CUET PG. Admission will be granted based on the merit of CUET PG and personal interview. The duration of the B.Ed program of BHU is two years. Also the general duration of B.Ed courses is two years.
Yes, if you have qualified for CSIR NET exam, you will be exempted from appearing in the BHU RET. However, you must have to go through the personal interview. You can read more about the admission procedure from Ph.D Admission at BHU.
To get admission to Ph.D courses of BHU you must have a master’s degree in the relevant field with at least 55% marks. Admission is based on BHU RET scores and personal interview.
You need to appear for the CUET PG examination and have to pass it with valid scores for taking admission to Banaras Hindu University M.Sc. Geophysics. Read Also: Banaras Hindu University Admission 2022
Banaras Hindu University does not offer BA Honors in Sociology. Instead of this course, the university offers BA Honors in Social Sciences. Admission to the course is done on the basis of the CUET UG examination.
The minimum eligibility set for the Masters of Science (M.Sc) in Psychology requires one to have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology or any other equivalent degree in psychology from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
The minimum eligibility set for the Master of Science [M.Sc] in Environmental Science requires one to have a bachelor’s degree in science from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks for the general category and 45% aggregate marks for the reserved category.