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

Varanasi, Uttar PradeshCentral UniversityEstd 1916NAAC Grade A
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The Ph.D. in Horticulture at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a full-time, on-campus doctoral research programme offered under the Faculty of Agriculture (Institute of Agricultural Sciences). The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with research specializations available in Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, and Floriculture & Landscaping. Research areas include post-harvest management, crop physiology, protected cultivation, tissue culture, and landscape design. BHU is one of India's premier Central Universities (NIRF Rank 3 among universities) with well-equipped horticulture laboratories, orchards, vegetable plots, and floriculture units within its sprawling campus. The programme is popular among agriculture graduates seeking careers in horticulture research, agri-business, and academia. Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test or the RET-Exempted mode for candidates holding national fellowships such as ICAR-JRF or UGC-NET.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session have been completed. The online registration window was open from December 3 to December 16, 2026, with document verification and interviews held from January 10 to January 16, 2027, and results/offer letters published between January 24 and February 5, 2027. A second admission cycle is expected to begin from February 12, 2027. For the 2027-28 session, tentative registration is expected to open around November-December 2027 based on the current year's pattern.

Key Points

  • Offered under the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, with specializations in Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, and Floriculture & Landscaping.
  • Admission is through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (for non-NET candidates) or RET-Exempted mode (for ICAR-JRF/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET holders).
  • 50% of seats are filled through the RET-Exempted (NET/JRF) mode and the remaining 50% through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.
  • Research areas include fruit crop improvement, vegetable production, post-harvest technology, protected cultivation, floriculture, and landscape management.
  • BHU's campus orchards, vegetable plots, and floriculture units provide excellent hands-on research infrastructure.
  • Candidates with valid JRF/SRF fellowships are eligible for monthly stipends of Rs. 37,000 (JRF) and Rs. 42,000 (SRF) as per revised ICAR/UGC norms.
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BHU Ph.D. (Horticulture) Fees

The Ph.D. (Horticulture) at BHU falls under the Faculty of Agriculture (Agricultural Sciences category). The annual fees are extremely affordable, making BHU one of the most cost-effective institutions for doctoral research in India. The first-year fees include one-time charges such as admission fee, enrollment fee, and caution money, while subsequent years attract only recurring charges.

Fee Structure

Fee Component1st Year (Rs.)2nd Year Onwards (Rs.)
Tuition Fee2,0002,000
Library Fee500500
Campus Utility Fee410410
Development Fund2,4002,400
Student Health Welfare Scheme350350
Student Welfare Fund300300
Extra Curricular Activities Fund210210
Academic Assessment Fee100-
Registration Fee20-
Enrollment Fee100-
Admission Fee150-
I-Card and Passbook Fee50-
College Caution Money (Refundable)1,000-
Degree Charges100-
Total Fees7,6906,170
  • College Caution Money of Rs. 1,000 is refundable at the time of leaving the university.
  • Hostel fees are separate and optional. BHU has 72 hostels on campus; hostel charges typically range from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 8,000 per year depending on the hostel type, plus mess charges.
  • Application processing fee: Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
  • No EMI facility is applicable given the very low fee structure.

BHU Ph.D. (Horticulture) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Horticulture) at BHU are conducted annually through a two-cycle process. Candidates can apply either through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test mode or the RET-Exempted mode if they hold a valid national fellowship such as ICAR-JRF or UGC-NET. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed; the second cycle is expected to begin from February 12, 2027. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, applications are tentatively expected to open in November-December 2027.

Important Dates

Table 1: BHU Ph.D. Admission Dates (2026-27 Session - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences)

EventDate
Online Registration OpensDecember 3, 2026
Online Registration ClosesDecember 16, 2026
Correction WindowDecember 17, 2026
Call Letter IssuanceDecember 20-24, 2026
Document Verification & InterviewJanuary 10-16, 2027
Result / Offer Letter PublicationJanuary 24 - February 5, 2027
Second Cycle Admission BeginsFebruary 12, 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

ExamRegistration PeriodExam DateRemarks
UGC-NET (Phase 1)October 7 - November 7, 2026December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027Qualifying for RET-Exempted admission
UGC-NET (Phase 2)April 1, 2027 (Tentative)June 2027 (Tentative)Qualifying for RET-Exempted admission
CSIR-NETMay 1 - May 21, 2027 (Tentative)July 25-27, 2027 (Tentative)Applicable for Life Sciences
NTA Ph.D. Entrance TestAs per NTA scheduleAs per NTA schedulePrimary entrance for non-NET candidates

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Candidates must hold an M.Sc. (Ag.) in Horticulture, or M.Sc. (Ag.) in Floriculture & Landscaping, Vegetable Science, or Post Harvest Management from a recognized university, with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
  • The undergraduate degree must be B.Sc. (Ag.) or B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture or B.Sc. (Horticulture), a 4-year credit-based programme under ICAR guidelines.
  • Candidates with valid ICAR-JRF, UGC-NET/JRF, or CSIR-NET are eligible for direct admission under the RET-Exempted category without appearing in the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.

Admission Process

  • Step 1: Apply online through the BHU Admission Portal (admission.bhu.ac.in) within the notified registration window.
  • Step 2: Pay the application processing fee online (Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD).
  • Step 3: Appear in NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (if not RET-Exempted); RET-Exempted candidates proceed directly to document verification.
  • Step 4: Attend document verification and interview at the Faculty of Agriculture as per the notified schedule.
  • Step 5: Merit list is prepared based on NTA/NET score and interview performance.
  • Step 6: Selected candidates receive offer letters and must pay fees within the stipulated deadline to confirm admission.
  • Step 7: Allotment of research supervisor by the Departmental Research Committee (DRC).

BHU Ph.D. (Horticulture) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Horticulture can avail of several fellowship and scholarship options, primarily through national-level competitive examinations. ICAR-JRF is the most relevant fellowship for horticulture students, while UGC-NET/JRF and CSIR-NET are also accepted. BHU also provides a non-NET fellowship for scholars who do not hold any national fellowship, ensuring financial support throughout the doctoral tenure.

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / FellowshipAmountEligibility
ICAR-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)Rs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)ICAR-NET qualified with JRF
ICAR-SRF (Senior Research Fellowship)Rs. 42,000/month (after 2 years, on assessment)Upgrade from ICAR-JRF
UGC-JRFRs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)UGC-NET qualified with JRF
UGC-SRFRs. 42,000/month (after 2 years, on assessment)Upgrade from UGC-JRF
CSIR-JRFRs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)CSIR-NET qualified with JRF
CSIR-SRFRs. 42,000/month (after 2 years)Upgrade from CSIR-JRF
BHU Non-NET FellowshipRs. 8,000/monthPhD scholars enrolled at BHU without any national fellowship
DBT-JRFRs. 37,000/monthDBT-JRF qualified candidates
  • JRF/SRF fellowship amounts are as per revised ICAR/UGC/CSIR norms effective from January 1, 2023.
  • HRA (House Rent Allowance) is admissible to JRF/SRF holders as per institutional norms.
  • BHU Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000/month is provided to scholars who do not hold any external fellowship, subject to satisfactory research progress.
  • Scholars are also eligible to apply for project-based fellowships from DST, DBT, ICAR, and other funding agencies through their supervisors.
  • SC/ST/PwBD scholars may also be eligible for additional government scholarships such as the National Fellowship for SC/ST students.

BHU Ph.D. (Horticulture) FAQs

Ques. What are the specializations available under Ph.D. Horticulture at BHU?

Ans. Ph.D. Horticulture at BHU is offered with three specializations: Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, and Floriculture & Landscaping. Candidates can choose their specialization based on their M.Sc. background and the research interests of available supervisors. Each specialization has its own seat allocation as notified in the annual Ph.D. Information Bulletin.

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

Ans. As per the 2023-24 Ph.D. Information Bulletin, 6 seats are available for Ph.D. in Horticulture (combined across Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, and Floriculture & Landscaping specializations) under the Faculty of Agriculture. Of these, 50% are filled through the RET-Exempted (NET/JRF) mode and the remaining 50% through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.

Ques. Can a B.Sc. (Horticulture) graduate apply for Ph.D. Horticulture at BHU?

Ans. Yes. Candidates with a B.Sc. (Horticulture) 4-year credit-based programme under ICAR guidelines, along with a relevant M.Sc. (Ag.) in Horticulture or allied subjects, are eligible to apply. The eligibility is clearly specified in the annual Ph.D. Information Bulletin, and candidates should verify their specific qualification against the notified criteria.

Ques. What research topics are popular among Ph.D. Horticulture scholars at BHU?

Ans. Popular research areas include post-harvest management of fruits and vegetables, protected cultivation (polyhouse/greenhouse), tissue culture and micropropagation of horticultural crops, development of new varieties through hybridization, and urban horticulture and landscape design. BHU's campus provides excellent field infrastructure for such research.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after Ph.D. Horticulture from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as scientists at ICAR institutes (e.g., IIHR, CISH, IARI), as faculty in agricultural and horticultural universities, as horticulture officers in state government departments, as consultants in agri-business and export-oriented horticulture, and in R&D roles at seed and agri-input companies. The growing demand for high-value horticultural produce makes this a career-rich field.

Ques. Is there any difference in the admission process for different Horticulture specializations at BHU?

Ans. The admission process is the same for all Horticulture specializations (Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture & Landscaping). Candidates appear in the same NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test for Horticulture and indicate their preferred specialization in the application form. Final allotment of specialization is done based on merit, seat availability, and supervisor availability at the time of interview.

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