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

Varanasi, Uttar PradeshCentral UniversityEstd 1916NAAC Grade A
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Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

The Ph.D. in Arts at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a full-time, on-campus doctoral research programme offered under the Faculty of Arts. BHU's Faculty of Arts is one of the oldest and most distinguished humanities faculties in India, offering Ph.D. programmes across a wide range of disciplines including Hindi, English, Sanskrit, History, Philosophy, Geography, Psychology, Journalism & Mass Communication, Home Science, Physical Education, and several Indian and foreign languages. The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years. BHU is ranked among the top universities in India (NIRF Rank 3 among universities) and is particularly renowned for its humanities and social sciences research. Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (for most disciplines) or BHU-RET (for select disciplines), with the RET-Exempted mode available for UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates.

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 5 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

  • The Faculty of Arts at BHU offers Ph.D. programmes in over 20 disciplines including Hindi, English, History, Philosophy, Geography, Psychology, Journalism, Home Science, Physical Education, and multiple Indian and foreign languages.
  • Admission is through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (for most disciplines) or BHU-RET (for select disciplines like Museology, Tourism Management, Marathi, Telugu, etc.) or RET-Exempted mode for UGC-NET/JRF holders.
  • 50% of seats are filled through the RET-Exempted (NET/JRF) mode and the remaining 50% through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test or BHU-RET.
  • BHU's Faculty of Arts has a rich tradition of interdisciplinary research, with access to the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, Central Library with over 15 lakh volumes, and rare manuscript collections.
  • Candidates with valid UGC-JRF fellowships are eligible for monthly stipends of Rs. 37,000 (JRF) and Rs. 42,000 (SRF) as per revised UGC norms.
  • BHU's location in Varanasi, one of the world's oldest living cities, provides a unique cultural and historical research environment for humanities scholars.
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BHU Ph.D. Arts Fees

The Ph.D. in Arts at BHU falls under the Faculty of Arts (Humanities/Social 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 Fee1,0001,000
Library Fee500500
Campus Utility Fee410410
Development Fund250250
Student Health Welfare Scheme350350
Student Welfare Fund300300
Extra Curricular Activities Fund200200
Academic Assessment Fee100-
Registration Fee20-
Enrollment Fee100-
Admission Fee150-
I-Card and Passbook Fee50-
College Caution Money (Refundable)1,000-
Degree Charges100-
Total Fees4,5303,010
  • 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. Arts Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Arts at BHU are conducted annually through a two-cycle process. Candidates can apply either through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test or BHU-RET (depending on the discipline) or the RET-Exempted mode if they hold a valid UGC-NET/JRF. 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

EventDate
Online Registration OpensDecember 3, 2026
Online Registration ClosesDecember 16, 2026
Correction WindowDecember 17, 2026
Call Letter IssuanceDecember 20-24, 2026
Document Verification & InterviewJanuary 5-16, 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
NTA Ph.D. Entrance TestAs per NTA scheduleAs per NTA scheduleFor disciplines mapped to NTA
BHU-RETConducted along with BHU PhD admission cycleAs per BHU scheduleFor select disciplines not mapped to NTA

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Candidates must hold a Master's degree in the concerned subject or an allied subject from a recognized university, with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
  • For specific disciplines, allied subject provisions apply as notified in the annual Ph.D. Information Bulletin.
  • Candidates with valid UGC-NET/JRF are eligible for direct admission under the RET-Exempted category without appearing in the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test or BHU-RET.

Admission Process

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

BHU Ph.D. Arts Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Arts disciplines can avail of several fellowship and scholarship options, primarily through UGC-NET/JRF. BHU also provides a non-NET fellowship for scholars who do not hold any national fellowship, ensuring financial support throughout the doctoral tenure. The relatively low fee structure at BHU further reduces the financial burden on humanities scholars.

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / FellowshipAmountEligibility
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)Rs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)UGC-NET qualified with JRF
UGC-SRF (Senior Research Fellowship)Rs. 42,000/month (after 2 years, on assessment)Upgrade from UGC-JRF
CSIR-JRF (for applicable disciplines)Rs. 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
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)Rs. 37,000/month (JRF level)Minority community candidates
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)Rs. 37,000/month (JRF level)SC/ST candidates
  • JRF/SRF fellowship amounts are as per revised UGC 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.
  • MANF and RGNF are government fellowships for minority and SC/ST candidates respectively, administered through UGC.
  • Scholars are also eligible to apply for project-based fellowships from ICSSR, ICHR, and other humanities funding agencies.

BHU Ph.D. Arts FAQs

Ques. Which disciplines are available for Ph.D. under the Faculty of Arts at BHU?

Ans. The Faculty of Arts at BHU offers Ph.D. programmes in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, History, Philosophy, Geography, Psychology, Journalism & Mass Communication, Home Science, Physical Education, Museology, Tourism Management, and several Indian languages (Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Nepali, Tamil, Urdu, Pali & Buddhist Studies) and foreign languages (French, German, Russian, Chinese). The complete list is available in the annual Ph.D. Information Bulletin.

Ques. How is the admission mode determined for different Arts disciplines at BHU?

Ans. Most disciplines in the Faculty of Arts use the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (e.g., Hindi, English, History, Geography, Psychology, Physical Education). Some disciplines use BHU-RET (e.g., Museology, Tourism Management, Marathi, Telugu, Nepali, Tamil). Candidates should check the specific admission mode for their discipline in the official Ph.D. Information Bulletin before applying.

Ques. Can a candidate apply for Ph.D. in multiple disciplines at BHU?

Ans. Yes. Candidates can indicate up to 5 discipline preferences (including their main discipline and up to 4 allied disciplines) in the online application form. However, the choice of disciplines must be made at the time of application and cannot be changed later. Admission to allied disciplines is subject to the allied discipline provisions notified in the bulletin.

Ques. What is the seat intake for Ph.D. in Arts disciplines at BHU?

Ans. Seat intake varies by discipline. Hindi has the highest intake (42 seats), followed by English (26 seats), Geography (27 seats), Psychology (20 seats), and Physical Education (19 seats). Smaller disciplines like Philosophy (2 seats), Political Science (2 seats), and some language departments have 1-8 seats. The complete seat matrix is published in the annual Ph.D. Information Bulletin.

Ques. Is there a residency requirement for Ph.D. in Arts at BHU?

Ans. Yes. Ph.D. scholars are expected to be physically present on campus for research work. For part-time candidates (senior professionals), a minimum of 45 days per academic year of physical presence is mandatory. Regular full-time scholars are expected to be present throughout the programme duration.

Ques. What research resources are available for Arts Ph.D. scholars at BHU?

Ans. BHU offers exceptional research resources for humanities scholars, including the Central Library with over 15 lakh volumes and 15,000+ online journals, the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum with rare art and artefacts, digitized rare manuscripts, and access to JSTOR, Shodhganga, and other academic databases. BHU's location in Varanasi also provides unique access to living cultural traditions, historical sites, and primary sources for research in Indian history, philosophy, and languages.

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Ujjval GuptaA lawyer in the making

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

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