BHU Ph.D Law and Legal Studies: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) offers a Ph.D. in Law and Legal Studies as a full-time, on-campus research programme through its Faculty of Law. This programme encompasses doctoral research across the broad spectrum of legal studies, including the specialized stream of Human Rights and Duties Education (HRDE) - a unique offering that distinguishes BHU's Faculty of Law from most other law schools in India. The programme spans a minimum residency period of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with the first year dedicated to mandatory coursework. Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test, with exemptions for candidates holding UGC-JRF or NET qualifications. The BHU Faculty of Law is one of India's most prestigious law schools, ranked 6th by The Week 2025 and 14th by India Today 2025 (Law category), and is known for its pioneering work in Human Rights and Duties jurisprudence - a field in which BHU has been a national leader since the 1990s. The programme is particularly popular among LLM and LLM (HRDE) graduates seeking to contribute to the evolving field of human rights law, constitutional studies, and legal theory.

Admission for the 2026-27 session has been completed. The online registration window was open from December 3 to December 16, 2026, followed by document verification and interviews in January 2027, and offer letters issued between January 24 and February 5, 2027, with reporting to the department by February 10, 2027. For the 2027-28 session, admissions are expected to open tentatively in November-December 2027. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official BHU admission portal at admission.bhu.ac.in for updates.

Key Points

BHU's Faculty of Law is a national pioneer in Human Rights and Duties Education (HRDE), offering a unique Ph.D. stream in this specialisation that is not available at most other law schools in India.
The programme covers a broad range of legal research areas including Human Rights and Duties, Constitutional Law, International Human Rights Law, Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, and Legal Theory.
Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test; candidates with valid UGC-JRF or NET (Law/Human Rights) scores are exempted and directly called for interview.
The Faculty of Law has a spacious library with over 80,000 books and 135 national and international journals, open 24/7 with an open access system.
BHU's Faculty of Law publishes a bi-annual Law Journal and has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary legal research, particularly in the intersection of law, ethics, and human rights.
The programme is well-suited for candidates aspiring to academic careers, human rights advocacy, policy research, and international legal organisations.

58 Views Last Year

27 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

BHU Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) Fees

The Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) at BHU is offered under the Faculty of Law and carries a very affordable fee structure typical of central universities. Based on the Law faculty Ph.D. fee structure at BHU, the annual tuition fee is approximately Rs. 11,585 in Year 1 and Rs. 10,735 in subsequent years. The total fees for the complete 3-year programme are approximately Rs. 33,055 (excluding hostel). Hostel fees are charged separately and are optional.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	11,585	10,735	10,735	33,055
Admission Fee (one-time)	150	-	-	150
Total Fees (excl. Hostel)	11,735	10,735	10,735	33,205
Hostel Fee (approx., per year)	5,375	5,375	5,375	16,125
Total Fees (incl. Hostel)	17,110	16,110	16,110	49,330

Fee figures are based on the most recently available BHU Law faculty Ph.D. fee structure.
Actual fees for 2026-27 may be slightly revised; candidates should verify from the official BHU admission bulletin.
Hostel accommodation is not mandatory; it is allotted on a merit-cum-availability basis.
Registration/application processing fee: Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates (non-refundable).
Fees paid are generally non-refundable once the admission process is complete.

BHU Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) at BHU are conducted annually, typically in two cycles. The 2026-27 admission cycle was completed with online registration in December 2026, interviews in January 2027, and offer letters issued by early February 2027. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the process is expected to follow a similar timeline. Candidates must qualify the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test or hold a valid UGC-JRF/NET score to be eligible.

BHU Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Opens	December 3, 2026
Last Date for Online Registration	December 16, 2026
Correction Window	December 17, 2026
Call Letter Issuance	December 20-24, 2026
Document Verification and Interview	January 5-16, 2027
Publication of Result and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2027
Date of Reporting to Department	February 10, 2027
Second Admission Cycle Begins	February 12, 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test 2026	Admit Card	October 21, 2026
NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test 2026	Exam Date	October 27, 2026
NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test 2026	Result Declaration	November 26, 2026
UGC-NET (Law) 2027	Exam (tentative)	June 2027 (tentative)

Note: For 2027-28 admissions, NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test dates will be announced on the official NTA/BHU portal. Candidates with valid UGC-JRF or NET (Law) scores are exempted from the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test and are directly called for interview.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Law (LL.M. or LL.M. in Human Rights and Duties Education) from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
Candidates with valid UGC-JRF or NET (Law) scores are exempted from the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test and are directly called for interview.
There is no upper age limit for applying to the Ph.D. programme at BHU.

Admission Process

Register online at the official BHU admission portal (admission.bhu.ac.in or bhuonline.in) within the notified registration window.
Pay the non-refundable registration processing fee (Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Appear for the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (if not exempted via UGC-JRF/NET); the test consists of 100 MCQs covering subject knowledge and research methodology (120 minutes, 4 marks per correct answer, no negative marking).
Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview/viva voce before the departmental selection committee at the Faculty of Law.
Final merit list is prepared based on NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test score and interview performance (or directly on interview for exempted candidates).
Selected candidates submit the admission fee and complete document verification to confirm their seat.

BHU Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Law and Legal Studies can avail of several fellowships and scholarships. The UGC-NET/JRF is the primary fellowship for law scholars. The Faculty of Law also provides institutional scholarships for meritorious and economically weaker students. Scholars working in the area of Human Rights may also explore fellowships from national human rights bodies and international organisations.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
UGC-JRF Fellowship	Candidates with valid UGC-JRF score	Rs. 31,000/month (1st-2nd year); Rs. 35,000/month (3rd-5th year)	Up to 5 years
UGC-NET Fellowship (LS)	Candidates with NET-LS (Lectureship) score	As per UGC norms	Duration of programme
BHU Research Fellowship (BRF)	Meritorious candidates without JRF/NET	Rs. 5,000/month (approx.)	As per university norms
BHU Institutional Scholarship (Blind Students)	Blind/visually impaired students	Rs. 5,000 per annum	Duration of programme
BHU Scholarship (Backward Class)	Students from backward classes	Rs. 2,000 per annum (up to 100 students)	Duration of programme
BHU Merit Scholarship	1st and 2nd rank holders	Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 3,000 per annum respectively	Per academic year
National SC/ST Fellowship	SC/ST candidates	As per UGC norms	Duration of programme

UGC-JRF (Law) is the most relevant fellowship for Ph.D. Law and Legal Studies scholars and requires qualifying the UGC-NET exam with JRF rank.
BHU institutional scholarships are limited in number and awarded based on merit and availability of funds.
State government scholarships for SC/ST/OBC students are also available; candidates should apply through the respective state scholarship portals.
Candidates are advised to check the latest fellowship amounts on the official UGC website (ugc.ac.in) as amounts are subject to revision.

BHU Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) FAQs

Ques. What is the Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) at BHU - is it different from Ph.D. in Law?

Ans. The Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) at BHU encompasses doctoral research across the broad spectrum of legal studies offered by the Faculty of Law. This includes the specialized stream of Human Rights and Duties Education (HRDE) - a unique offering pioneered by BHU's Faculty of Law. While the Ph.D. in Law (course code 875) focuses on general legal research, the Law and Legal Studies stream (course code 981) specifically caters to candidates with an LLM in Human Rights and Duties Education background, making it a distinct and specialized doctoral programme.

Ques. What is the specialisation in Human Rights and Duties Education (HRDE) at BHU?

Ans. BHU's Faculty of Law is a national pioneer in Human Rights and Duties Education. The HRDE specialisation covers Human Rights jurisprudence, International Human Rights Law, Constitutional rights and duties, Fundamental duties under the Indian Constitution, UN human rights mechanisms, and the intersection of law, ethics, and social justice. BHU introduced this specialisation at the postgraduate level (LLM-HRDE) and extended it to the doctoral level, making it one of the few universities in India offering a Ph.D. in this area.

Ques. What is the entrance exam for Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) at BHU?

Ans. Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (Law subject code). Candidates with valid UGC-JRF or NET (Law) scores are exempted from this test and are directly called for an interview. The NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test consists of 100 MCQs covering subject knowledge and research methodology.

Ques. Can I apply for Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) at BHU with a general LLM (not HRDE)?

Ans. Yes. Candidates with a general LLM from a recognised university with at least 55% marks are eligible to apply for the Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) at BHU. Candidates with an LLM in Human Rights and Duties Education are particularly well-suited for the HRDE specialisation stream.

Ques. What are the career prospects after Ph.D. (Law and Legal Studies) from BHU?

Ans. Graduates are well-positioned for careers in legal academia (Assistant Professor/Professor positions in law schools), human rights advocacy and research organisations (NHRC, SHRC, UN bodies), policy advisory roles in government and international organisations, judicial services, and senior legal consultancy in human rights and constitutional law. BHU's strong alumni network and the Faculty of Law's national reputation significantly enhance career prospects.

Ques. Is BHU Faculty of Law good for research in Human Rights?

Ans. Yes, BHU's Faculty of Law is one of India's foremost centres for Human Rights and Duties research. It was among the first law schools in India to introduce a dedicated LLM in Human Rights and Duties Education and has extended this to the doctoral level. The faculty has produced significant research in human rights jurisprudence, and its scholars have contributed to national and international human rights discourse. The 24/7 library with 80,000+ books and 135 journals provides excellent research support.

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.

View All Questions and Answers