Is CUET UG mandatory for all BHU UG admissions in 2026?

Yes, CUET UG 2026 is the only route for BHU UG programmes including BA, B.Sc, B.Com, Agriculture, and Veterinary Science. Class 12 board marks carry zero weight in BHUs merit list. The CUET UG normalised score alone determines allotment.

What CUET UG score is needed to get into BHU?

In 2026, BHU CUET UG Round 1 cutoffs for the General AI category ranged from 73 to 217 across programmes. High-demand courses like B.Sc (Hons) and BA English require scores at the higher end. Check bhucuet.samarth.edu.in for subject-wise cutoffs after the merit list is released.

Does BHU have a management quota or NRI quota?

No. BHU is a central university and all seats fill through merit and centralised counselling only. No management quota or NRI quota exists for any programme at BHU, including MBBS and MBA.

Is CAT the only accepted exam for IMS BHU MBA?

Yes. CAT is the only exam accepted for IMS BHU MBA and MBA-IB. XAT, GMAT, CMAT, and MAT scores are not accepted. Apply on bhumbaadm.samarth.edu.in during the November-January window each year.

What CAT percentile is needed for IMS BHU MBA shortlisting?

The CAT 2025 shortlisting cutoff for IMS BHU MBA (General category) was 85 percentile overall with a minimum 50 percentile required in each section. The final admission composite uses CAT 50%, Academic Record 20%, and GD-PI 30%.

What is the BHU LLB admission process for 2026?

The 3-year LLB at BHU (286 seats) admits through CUET LLB 2026 scores. The 5-year BA LLB (74 seats) admits through CUET UG 2026. Both programmes are at the Faculty of Law, BHU, in Varanasi.

How does BHU PhD admission work and who can apply?

BHU PhD admission requires a Masters degree with 55% (General/EWS) or 50% (SC/ST/PwD). UGC-NET and JRF holders go directly to the department interview. Final merit is 70% entrance score plus 30% interview. Apply on bhuonline.in.

What scholarships does BHU offer for economically weaker students?

Government schemes via NSP cover most students: CSSS (merit-based), Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST (tuition + maintenance), Merit-cum-Means for minority students, and Top Class Education Scheme for eligible SC students (tuition, hostel, books). BHU's own Student Welfare Fund provides one-time grants and emergency aid for students in acute financial need.

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

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, offers a Ph.D. in Music as a full-time, on-campus doctoral programme under the Faculty of Performing Arts. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, focusing on advanced research in Indian classical music, including Hindustani vocal music, instrumental music, musicology, and music theory. The total course fee is approximately Rs. 20,468 for the complete duration, making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes in the performing arts domain in India. Admission is through UGC NET/JRF qualification or the BHU Research Entrance Test (RET), and the programme is popular among classical musicians and music scholars who wish to pursue research at one of India's most prestigious central universities.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session have been completed. The first round of admissions concluded in February 2027, with reporting to the department on February 10, 2027. A second admission cycle was initiated from February 12, 2027, for any remaining vacant seats. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the notification is expected to be released around November-December 2027, based on the previous year's pattern, with applications likely to open in December 2027.

Key Points

Ph.D. (Music) at BHU is offered under the Faculty of Performing Arts, which houses departments of Vocal Music, Instrumental Music (Sitar, Tabla, Sarod, etc.), and Musicology.
The programme covers research in Hindustani classical music, music history and theory, Natya Shastra, folk music traditions, comparative musicology, and music therapy.
BHU follows a structured PhD programme as per UGC guidelines, including mandatory coursework in the first year, pre-submission seminars, and thesis submission.
Scholars with UGC-JRF fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (for the first two years) and Rs. 35,000 (from the third year onwards).
Candidates with recognized music diplomas (Sangeet Nipun, Sangeet Praveen, Sangeet Alankar, Sangeet Kovid) along with a Master's degree in any discipline are also eligible to apply.

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BHU Ph.D. (Music) Fees

The Ph.D. (Music) programme at BHU is highly affordable compared to private music institutions. The total fee for the entire 3-year programme is approximately Rs. 20,468, with the major component being the annual academic and examination fees. Students with JRF/fellowship are additionally supported through monthly stipends. Below is the component-wise fee structure based on the last published data:

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Admission Fee	1,418	-	-	1,418
Examination Fee	2,000	2,000	200	4,200
Other Charges (Annual)	4,950	4,950	4,950	14,850
Total Fees	8,368	6,950	5,150	20,468

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel	Fee (Rs.)
Male Hostel (per year)	5,375

Some fee components are refundable at the time of leaving the university.
Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability; it is not mandatory.
Students with JRF/CSIR fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (Years 1-2) and Rs. 35,000 (Year 3 onwards), which significantly offsets the cost of study.
No EMI option is available; fees are paid annually at the time of re-registration.

BHU Ph.D. (Music) Admission 2026

Admissions to Ph.D. (Music) at BHU are conducted through a merit-based process relying on UGC NET/JRF qualifications or the BHU Research Entrance Test (RET). For the 2026-27 session, BHU opened applications in December 2026 and conducted interviews in January 2027 (Performing Arts faculty interviews were held from January 10 to January 16, 2027). The process is transparent and merit-driven, with separate merit lists for JRF holders and NET-qualified candidates. For the 2027-28 session, the admission process is expected to follow a similar timeline.

BHU Ph.D. (Music) Admission Dates (2026-27 Session - Completed)

Event	Date
Online Registration Window	December 6 - December 16, 2026
Correction Window	December 17, 2026
Issue of Call Letters	December 20 - December 24, 2026
Interviews (Performing Arts Faculty)	January 10 - January 16, 2027
Result Publication and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2027
End of First Admission Round	February 5, 2027
Reporting to Department	February 10, 2027
Second Admission Cycle (if applicable)	From February 12, 2027

Relevant Entrance Exam Dates (for 2027-28 Admissions)

Exam	Event	Date
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2026
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Exam Date	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Registration	April 1 - May 1, 2027 (Tentative)
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2027 (Tentative)
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2027 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Music or a related discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD).
Alternatively, candidates with a Master's degree in any discipline who have completed recognized music examinations such as Sangeet Nipun (Bhatkhande Vidyapeeth, Lucknow), Sangeet Praveen (Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad), Sangeet Alankar (Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai), or Sangeet Kovid (Indra Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh) are also eligible.
Candidates with UGC-JRF or equivalent national fellowships are given priority and may be exempted from the written entrance test.

Admission Process:

Release of official notification on the BHU admission portal (bhuonline.in / admission.bhu.ac.in).
Online registration and submission of application form with required documents.
Payment of application fee (Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwD for RET mode; Rs. 200/Rs. 100 for NET/JRF mode).
Shortlisting of candidates based on JRF/NET qualification or RET score.
Personal interview/viva voce conducted by the respective Music department, Faculty of Performing Arts.
Merit list preparation: 70% weightage to NET/qualifying exam score + 30% to interview (for NET mode); 100% interview for JRF mode.
Issue of offer letter and fee payment to confirm admission.
Reporting to the department on the specified date.

BHU Ph.D. (Music) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. (Music) students can avail of several fellowships and scholarships that make the programme financially accessible. The most significant support comes through national fellowships like UGC-JRF, which provides a substantial monthly stipend. Additionally, BHU offers its own research fellowship for students who do not hold a national fellowship. The combination of low tuition fees and available fellowships makes this programme one of the most cost-effective doctoral options in the performing arts domain.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Duration
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 31,000/month (Yr 1-2); Rs. 35,000/month (Yr 3+)	UGC NET JRF qualified	Up to 5 years
BHU Research Fellowship	As per university norms	Selected PhD students without national fellowship	Duration of PhD
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Rs. 28,000/month	Minority community students with UGC NET	Up to 5 years
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	Rs. 28,000/month	SC/ST students	Up to 5 years

JRF fellowships are awarded by UGC and are not directly given by BHU; students must qualify the respective national exams.
BHU Research Fellowship is subject to availability and university budget; students must apply separately after admission.
MANF and RGNF are government fellowships administered through UGC; application deadlines are announced separately.
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.

BHU Ph.D. (Music) FAQs

Ques. What are the different specializations available under Ph.D. (Music) at BHU?

Ans. The Faculty of Performing Arts at BHU offers PhD in Music across multiple departments including Vocal Music (Hindustani classical), Instrumental Music (Sitar, Tabla, Sarod, Flute, Violin, etc.), and Musicology. Students should specify their area of specialization at the time of application and confirm supervisor availability in that area.

Ques. I have a Master's degree in Musicology but not in a specific instrument. Can I apply for Ph.D. (Music) at BHU?

Ans. Yes, a Master's degree in Musicology is a valid qualification for Ph.D. (Music) at BHU. You can apply for research in musicology, music history, music theory, or comparative musicology. The specific research area will depend on the available supervisors in the department.

Ques. Is UGC NET available for Music? What is the subject code?

Ans. Yes, UGC NET is available for Music (subject code 25). Candidates who qualify UGC NET in Music are eligible to apply for Ph.D. (Music) at BHU. Those who qualify with JRF are given priority in admissions.

Ques. Can a candidate with a Sangeet Alankar diploma (without a formal MA in Music) apply for Ph.D. (Music) at BHU?

Ans. Yes, BHU has a special provision for candidates who hold a Master's degree in any discipline along with recognized music examinations such as Sangeet Nipun (Bhatkhande Vidyapeeth), Sangeet Praveen (Prayag Sangeet Samiti), Sangeet Alankar (Gandharva Mahavidyalaya), or Sangeet Kovid (Indra Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya). Such candidates are eligible to apply for Ph.D. (Music) at BHU.

Ques. Are practice rooms and music labs available for PhD scholars in the Music department at BHU?

Ans. Yes, the Faculty of Performing Arts at BHU has dedicated practice rooms, recording facilities, and a specialized music library with rare manuscripts, audio recordings, and research journals. Research scholars have access to these facilities throughout their PhD tenure.

Ques. What career options are available after completing Ph.D. (Music) from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors in Music departments at universities and colleges (UGC-NET qualification required), researchers at institutions like the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), or All India Radio. They can also work as professional musicians with academic credentials, music therapists, or cultural consultants. A PhD from BHU's Faculty of Performing Arts is highly regarded in academic and cultural circles.

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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.

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