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 Painting: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, offers a Ph.D. in Painting as a full-time, on-campus doctoral programme under the Department of Painting, Faculty of Visual Arts. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, focusing on advanced research in areas such as Indian classical painting traditions, contemporary painting practices, art history, and painting techniques. The total course fee is approximately Rs. 20,468 for the complete duration, making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes in the fine arts domain in India. Admission is primarily through UGC NET or JRF qualification, and the programme is popular among artists and art 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. (Painting) at BHU is offered under the Department of Painting, Faculty of Visual Arts, which is one of the oldest fine arts departments in India with a rich tradition of research in Indian painting.
The department runs BFA (4-year), MFA (2-year), and PhD programmes in Painting, providing a comprehensive academic ecosystem for research scholars.
Research areas include Indian miniature painting, mural painting, contemporary painting, art history and criticism, folk and tribal art traditions, and painting conservation.
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).

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

BHU Ph.D. (Painting) Fees

The Ph.D. (Painting) programme at BHU is highly affordable compared to private art 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. (Painting) Admission 2026

Admissions to Ph.D. (Painting) at BHU are conducted through a merit-based process primarily relying on UGC NET/JRF qualifications. For the 2026-27 session, BHU opened applications in December 2026 and conducted interviews in January 2027 (Visual 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. (Painting) 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 (Visual 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
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2027

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts (4-year BFA) and a Master's degree in Fine Arts (MFA) in Painting or a related discipline from a recognized university.
Minimum 55% marks in the qualifying degree for General/OBC candidates; 50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Candidates with UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, ICMR-JRF, DBT-JRF, or equivalent national fellowships are given priority and are 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 online.
Shortlisting of candidates based on JRF/NET qualification or RET score.
Personal interview/viva voce conducted by the Department of Painting, Faculty of Visual 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. (Painting) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. (Painting) 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 fine 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. (Painting) FAQs

Ques. What are the specific research areas available in Ph.D. (Painting) at BHU?

Ans. The Department of Painting at BHU offers research in a wide range of areas including Indian miniature painting traditions (Mughal, Rajput, Pahari), mural painting, contemporary Indian painting, folk and tribal art, art history and criticism, painting conservation and restoration, and comparative studies of Eastern and Western painting traditions.

Ques. Is a portfolio or artwork submission required for Ph.D. (Painting) admission at BHU?

Ans. For the current admission process (JRF/NET mode), the selection is primarily based on the qualifying exam score and interview. However, during the interview, candidates may be asked to present their research proposal and discuss their artistic background. A portfolio may be informally reviewed by the interview panel.

Ques. Can a candidate with an MA in Art History (without a BFA/MFA) apply for Ph.D. (Painting) at BHU?

Ans. Generally, the qualifying examination for Ph.D. (Painting) at BHU requires a BFA (4-year) and MFA in Painting. Candidates with only an MA in Art History may not meet the specific eligibility criteria. It is advisable to check the official PhD Information Bulletin for the specific session to confirm eligibility.

Ques. What is the UGC NET subject for Painting/Fine Arts?

Ans. UGC NET for Visual Arts (subject code 70) covers Painting, Sculpture, Applied Arts, and Art History. Candidates qualifying in this subject are eligible to apply for Ph.D. (Painting) at BHU.

Ques. Are studio and workshop facilities available for PhD scholars in the Painting department at BHU?

Ans. Yes, the Department of Painting at BHU has well-equipped studios, workshops, and a specialized library with art books, journals, and reproductions. Research scholars have access to these facilities throughout their PhD tenure, which is essential for studio-based research.

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

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors in Fine Arts/Painting departments at universities and colleges (UGC-NET qualification required), curators at art galleries and museums, researchers at cultural institutions, or practicing artists with academic credentials. A PhD from BHU's Faculty of Visual Arts is highly regarded and opens doors to positions in central universities, national galleries, and cultural organizations like the Lalit Kala Akademi.

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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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