Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Bachelor of Arts [BA] {Hons.} (Persian) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 3-year full-time undergraduate programme offered by the Department of Persian under the Faculty of Arts. Persian has a rich literary and historical connection with the Indian subcontinent, and BHU's programme covers classical Persian literature, poetry, prose, grammar, and the historical role of Persian in Mughal India and beyond. The total course fee is Rs. 6,900 for the entire 3-year duration. With only 2 seats available, this is one of the rarest and most exclusive undergraduate Persian programmes in India. The programme is conducted in regular on-campus mode at BHU's main campus in Varanasi.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are upcoming. The CUET UG 2026 exam is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026 (tentative), with results expected in early July 2026. BHU's counselling and seat allotment process (CAP-UG) is expected to begin in the last week of July 2026. The 2025 CUET cutoff for General category ranged from 238 to 260 marks across allotment rounds, reflecting the niche but competitive nature of this programme.

Key Points

With only 2 seats available, BA {Hons.} Persian at BHU is one of the rarest undergraduate Persian programmes in India, offering an intimate and highly personalised learning experience.
BHU's Department of Persian has a distinguished tradition of scholarship in Persian language, literature, and the historical role of Persian in South Asian culture and administration.
The programme follows a semester system under the NEP 2020 framework, covering 6 semesters over 3 years.
The curriculum covers classical Persian poetry (Hafiz, Rumi, Saadi), Persian prose, grammar, Mughal-era Persian documents, and modern Persian (Farsi).
Persian proficiency opens doors to diplomatic careers, translation work, research in Mughal history, and opportunities in Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries.
BHU's location in Varanasi, a city with deep historical connections to Persian literary culture, provides a unique academic environment for Persian studies.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

BHU Latest Updates and News

18 Apr, 2026 CUET UG 2026 subject selection edit window is open till April 19, 2026, @cuet.nta.nic.in. The Exam will be held from May 11 to 31, 2026.

BHU BA {Hons.} Persian Fees

BHU offers the BA {Hons.} (Persian) programme at an exceptionally low fee of Rs. 6,900 for the entire 3-year course, approximately Rs. 2,300 per year. The fee structure is uniform across all categories. Hostel accommodation is available separately at approximately Rs. 4,875 per year (non-AC room), with mess charges billed additionally.

Course Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Academic Fee (Tuition)	800	800	800	2,400
Development Fee	750	750	750	2,250
Other Charges	150	150	150	450
Yearly Fee	1,700	1,700	1,700	5,100
Registration/Admission (One-time)	1,800	-	-	1,800
Total Fees	3,500	1,700	1,700	6,900

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel Component	Per Year (Rs.)
Hostel Room Charges (Non-AC)	4,875
Mess Charges	~24,000
Total Hostel + Mess (approx.)	~28,875

The course fee of Rs. 6,900 is the same for all categories (General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST).
A one-time CAP (UG) registration fee of Rs. 500 (General/OBC/EWS) or Rs. 250 (SC/ST/PwBD) is payable at the time of BHU counselling registration (non-refundable).
Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability.
Hostel fees are approximately Rs. 4,875 per year for a non-AC room; mess charges are billed separately at approximately Rs. 40-50 per meal.
A caution/security deposit may be collected at the time of admission, which is refundable at the end of the course.
No EMI facility is available; fees are paid semester-wise or annually as per BHU's schedule.

BHU BA {Hons.} Persian Admission 2026

Admissions to BA {Hons.} (Persian) at BHU are conducted through the CUET (UG) exam, followed by BHU's Combined Allotment Programme (CAP-UG). For 2026-27, the CUET UG exam is scheduled from May 11-31, 2026, and BHU's counselling is expected to begin in July 2026. With only 2 seats available, this is an extraordinarily competitive programme. The 2025 CUET cutoff for General category ranged from 238 to 260 marks across allotment rounds. Candidates must score well in the CUET Persian domain subject or General Test to secure one of these rare seats.

Important Dates

Event	Date (Tentative)
CUET UG 2026 Registration Start	January 3, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Registration End	February 26, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Answer Key Release	June 17, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Result Declaration	July 4, 2026
BHU CAP-UG Registration Opens	Last week of July 2026
BHU CAP-UG Registration Closes	2nd week of August 2026
BHU 1st Allotment List	3rd week of August 2026
BHU 2nd Allotment List	Last week of August 2026
Fee Payment and Physical Reporting	September 2026
Batch Commencement	October/November 2026

Event	Date
CUET UG Registration Start	January 3, 2026
CUET UG Registration End	February 26, 2026
Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET UG Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026 (Tentative)
Answer Key Release	June 17, 2026 (Tentative)
Result Declaration	July 4, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognised board.
Minimum 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 for General/EWS category; 45% for OBC-NCL; 40% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
Age limit: Not more than 22 years as on July 1 of the admission year (25 years for SC/ST candidates).
Candidates must have appeared in CUET (UG) 2026 and selected Persian as a domain subject or as per BHU's eligibility criteria for this programme.

Admission Process

Appear in CUET (UG) 2026 conducted by NTA; select Persian as the domain subject as per BHU's eligibility criteria.
Register on BHU's CAP-UG portal (bhucuet.samarth.edu.in) using your NTA Application Number after CUET results.
Pay the non-refundable CAP registration fee (Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 250 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Fill in programme preferences on the BHU portal.
Seat allotment is done based on CUET score, category, and preference order.
Accept the allotted seat and pay the course fee online within the stipulated deadline.
Report physically to BHU with original documents for verification and final admission.

BHU BA {Hons.} Persian Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options for BA {Hons.} (Persian) students. Given the already very low course fee of Rs. 6,900 for 3 years, government scholarships can effectively make the programme nearly free for eligible students. Students from Uttar Pradesh can benefit from the UP Government Scholarship, while students from other states can avail NSP schemes.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount/Benefit
UP Government Scholarship (Pre/Post Matric)	UP domicile students; family income below Rs. 2 lakh (General/OBC) or Rs. 2.5 lakh (SC/ST)	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance (up to Rs. 60,000/year for some categories)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - Post Matric	SC/ST/OBC/Minority students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh	Rs. 3,000 - Rs. 10,000 per year depending on category
BHU Merit Scholarship (Rank Holders)	1st rank holder in the department	One-time cash reward of Rs. 4,000
BHU Merit Scholarship (2nd Rank)	2nd rank holder in the department	One-time cash reward of Rs. 3,000
BHU Scholarship for Economically Weak Students	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year; 75% attendance	Free meals (lunch + dinner) for 7 months + Rs. 2,000/year
BHU Scholarship for Blind/Visually Impaired	Blind students enrolled at BHU	Free meals under Annadaan Yojana + Rs. 5,000/year for study materials
BHU Scholarship for Physically Challenged	PwBD students	One-time grant of Rs. 4,000
S.N. Ranade Scholarship	Students with excellent academic performance	Variable amount based on performance

Students already receiving any other scholarship are not eligible for BHU's internal scholarships simultaneously.
UP Scholarship applications are typically submitted online through the UP Scholarship portal (scholarship.up.gov.in) in October-November each year.
NSP scholarships are applied through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
BHU internal scholarships require submission of application forms at the university administration office.
Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to remain eligible for BHU scholarships.

BHU BA {Hons.} Persian FAQs

Ques. With only 2 seats, is it practically possible to get admission to BA {Hons.} Persian at BHU?

Ans. With just 2 seats, this is one of the most exclusive programmes in India. However, the pool of students who specifically choose Persian as their CUET domain subject is also very small, which means the actual competition is limited to a niche group of Persian enthusiasts. Students with a genuine background in Persian (from school or self-study) and a good CUET score have a realistic chance. The cutoff of 238-260 for General category in 2025 reflects this dynamic.

Ques. Do I need to have studied Persian in school to apply for BA {Hons.} Persian at BHU?

Ans. While prior knowledge of Persian is not a mandatory eligibility requirement, it is strongly recommended. The CUET Persian domain subject tests Persian language proficiency, and the course content at BHU is intensive. Students who have studied Persian at school level or have some background in Urdu (which shares the Nastaliq script with Persian) will find the transition easier.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after BA {Hons.} Persian from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue MA in Persian, work as translators and interpreters (Persian-Hindi-English), join the Indian Foreign Service or diplomatic corps (Persian is valuable for postings in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan), work as researchers in Mughal history and Indo-Persian literature, teach Persian at school or university level, and work with cultural organisations and archives dealing with Persian manuscripts. The rarity of Persian graduates makes them highly sought after in niche fields.

Ques. Is Persian related to Urdu? Will knowing Urdu help in studying Persian?

Ans. Yes, Persian and Urdu share the same Nastaliq script, and Urdu has borrowed extensively from Persian vocabulary. A strong background in Urdu provides a significant advantage in learning Persian, as many words, grammatical structures, and literary references are shared. However, Persian grammar and classical literature are distinct from Urdu, so dedicated study of Persian is still essential.

Ques. What is the scope of Persian in India's diplomatic and government services?

Ans. Persian is a valuable language for India's diplomatic relations with Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan). The Ministry of External Affairs and intelligence agencies value Persian-speaking officers. Persian is also an optional language in UPSC Civil Services, and knowledge of Persian is essential for researchers working with Mughal-era documents in the National Archives of India and state archives.

Ques. Can I study Persian at BHU if I have no prior knowledge of the language?

Ans. It is possible but very challenging. The CUET Persian domain subject requires a working knowledge of Persian, and the course at BHU assumes some familiarity with the language. Students with no prior Persian background are advised to undertake self-study or enrol in a basic Persian course before attempting CUET. Alternatively, students with a strong Urdu background can leverage their script knowledge to learn Persian more quickly.