Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts [MA] in Nepali at Banaras Hindu University [BHU], Varanasi, is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Faculty of Arts under the Department of Modern Indian Languages. BHU is one of the very few central universities in India offering a dedicated MA Nepali programme, making it a significant destination for students from Nepali-speaking communities in Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling), Uttarakhand, and other states, as well as students from Nepal. The programme covers classical and modern Nepali literature, linguistics, translation, and comparative literature. It spans 4 semesters with a total seat intake of 54 seats, and the annual tuition fee is approximately Rs. 3,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). Admission is based on CUET-PG scores. The course is popular among students aspiring for teaching careers, research, government services, and roles in media and cultural organisations.

As of March 2026, the CUET-PG 2026 examination is currently ongoing (March 13 - April 1, 2026). Results are expected in May 2026, following which BHU will open its Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) for registration, tentatively in May-June 2026. Candidates who have appeared in CUET-PG 2026 must separately register on the BHU CAP-PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in) to be considered for admission to the 2026-27 batch.

Key Points

BHU is one of the very few central universities in India offering a dedicated MA Nepali programme, making it a premier destination for Nepali language scholars.
The programme covers both classical Nepali literature and modern Nepali writing, including poetry, fiction, drama, and journalism.
Nepali is a Scheduled Language under the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, and UGC-NET qualified graduates can teach in colleges and universities across India.
Students from Sikkim, Darjeeling (West Bengal), and Uttarakhand, where Nepali is widely spoken, particularly benefit from this programme.
The relatively accessible cutoff (54 marks in 2025) makes this programme reachable for sincere Nepali language students.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

BHU Latest Updates and News

15 Apr, 2026 CUET PG 2026 Results are expected to be released by First week of May @exams.nta.nic.in. To know more, click here.

BHU MA Nepali Fees

BHU offers the MA Nepali programme at a highly affordable fee structure, consistent with other MA programmes at the university. The total tuition fee for the entire 2-year course is approximately Rs. 6,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). In addition to tuition, students pay other charges including examination fees, library fees, and development fees, bringing the total academic fee to approximately Rs. 25,500 for the full course. Hostel accommodation is available separately and is not mandatory.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Semester (INR)	Total for 2 Years (INR)
Tuition Fee	1,500	6,000
Examination Fee	Approx. 500	Approx. 2,000
Library Fee	Approx. 200	Approx. 800
Development / Other Charges	Approx. 4,175	Approx. 16,700
Total Academic Fee	Approx. 6,375	Approx. 25,500
Hostel Fee (Boys, optional)	Approx. 2,688 per semester	Approx. 10,750
Total Fee (with Hostel)	-	Approx. 36,250
Total Fee (without Hostel)	-	Approx. 25,500

Hostel accommodation is not guaranteed and is allotted on a merit-cum-distance basis as per BHU Hostel Manual.
Students from distant states like Sikkim and West Bengal generally have a higher chance of getting hostel accommodation.
Hostel fee does not include mess/food charges.
Mess charges are approximately Rs. 80-100 per day.
The registration fee for CAP-PG 2026 is Rs. 300 (General/OBC/EWS) and Rs. 150 (SC/ST/PwBD) per programme, which is non-refundable.
Full refund of admission fee is available if withdrawal is made before the last date of admission declared by BHU.
No EMI facility is available; fees are paid semester-wise through the online portal.

BHU MA Nepali Admission 2026

Admission to MA Nepali at BHU is entirely merit-based through CUET-PG scores. Candidates must first appear in CUET-PG conducted by NTA, and then separately register on BHU's CAP-PG portal. The seat allotment is done through multiple rounds of the Combined Allotment Program. For the 2026-27 session, CUET-PG 2026 is currently ongoing and BHU's CAP-PG registration is expected to open in May 2026. The 2025 General category cutoff was 54 marks (CUET-PG score), and the 2024 General cutoff was 48 marks, indicating a relatively accessible programme.

BHU MA Nepali Admission Schedule

Event	Tentative Date
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026 (Ongoing)
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	May 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Closes	June 2026 (Tentative)
1st Round Allotment	July 2026 (Tentative)
2nd Round Allotment	July 2026 (Tentative)
3rd Round Allotment	July-August 2026 (Tentative)
Spot Round (if applicable)	August-September 2026 (Tentative)
Classes Begin	August-September 2026 (Tentative)

CUET-PG 2026 Important Dates

Event	Date
CUET-PG 2026 Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET-PG 2026 Registration End	January 25, 2026
Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 6 - April 1, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree (BA/BA Hons.) under the 10+2+3 pattern from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
Candidates who have studied Nepali as a subject at the graduation level are preferred; however, graduates from any discipline who have appeared in the relevant CUET-PG Nepali test paper are eligible.
Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply provisionally, subject to fulfilling eligibility by October 31, 2026.

Admission Process:

Appear in CUET-PG 2026 conducted by NTA in the relevant Nepali test paper.
Register separately on BHU's CAP-PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in) after CUET-PG results are declared.
Fill in programme preferences and pay the non-refundable registration fee (Rs. 300 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Seat allotment is done through multiple rounds based on CUET-PG merit score.
Upon allotment, pay the admission fee within the stipulated deadline to confirm the seat.
Report to the Department of Modern Indian Languages, Faculty of Arts, BHU with original documents for physical verification.
Up to 25% of open category seats are reserved for BHU students (institutional preference) as per Supreme Court directives.

BHU MA Nepali Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in MA Nepali at BHU can avail a range of scholarships from central government, state government, and university-level schemes. Given the highly affordable fee structure, scholarships can effectively cover the entire cost of education for eligible students. Students from Sikkim and West Bengal may also be eligible for state government scholarships.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (UGC)	UGC / NSP	Rs. 4,500 per month	Graduation with min. 60% marks; age below 30 years; full-time PG at recognised university
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students	Ministry of Social Justice / NSP	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	SC category; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	Ministry of Social Justice / NSP	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	OBC-NCL; family income below Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum
Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Ministry of Minority Affairs / NSP	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	Minority community; family income below Rs. 2 lakh per annum
Sikkim State Scholarship	Sikkim State Government	Varies	Students from Sikkim studying outside the state; income-based criteria
BHU Merit Scholarship (Internal)	Banaras Hindu University	Varies	Based on academic performance in qualifying examination
Pratidana PG Awards	BHU	Rs. 25,000 per annum	Underprivileged students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh; min. 60% in qualifying exam

Most central scholarships are applied through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Applications for NSP scholarships typically open in October-November each year.
Students from Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling), and Uttarakhand should check their respective state scholarship portals for out-of-state study scholarships.
Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving scholarships.

BHU MA Nepali FAQs

Ques. Is Nepali as a subject mandatory at the graduation level to be eligible for MA Nepali at BHU?

Ans. No, Nepali as a subject at graduation is not strictly mandatory. Candidates from any graduation background who have appeared in the relevant CUET-PG Nepali test paper are eligible. However, having Nepali as a subject at graduation gives a significant advantage in the entrance exam and in the programme itself.

Ques. Can students from Nepal (foreign nationals) apply for MA Nepali at BHU?

Ans. Yes, foreign nationals including students from Nepal can apply for MA Nepali at BHU. However, foreign nationals are not required to appear in CUET-PG. Their admission is handled through the Office of the International Students Advisor, International Students Centre, BHU. They are admitted under the 15% supernumerary seats reserved for Foreign Nationals/NRI/PIO. Interested candidates should contact internationalcentrebhu@gmail.com.

Ques. What are the career options after MA Nepali from BHU?

Ans. After MA Nepali from BHU, common career paths include: (1) Teaching Nepali in schools and colleges after qualifying UGC-NET/JRF, (2) Research and PhD in Nepali literature or linguistics, (3) Translation work (Nepali-Hindi-English), (4) Journalism and media in Nepali language publications and broadcasting, (5) Government services in states where Nepali is an official language (Sikkim), and (6) Civil Services where Nepali literature can be an optional subject.

Ques. Is Nepali recognised as an official language in any Indian state, and how does this affect career prospects?

Ans. Yes, Nepali is one of the 22 Scheduled Languages under the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution and is the official language of Sikkim. It is also widely spoken in Darjeeling (West Bengal) and parts of Uttarakhand. This recognition means there are government job opportunities in these states for Nepali language graduates, including teaching positions, translation roles in state government offices, and All India Radio/Doordarshan Nepali service positions.

Ques. How does BHU's MA Nepali programme compare to programmes offered in Sikkim or Darjeeling?

Ans. BHU's MA Nepali programme carries the prestige of a central university degree, which is widely recognised across India. While universities in Sikkim and Darjeeling (like Sikkim University) also offer MA Nepali, BHU's programme benefits from a larger academic ecosystem, better research infrastructure, and the multicultural campus environment of Varanasi. For students aspiring for national-level careers or research, BHU is a strong choice.

Ques. Can I pursue PhD in Nepali at BHU after completing MA Nepali?

Ans. Yes, BHU offers PhD in Nepali through its Research Entrance Test (RET). After completing MA Nepali with a good academic record, candidates can apply for PhD admission. Those with UGC-NET/JRF qualification are exempted from the RET. BHU's research environment and library resources make it a good choice for Nepali literary and linguistic research, including studies on Nepali diaspora literature and Indo-Nepal cultural relations.