Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Master of Arts [MA] in Persian at Banaras Hindu University is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Persian under the Faculty of Arts. The course covers classical and modern Persian literature, language, grammar, translation, and the rich cultural heritage of Persian-speaking civilisations across Iran, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. With a total intake of 22 seats, it is one of the few dedicated Persian language PG programmes in India. Admission is based on CUET PG scores, and the annual tuition fee is approximately Rs. 3,000, making it among the most affordable PG programmes in the country. The programme is popular among students interested in diplomacy, translation, research, civil services, and West/Central Asian studies.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. The CUET PG 2026 exam was conducted from March 13 to April 1, 2026, and results are expected tentatively in May 2026. BHU's PG counselling registration is expected to open in May-June 2026, based on the previous year's schedule (registration opened May 22, 2025 for the 2025-26 session). Candidates who appeared in CUET PG 2026 and opted for BHU will need to register on the BHU CUET PG portal once the schedule is announced.

Key Points

One of the few universities in India offering a dedicated full-time on-campus MA Persian programme.
The Department of Persian at BHU also houses the MA in Manuscriptology and Paleography programme, making it a premier centre for Persian manuscript studies in India.
BHU's Central Library holds rare Persian manuscripts and classical texts, providing students with unique research resources.
The programme is particularly relevant for UPSC Civil Services aspirants who wish to take Persian as an optional subject, as well as Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers posted to Persian-speaking countries.
Being a centrally funded university, BHU keeps fees extremely affordable, making quality education accessible to students from all economic backgrounds.

Official Link:

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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 Persian Fees

BHU MA Persian is one of the most affordable postgraduate programmes in India. The total tuition fee for the entire 2-year course is Rs. 6,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). In addition to tuition, students pay a regular fee of approximately Rs. 2,582 per semester covering registration, examination, and development charges. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at approximately Rs. 4,875 per year (non-AC room), which is optional and subject to availability.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Semester (Rs.)	Total for 2 Years (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	1,500	6,000
Regular Fee (Registration + Exam + Development)	1,082	4,328
Total Academic Fee	2,582	10,328
Hostel Fee (Optional, Non-AC)	-	9,750 (approx., 2 years)
Mess Charges (Optional, approx.)	-	48,000 (approx., 2 years)
Total Fees (Without Hostel)	-	10,328
Total Fees (With Hostel + Mess)	-	68,078 (approx.)

The regular fee of Rs. 2,582 per semester includes registration, examination, and university development charges as per the BHU PG Bulletin 2024-25.
Hostel accommodation is not mandatory and is subject to availability. Approximately 50% of students are accommodated in university hostels.
Mess charges are approximately Rs. 40-50 per meal; the figure above is an estimate based on 3 meals/day for 10 months per year.
A refundable caution/security deposit may be collected at the time of admission.
No EMI facility is available; fees are paid semester-wise at the time of admission/re-registration.
Paid seat fee of Rs. 10,000 per annum is applicable for students admitted under the paid seat category (15% supernumerary seats).

BHU MA Persian Admission 2026

Admission to MA Persian at BHU is based on CUET PG scores. BHU follows a Combined Allotment Program (CAP PG) for all postgraduate admissions. For the 2026-27 session, CUET PG 2026 was conducted from March 13 to April 1, 2026, and BHU counselling is expected to follow after results are declared in May 2026. The 2025-26 admission cycle saw registration open on May 22, 2025, with multiple allotment rounds through July-August 2025.

BHU PG Admission Dates

Event	2025-26 Actual Date	2026-27 Tentative Date
CUET PG Registration	Jan 2 - Feb 8, 2025	Dec 14, 2025 - Jan 23, 2026 (Done)
CUET PG Exam	May 13 - Jun 3, 2025	Mar 13 - Apr 1, 2026 (Done)
CUET PG Result	June 2025	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU PG Registration Opens	May 22, 2025	May-June 2026 (Tentative)
BHU PG Registration Closes	June 10-15, 2025	June 2026 (Tentative)
1st Round Allotment	July 14, 2025	July 2026 (Tentative)
2nd Round Allotment	July 18, 2025	July 2026 (Tentative)
Mid-Entry Registration	July 22, 2025	July 2026 (Tentative)
3rd Round Allotment	July 29, 2025	July-August 2026 (Tentative)
4th Round Allotment	August 1, 2025	August 2026 (Tentative)
Spot Round	August 2025	August 2026 (Tentative)
Classes Begin	August-September 2025	August-September 2026 (Tentative)

CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Date
CUET PG 2026 Registration	December 14, 2025 - January 23, 2026
Form Correction Window	January 28 - January 30, 2026
Admit Card Release	March 9, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026
Result Declaration	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed B.A. (Hons.) or B.A. under the 10+2+3 pattern with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PWD candidates).
Persian must have been the Honours subject at B.A. (Hons.) level, OR a subject studied in all three years at B.A. level.
Candidates with a B.A. (Hons.) or B.A. with PG Diploma/Advanced Diploma in Persian from a recognised university are also eligible.

Admission Process

Register for CUET PG 2026 on the NTA portal (exams.nta.ac.in/cuet-pg) and select BHU as a participating university.
Appear in the CUET PG exam for the relevant Persian/Language subject test.
After CUET PG results, register on the BHU CUET PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in) during the registration window.
Pay the non-refundable registration fee (Rs. 300 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PWD).
Participate in the Combined Allotment Program (CAP PG) rounds and accept the allotted seat.
Report to the Department of Persian, Faculty of Arts, BHU with original documents and pay the semester fee to confirm admission.

BHU MA Persian Scholarships 2026

BHU offers several scholarship options for MA Persian students, primarily through government schemes and university endowments. Given the extremely low tuition fee, most students benefit from government scholarships that cover living expenses and additional costs. Students from reserved categories and economically weaker sections have access to multiple scholarship avenues.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
Merit-Based Scholarship (BHU)	1st and 2nd rank holders in the programme	Rs. 4,000 (1st rank); Rs. 3,000 (2nd rank) - one time
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship (BHU)	Academic merit + family income up to Rs. 1 lakh/year	Rs. 2,000 per year
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students; family income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Tuition fee waiver + maintenance allowance (via NSP)
Post-Matric Scholarship (OBC/Minority)	OBC/Minority students; family income up to Rs. 2 lakh/year	Tuition fee waiver + maintenance allowance (via NSP)
Mandava Foundation Fund	Academic merit + financial need	Rs. 25,000 per year
National Fellowship for SC Students (UGC)	SC students pursuing PG/research	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF)
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (Minority)	Minority community students in PG/research	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF)

Post-Matric Scholarships must be applied through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) at the start of each academic year.
BHU's internal scholarships (Merit-Based, Merit-cum-Means) are awarded by the university based on academic performance; no separate application is required.
The Mandava Foundation Fund requires a separate application through BHU's scholarship portal.
UGC and Maulana Azad fellowships are primarily for research-level students but PG students may apply if pursuing integrated programmes.

BHU MA Persian FAQs

Ques. Is Persian a good subject to study at BHU? What are the career prospects after MA Persian?

Ans. Persian is a niche but rewarding subject at BHU. Graduates can pursue careers as translators and interpreters for government ministries (especially Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence), embassies of Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, and international organisations. Persian is also a UPSC Civil Services optional subject, and BHU's programme is well-regarded for preparing students for this. Teaching and research (PhD) at universities are other popular paths. The Ministry of Defence regularly recruits Persian Translators through UPSC. While the job market is smaller than mainstream subjects, the competition is also significantly lower.

Ques. What is the CUET PG score required for admission to MA Persian at BHU?

Ans. Based on the 2025 admission cycle, the CUET PG cutoff for MA Persian at BHU for the General category was 20 marks (Round 1 and Round 4). This is relatively low compared to other PG programmes, reflecting the niche nature of the subject. However, candidates should note that the actual cutoff may vary each year depending on the number of applicants and CUET PG difficulty level.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation guaranteed for MA Persian students at BHU?

Ans. Hostel accommodation at BHU is not guaranteed and is allotted on a merit-cum-availability basis. BHU has over 75 hostels on campus, and approximately 50% of students are accommodated. PG students from the Faculty of Arts are typically allotted hostels in the Arts Faculty hostels. The annual hostel fee is approximately Rs. 4,875 for a non-AC room, with mess charges extra. Students are advised to apply for hostel accommodation immediately after admission confirmation.

Ques. Can students without a Persian background at graduation level apply for MA Persian at BHU?

Ans. No. Unlike some other MA programmes at BHU that have a provision for non-subject candidates (e.g., MA Indian Philosophy and Religion allows 20% non-subject candidates), MA Persian requires Persian to have been the Honours subject or a subject studied in all three years at the graduation level. Students without a Persian background at UG level are not eligible for this programme.

Ques. What is the difference between MA Persian and MA Manuscriptology and Paleography at BHU?

Ans. MA Persian (Course Code 437, 22 seats) is a general language and literature programme focusing on Persian language, grammar, literature, and culture. MA Manuscriptology and Paleography (Course Code 458, 20 seats) is a professional course offered by the Department of Persian that focuses on the study, preservation, and analysis of ancient manuscripts, including Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit manuscripts. The latter has a higher fee (Rs. 21,000 per annum paid seat fee) and is more research-oriented. Both are offered by the same department.

Ques. Does BHU offer PhD in Persian after MA? What are the research opportunities?

Ans. Yes, BHU offers a PhD programme in Persian through the Department of Persian. After completing MA Persian, students can apply for the PhD programme through BHU's Research Entrance Test (RET). The department has faculty specialising in classical Persian poetry, Indo-Persian literature, Persian manuscripts, and modern Persian. BHU's Central Library and the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum also provide access to rare Persian manuscripts, making it an excellent environment for research in Persian studies.