Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Philosophy at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Philosophy under the Faculty of Arts. The programme covers Western philosophy, Indian philosophy, logic, ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and contemporary philosophical thought. BHU's Philosophy department is particularly distinguished for its integration of both Western and Indian philosophical traditions, making it one of the most comprehensive Philosophy programmes in India. The total tuition fee for the regular seat is just Rs. 6,000 for the entire 2-year course, and admission is based on CUET-PG scores. The programme has a seat intake of 96 students.

Admission for the 2026-27 session is currently in progress. CUET-PG 2026 was conducted between March 13 and April 1, 2026, and results are expected in May 2026. Based on the 2025 pattern, BHU typically opens its PG admission portal in May-June 2026, with multiple rounds of seat allotment between July and September 2026.

Key Points

BHU's Department of Philosophy uniquely integrates both Western and Indian philosophical traditions, including Vedanta, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Buddhism, and Jainism alongside Plato, Kant, Hegel, and contemporary analytic philosophy.
Varanasi, as the ancient seat of Indian philosophical thought and Sanskrit learning, provides an unparalleled intellectual environment for the study of philosophy.
The programme is highly popular among students preparing for UPSC Civil Services, where Philosophy is a sought-after optional subject.
The department has a faculty-to-student ratio of approximately 3:1, ensuring personalised academic attention.
Assessment includes both sessional (30 marks) and semester examination (70 marks) components, including viva and class tests.
An Earn While Learn programme is available for financially needy students.

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BHU MA Philosophy Fees

The MA Philosophy programme at BHU is among the most affordable postgraduate programmes in the country. For regular seats, the total tuition fee for the entire 2-year course is Rs. 6,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). Students opting for paid seats pay Rs. 30,000 per year. Hostel accommodation is available at approximately Rs. 5,375 per year for male students, excluding mess charges.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Regular Seat (Per Semester)	Regular Seat (Total - 2 Years)	Paid Seat (Per Year)
Tuition Fee	Rs. 1,500	Rs. 6,000	Rs. 30,000
Other Academic Charges	Included in tuition	Included in tuition	Included
Total Fees (Academic)	Rs. 1,500	Rs. 6,000	Rs. 60,000
Hostel Fees (Optional)	-	Rs. 5,375/year (approx.)	Rs. 5,375/year (approx.)

Hostel fees are not mandatory and are charged separately.
The amount mentioned is for the cheapest available option and excludes mess charges.
A caution/security deposit may be collected at the time of admission, which is refundable at the end of the course.
Paid seats are supernumerary seats (up to 10% of total seats) available for candidates who narrowly miss the regular seat cutoff.
All government scholarships (UP Scholarship, NSP, etc.) are applicable for eligible students.
UP Scholarship typically provides Rs. 6,000 in Year 1 and Rs. 5,000 in Year 2 for eligible students.

BHU MA Philosophy Admission 2026

Admission to MA Philosophy at BHU is entirely merit-based through CUET-PG scores. BHU does not conduct any separate entrance test for this programme. The 2026 admission cycle is currently in progress, with CUET-PG 2026 having been conducted between March 13 and April 1, 2026. Results are expected in May 2026, after which BHU will announce its admission schedule. Based on the previous year's pattern, counselling and seat allotment rounds are expected between June and September 2026.

Important Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU PG Admission Portal Opens	May - June 2026 (Tentative)
Round 1 Seat Allotment	July 2026 (Tentative)
Fee Payment - Round 1	July 2026 (Tentative)
Physical Reporting - Round 1	July - August 2026 (Tentative)
Round 2 / Round 3 Allotment	August 2026 (Tentative)
Mop-Up Round	September 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date of Fee Payment - Mop-Up Round	September 2026 (Tentative)
Physical Reporting - Mop-Up Round	September 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement	October 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Event	Date
CUET-PG 2026 Registration	December 14, 2025 - January 25, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Form Correction	January 28 - January 30, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Admit Card	March 9, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - 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 have passed a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university under the 10+2+3 pattern.
A minimum of 50% aggregate marks in graduation is generally required (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, subject to fulfilling the eligibility at the time of admission.

Admission Process

Register and appear for CUET-PG 2026 conducted by NTA, selecting the relevant Philosophy paper.
After results are declared, register on BHU's admission portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in) and fill in course preferences.
Seat allotment is done in multiple rounds based on CUET-PG score, category, and seat availability.
Candidates allotted seats must pay the admission fee online within the stipulated deadline.
Physical reporting at the Department of Philosophy, BHU with original documents is mandatory to confirm admission.

BHU: Students' Opinion

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The university boasts a faculty-to-student ratio of approximately 3:1, ensuring personalized attention. Notable professors like Rajeev Lochan Behera and Rajesh Kumar Shah add prestige to the institution. The academic year comprises two semester exams, with assessments divided into 30 marks for sessions and 70 marks for semester exams, which include viva and class tests. Placement is robust in departments like BTech, MTech, MBA, MSc Zoology, and PhD programs, though some fields might not experience the same placement rates.

The university offers various scholarships, such as the Chhatrapati, sports, and NSS scholarships. In the philosophy department, the first-year fee is about Rs. 5,164, including library, sports, medical, and other fees, while the second-year fee is roughly Rs. 3,000. Additionally, scholarships from UP scholarship.com provide approximately Rs. 6,000 for the first year and Rs. 5,000 for the second year, with potential fee reductions for certain categories. Hostel fees are about Rs. 5,000.

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BHU MA Philosophy Scholarships 2026

BHU MA Philosophy students can avail a range of scholarships from both the university and government sources. Given the very low fee structure, government scholarships like UP Scholarship and NSP can effectively cover the entire cost of education and provide additional maintenance support. The university also offers merit-based and need-based scholarships including the Chhatrapati Scholarship, Sports Scholarship, and NSS Scholarship.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Offered By
UP Post-Matric Scholarship	UP domicile students; family income below Rs. 2 lakh (General/OBC) or Rs. 2.5 lakh (SC/ST)	Covers tuition fee + maintenance allowance (approx. Rs. 6,000 in Year 1, Rs. 5,000 in Year 2)	UP Government
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - Post-Matric	Students from SC/ST/OBC/Minority/EBC categories; family income criteria apply	Varies by category; covers tuition + maintenance	Central Government
BHU Merit Scholarship	Rank 1 holder in semester exams	Rs. 4,000 (one-time)	BHU
BHU Merit Scholarship (2nd Rank)	Rank 2 holder in semester exams	Rs. 3,000 (one-time)	BHU
Chhatrapati Scholarship	Eligible students (category-based)	Varies	BHU/State Government
BHU Economically Weak Students Scholarship	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year	Free meals (lunch + dinner) for 7 months + Rs. 2,000/year	BHU
UGC JRF (post-programme)	Qualify UGC NET with JRF in Philosophy	Rs. 37,000/month (Junior); Rs. 42,000/month (Senior)	UGC

Students already receiving any other scholarship are not eligible for BHU's internal scholarships.
UP Scholarship applications are typically open between July and October each year.
NSP applications open annually; students must register on scholarships.gov.in.
SC/ST students may also be eligible for full tuition fee waiver under state government schemes.

BHU MA Philosophy FAQs

Ques. Is MA Philosophy from BHU useful for UPSC Civil Services preparation?

Ans. Yes, Philosophy is one of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC Civil Services, and MA Philosophy from BHU provides an excellent foundation. BHU's curriculum covers both Indian and Western philosophy in depth, which aligns well with the UPSC Philosophy optional syllabus. Many BHU Philosophy graduates have successfully cleared UPSC with Philosophy as their optional subject.

Ques. What CUET-PG score is needed for MA Philosophy at BHU?

Ans. Based on the 2025 admission cycle, the Round 1 cutoff for General category was 155 marks, which came down to 109 in the final Mop-Up round. For OBC, it was 93 (Round 1) to 44 (Mop-Up). SC category cutoff was 55 (Round 1) to 30 (Mop-Up). EWS cutoff was 124 (Round 1) to 38 (Mop-Up). These scores can vary year to year.

Ques. What career options are available after MA Philosophy from BHU?

Ans. MA Philosophy from BHU opens up careers in teaching and research (UGC NET/JRF), civil services (UPSC, state PSCs with Philosophy optional), journalism and media, law (after LLB), counselling and social work, corporate ethics and compliance roles, and NGO/policy work. Philosophy graduates are also increasingly sought after in the tech industry for roles in AI ethics and policy.

Ques. Is there a PhD programme in Philosophy at BHU?

Ans. Yes, BHU offers PhD in Philosophy through its Department of Philosophy. Admission is based on UGC NET/JRF scores or BHU's Research Entrance Test (RET). The department has active research in areas such as Indian epistemology, philosophy of religion, ethics, and contemporary analytic philosophy. Students with UGC JRF receive a monthly fellowship during their PhD tenure.

Ques. What is the difference between MA Philosophy and MA Indian Philosophy and Religion at BHU?

Ans. BHU offers two separate programmes: MA Philosophy (96 seats) and MA Indian Philosophy and Religion (separate department). MA Philosophy covers both Western and Indian philosophical traditions in a balanced manner. MA Indian Philosophy and Religion focuses specifically on Indian philosophical schools (Vedanta, Nyaya, Sankhya, etc.) and religious thought. Students interested in a broader philosophical education should opt for MA Philosophy, while those with a specific interest in Indian traditions may prefer MA Indian Philosophy and Religion.

Ques. How is the academic environment in BHU's Philosophy department?

Ans. BHU's Philosophy department is known for its intellectually stimulating environment, with a faculty-to-student ratio of approximately 3:1. The department regularly organises seminars, workshops, and guest lectures by eminent philosophers. Varanasi's status as a centre of Sanskrit learning and philosophical debate adds a unique dimension to the academic experience. Students also have access to BHU's extensive central library, which has a rich collection of philosophical texts in both English and Indian languages.

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GAURAV SINGH

4.5Helpful

MA, Philosophy

Reviewed on Sep 5, 2024(Enrolled 2021)

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Fees and Financial Aid:

I got admission in the year of 2021 and 23 in the in philosophy department of Banaras in University, Who are the fees of the course is about 5164 for the first year and for nearly 3000 for the second year and I got the scholarship on UP scholarship.com and nearly 6000 for the first year and 5000 for the second year, the fee which the fee which I told about 5164, it includes all other fees like library fee, lapis, sports fees, medical fees, everything is included in that only those and those who belong to assist, they have to pay some less fees and the hostel fees of the department and nearly 5000, that's it

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Sunny kumar shrivastava

5.0

MA, Philosophy

Reviewed on Jul 23, 2020(Enrolled 2017)