Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts [MA] in Political Science at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Political Science under the Faculty of Social Sciences. The course covers Indian Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Public Administration, and contemporary political issues. With a total seat intake of approximately 77 seats (including regular and paid seats), the programme is one of the most sought-after social science courses in India, primarily due to BHU's legacy, distinguished faculty, and its strong orientation towards civil services and academic research. The total fees for the programme are highly affordable, ranging from approximately Rs. 3,000 (tuition) for regular seats to Rs. 15,000 per year for paid seats, making it accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. Admission is based on CUET-PG scores, and the course is offered in full-time on-campus mode.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are currently in progress. CUET-PG 2026 exams were conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) registration is expected to open in May-June 2026 (tentative, based on last year's schedule when registration opened on May 22, 2025).

Key Points

The Department of Political Science at BHU is one of the oldest and most reputed in India, with a strong tradition of producing civil servants, academics, and policy researchers.
The programme follows a semester system with 5 papers per semester, each assessed out of 100 marks.
BHU offers a 25% institutional preference to its own undergraduate students in the open category during seat allotment.
Paid seats are available for candidates who narrowly miss the regular cut-off; paid seat fees are Rs. 15,000 per year.
The course is particularly popular among UPSC and state PCS aspirants due to its comprehensive curriculum aligned with civil services syllabi.

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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 Political Science Fees

The MA Political Science programme at BHU is one of the most affordable postgraduate programmes in India. For regular seats, the total tuition fee for the entire 2-year course is just Rs. 6,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). Students opting for paid seats pay Rs. 15,000 per year. Hostel accommodation is available at nominal charges and is not mandatory.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Semester (INR)	Total (2 Years / 4 Semesters) (INR)
Tuition Fee	750	3,000
Examination Fee	250	1,000
Library Fee	100	400
Development / Other Charges	400	1,600
Total Fees (Regular Seat)	1,500	6,000
Paid Seat Fee (if applicable)	3,750	15,000

Hostel fee (optional): Approximately Rs. 5,375 per year for male students (double-seater); charges may vary by hostel type.
Hostel is not mandatory; students may opt for private accommodation.
Fees are subject to revision by the university; candidates should verify the latest fee structure from the official BHU admission bulletin.
SC/ST students may avail deferred fee payment options; financial assistance allows tuition payment in installments after securing employment.

BHU MA Political Science Admission 2026

BHU MA Political Science admissions for 2026-27 are based on CUET-PG 2026 scores. The CUET-PG exam has been conducted and results are awaited. Candidates who qualify CUET-PG must separately register for BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) once the portal opens. The admission process involves multiple allotment rounds, and candidates must complete fee payment within the stipulated deadline to confirm their seat.

Important Dates

Event	Date
CUET-PG 2026 Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET-PG 2026 Registration End	January 23, 2026 (extended to January 25, 2026)
CUET-PG 2026 Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	May-June 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Closes	June 2026 (Tentative)
BHU Allotment Round 1	July 2026 (Tentative)
	July-August 2026 (Tentative)
Mop-Up Round (if applicable)	August-September 2026 (Tentative)
Classes Begin	October 2026 (Tentative)

Event	Date
Registration Start	December 14, 2025
Registration End	January 23-25, 2026
Admit Card	March 3, 2026
Exam Date	March 6 - March 27, 2026
Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA / BA Hons.) degree or equivalent under the 10+2+3 pattern from a recognized university.
Minimum aggregate of 50% marks in the qualifying examination (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates; no minimum marks required for SC/ST for seat allotment).
Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, subject to meeting the criteria at the time of admission.

Admission Process

Register for CUET-PG 2026 on the NTA portal (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/).
Appear for the CUET-PG 2026 examination in the Political Science / Social Sciences paper.
After CUET-PG result declaration, register separately on BHU's CAP-PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in).
Fill in programme preferences and submit the application with the required fee.
Participate in the allotment rounds; accept the allotted seat online.
Complete fee payment within the deadline to confirm admission.
Report physically to the Department of Political Science, BHU, for document verification and enrollment.

BHU: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 8 Reviews

Admission to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) requires clearing the All India entrance test, PET, with a high rank confirming admission. BHU ranks 3rd among central universities and offers PET and UET exams for postgraduate and undergraduate admissions. The social sciences faculty, particularly in history, geography, political science, economics, sociology, and psychology, is well-regarded despite a skewed faculty-to-student ratio, with only 5 teachers for large classes. The academic structure includes a 2-year semester system with 5 papers per semester, each assessed out of 100 marks.

Annual fees are nominal, Rs. 5000 for undergraduates and Rs. 6000 for postgraduates, with hostel fees at Rs. 3000. Significant job opportunities, internships, and a student-run placement cell support post-course employment, despite limited official placement cells for social science students. Many students prepare for government exams. Scholarships, like the Ministry of Human Resource Development's merit-based scheme, are available. For SC/ST students, financial assistance allows tuition payment in installments post-employment. Specific fees include Rs. 250 for tuition and Rs. 15,000 for paid seats, totaling around Rs. 24,000 for admission.

Normal seat admissions cost approximately Rs. 10,000 for UR and Rs. 9,000 for SC/ST categories. Scholarships mainly benefit bachelor's students in Sanskrit and Home Science. Regular seat fees are Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000, while paid seats are Rs. 17,000 at the main campus. Hostel fees are Rs. 2,500 in the first year and Rs. 1,856 in the final year. The MA Public Administration course costs Rs. 18,000 annually, with eligibility for the UP scholarship.

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BHU MA Political Science Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of institutional and government-backed scholarships to MA Political Science students. Given the very low fee structure, most students benefit significantly from government scholarship schemes, which often cover the entire fee and more. Students from Uttar Pradesh are particularly well-served by the UP Government Scholarship, which can reimburse fees and provide additional financial support.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
UP Government Scholarship (Pre/Post Matric)	UP domicile students; family income below Rs. 2 lakh (OBC/General) or Rs. 2.5 lakh (SC/ST)	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance; up to Rs. 30,000-60,000 per year depending on category
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - Central Sector Scheme	Top 20 percentile in Class 12; family income below Rs. 8 lakh	Rs. 10,000 per year for PG students
BHU Merit Scholarship (Rank Holders)	1st and 2nd rank holders in university examinations	Rs. 4,000 (1st rank) and Rs. 3,000 (2nd rank) one-time reward
BHU Scholarship for Economically Weak Students	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh per annum; good conduct and 75% attendance	Free meals (lunch and dinner) for 7 months; Rs. 2,000 annually for 100 students
BHU Scholarship for Physically Challenged Students	PwD students enrolled at BHU	Rs. 4,000 per year (one-time); free meals under Annadaan Yojana for blind students
SC/ST Deferred Fee Payment	SC/ST students	Tuition fee payment deferred; can be paid in installments after securing employment

Students already receiving one scholarship are not eligible for BHU institutional scholarships simultaneously.
UP Scholarship applications are typically submitted online through the UP Scholarship portal (scholarship.up.gov.in) at the start of the academic year.
NSP applications are submitted through scholarships.gov.in.
Candidates must maintain 75% attendance to remain eligible for BHU institutional scholarships.
Application deadlines for government scholarships are typically between October and December each year.

BHU MA Political Science Placement 2026

Dedicated campus placement data exclusive to MA Political Science at BHU is not available, as the programme primarily prepares students for civil services, academic research, and public policy roles rather than corporate placements. Students from this programme have gone on to serve in the IAS, IPS, IFS, and state civil services, as well as in academia, journalism, NGOs, and think tanks. The university does have a placement cell, but formal placement drives for social science programmes are limited.

Placement Details

Placement Aspect	Details
Dedicated Placement Data	Not available (focus on civil services, research, policy)
Common Career Paths	IAS, IPS, IFS, state civil services, academia, journalism, NGOs, think tanks
Placement Cell	University has placement cell; limited formal drives for social sciences

BHU MA Political Science FAQs

Ques. Is CUET-PG mandatory for MA Political Science admission at BHU?

Ans. Yes, CUET-PG is the only entrance exam accepted for MA Political Science admission at BHU. There is no separate BHU PET (Post Entrance Test) for this course anymore. Candidates must appear in the CUET-PG Political Science paper and then separately register on BHU's CAP-PG portal after results are declared.

Ques. How many seats are available in MA Political Science at BHU, and what is the category-wise distribution?

Ans. The total seat intake for MA Political Science at BHU is approximately 77 seats. The distribution includes General (39 seats), Non-BHU General (29 seats), SC (11 seats), OBC (17 seats), and ST (6 seats), along with supernumerary seats for paid category, sports quota, and BHU employee wards. BHU students get a 25% institutional preference in the open category.

Ques. What is the difference between regular seats and paid seats in BHU MA Political Science?

Ans. Regular seats are allotted purely on CUET-PG merit and carry a tuition fee of Rs. 1,500 per semester (Rs. 6,000 total). Paid seats are supernumerary seats for candidates who narrowly miss the regular cut-off; the fee for paid seats is Rs. 15,000 per year. Both categories receive the same quality of education and faculty.

Ques. Can I pursue MA Political Science at BHU while preparing for UPSC simultaneously?

Ans. Yes, this is one of the most common reasons students choose BHU for MA Political Science. The curriculum closely aligns with the UPSC General Studies and optional paper syllabus. Many students successfully prepare for UPSC alongside their MA coursework. The university's library, study environment, and peer community of civil services aspirants make it an ideal place for simultaneous preparation.

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

Ans. Hostel accommodation is not guaranteed for all students. BHU provides hostel facilities to approximately 50% of its student population, with priority given based on distance from home and merit. Students are advised to apply for hostel accommodation early through the official BHU hostel allotment process. Private accommodation options are also available near the campus at reasonable rates.

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

Ans. Graduates of MA Political Science from BHU pursue diverse career paths including: UPSC Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS), State Public Service Commissions (PCS), teaching and research (UGC NET/JRF followed by PhD and academic positions), journalism and media, NGOs and development sector, think tanks and policy research organizations, and international organizations. The course does not have formal corporate placements, but the academic and civil services outcomes are strong.

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MA Public Administration from BHU: Is the course worth it??

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I liked the expertise of the teacher and the best thing was the Public administration course which is not available in all of the top cllollege of India.

Fees and Financial Aid:

Well first of all I am writing details of the MA public administration course of BHU which surprisingly was not in the course option. The fees for the course is 18000 for one year. And one can avail the UP scholarship form.

Yes, I received a central secret scheme for higher education scholarships for college and university students. This scholarship is given by the ministry of human resource development goverment of India. The scholarship is given by merit.

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