Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi offers a 2-year full-time Master of Arts in Integrated Rural Development and Management (also referred to as MA Rural Development) under the Centre for Integrated Rural Development, Faculty of Social Sciences. The programme spans 4 semesters and admits 40 students per year. It is a Special Fee Course with a total tuition fee of Rs. 66,000 for the 2-year programme (Rs. 16,500 per semester), and the total course fee including other charges is approximately Rs. 75,750. The programme is designed to equip students with knowledge and skills in rural development planning, management, policy, and implementation, making it highly relevant for careers in government, NGOs, and development organisations. BHU's MA Rural Development is popular for its interdisciplinary approach, combining social sciences, management, and development studies.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are based on CUET PG 2026 scores. The CUET PG 2026 exam is currently ongoing (March 13 - April 1, 2026), and results are expected by May 6, 2026 (tentative). Following the result, BHU will conduct its Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) for seat allotment, with counselling registration expected to begin in the third week of July 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check admission.bhu.ac.in for updates.

Key Points

This is a Special Fee Course under the Centre for Integrated Rural Development, BHU - a dedicated centre for rural development education and research.
The programme offers an interdisciplinary curriculum combining rural sociology, development economics, management, policy analysis, and field-based learning.
BHU's location in Uttar Pradesh, one of India's most rural states, provides excellent opportunities for fieldwork and community engagement.
With 40 seats, the programme is moderately competitive, with CUET PG 2025 EWS category cutoff at 165 (Round 2).
Graduates are well-positioned for careers in government rural development departments, NGOs, international development organisations, and research institutions.
The programme is open to graduates from any discipline, making it accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds.

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BHU MA Rural Development Fees

The MA Rural Development (Integrated Rural Development and Management) programme at BHU is a Special Fee Course. The total tuition fee for the 2-year programme is Rs. 66,000 (Rs. 16,500 per semester). Including other charges, the total course fee comes to approximately Rs. 75,750. Hostel accommodation is available separately and is not mandatory.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Semester 1	Semester 2	Semester 3	Semester 4	Total (2 Years)
Tuition Fee (Special Course)	Rs. 16,500	Rs. 16,500	Rs. 16,500	Rs. 16,500	Rs. 66,000
Other Charges (Registration, Development, Misc.)	Rs. 2,438	Rs. 2,438	Rs. 2,438	Rs. 2,438	Rs. 9,750
Total Fee (Excluding Hostel)	Rs. 18,938	Rs. 18,938	Rs. 18,938	Rs. 18,938	Rs. 75,750
Hostel Fee (Optional)	Rs. 4,875	Rs. 4,875	Rs. 4,875	Rs. 4,875	Rs. 19,500

Hostel fee is optional and not included in the Total Fees above. Students opting for hostel accommodation will pay an additional Rs. 19,500 over 2 years.
This is a Special Fee Course; no paid seats provision is available for special courses as per BHU norms.
Fees are subject to revision by the university. Always verify the latest fee structure at the time of admission from the official BHU admission portal (admission.bhu.ac.in).
Security/caution deposit (refundable) may be applicable for hostel residents.
Education loans are available under the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme (collateral-free and guarantor-free) at pmvidyalaxmi.co.in.

BHU MA Rural Development Admission 2026

Admissions to MA Rural Development (Integrated Rural Development and Management) at BHU for the 2026-27 session are based on CUET PG 2026 scores. Candidates must apply separately for BHU's CAP-PG 2026 on the BHU admission portal after CUET PG results are out. The BHU programme code for this course is PG0703S (Special Course). Note that no institutional preference (BHU student preference) is available for special courses.

BHU Admission Dates

Event	Date
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 13, 2026 - April 1, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	Third week of July 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for CAP-PG 2026 Registration	First week of August 2026 (Tentative)
BHU Seat Allotment - Round 1	August 2026 (Tentative)
Document Verification / Fee Payment	Within 48 hours of seat acceptance (Tentative)
Batch Commencement	August/September 2026 (Tentative)

CUET PG Exam Dates

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

Official Website: https://exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate (45% for OBC; no minimum percentage for SC/ST candidates, only pass required).
Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply provisionally.
Candidates must have appeared in CUET PG 2026 with the relevant subject paper (COQP11) for this programme.

Admission Process

Register for CUET PG 2026 on the NTA portal (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/) with the relevant paper code (COQP11).
Appear for the CUET PG 2026 examination.
After results, register for BHU's CAP-PG 2026 on admission.bhu.ac.in.
Fill in course preferences and submit required documents online.
Participate in seat allotment rounds; accept allotted seat within 48 hours.
Pay the admission fee online within the stipulated time.
Report physically to the Centre for Integrated Rural Development, BHU for document verification and enrollment.
Note: No institutional preference (BHU student preference) is available for this special course.

BHU MA Rural Development Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options to MA Rural Development students, primarily on merit and need basis. Students from Uttar Pradesh can additionally benefit from the UP Government Scholarship, which can reimburse a significant portion of the fees. National scholarships are also available for students from other states.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
Merit Scholarship (Rank 1)	First rank holder in the department/exam	Rs. 4,000 (one-time)
Merit Scholarship (Rank 2)	Second rank holder in the department/exam	Rs. 3,000 (one-time)
Economically Weak Students Scholarship	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh per annum	Free meals (lunch and dinner) for 7 months + Rs. 2,000 annually
Physically Challenged Scholarship	Students with benchmark disability (min. 40%)	Rs. 4,000 per year (for 25 students)
Blind Students - Annadaan Yojana	Blind/visually impaired students	Free lunch and dinner + Rs. 5,000 annually
UP Government Scholarship	UP domicile students; income-based	Fee reimbursement (varies by category)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)	Students from other states; income-based	Varies by scheme
International Students Scholarship	Foreign students enrolled after March 21, 2022	Rs. 6,000 per month (one-time grant)

Students already receiving any other scholarship are not eligible for BHU's internal scholarships.
Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to remain eligible for scholarships.
For this Special Fee Course, the UP Scholarship may partially reimburse fees depending on the category and income criteria.
Scholarship application forms are available at the BHU administration office.

BHU MA Rural Development FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between MA Rural Development and MA Social Work at BHU? Which is better for a career in development sector?

Ans. MA Rural Development (Integrated Rural Development and Management) at BHU focuses specifically on rural development planning, management, policy, and implementation, with a strong emphasis on fieldwork and community engagement. MA Social Work focuses on social welfare, community organisation, and social policy. For a career in rural development, government schemes, and NGOs working in rural areas, MA Rural Development is more directly relevant. For careers in social welfare, counselling, and urban community development, MA Social Work may be more appropriate. Both are good choices for the development sector.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after MA Rural Development from BHU?

Ans. Graduates of MA Rural Development from BHU can pursue careers in: (1) Government - in rural development departments, DRDA, NABARD, NRLM, and other government schemes; (2) NGOs and development organisations - in project management, community development, and advocacy roles; (3) International organisations - UNDP, FAO, World Bank, and other organisations working on rural development; (4) Research and academia - after clearing UGC NET or pursuing PhD; (5) Corporate CSR departments - in rural livelihood and community development programmes; (6) Microfinance and rural banking - in institutions like NABARD, RRBs, and MFIs.

Ques. Is this course the same as MA in Integrated Rural Development and Management at BHU?

Ans. Yes, the MA Rural Development listed in the course catalogue is the same as the MA in Integrated Rural Development and Management (PG0703S) offered by the Centre for Integrated Rural Development at BHU. The full name of the programme is Masters of Arts in Integrated Rural Development and Management. The course covers rural sociology, development economics, management, policy analysis, and field-based learning.

Ques. What is the CUET PG paper code for MA Rural Development at BHU?

Ans. The CUET PG paper code for MA Rural Development (Integrated Rural Development and Management) at BHU is COQP11. The BHU programme code is PG0703S. Candidates should verify the exact paper code on the official NTA website (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/) and the BHU PG Bulletin 2026 before registering.

Ques. Does BHU's MA Rural Development programme have a fieldwork component?

Ans. Yes, the MA in Integrated Rural Development and Management at BHU has a strong fieldwork component. Students are required to undertake field visits, rural immersion programmes, and project work in rural communities. BHU's location in Uttar Pradesh, one of India's most rural states, provides excellent opportunities for fieldwork. The Centre for Integrated Rural Development has established linkages with rural communities, government departments, and NGOs for field-based learning.

Ques. Can engineering or science graduates apply for MA Rural Development at BHU?

Ans. Yes, the eligibility criteria for MA Rural Development at BHU require only a Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks. Students from engineering, science, commerce, or any other background can apply. The CUET PG paper code is COQP11, which is a general paper. Students from non-social science backgrounds are advised to familiarise themselves with basic concepts of rural development, sociology, and economics before appearing for the CUET PG examination.