Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi offers a 2-year full-time Master of Arts in Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy under the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, Faculty of Social Sciences. The programme spans 4 semesters and is a Special Fee Course with a total tuition fee of Rs. 36,000 for the 2-year programme (Rs. 9,000 per semester), and the total course fee including other charges is approximately Rs. 45,750. The programme is designed to equip students with a deep understanding of social exclusion, marginalisation, discrimination, and inclusive policy frameworks, making it highly relevant for careers in government, NGOs, civil society organisations, and research institutions. BHU's MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy is a unique and specialised programme that addresses critical issues of caste, gender, disability, and minority rights in the Indian context.

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 the Study of Social Inclusion, BHU - a dedicated centre for research and education on social exclusion and inclusive policy.
The programme is unique in India, offering a specialised curriculum on social exclusion, marginalisation, caste, gender, disability, and minority rights.
The interdisciplinary approach combines sociology, political science, economics, law, and policy studies.
BHU's location in Varanasi, a city with deep social and cultural diversity, provides a rich environment for fieldwork and research on social exclusion.
Graduates are well-positioned for careers in government policy departments, NGOs, civil society organisations, international development agencies, and research institutions.
The programme is open to graduates from any discipline, making it accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds.

86 Views Last Year

2 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

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 Social Exclusion Fees

The MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy programme at BHU is a Special Fee Course. The total tuition fee for the 2-year programme is Rs. 36,000 (Rs. 9,000 per semester). Including other charges, the total course fee comes to approximately Rs. 45,750. 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. 9,000	Rs. 9,000	Rs. 9,000	Rs. 9,000	Rs. 36,000
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. 11,438	Rs. 11,438	Rs. 11,438	Rs. 11,438	Rs. 45,750
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 Social Exclusion Admission 2026

Admissions to MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy 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 PG0708S (Special Course). Note that no institutional preference (BHU student preference) is available for special courses.

Important Dates

Event	Date
BHU MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Admission Dates 2026
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)

Entrance 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 the Study of Social Inclusion, BHU for document verification and enrollment.
Note: No institutional preference (BHU student preference) is available for this special course.

BHU MA Social Exclusion Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options to MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy 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 Social Exclusion FAQs

Ques. What is MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at BHU, and what makes it unique?

Ans. MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy is a specialised postgraduate programme offered by the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion at BHU. It is one of the few programmes in India that specifically focuses on social exclusion, marginalisation, caste discrimination, gender inequality, disability rights, and minority rights, along with inclusive policy frameworks. The programme is unique in its interdisciplinary approach, combining sociology, political science, economics, law, and policy studies. It is particularly relevant for students interested in social justice, human rights, and inclusive development.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in: (1) Government - in social welfare departments, SC/ST welfare departments, women and child development departments, and disability rights commissions; (2) NGOs and civil society organisations - in advocacy, community development, and rights-based work; (3) International organisations - UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, and other organisations working on social inclusion and human rights; (4) Research and academia - after clearing UGC NET or pursuing PhD; (5) Legal and policy advocacy - in human rights organisations and legal aid centres; (6) Corporate CSR departments - in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles.

Ques. Is this programme suitable for students from non-social science backgrounds?

Ans. Yes, the eligibility criteria require only a Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks. Students from law, economics, political science, or even science and engineering backgrounds can apply if they have an interest in social justice and inclusive policy. 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 sociology, social exclusion, and Indian social policy before appearing for the CUET PG examination.

Ques. What is the CUET PG paper code for MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at BHU?

Ans. The CUET PG paper code for MA Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at BHU is COQP11. The BHU programme code is PG0708S. 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 Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion conduct research on caste and Dalit issues?

Ans. Yes, the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion at BHU is a dedicated research and teaching centre that focuses on issues of social exclusion, including caste discrimination, Dalit rights, gender inequality, disability rights, and minority rights. The centre conducts research, organises seminars and workshops, and publishes research on these issues. Students of the MA programme benefit from the centre's research activities and can engage with ongoing research projects.

Ques. Can I pursue PhD in Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy from BHU after completing the MA?

Ans. Yes, BHU offers a PhD programme in Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (PhD869) through the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion. After completing the MA, students can apply for PhD admission, which is based on UGC NET/JRF scores or BHU's own research entrance test. Holding a UGC NET/JRF qualification significantly strengthens your PhD application and also makes you eligible for a monthly fellowship. The centre has active research programmes and experienced faculty to guide PhD research.