Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts [MA] in Sociology at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Sociology under the Faculty of Social Sciences. The course covers classical and contemporary sociological theories, Indian society, social stratification, gender studies, rural and urban sociology, research methodology, and social change. BHU's Department of Sociology is one of the most respected in India, known for its interdisciplinary approach and strong research culture. The programme is offered in full-time on-campus mode with a highly affordable fee structure of Rs. 6,000 for the entire 2-year course (regular seats). Admission is based on CUET-PG scores, and the course attracts students aspiring for civil services, social work, research, and academia.

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 Sociology at BHU has a strong tradition of fieldwork-based learning and empirical research, making it one of the premier sociology departments in India.
The programme follows a semester system with 5 papers per semester, each assessed out of 100 marks (70 external + 30 internal).
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 well-suited for students preparing for UPSC (Sociology optional), UGC NET, and careers in social research and development sector.

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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 Sociology Fees

The MA Sociology programme at BHU is among the most affordable postgraduate programmes in India. 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. 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 Sociology Admission 2026

BHU MA Sociology 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 Sociology / 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 Sociology, BHU, for document verification and enrollment.

BHU: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 2 Reviews

The program spans 2 years, divided into 4 semesters, with exams comprising 70 marks for external assessments and 30 marks for internal evaluations. Internal assessments include a review of student behavior. The faculty is generally helpful, though some members may be less cooperative. Students can expect to pay a total course fee of Rs. 35,000, with Rs. 15,000 due in the first year and the same amount in the second year. SC category students benefit from reduced fees, paying just Rs. 3,000 for the first year.

While the faculty does not offer direct scholarships, the Gandhi Fellowship provides a stipend of about Rs. 14,000 for selected students. A national scholarship is also accessible through the National Scholarship Portal. During a previous graduation, an internship with an NGO focusing on environmental issues was available, although it was unpaid. Overall, the university offers affordable education, especially for central university students.

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BHU MA Sociology Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of institutional and government-backed scholarships to MA Sociology 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 Sociology Placement 2026

Dedicated campus placement data exclusive to MA Sociology at BHU is not available, as the programme primarily prepares students for civil services, academic research, social work, and development sector roles rather than corporate placements. Graduates have pursued careers in UPSC Civil Services (Sociology optional), UGC NET/JRF, NGOs, development organizations, journalism, and academia. The university has a placement cell, but formal placement drives for social science programmes are limited.

Placement Details

Placement Aspect	Details
Dedicated Placement Data	Not available exclusively for MA Sociology
Primary Preparation	Civil services, academic research, social work, development sector
Career Paths	UPSC Civil Services (Sociology optional), UGC NET/JRF, NGOs, development organizations, journalism, academia
Placement Cell	University has a placement cell; formal drives for social science programmes limited

BHU MA Sociology FAQs

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

Ans. Yes, CUET-PG is the only entrance exam accepted for MA Sociology admission at BHU. Candidates must appear in the CUET-PG Sociology paper and then separately register on BHU's CAP-PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in) after results are declared.

Ques. How many seats are available in MA Sociology at BHU?

Ans. The total seat intake for MA Sociology at BHU is approximately 60-70 seats (including regular and paid seats), distributed across General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS categories as per Government of India reservation norms. BHU students get a 25% institutional preference in the open category.

Ques. Can I use Sociology as an optional subject for UPSC after doing MA Sociology from BHU?

Ans. Yes, Sociology is one of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC Civil Services Examination. MA Sociology from BHU provides an excellent foundation for this optional, as the curriculum covers most of the UPSC Sociology syllabus in depth. Many BHU Sociology alumni have successfully cleared UPSC with Sociology as their optional.

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

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 for 2 years). 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. Does BHU MA Sociology involve fieldwork or practical components?

Ans. Yes, the MA Sociology programme at BHU includes research methodology and fieldwork components. Students are expected to conduct field surveys and submit research reports as part of their coursework. However, students have noted that formal field visits are limited, and most practical learning happens through individual research projects and dissertations.

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

Ans. Graduates of MA Sociology from BHU pursue diverse career paths including: UPSC Civil Services (Sociology optional), State Public Service Commissions, UGC NET/JRF and academic positions (Lecturer/Assistant Professor), social work and NGO sector, development organizations and think tanks, journalism and media, research organizations, and international development agencies. The course does not have formal corporate placements, but the academic and civil services outcomes are strong.

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Anu Sharma

3.2Helpful

MA, Sociology

Reviewed on Feb 1, 2025(Enrolled 2024)

BHU life

Dislikes

As in my course classes furnishings is not good rooms are very old not sufficient for all student to adjust in one class
In my field there os no field vist kind of thing but as my subject is sociology there should be field visit

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Fees and Financial Aid:

Banaras hindu university as we know it is a central university so it is very pocket friendly for students. First year for SC category student it charges all total ?3000/- There is a national scholarship available which you can apply from national scholarship portal. And the fees will not be increasing it is same for second year as well

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Kishan kumar Sah

3.8

MA, Sociology

Reviewed on Aug 26, 2021(Enrolled 2020)

M.A in social exclusion and inclusive policy BHU

Fees and Financial Aid:

The is 35000 for the whole courses of 2 years the student has to pay 15000 for the first year and the rest fees in the second year, I don't even provide any scholarship by the faculty but provided fellowship program for the student the program name is Gandhi fellowship were you get stipend approx 14000 after getting selected.

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