Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts (MA) in Urdu at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Faculty of Arts under the Department of Urdu. BHU's Department of Urdu is one of the most reputed Urdu language and literature departments in India, situated in Varanasi, a city historically significant to Urdu literary culture. The programme covers classical and modern Urdu literature, poetry (ghazal, nazm, marsiya), prose, linguistics, and translation. It spans 4 semesters with a total seat intake of 64 seats, and the annual tuition fee is approximately Rs. 3,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). Admission is based on CUET-PG scores. The course is popular among students aspiring for teaching careers, research, civil services, journalism, and roles in media and cultural organisations.

As of March 2026, the CUET-PG 2026 examination is currently ongoing (March 13 - April 1, 2026). Results are expected in May 2026, following which BHU will open its Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) for registration, tentatively in May-June 2026. Candidates who have appeared in CUET-PG 2026 must separately register on the BHU CAP-PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in) to be considered for admission to the 2026-27 batch.

Key Points

BHU's Department of Urdu is one of the most prestigious Urdu departments in India, with a strong tradition of scholarship in classical and modern Urdu literature.
Varanasi has a rich Urdu literary heritage, and studying at BHU provides students with immersion in this cultural environment.
The programme covers the full spectrum of Urdu literature including classical poetry (Mir, Ghalib, Iqbal), modern fiction, and contemporary Urdu writing.
UGC-NET qualified graduates are eligible for assistant professor positions in Urdu departments across Indian universities.
Urdu is one of the 22 Scheduled Languages of India and is the official language of Jammu and Kashmir, offering government career opportunities.

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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 Urdu Fees

BHU offers the MA Urdu programme at a highly affordable fee structure, consistent with other MA programmes at the university. The total tuition fee for the entire 2-year course is approximately Rs. 6,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). In addition to tuition, students pay other charges including examination fees, library fees, and development fees, bringing the total academic fee to approximately Rs. 25,500 for the full course. Hostel accommodation is available separately and is not mandatory.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Semester (INR)	Total for 2 Years (INR)
Tuition Fee	1,500	6,000
Examination Fee	Approx. 500	Approx. 2,000
Library Fee	Approx. 200	Approx. 800
Development / Other Charges	Approx. 4,175	Approx. 16,700
Total Academic Fee	Approx. 6,375	Approx. 25,500
Hostel Fee (Boys, optional)	Approx. 2,688 per semester	Approx. 10,750
Total Fee (with Hostel)	-	Approx. 36,250
Total Fee (without Hostel)	-	Approx. 25,500

Hostel accommodation is not guaranteed and is allotted on a merit-cum-distance basis as per BHU Hostel Manual.
Hostel fee does not include mess/food charges.
Mess charges are approximately Rs. 80-100 per day.
The registration fee for CAP-PG 2026 is Rs. 300 (General/OBC/EWS) and Rs. 150 (SC/ST/PwBD) per programme, which is non-refundable.
Full refund of admission fee is available if withdrawal is made before the last date of admission declared by BHU.
No EMI facility is available; fees are paid semester-wise through the online portal.

BHU MA Urdu Admission 2026

Admission to MA Urdu at BHU is entirely merit-based through CUET-PG scores. Candidates must first appear in CUET-PG conducted by NTA, and then separately register on BHU's CAP-PG portal. The seat allotment is done through multiple rounds of the Combined Allotment Program. For the 2026-27 session, CUET-PG 2026 is currently ongoing and BHU's CAP-PG registration is expected to open in May 2026. The 2025 General category cutoff ranged from 53-79 marks (CUET-PG score), and the 2024 General cutoff ranged from 10-63 marks.

BHU MA Urdu Admission Schedule

Event	Tentative Date
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026 (Ongoing)
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	May 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Closes	June 2026 (Tentative)
1st Round Allotment	July 2026 (Tentative)
2nd Round Allotment	July 2026 (Tentative)
3rd Round Allotment	July-August 2026 (Tentative)
Spot Round (if applicable)	August-September 2026 (Tentative)
Classes Begin	August-September 2026 (Tentative)

CUET-PG 2026 Important Dates

Event	Date
CUET-PG 2026 Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET-PG 2026 Registration End	January 25, 2026
Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam	March 6 - 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 hold a Bachelor's degree (BA/BA Hons.) under the 10+2+3 pattern from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
Candidates who have studied Urdu as a subject at the graduation level are preferred; however, graduates from any discipline who have appeared in the relevant CUET-PG Urdu test paper are eligible.
Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply provisionally, subject to fulfilling eligibility by October 31, 2026.

Admission Process:

Appear in CUET-PG 2026 conducted by NTA in the relevant Urdu test paper.
Register separately on BHU's CAP-PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in) after CUET-PG results are declared.
Fill in programme preferences and pay the non-refundable registration fee (Rs. 300 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 150 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Seat allotment is done through multiple rounds based on CUET-PG merit score.
Upon allotment, pay the admission fee within the stipulated deadline to confirm the seat.
Report to the Department of Urdu, Faculty of Arts, BHU with original documents for physical verification.
Up to 25% of open category seats are reserved for BHU students (institutional preference) as per Supreme Court directives.

BHU MA Urdu Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in MA Urdu at BHU can avail a range of scholarships from central government, state government, and university-level schemes. Given the highly affordable fee structure, scholarships can effectively cover the entire cost of education for eligible students. Minority community students (particularly Muslim students) may also be eligible for Maulana Azad National Fellowship and other minority scholarships.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Offered By	Amount	Eligibility
National Scholarship for Post Graduate Studies (UGC)	UGC / NSP	Rs. 4,500 per month	Graduation with min. 60% marks; age below 30 years; full-time PG at recognised university
Maulana Azad National Fellowship	Ministry of Minority Affairs / UGC	Rs. 31,000 per month (JRF) + contingency	Minority community students (Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi); pursuing research/PG
Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Ministry of Minority Affairs / NSP	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	Minority community; family income below Rs. 2 lakh per annum
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students	Ministry of Social Justice / NSP	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	SC category; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	Ministry of Social Justice / NSP	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	OBC-NCL; family income below Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum
BHU Merit Scholarship (Internal)	Banaras Hindu University	Varies	Based on academic performance in qualifying examination
Pratidana PG Awards	BHU	Rs. 25,000 per annum	Underprivileged students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh; min. 60% in qualifying exam

Most central scholarships are applied through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Applications for NSP scholarships typically open in October-November each year.
The Maulana Azad National Fellowship is for research programmes; PG students should check eligibility carefully.
Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving scholarships.

BHU MA Urdu FAQs

Ques. Is Urdu as a subject mandatory at the graduation level to be eligible for MA Urdu at BHU?

Ans. No, Urdu as a subject at graduation is not strictly mandatory. Candidates from any graduation background who have appeared in the relevant CUET-PG Urdu test paper are eligible. However, having Urdu as a subject at graduation gives a significant advantage in the entrance exam and in the programme itself, as the curriculum assumes a working knowledge of Urdu script and literature.

Ques. What is the significance of studying MA Urdu at BHU in Varanasi, given that Urdu is more associated with cities like Lucknow and Hyderabad?

Ans. Varanasi has a deep and often underappreciated Urdu literary heritage. The city was home to many great Urdu poets and writers, and the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (composite culture) of Varanasi is reflected in its Urdu literary tradition. BHU's Department of Urdu has produced distinguished scholars and maintains strong connections with the broader Urdu literary world. Studying at BHU also provides the advantage of a central university degree and a diverse academic environment.

Ques. What are the career options after MA Urdu from BHU?

Ans. After MA Urdu from BHU, common career paths include: (1) Teaching Urdu in schools and colleges after qualifying UGC-NET/JRF, (2) Research and PhD in Urdu literature or linguistics, (3) Translation work (Urdu-Hindi-English), (4) Journalism and media in Urdu language publications, broadcasting (All India Radio, Doordarshan Urdu), and digital media, (5) Civil Services where Urdu literature is an optional subject in UPSC and state PSC exams, and (6) Government roles in states where Urdu has official status (Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, UP, Bihar).

Ques. How competitive is the CUET-PG cutoff for MA Urdu at BHU?

Ans. The MA Urdu cutoff at BHU is moderate and accessible. In 2025, the General category cutoff ranged from 53-79 marks across rounds (CUET-PG score), with Round 1 at 79 and later rounds dropping to 53. In 2024, the General cutoff ranged from 10-63. The variation across rounds indicates that seats are available even for students with moderate scores in later rounds.

Ques. Can I pursue PhD in Urdu at BHU after completing MA Urdu?

Ans. Yes, BHU offers PhD in Urdu through its Research Entrance Test (RET). After completing MA Urdu with a good academic record, candidates can apply for PhD admission. Those with UGC-NET/JRF qualification are exempted from the RET. BHU's research environment and library resources, including a significant collection of Urdu manuscripts and texts, make it an excellent choice for Urdu literary and linguistic research.

Ques. Is Urdu script (Nastaliq) taught as part of the MA Urdu programme at BHU, and is it necessary to know the script before joining?

Ans. Yes, Urdu script (Nastaliq) is an integral part of the MA Urdu programme. Students are expected to be able to read and write in Urdu script. While the programme may include some remedial support for students with weaker script skills, it is strongly advisable to have a working knowledge of Urdu script before joining. Students who have studied Urdu at the school or graduation level will be well-prepared. Those without prior Urdu script knowledge should practice reading and writing before the programme begins.