Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Acharya in Yoga Shiksha (course code PG0300), commonly referred to as MA (Yogashastra), is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Vaidic Darshan under the Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnana (SVDV) at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The Acharya degree at BHU's SVDV Faculty is equivalent to a Master of Arts (MA) degree. The programme provides an in-depth study of the Patanjali Yoga system, covering theoretical, philosophical, and practical dimensions of classical Indian Yoga, including Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, asanas, pranayama, mudras, bandhas, and satkarmas. The course is offered at one of the most affordable fee structures in India, with a semester fee of just Rs. 1,000 for regular category students. Admission is based on CUET PG scores. The programme is particularly popular among students seeking to pursue UGC NET in Yoga, academic careers in Yoga education, and professional roles as Yoga instructors or therapists. BHU is the only university in the Purvanchal region offering this course, making it a unique and sought-after programme.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are currently in progress via CUET PG 2026, which is ongoing (March 13 - April 1, 2026). The CUET PG 2026 result is expected on May 6, 2026 (tentative), following which BHU will open its Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) for seat allocation, tentatively in June 2026. Based on the 2025 cycle, CAP-PG registration opened in early June and the first round of allotment was announced in mid-July 2025.

Key Points

The Acharya degree awarded by BHU's SVDV Faculty is recognised as equivalent to MA by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is accepted for UGC NET eligibility in Yoga.
The curriculum integrates classical Sanskrit texts on Yoga (Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Bhagavad Gita) with practical training in asanas, pranayama, mudras, bandhas, and satkarmas.
The programme was recently approved by BHU's Academic Council and is one of the few in the Purvanchal region offering a postgraduate qualification in Yoga within a traditional Sanskrit university framework.
Graduates are eligible to appear for UGC NET in Yoga, enabling careers as Assistant Professors, Yoga instructors, and researchers in academic institutions.
The fee structure is among the most affordable for any PG programme in India, making it highly accessible to students from all economic backgrounds.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

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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 Yogashastra Fees

The Acharya in Yoga Shiksha at BHU is offered at an exceptionally affordable fee. The regular category semester fee is Rs. 1,000, making the total tuition fee for the 2-year (4-semester) programme just Rs. 4,000. For students admitted under the Paid Fee category, the semester fee is Rs. 45,000, totalling Rs. 1,80,000 for the full course. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at a nominal annual charge of approximately Rs. 4,875 (non-AC), with mess charges billed separately.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Regular Category (per semester)	Paid Fee Category (per semester)
Tuition Fee	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 45,000
Total Tuition Fee (4 Semesters)	Rs. 4,000	Rs. 1,80,000
Hostel Fee (per year, optional)	Rs. 4,875	Rs. 4,875
Mess Charges (approx., per month)	Rs. 3,500 - Rs. 4,000	Rs. 3,500 - Rs. 4,000
Total Fees (without hostel)	Rs. 4,000	Rs. 1,80,000

Hostel accommodation is not mandatory; students may opt for private accommodation near the campus.
Mess charges are billed separately and are not included in the hostel fee.
A refundable security deposit may be applicable at the time of admission.
Education loans are available under the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme (collateral-free) for eligible students.

BHU MA Yogashastra Admission 2026

Admissions to the Acharya in Yoga Shiksha at BHU are conducted through CUET PG 2026, followed by BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026). The CUET PG 2026 examination is currently ongoing. Based on the 2025 admission cycle, BHU opened CAP-PG registration in early June 2025, with the first allotment round in mid-July 2025 and subsequent rounds through August-September 2025. For 2026, a similar timeline is expected.

BHU Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	Early June 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Closes	Mid-June 2026
Round 1 Seat Allotment	Mid-July 2026
Round 2 Seat Allotment	Late July 2026
Round 3 Seat Allotment	Late July / Early August 2026
Mop-Up Round (if applicable)	August - September 2026
Classes Begin	August / September 2026

Entrance Exam Dates

Event	Date
CUET PG 2026 Registration	December 14, 2025 - January 23, 2026
Form Correction Window	January 28 - January 30, 2026
Admit Card Release	March 9, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026
Result Declaration	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) or Bachelor degree in Yoga / Sankhya Yoga from a recognised institution.
A minimum aggregate of 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA) is required for General/OBC/EWS candidates.
SC/ST candidates are exempt from the minimum percentage requirement but must have passed the qualifying examination.

Admission Process

Register for CUET PG 2026 on the NTA portal (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg) and appear for the relevant SVDV/Yoga paper.
After CUET PG result declaration, apply for BHU's CAP-PG 2026 on the official BHU admission portal (admission.bhu.ac.in).
Seat allotment is based on CUET PG score, category, and institutional preference (BHU students get up to 25% preference in open category seats).
Accept the allotted seat online and pay the admission fee within the stipulated deadline.
Report physically to the Department of Vaidic Darshan, Faculty of SVDV, BHU with original documents for verification and final admission.

BHU MA Yogashastra Scholarships 2026

Students admitted to the Acharya in Yoga Shiksha at BHU can avail a range of government scholarships. Given the extremely affordable fee structure (Rs. 4,000 total for regular category), scholarships primarily help cover living and hostel expenses. SC/ST and OBC students are well-supported through central government schemes, and all students can benefit from the PM Vidyalaxmi education loan scheme.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Application Deadline
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (Central Govt.)	SC students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Full tuition fee + maintenance allowance	October - November (annually)
Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students (Central Govt.)	ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Full tuition fee + maintenance allowance	October - November (annually)
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students (Central Govt.)	OBC (non-creamy layer) students with family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	October - November (annually)
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for SC Students (Top Class Education)	SC students admitted to notified top institutions	Full tuition fee coverage	April - May (annually)
Sitaram Jindal Scholarship	Students with family income below Rs. 2 lakh/year, merit-based	Rs. 1,000 - Rs. 2,000/month	April 20, 2026
PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme (Education Loan)	All students admitted to recognised institutions	Collateral-free loan up to Rs. 10 lakh	Rolling basis

Applications for most government scholarships are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
Given the very low tuition fee, most scholarship benefits will primarily cover hostel, mess, and living expenses.
SC/ST students are exempt from minimum percentage requirements for admission but must meet scholarship-specific income criteria.
The PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme provides interest subsidy for students with family income up to Rs. 8 lakh per annum.

BHU MA Yogashastra FAQs

Ques. Is the Acharya in Yoga Shiksha from BHU equivalent to an MA degree? Will it be accepted for UGC NET?

Ans. Yes. The Acharya degree awarded by BHU's Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnana (SVDV) is recognised as equivalent to a Master of Arts (MA) degree by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Graduates are eligible to appear for UGC NET in Yoga, which opens the door to Assistant Professor positions and Junior Research Fellowships in Yoga.

Ques. What is the difference between Acharya in Yoga Shiksha and Acharya in Sankhyayoga at BHU?

Ans. Both are 2-year postgraduate programmes under the Department of Vaidic Darshan, SVDV Faculty. Acharya in Yoga Shiksha (PG0300) focuses on the practical and pedagogical aspects of Yoga, including asanas, pranayama, and classical Yoga texts. Acharya in Sankhyayoga (PG0294) focuses more on the philosophical system of Sankhya and its relationship with Yoga. Both are equivalent to MA degrees.

Ques. What are the career options after completing this programme?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Yoga instructors, Yoga therapists, and teachers in schools, colleges, wellness centres, and hospitals. With UGC NET qualification, they can become Assistant Professors in universities and colleges. Other options include working with government Yoga promotion bodies, AYUSH Ministry initiatives, and international Yoga organisations. Some graduates also pursue PhD in Yoga or related disciplines.

Ques. Is this a newly introduced course at BHU?

Ans. The Acharya in Yoga Shiksha programme was recently approved by BHU's Academic Council (approval was announced in 2025). It is offered under the Department of Vaidic Darshan, which has a long tradition of teaching classical Indian philosophical systems. The course was introduced in response to growing demand from students and faculty, and is the only such programme in the Purvanchal region.

Ques. What is the total seat intake for this programme?

Ans. The exact seat intake per category is available in the BHU PG Bulletin 2026. As with other SVDV Acharya programmes, the intake is typically small (around 10-20 seats total across categories), making it a competitive programme despite its niche nature. Candidates are advised to check the official BHU admission portal for the latest seat matrix.

Ques. Can students from non-Sanskrit/non-Yoga backgrounds apply for this programme?

Ans. The eligibility requires a Bachelor degree (Honours) or Bachelor degree in Yoga or Sankhya Yoga. Candidates from general BA backgrounds without Yoga as a subject may not be directly eligible. However, candidates who have studied Yoga as a subject in their undergraduate programme from a recognised institution are eligible. It is advisable to verify eligibility with the Department of Vaidic Darshan before applying.