Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Science in Geography at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Geography under the Faculty of Science. Spanning 4 semesters, the course covers a comprehensive curriculum including Physical Geography, Human Geography, Economic Geography, Cartography, Remote Sensing and GIS, Environmental Geography, Regional Planning, Geomorphology, Climatology, and Population Geography. The programme is offered as M.A./M.Sc. in Geography (PG0498), with the M.Sc. stream specifically designed for B.Sc. graduates. With an extremely affordable fee of Rs. 8,000 for the entire 2-year programme (regular seats) and admission based on CUET PG scores, BHU M.Sc Geography is one of the most sought-after geography programmes in India, particularly popular among students aspiring for civil services, urban planning, and geospatial careers.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. The CUET PG 2026 examination is currently ongoing (March 13 - April 1, 2026), with results expected tentatively by May 6, 2026. Based on the 2025 admission cycle, BHU counselling registration typically opens in May, with the first merit list released in June. Candidates who have appeared in CUET PG 2026 should register on the BHU CAP-PG 2026 portal at admission.bhu.ac.in once it opens.

Key Points

The Department of Geography at BHU is one of the oldest and most reputed geography departments in India, with a strong tradition in both physical and human geography research.
The programme is offered as M.A./M.Sc. in Geography under a single admission process (PG0498); students with a B.Sc. background are awarded M.Sc., while those with a B.A. background are awarded M.A.
The curriculum has a strong emphasis on Geospatial Technologies including Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS, and Cartography, making graduates highly employable in the growing geospatial industry.
The department regularly organises field trips, workshops on quantitative techniques, and international geography conferences, providing students with practical exposure.
BHU is an Institution of Eminence (IoE) recognised by the Government of India, with a sprawling 550-hectare campus that itself serves as a living laboratory for geographical studies.
The university has a 25% institutional preference for BHU graduates in open category seats (not applicable for special courses).
Paid seats (up to 15% supernumerary) are available at a higher fee for candidates who narrowly miss the regular seat cutoff.

153 Views Last Year

5 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
Ranking
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 M.Sc Geography Fees

BHU M.Sc Geography is among the most affordable postgraduate programmes in India for regular seat holders, with a total tuition fee of just Rs. 8,000 for the entire 2-year course (Rs. 2,000 per semester). Paid seat holders pay Rs. 30,000 per year (Rs. 15,000 per semester). Hostel accommodation is optional and available at a nominal charge; mess charges are managed privately.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Regular Seat (per semester)	Paid Seat (per semester)
Tuition Fee	Rs. 2,000	Rs. 15,000
Total Fee per Semester	Rs. 2,000	Rs. 15,000
Total Fee per Year	Rs. 4,000	Rs. 30,000
Total Fee (2 Years)	Rs. 8,000	Rs. 60,000
Hostel Fee (optional, per year)	Rs. 5,375 (approx.)	Rs. 5,375 (approx.)
Total Fees (without hostel)	Rs. 8,000	Rs. 60,000

Hostel fee is approximately Rs. 5,375 per year (not mandatory); hostel accommodation is subject to availability.
Mess charges are private and approximately Rs. 3,000 per month.
A caution/security deposit (refundable) is collected at the time of hostel admission.
Students already holding another scholarship are not eligible for BHU institutional scholarships simultaneously.
Education loans are available under the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme (collateral-free and guarantor-free) at pmvidyalaxmi.co.in.

BHU M.Sc Geography Admission 2026

Admissions to M.Sc Geography at BHU are based entirely on CUET PG scores. The university follows a Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG) for seat allocation. For the 2026-27 session, CUET PG 2026 is currently ongoing and results are expected in May 2026, after which BHU will open its counselling portal. Based on the 2025 cycle, the counselling process involves online registration, document verification, and multiple rounds of seat allotment.

Important Dates

BHU Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026
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)
BHU PG 1st Merit List	June 2026 (tentative)
BHU PG Counselling / Seat Allotment Rounds	June - July 2026 (tentative)
Mop-Up Round (if applicable)	August - September 2026 (tentative)
Commencement of Classes	July/August 2026 (tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

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

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

For M.Sc. in Geography: Candidates must have passed B.Sc. degree securing a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate, with Geography as one of the subjects at the graduate level.
For M.A. in Geography: Candidates must have passed B.A. degree securing a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate, with Geography as one of the subjects at the graduate level.
SC/ST candidates are exempt from the minimum percentage requirement; they only need to have passed the qualifying examination and appeared in CUET PG.
OBC and PwBD candidates get a relaxation of 5% marks in the minimum eligibility requirement.

Admission Process

Register for CUET PG 2026 on the NTA portal (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg) and appear for the Geography paper.
After CUET PG results are declared, register on BHU's CAP-PG 2026 portal at admission.bhu.ac.in.
Fill in preferences and upload required documents (mark sheets, category certificates, etc.).
Participate in the seat allotment process; accept the allotted seat and pay the admission fee within the stipulated deadline.
Report physically to the Department of Geography, BHU for document verification and final admission.

BHU M.Sc Geography Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options for M.Sc Geography students, primarily on merit and need basis. The UP Government Scholarship is the most widely availed, reimbursing academic and hostel fees for students domiciled in Uttar Pradesh. BHU's own institutional scholarships provide monetary rewards and meal support to deserving students.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Benefit
UP Government Scholarship (Post-Matric)	UP domicile; family income below Rs. 2 lakh (General/OBC) or Rs. 2.5 lakh (SC/ST)	Reimbursement of tuition and hostel fees
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)	Students from other states; income-based	Fee reimbursement as per state norms
BHU Merit Scholarship (Rank Holders)	1st rank holder in department	One-time reward of Rs. 4,000
BHU Merit Scholarship (2nd Rank)	2nd rank holder in department	One-time reward of Rs. 3,000
BHU Scholarship for Economically Weak Students	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year; 75% attendance	Free meals (lunch and dinner) for 7 months; Rs. 2,000 annually
BHU Scholarship for Blind/Physically Challenged	Blind or physically challenged students	Free meals under Annadaan Yojana; Rs. 4,000-5,000 annually
Earn While Learn Programme	Selected students with financial need	Part-time tasks assigned by university with monetary compensation
INSPIRE Scholarship (DST)	Top performers in science at 10+2 level	Rs. 80,000/year (Rs. 60,000 scholarship + Rs. 20,000 mentorship)
PM Vidyalaxmi Education Loan	All admitted students	Collateral-free, guarantor-free education loan

Students already receiving another scholarship are not eligible for BHU institutional scholarships simultaneously.
UP Scholarship applications must be submitted online through the UP Scholarship portal (scholarship.up.gov.in) within the deadline announced each academic year.
INSPIRE Scholarship is applicable only to students who qualified in the top 1% of their 10+2 board examination.
The Earn While Learn programme is limited in seats and is allotted based on financial need.

BHU M.Sc Geography Ranking

THE Ranking

#800 out of 801 in International 2020

Do you think the Rankings are wrong ? Report Here

BHU M.Sc Geography FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between M.A. and M.Sc. in Geography at BHU? Is it the same programme?

Ans. Yes, it is the same programme (PG0498) with a single admission process. The degree awarded depends on the qualifying degree: candidates with a B.Sc. background receive M.Sc. in Geography, while those with a B.A. background receive M.A. in Geography. The curriculum, faculty, and classroom are the same for both. This is a unique feature of BHU's Geography department and is often a source of confusion for applicants.

Ques. Is GIS and Remote Sensing taught in M.Sc Geography at BHU?

Ans. Yes, Geospatial Technologies including Remote Sensing, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS, and Cartography are integral parts of the curriculum. The Department of Geography at BHU has dedicated labs for GIS and Remote Sensing. The department also offers a separate One-Year PG Diploma in Remote Sensing and GIS for those who want specialised training in this area.

Ques. How competitive is the CUET PG cutoff for M.Sc Geography at BHU?

Ans. M.Sc Geography at BHU is quite competitive. The 2025 General category cutoff in Round 1 was 165 marks, dropping to 142 by Round 5. For OBC, it ranged from 149 (Round 1) to 130 (Round 5). SC category ranged from 130 to 95. The high demand is driven by BHU's strong reputation in geography and the course's relevance for civil services and geospatial careers.

Ques. What are the career options after M.Sc Geography from BHU?

Ans. Graduates pursue careers in urban and regional planning, environmental consulting, GIS and remote sensing industry, civil services (IAS, IFS, State PCS), teaching and research, disaster management, tourism, and cartography. Many students qualify for UGC NET/JRF and pursue Ph.D. programmes. The growing demand for geospatial professionals in India makes M.Sc Geography graduates from BHU highly employable in both government and private sectors.

Ques. Are paid seats available for M.Sc Geography at BHU?

Ans. Yes, paid seats (up to 15% supernumerary) are available for M.Sc Geography at BHU. The fee for paid seats is Rs. 30,000 per year (Rs. 15,000 per semester), compared to the regular seat fee of Rs. 2,000 per semester. Reservation policy applies to paid seats as well. Candidates should monitor the department notice board and BHU admission portal for paid seat availability, as separate notices are issued for these seats.

Ques. What is the hostel situation for M.Sc Geography students at BHU?

Ans. BHU has dedicated PG hostels for science students. Boys are accommodated in Bhabha Hostel (1st year) and Dalmia Hostel (2nd year), while girls can stay in J.C. Bose Hostel, Maitreyi Hostel, or Kundan Devi Shatabdi Hostel. Hostel allotment is based on merit and availability, with preference given to outstation students. The hostel fee is approximately Rs. 5,375 per year, and mess charges are private (approximately Rs. 3,000/month). All hostels have Wi-Fi, common rooms with TV, and sports facilities.