Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, offers a Ph.D. in History as a full-time, on-campus doctoral programme under the Department of History, Faculty of Arts. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, covering advanced research in Ancient Indian History, Medieval History, Modern Indian History, World History, and related interdisciplinary areas. The total course fee is approximately Rs. 20,468 for the complete duration, making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes in the humanities in India. Admission is primarily through UGC NET/JRF qualification, and the programme is highly popular among history scholars who wish to pursue research at one of India's most prestigious central universities, known for its strong tradition in historical studies.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session have been completed. The first round of admissions concluded in February 2027, with reporting to the department on February 10, 2027. A second admission cycle was initiated from February 12, 2027, for any remaining vacant seats. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the notification is expected to be released around November-December 2027, based on the previous year's pattern, with applications likely to open in December 2027.

Key Points

Ph.D. (History) at BHU is offered under the Department of History, Faculty of Arts, one of the oldest and most reputed history departments in India with a strong tradition of research in Indian and world history.
Research areas include Ancient Indian History and Culture, Archaeology, Medieval Indian History, Modern Indian History, Partition of India, Migration Studies, Gender Studies, World History, and South Asian History.
The department has faculty with specializations across all major periods and themes of history, providing a wide range of research supervision options.
BHU follows a structured PhD programme as per UGC guidelines, including mandatory coursework in the first year, pre-submission seminars, and thesis submission.
Scholars with UGC-JRF fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (for the first two years) and Rs. 35,000 (from the third year onwards).

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FAQs

BHU Ph.D. (History) Fees

The Ph.D. (History) programme at BHU is highly affordable compared to private universities. The total fee for the entire 3-year programme is approximately Rs. 20,468, with the major component being the annual academic and examination fees. Students with JRF/fellowship are additionally supported through monthly stipends. Below is the component-wise fee structure based on the last published data:

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Admission Fee	1,418	-	-	1,418
Examination Fee	2,000	2,000	200	4,200
Other Charges (Annual)	4,950	4,950	4,950	14,850
Total Fees	8,368	6,950	5,150	20,468

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel	Fee (Rs.)
Male Hostel (per year)	5,375

Some fee components are refundable at the time of leaving the university.
Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability; it is not mandatory.
Students with JRF/CSIR fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (Years 1-2) and Rs. 35,000 (Year 3 onwards), which significantly offsets the cost of study.
No EMI option is available; fees are paid annually at the time of re-registration.

BHU Ph.D. (History) Admission 2026

Admissions to Ph.D. (History) at BHU are conducted through a merit-based process primarily relying on UGC NET/JRF qualifications. For the 2026-27 session, BHU opened applications in December 2026 and conducted interviews in January 2027 (Arts faculty interviews were held from January 5 to January 16, 2027). The process is transparent and merit-driven, with separate merit lists for JRF holders and NET-qualified candidates. For the 2027-28 session, the admission process is expected to follow a similar timeline.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Window	December 6 - December 16, 2026
Correction Window	December 17, 2026
Issue of Call Letters	December 20 - December 24, 2026
Interviews (Arts Faculty)	January 5 - January 16, 2027
Result Publication and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2027
End of First Admission Round	February 5, 2027
Reporting to Department	February 10, 2027
Second Admission Cycle (if applicable)	From February 12, 2027

Exam	Event	Date
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2026
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Exam Date	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Registration	April 1 - May 1, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2027

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in History or a related discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD).
Candidates with UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, ICMR-JRF, DBT-JRF, or equivalent national fellowships are given priority and are exempted from the written entrance test.
Candidates qualifying UGC NET (without JRF) are also eligible and are considered under the NET mode with 70% weightage to NET score and 30% to interview.

Admission Process

Release of official notification on the BHU admission portal (bhuonline.in / admission.bhu.ac.in).
Online registration and submission of application form with required documents.
Payment of application fee online.
Shortlisting of candidates based on JRF/NET qualification.
Personal interview/viva voce conducted by the Department of History, Faculty of Arts.
Merit list preparation: 70% weightage to NET/qualifying exam score + 30% to interview (for NET mode); 100% interview for JRF mode.
Issue of offer letter and fee payment to confirm admission.
Reporting to the department on the specified date.

BHU Ph.D. (History) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. (History) students can avail of several fellowships and scholarships that make the programme financially accessible. The most significant support comes through national fellowships like UGC-JRF, which provides a substantial monthly stipend. Additionally, BHU offers its own research fellowship for students who do not hold a national fellowship. The combination of low tuition fees and available fellowships makes this programme one of the most cost-effective doctoral options in the humanities.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Duration
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 31,000/month (Yr 1-2); Rs. 35,000/month (Yr 3+)	UGC NET JRF qualified	Up to 5 years
BHU Research Fellowship	As per university norms	Selected PhD students without national fellowship	Duration of PhD
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Rs. 28,000/month	Minority community students with UGC NET	Up to 5 years
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	Rs. 28,000/month	SC/ST students	Up to 5 years

JRF fellowships are awarded by UGC and are not directly given by BHU; students must qualify the respective national exams.
BHU Research Fellowship is subject to availability and university budget; students must apply separately after admission.
MANF and RGNF are government fellowships administered through UGC; application deadlines are announced separately.
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.

BHU Ph.D. (History) FAQs

Ques. What are the main research areas available in Ph.D. (History) at BHU?

Ans. The Department of History at BHU offers research across all major periods and themes including Ancient Indian History and Culture, Archaeology, Medieval Indian History (Sultanate and Mughal periods), Modern Indian History (colonial and post-colonial), Partition of India, Migration and Refugee Studies, Gender Studies, World History, and Modern South Asian History. The department has faculty with diverse specializations, providing a wide range of research supervision options.

Ques. Is there a separate Ph.D. in Ancient Indian History at BHU, or is it covered under Ph.D. (History)?

Ans. BHU offers both Ph.D. (History) under the Department of History and Ph.D. (Ancient Indian History and Culture) under the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology (AIHCA), which is a separate department. Students interested in ancient history and archaeology should check both departments and apply to the one that best matches their research interest.

Ques. What is the UGC NET subject code for History?

Ans. UGC NET for History has subject code 01. Candidates who qualify UGC NET in History are eligible to apply for Ph.D. (History) at BHU. Those who qualify with JRF are given priority in admissions.

Ques. How competitive is Ph.D. (History) admission at BHU? How many seats are available?

Ans. Ph.D. (History) at BHU is highly competitive. The number of seats varies each year based on faculty availability and research supervisors. Typically, seats are limited to the number of available supervisors in the department. Candidates with JRF are given priority, and the remaining seats are filled through the NET mode based on merit.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. (History) at BHU if my MA was in a related subject like Political Science or Sociology?

Ans. Generally, the qualifying degree for Ph.D. (History) should be an MA in History. However, candidates with MA in closely related disciplines may be considered at the discretion of the department. It is advisable to check the official PhD Information Bulletin for the specific session and contact the department directly to confirm eligibility.

Ques. What career options are available after completing Ph.D. (History) from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors in History departments at universities and colleges (UGC-NET qualification required), researchers at institutions like the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), National Archives of India, or Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). They can also work as historians, archivists, museum curators, or civil servants. A PhD from BHU's Department of History is highly regarded and opens doors to positions in central universities and research institutions.