Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is a central university in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, founded in 1916 by Madan Mohan Malaviya. The University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, recognises the university. BHU functions from a single residential campus spread across more than 1,300 acres, which places it among Asia's largest residential university campuses.
In NIRF Rankings 2025, BHU holds the 10th position in the Overall category in India. Among subject rankings, IMS BHU stands at 6th in Medical, while the Faculty of Agriculture is placed 4th in Agriculture. The Varanasi campus brings together faculties such as Arts, Science, Commerce, Social Sciences, Law, Management Studies, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, and the Institute of Medical Sciences.
The university is also known for the Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, which is linked to IMS BHU. The hospital has more than 2,000 beds and works as a major tertiary care centre for eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
- UG Programmes have 3,867 seats across five streams:
- BA Hons is offered in Economics, English, Hindi, History, Political Science, Sanskrit, Sociology, and more than 30 other subjects
- B.Sc Hons is available in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Botany, Zoology, Geography, and Statistics
- BALLB Hons is a 5-year integrated law course admitted through CUET UG, not CLAT
- MBBS has 100 seats and BDS has 63 seats at IMS BHU through MCC NEET counselling
- B.Sc Agriculture and B.Sc Nursing are offered through their respective institutes
- PG Programmes include:
- MA in more than 30 subjects, along with M.Sc, M.Com, and LLM
- MBA and MBA (International Business) at the Institute of Management Studies with 136 seats in total
- MD, MS, DM, and M.Ch at IMS BHU
- PhD programmes across all departments
The full four-year fee for BA Hons is between INR 81,900 and INR 1,09,200. B.Sc Hons costs between INR 1,44,000 and INR 1,92,000. The total MBBS fee for 5.5 years is INR 1,68,695, while the MBA total fee is INR 1,91,678.
Students at BHU can apply for the Central Sector Scholarship, Post-Matric Scholarship for reserved categories, and the university's Merit-cum-Means Scholarship during their course.
According to NIRF 2025 data, BHU recorded a median package of INR 9 LPA for UG 4-year graduates and INR 9 LPA for PG 2-year graduates. In the latest reported cycle, 626 UG students and 1,341 PG students were placed.
Admission Update: - UG programmes such as BA, B.Sc, B.Com, and others: Further rounds are ongoing through bhucuet.samarth.edu.in.
- MBBS and BDS at IMS BHU: Round 2 and stray vacancy activity is expected in September 2026.
- MBA and MBA-IB for the 2026-28 batch: Admissions are in progress at admission.bhu.ac.in.
BHU Admission Dates 2026
BHU follows different admission routes for different courses. CUET UG is used for undergraduate arts, science, commerce, law, and agriculture courses through the BHU CAP-UG portal. NEET UG counselling through MCC is used for MBBS and BDS. MBA admission is based on CAT, while most PG courses use CUET PG or GAT-B.
| Event | Current Date |
| Further UG Rounds | Ongoing at bhucuet.samarth.edu.in |
| MCC Round 2 and Stray Vacancy | September 2026 |
| Next MBA Cycle, CAT 2026 | November 2026 |
Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm
The main entrance routes accepted by BHU for major programme groups are listed below.
| Programme Family | Entrance Exam | Portal |
| BA Hons, B.Sc Hons, B.Com, BALLB Hons, Agriculture | CUET UG | bhucuet.samarth.edu.in |
| MBBS and BDS (IMS BHU) | NEET UG through MCC counselling | mcc.nic.in |
| MBA and MBA-IB | CAT | admission.bhu.ac.in |
| MA, M.Sc, M.Com, LLM and others | CUET PG | admission.bhu.ac.in |
| M.Sc Life Sciences | GAT-B | admission.bhu.ac.in |
BHU Courses and Fees
BHU has courses in arts, science, commerce, law, social sciences, management, agriculture, veterinary science, and medicine. Since it is a central government university, many courses have subsidised fees. The total programme fee starts below INR 1 Lakh for many humanities courses and goes up to INR 3,20,000 for professional B.Tech courses in food and dairy technology.
| Course | Duration | Eligibility | Total Fees |
| BA Hons (Economics, English, History, and others) | 4 years | Class 12 pass with valid CUET UG score | INR 81,900 |
| B.Sc Hons (Chemistry, Biology, Psychology) | 4 years | Class 12 with relevant science subjects and CUET UG | INR 1,44,000 |
| B.Sc Hons (CS, Physics, Mathematics, Zoology) | 4 years | Class 12 with relevant science subjects and CUET UG | INR 1,92,000 |
| B.Sc Agriculture | 4 years | Class 12 with PCB or Agriculture and CUET UG | INR 2,40,000 |
| BALLB Hons | 5 years | Class 12 pass with valid CUET UG score | INR 3,61,500 |
| MBBS (IMS BHU) | 5.5 years | Class 12 PCB 50%, valid NEET UG score through MCC | INR 1,68,695 |
| B.Sc Nursing | 4 years | Class 12 with PCB, NEET UG qualification | INR 63,204 |
| MBA and MBA (International Business) | 2 years | Graduation 50% for General and valid CAT score | INR 1,91,678 |
| B.Tech (Food Technology, Dairy Technology) | 4 years | Class 12 with PCM and CUET UG score | INR 3,20,000 |
Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm
At the postgraduate medical level, IMS BHU offers MD, MS, DM, and M.Ch. The university also runs LLM, M.Com, and MA courses through its humanities and social science departments.
BHU Admission Process
Admission at BHU depends on the course group. CUET UG is the main route for undergraduate courses in arts, science, commerce, and law. For MBBS and BDS, students must qualify NEET UG and take part in MCC counselling. MBA admission is based on CAT, followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview in Varanasi.
UG Admission (BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BALLB)
Students applying for regular UG courses at BHU need a valid CUET UG 2026 score. After CUET results, applicants must register on the BHU CAP-UG portal at bhucuet.samarth.edu.in. Class 12 percentage is not counted in the merit score and is used only to break a tie. Important points for UG admission are:
- Students must take the CUET UG domain papers required for the BHU course they choose
- BHU BALLB Hons accepts CUET UG, not CLAT, and students must apply through the BHU CAP-UG portal
- Students who accept an allotment must pay a commitment fee of INR 2,500 for General, OBC, and EWS, and INR 500 for SC, ST, and PwD
- Central government reservation rules apply to all UG courses
BHU does not have a management quota. Every seat is filled on merit.
MBBS and BDS Admission (IMS BHU)
IMS BHU has 100 MBBS seats and 63 BDS seats. Because BHU is a central university, MCC counselling at mcc.nic.in allotts all seats, including the institutional quota. UP state NEET counselling does not cover IMS BHU seats. Applicants need Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, along with a valid NEET UG 2026 score. The minimum PCB aggregate is 50% for General and EWS, and 40% for SC, ST, and OBC-NCL. The NEET UG closing rank for BHU MBBS General Category has usually stayed within the top 20,000 to 30,000 because the centrally funded seat is in high demand.
MBA Admission
The Institute of Management Studies at BHU has 136 total MBA seats, including 118 regular seats and 18 paid seats, across MBA and MBA (International Business). Selection uses a composite score with CAT carrying 50%, Academic Record 20%, Group Discussion 15%, and Personal Interview 15%. General and EWS applicants need at least 50% marks in graduation, while SC and ST applicants need 45%. GD and PI are held offline at the Varanasi campus. Admission for the 2026-28 batch runs on the CAT 2025 cycle.
PG Admission (MA, M.Sc, M.Com, LLM)
Most BHU PG courses accept CUET PG scores. M.Sc Life Sciences accepts GAT-B score. After results, students register on the BHU PG portal at admission.bhu.ac.in.
BHU Placements and Career Outcomes
Placement results at BHU differ by faculty and course. NIRF 2025 data reports that 626 UG students and 1,341 PG students were placed in the latest reported cycle. The median package was INR 9 LPA for UG 4-year courses and INR 9 LPA for PG 2-year courses. PG 3-year courses, including medical PG programmes, recorded a median package of INR 13.5 LPA.
| Programme Level | Students Placed | Median Package |
| UG (4-year programmes) | 626 | INR 9 LPA |
| PG (2-year programmes) | 1,341 | INR 9 LPA |
| PG (3-year / Medical PG) | Included above | INR 13.5 LPA |
MBA students from the Institute of Management Studies are placed in banking, finance, FMCG, and consulting roles. MBA recruiters include public sector banks, insurance companies, and mid-size companies. MBBS graduates from IMS BHU usually prepare for NEET PG for MD or MS admission. Their main career options are government service and private hospital roles. The IMS BHU internship stipend follows central government rules. Law graduates from BHU appear for judicial services, civil services, and legal practice in the Varanasi and Allahabad High Court regions.
BHU Rankings
BHU appears in several NIRF 2025 categories. Its strongest listed positions are in Agriculture and Medical, showing the performance of the Faculty of Agriculture and the Institute of Medical Sciences.
| Ranking Body | Category | 2025 Rank |
| NIRF | Overall (All Institutions) | 10 |
| NIRF | Agriculture | 4 |
| NIRF | Medical (IMS BHU) | 6 |
BHU Scholarships
BHU students may receive support through central government scholarship schemes and university-level aid. The main schemes are given below.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Coverage |
| Central Sector Scholarship (CSSS) | 80th percentile or above in Class 12, family income below INR 8 Lakhs per annum | INR 10,000 per year for UG. Apply at scholarships.gov.in |
| Post-Matric Scholarship (SC, ST, OBC) | Enrolled in any recognised programme and belongs to SC, ST, or OBC category | Tuition fees and maintenance allowance as per central government norms |
| BHU Merit-cum-Means Scholarship | Financial need with good academic performance, enrolled in BHU faculties | Partial to full tuition waiver based on faculty and year |
| National Overseas Scholarship | SC and ST students going for higher education abroad | Full funding for overseas study. Apply through the Ministry of Social Justice |
BHU Campus and Infrastructure
BHU's main campus covers more than 1,300 acres in Varanasi and is counted among Asia's largest university campuses. It works like a campus township with academic departments, hostels, a hospital, temples, markets, sports areas, and residential quarters. The campus is located along the Ganga in Varanasi.
The Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, attached to IMS BHU, has more than 2,000 beds and serves as a teaching hospital and tertiary care centre for eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Faculty of Performing Arts has separate spaces for music, dance, and theatre. The library system includes a central library and reading rooms at the faculty level. University-run hostels house thousands of students, and hostel allotment is based on merit and proximity rules.
Students can reach the campus from Varanasi Junction railway station and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. The main entrance is the BHU gate at Lanka on the Grand Trunk Road. The campus also has playgrounds, an indoor sports complex, and facilities for cricket, football, and athletics. BHU's annual cultural and tech events receive participation from universities across India.
BHU vs Delhi University vs AMU
Students comparing large central universities often look at Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University, and Aligarh Muslim University together. All three are UGC-recognised central universities and use CUET for regular UG admission in major programmes across arts, sciences, commerce, law, and related fields.
| Parameter | BHU Varanasi | Delhi University (DU) | AMU Aligarh |
| Established | 1916 | 1922 | 1920 |
| NIRF 2025 Overall | 10 | 15 | Top 30 |
| Campus | 1,300-plus acres, single residential campus, Varanasi | Multi-campus across Delhi, including North and South campuses | 700-plus acres, single residential campus, Aligarh |
| UG Seats | 3,867 seats across 5 faculty streams | 71,624 seats across 69 colleges | Large intake across faculties and colleges |
| Medical Education | IMS BHU, 100 MBBS seats, NIRF Medical 6 | No MBBS. Allied health at colleges | JNMC AMU, MBBS seats through MCC |
| Law Admission | BALLB Hons through CUET UG | BALLB Hons through CLAT, 60 seats | 5-year law programme |
| MBA Fee | INR 1,91,678 for 2 years | INR 5,01,640 at FMS Delhi for 2 years | Comparable central university rate |
| Residential Character | Fully residential campus township | College-based and spread across an urban setting | Fully residential campus township |
BHU gives students a fully residential campus setup and has strong offerings in arts, science, agriculture, and medicine on one large campus. DU offers a wide UG course base in Delhi's urban and professional environment, along with FMS Delhi for MBA. AMU has a similar residential central university model with strength in STEM and humanities in western Uttar Pradesh. Students should compare campus life, course depth, and distance from home before choosing among the three.
BHU FAQs
Ques. Do students need CUET for BHU UG courses in 2026?
Ans. Yes. BHU uses CUET UG 2026 scores for regular UG courses such as BA Hons, B.Sc Hons, B.Com, BALLB Hons, and Agriculture. After CUET results, students must also complete registration on the BHU CAP-UG portal at bhucuet.samarth.edu.in. Class 12 marks do not add to the merit score.
Ques. Is CLAT accepted for BHU BALLB Hons?
Ans. No. BHU BALLB Hons admission is handled through CUET UG. Students who want BHU law admission must appear for CUET UG and register on the BHU CAP-UG portal. CLAT registration is not needed for BHU law admission.
Ques. What is the route for getting an MBBS seat at IMS BHU?
Ans. IMS BHU has 100 MBBS seats. MCC counselling at mcc.nic.in allotts all seats on the basis of NEET UG rank. Students must register for MCC counselling, add BHU IMS during choice filling, and report with original documents after allotment. UP state NEET counselling is not used for IMS BHU seats because these seats come under MCC.
Ques. Where does BHU stand in NIRF 2025?
Ans. In NIRF Rankings 2025, BHU is placed 10th in the Overall category in India. IMS BHU is ranked 6th in the Medical category, and the Faculty of Agriculture is ranked 4th in the Agriculture category.
Ques. How much does MBBS cost at BHU IMS?
Ans. The full fee for the 5.5-year MBBS programme at BHU IMS is INR 1,68,695 under the central university fee structure. Admission is based only on a strong NEET UG rank.
Ques. How are students selected for BHU MBA?
Ans. BHU MBA selection gives 50% weight to CAT score, 20% to Academic Record, 15% to Group Discussion, and 15% to Personal Interview. MBA and MBA (International Business) together have 136 seats. GD and PI are held offline at the Varanasi campus. General and EWS candidates need at least 50% marks in graduation. The next cycle is based on CAT 2026.
Ques. Does BHU provide a residential campus setup?
Ans. Yes. BHU is a fully residential university with a self-contained campus of more than 1,300 acres in Varanasi. It has hostels for men and women, a hospital, markets, sports facilities, and academic departments. Many students stay on campus during their course, but hostel allotment depends on availability.