Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is one of the most prestigious higher doctoral degrees conferred by the university, recognising scholars who have made outstanding and original contributions to knowledge in their respective disciplines. It is a research-based programme that does not involve coursework; instead, candidates submit a thesis based on their published research work carried out over the preceding five years. The programme is governed by the BHU Ordinances for D.Sc./D.Litt./LL.D./Vachaspati (2005). The total fees for the programme are Rs. 13,050 (for Indian nationals), and the degree is awarded after rigorous evaluation by an international panel of examiners. The D.Litt. is highly regarded in academic and research circles and is typically pursued by senior academics and researchers.

As of March 2026, the D.Litt. programme at BHU is open for applications. The last date for submission of the application form is 31st July each academic year, as per the official ordinance. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria may apply to the Controller of Examinations, BHU, with the required documents.

Key Points

The D.Litt. is a higher doctoral degree, distinct from a Ph.D. It is awarded on the basis of published research work, not coursework or a fresh research project.
The thesis must represent substantial, original work making a distinct addition to knowledge, published in reputed journals and/or as books/monographs, with at least two publications solely authored by the candidate.
The work submitted must have been done during the last five years before the date of thesis submission.
The Board of Examiners consists of two members, one of whom must be from abroad, ensuring international peer review.
If the thesis is rejected, the candidate cannot apply again for four years.
The degree is available across all faculties/disciplines at BHU where the candidate holds a Ph.D.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

BHU D.Litt. Fees

The D.Litt. programme at BHU has a very modest fee structure, reflecting its nature as a higher doctoral degree awarded on the basis of existing research rather than a taught programme. The total fee payable by Indian nationals is Rs. 13,050, which covers enrolment, admission, and examination charges. Foreign nationals and NRIs are required to pay an additional fee of USD 5,000.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Enrolment Fee (only for BHU employees who are not alumni)	50
Admission Fee	3,000
Examination Fee	10,000
Total Fees	13,050

The enrolment fee of Rs. 50 is applicable only for BHU employees who are not alumni of the university.
For foreign nationals and NRIs, an additional fee of USD 5,000 is applicable over and above the above fees.
In case the thesis is recommended for revision, the candidate is required to remit only the Examination Fee (Rs. 10,000) for submitting the revised thesis.
No hostel or other charges are applicable as this is not a residential programme.
Fee payment is to be made within one month of receipt of the letter of admission from the Registrar (Academic).

BHU D.Litt. Admission 2026

Admissions to the D.Litt. programme at BHU are conducted once a year. The process is application-based and does not involve any entrance examination. The Faculty Research Committee (FRC) of the concerned faculty scrutinises applications and recommends eligible candidates for admission. There is no fixed seat intake; admissions are based on the merit and quality of the candidate's research work.

Admission Schedule

Event	Date / Period
Last Date for Submission of Application	31 July 2026
Scrutiny by Faculty Research Committee (FRC)	August - September 2026
Issuance of Admission Letter by Registrar (Academic)	September - October 2026
Fee Payment & Registration	Within 1 month of admission letter
Pre-Submission Seminar	Before thesis submission
Thesis Submission Deadline	Within 1 year of admission

Note: Dates above are based on the official BHU D.Litt. Ordinance (2005). Candidates should verify the current year's schedule from the official BHU website (bhu.ac.in) or the Controller of Examinations office.

Entrance Exam Dates

Event	Date / Period
No entrance examination is required for the D.Litt. programme. Admission is based on the evaluation of the candidate's research profile, publications, and thesis proposal by the Faculty Research Committee.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

The candidate must have obtained a Ph.D. or equivalent degree from BHU in the relevant discipline, at least 4 academic years prior to the date of application.
OR the candidate must have obtained a Ph.D. or equivalent degree from any other recognised university or foreign university of standing, at least 4 academic years prior to the date of application, AND must hold a Master's and/or Bachelor's degree from BHU.
OR the candidate must be a permanent teacher of BHU with a minimum of 4 years of service, and must hold a Ph.D. from BHU or any other recognised/foreign university.

Admission Process:

Obtain the application form from the Controller of Examinations, BHU, Varanasi.
Submit the completed application along with: bio-data (educational qualifications, research experience, academic distinctions), title of the proposed thesis, a brief account (approx. 1,000 words) of recent research work showing originality and contribution to knowledge, list of publications, attested copies of certificates, and a certificate from two persons (each being a member of BHU's Academic Council or a D.Sc./D.Litt./LL.D./Vachaspati graduate of BHU) certifying the candidate's character and fitness.
Submit the application to the Controller of Examinations, BHU, on or before 31st July of the academic year.
The FRC scrutinises the application and recommends eligible candidates; the Registrar (Academic) issues the admission letter.
Within one month of receiving the admission letter, pay the prescribed fee and register in the concerned department.
Deliver a pre-submission seminar in the department before submitting the thesis.
Submit the thesis (5 hardbound copies + soft copy of extended abstract) within one year of admission.

BHU D.Litt. Scholarships 2026

The D.Litt. is a higher doctoral degree typically pursued by senior academics and researchers who are already employed. Formal scholarship schemes specifically for D.Litt. candidates are limited. However, BHU offers the prestigious Malaviya Post-Doctoral Fellowship under the Institute of Eminence (IoE) programme, which supports advanced research. Candidates may also explore UGC and DST research grants for their ongoing research work.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount (Approx.)	Application Portal
Malaviya Post-Doctoral Fellowship (BHU IoE)	Post-doctoral researchers at BHU	As per UGC-MHRD norms	bhu.ac.in
UGC Research Awards	Faculty members in universities/colleges	Rs. 3 lakh per annum (research grant)	ugc.ac.in
DST SERB Research Grants	Researchers with strong publication record	Varies by project	serb.gov.in
ICSSR Research Grants (for Social Sciences/Humanities)	Researchers in social sciences/humanities	Varies by project	icssr.org

The D.Litt. programme itself does not attract standard student scholarships as it is a higher doctoral degree for established researchers.
BHU employees pursuing the D.Litt. may be eligible for study leave or research grants from the university.
Candidates are advised to check the BHU website and UGC/DST portals for the latest fellowship and grant opportunities.

BHU D.Litt. FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a D.Litt. at BHU?

Ans. A Ph.D. is a research degree pursued after a Master's degree, involving coursework and a fresh research project under a supervisor. A D.Litt. (Doctor of Literature) is a higher doctoral degree awarded to scholars who have already obtained a Ph.D. and have subsequently made outstanding, original contributions to knowledge through published research work. The D.Litt. is based on a compilation of published work, not a new research project.

Ques. Can a candidate from another university apply for D.Litt. at BHU?

Ans. Yes, but with a condition. Candidates who obtained their Ph.D. from another recognised university (or a foreign university of standing) can apply, provided they also hold a Master's and/or Bachelor's degree from BHU, and their Ph.D. was awarded at least 4 academic years before the date of application.

Ques. Is there any entrance exam or interview for D.Litt. admission at BHU?

Ans. No. There is no entrance examination or interview. Admission is based on the scrutiny of the candidate's application, research profile, and publications by the Faculty Research Committee (FRC) of the concerned faculty.

Ques. How many publications are required to apply for D.Litt. at BHU?

Ans. The thesis submitted for D.Litt. must be based on research work published in reputed journals and/or as books/monographs, with at least two publications solely authored by the candidate. The work must have been done during the last five years before the date of thesis submission.

Ques. What happens if the D.Litt. thesis is rejected?

Ans. If even one examiner recommends rejection of the thesis, it is rejected. In such a case, the candidate is not allowed to apply again for a period of four years. If the thesis is recommended for revision, the candidate must submit the revised thesis not earlier than six months and not later than two years from the date of communication of the examiner's report.

Ques. Who evaluates the D.Litt. thesis at BHU?

Ans. The thesis is evaluated by a Board of Examiners consisting of two members, one of whom must be from abroad. The examiners are selected from a panel of four to six experts (two/three from India but outside Varanasi, and two/three from abroad) recommended by the Faculty Research Committee. This ensures rigorous international peer review of the submitted work.