Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law as a full-time, on-campus research programme through its Faculty of Law - one of India's most distinguished and historic law schools, popularly known as the "Judges Factory" for its legacy of producing eminent jurists and judiciary professionals. The programme spans a minimum residency period of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with the first year dedicated to mandatory coursework. Seat intake is 17 per academic session. Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test, with exemptions for candidates holding UGC-JRF or NET qualifications. The programme covers a wide range of legal research areas including Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Law, Human Rights, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Environmental Law, and Taxation Law. The BHU Faculty of Law is ranked 6th in India by The Week 2025 (Law category) and 14th by India Today 2025, making it one of the most sought-after destinations for legal research in the country.

Admission for the 2026-27 session has been completed. The online registration window was open from December 3 to December 16, 2026, followed by document verification and interviews in January 2027, and offer letters issued between January 24 and February 5, 2027, with reporting to the department by February 10, 2027. For the 2027-28 session, admissions are expected to open tentatively in November-December 2027. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official BHU admission portal at admission.bhu.ac.in for updates.

Key Points

The BHU Faculty of Law is popularly known as the "Judges Factory" for its outstanding track record of producing judges, advocates, and legal scholars at the national level.
Seat intake is 17 per academic session, with 50% seats filled through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test Exempted mode (UGC-JRF/NET) and 50% through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.
The Faculty of Law has a spacious library with over 80,000 books and 135 national and international journals, open 24/7 with an open access system.
Research areas include Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Law, Human Rights and Duties, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Environmental Law, Taxation Law, and Cyber Law.
The Faculty of Law publishes a bi-annual Law Journal and encourages students to conduct research in diverse legal fields.
The programme is particularly popular among LLM graduates aspiring to academic careers, judicial services, and senior legal research positions.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Ranking
FAQs

BHU PhD Law Fees

The Ph.D. in Law at BHU is offered under the Faculty of Law and carries a very affordable fee structure typical of central universities. Based on the Law faculty Ph.D. fee structure at BHU, the annual tuition fee is approximately Rs. 11,585 in Year 1 and Rs. 10,735 in subsequent years. The total fees for the complete 3-year programme are approximately Rs. 33,055 (excluding hostel). Hostel fees are charged separately and are optional.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	11,585	10,735	10,735	33,055
Admission Fee (one-time)	150	-	-	150
Total Fees (excl. Hostel)	11,735	10,735	10,735	33,205
Hostel Fee (approx., per year)	5,375	5,375	5,375	16,125
Total Fees (incl. Hostel)	17,110	16,110	16,110	49,330

Fee figures are based on the most recently available BHU Law faculty Ph.D. fee structure.
Actual fees for 2026-27 may be slightly revised; candidates should verify from the official BHU admission bulletin.
Hostel accommodation is not mandatory; it is allotted on a merit-cum-availability basis.
Registration/application processing fee: Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates (non-refundable).
Fees paid are generally non-refundable once the admission process is complete.

BHU PhD Law Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Law at BHU are conducted annually, typically in two cycles. The 2026-27 admission cycle was completed with online registration in December 2026, interviews in January 2027, and offer letters issued by early February 2027. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the process is expected to follow a similar timeline. Candidates must qualify the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test or hold a valid UGC-JRF/NET score to be eligible.

Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Opens	December 3, 2026
Last Date for Online Registration	December 16, 2026
Correction Window	December 17, 2026
Call Letter Issuance	December 20-24, 2026
Document Verification and Interview	January 5-16, 2027
Publication of Result and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2027
Date of Reporting to Department	February 10, 2027
Second Admission Cycle Begins	February 12, 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test 2026	Admit Card	October 21, 2026
NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test 2026	Exam Date	October 27, 2026
NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test 2026	Result Declaration	November 26, 2026
UGC-NET (Law) 2026	Exam (tentative for 2027)	June 2027 (tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Law (LL.M.) from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
Candidates with valid UGC-JRF or NET (Law) scores are exempted from the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test and are directly called for interview.
There is no upper age limit for applying to the Ph.D. programme at BHU.

Admission Process

Register online at the official BHU admission portal (admission.bhu.ac.in or bhuonline.in) within the notified registration window.
Pay the non-refundable registration processing fee (Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Appear for the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (if not exempted via UGC-JRF/NET); the test consists of 100 MCQs covering subject knowledge and research methodology (120 minutes, 4 marks per correct answer, no negative marking).
Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview/viva voce before the departmental selection committee at the Faculty of Law.
Final merit list is prepared based on NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test score and interview performance (or directly on interview for exempted candidates).
Selected candidates submit the admission fee and complete document verification to confirm their seat.

BHU PhD Law Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Law can avail of several fellowships and scholarships. The UGC-NET/JRF is the primary fellowship for law scholars. The Faculty of Law also provides institutional scholarships for meritorious and economically weaker students. These fellowships make the programme financially accessible and allow scholars to focus entirely on their research.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
UGC-JRF Fellowship	Candidates with valid UGC-JRF score	Rs. 31,000/month (1st-2nd year); Rs. 35,000/month (3rd-5th year)	Up to 5 years
UGC-NET Fellowship (LS)	Candidates with NET-LS (Lectureship) score	As per UGC norms	Duration of programme
BHU Research Fellowship (BRF)	Meritorious candidates without JRF/NET	Rs. 5,000/month (approx.)	As per university norms
BHU Institutional Scholarship (Blind Students)	Blind/visually impaired students	Rs. 5,000 per annum	Duration of programme
BHU Scholarship (Backward Class)	Students from backward classes	Rs. 2,000 per annum (up to 100 students)	Duration of programme
BHU Merit Scholarship	1st and 2nd rank holders	Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 3,000 per annum respectively	Per academic year
National SC/ST Fellowship	SC/ST candidates	As per UGC norms	Duration of programme

UGC-JRF (Law) is the most relevant fellowship for Ph.D. Law scholars and requires qualifying the UGC-NET exam with JRF rank.
BHU institutional scholarships are limited in number and awarded based on merit and availability of funds.
State government scholarships for SC/ST/OBC students are also available; candidates should apply through the respective state scholarship portals.
Candidates are advised to check the latest fellowship amounts on the official UGC website (ugc.ac.in) as amounts are subject to revision.

BHU Ph.D Law Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#67 out of 102 in India 2025

#11th in Uttar Pradesh

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BHU PhD Law FAQs

Ques. Is BHU Faculty of Law good for Ph.D. in Law?

Ans. Yes, the BHU Faculty of Law is one of India's most prestigious law schools, popularly known as the "Judges Factory." It is ranked 6th in India by The Week 2025 and 14th by India Today 2025 (Law category). The faculty has a rich tradition of producing eminent judges, advocates, and legal scholars. The 24/7 library with 80,000+ books and 135 journals, combined with experienced faculty and a strong alumni network in the judiciary, makes it an excellent choice for legal research.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. in Law at BHU?

Ans. There are 17 seats available per academic session for Ph.D. in Law at BHU. Of these, 50% (approximately 8-9 seats) are filled through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test Exempted mode (for UGC-JRF/NET holders) and 50% through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.

Ques. What is the entrance exam for Ph.D. in Law at BHU?

Ans. Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (Law subject code). Candidates with valid UGC-JRF or NET (Law) scores are exempted from this test and are directly called for an interview. The NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test consists of 100 MCQs covering subject knowledge and research methodology.

Ques. What research areas are available under Ph.D. in Law at BHU?

Ans. The BHU Faculty of Law offers research in a wide range of legal areas including Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Law, Human Rights and Duties, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Environmental Law, Taxation Law, Cyber Law, and Family Law. The faculty publishes a bi-annual Law Journal and encourages interdisciplinary legal research.

Ques. What are the career prospects after Ph.D. in Law from BHU?

Ans. Ph.D. in Law graduates from BHU are well-positioned for careers in legal academia (Assistant Professor/Professor positions), judicial services (Higher Judiciary), legal research organisations, policy advisory roles in government and international bodies, and senior legal consultancy. The BHU Faculty of Law's strong alumni network in the judiciary and its reputation as the "Judges Factory" significantly enhances career prospects.

Ques. Can I pursue Ph.D. in Law at BHU after LLB (without LLM)?

Ans. No. The minimum eligibility for Ph.D. in Law at BHU is a Master's degree in Law (LL.M.) with at least 55% marks. A 3-year LLB or 5-year BA LLB alone is not sufficient. Candidates must first complete their LL.M. before applying for the Ph.D. programme.