Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The MA in Medical & Psychiatric Social Work (officially titled MA in Psychiatric Social Works - Mental Health, course code PG0303) is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Psychiatry under the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The course is designed to train social work professionals in the mental health and psychiatric care domain, equipping them with clinical, community, and rehabilitative social work skills. The total seat intake is limited (approximately 13 seats across categories including paid seats), making it a highly competitive and sought-after programme. The course fee under the regular category is Rs. 6,720 per semester, and admission is based on CUET PG scores. Situated within one of India's premier medical institutions, this programme is popular for its direct exposure to IMS BHU's Sir Sunderlal Hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Asia, offering unparalleled clinical training in psychiatric and medical social work.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are currently in progress via CUET PG 2026, which is ongoing (March 13 - April 1, 2026). The CUET PG 2026 result is expected on May 6, 2026 (tentative), following which BHU will open its Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) for seat allocation, tentatively in June 2026. Based on the 2025 cycle, CAP-PG registration opened in early June and the first round of allotment was announced in mid-July 2025.

Key Points

The programme is housed within the Department of Psychiatry, IMS BHU, giving students direct access to one of India's largest psychiatric and medical facilities.
Students undergo supervised fieldwork and clinical placements at Sir Sunderlal Hospital, IMS BHU, gaining hands-on experience in psychiatric wards, OPD, and community mental health settings.
The course is classified as a Special Fee Programme by BHU, reflecting its professional and clinical orientation.
Graduates are eligible for roles as Medical Social Workers, Psychiatric Social Workers, and Mental Health Counsellors in hospitals, NGOs, government health departments, and rehabilitation centres.
The programme is one of the few in India that integrates psychiatric social work training within a full-fledged medical university environment.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

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08 Apr, 2026 CUET PG 2026 Exams have concluded successfully. The response sheet & answer key will be released soon @exams.nta.nic.in.

BHU MA Psychiatric Social Work Fees

The MA in Psychiatric Social Works (Mental Health) at BHU is offered at a very affordable fee under the regular category, with a semester fee of Rs. 6,720. Over the 4-semester (2-year) duration, the total tuition fee amounts to Rs. 26,880. For students admitted under the Paid Fee (Special) category, the semester fee is Rs. 46,720, making the total Rs. 1,86,880 for the full course. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at a nominal annual charge of approximately Rs. 4,875 (non-AC), with mess charges billed separately.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Regular Category (per semester)	Paid Fee Category (per semester)
Tuition Fee	Rs. 6,720	Rs. 46,720
Total Tuition Fee (4 Semesters)	Rs. 26,880	Rs. 1,86,880
Hostel Fee (per year, optional)	Rs. 4,875	Rs. 4,875
Mess Charges (approx., per month)	Rs. 3,500 - Rs. 4,000	Rs. 3,500 - Rs. 4,000
Total Fees (without hostel)	Rs. 26,880	Rs. 1,86,880

Hostel accommodation is not mandatory; students may opt for private accommodation near the campus.
Mess charges are billed separately and are not included in the hostel fee.
A refundable security deposit may be applicable at the time of admission.
Education loans are available under the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme (collateral-free) for eligible students.

BHU MA Psychiatric Social Work Admission 2026

Admissions to the MA in Psychiatric Social Works (Mental Health) at BHU are conducted through CUET PG 2026, followed by BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026). The CUET PG 2026 examination is currently ongoing. Based on the 2025 admission cycle, BHU opened CAP-PG registration in early June 2026, with the first allotment round in mid-July 2026 and subsequent rounds through August-September 2026. For 2026, a similar timeline is expected.

BHU Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date (2026)
CUET PG 2026 Exam	March 13 - April 1, 2026
CUET PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	Early June 2026
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Closes	Mid-June 2026
Round 1 Seat Allotment	Mid-July 2026
Round 2 Seat Allotment	Late July 2026
Round 3 Seat Allotment	Late July / Early August 2026
Mop-Up Round (if applicable)	August - September 2026
Classes Begin	August / September 2026

CUET PG 2026 Exam Dates

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

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology or Social Work from a UGC-recognised institution.
A minimum aggregate of 55% marks (or equivalent CGPA) is required for General/OBC/EWS candidates.
SC/ST candidates require a minimum of 50% marks in the qualifying examination.

Admission Process

Register for CUET PG 2026 on the NTA portal (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg) and appear for the exam using Paper Code HUQP22.
After CUET PG result declaration, apply for BHU's CAP-PG 2026 on the official BHU admission portal (admission.bhu.ac.in).
Seat allotment is based on CUET PG score, category, and institutional preference (BHU students get up to 25% preference in open category seats).
Accept the allotted seat online and pay the admission fee within the stipulated deadline.
Report physically to the Department of Psychiatry, IMS BHU with original documents for verification and final admission.

BHU MA Psychiatric Social Work Scholarships 2026

Students admitted to the MA in Psychiatric Social Works (Mental Health) at BHU can avail a range of government and institutional scholarships. Given the affordable fee structure, even partial scholarships can significantly offset the cost of education. SC/ST and OBC students are particularly well-supported through central and state government schemes.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Application Deadline
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students (Central Govt.)	SC students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Full tuition fee + maintenance allowance	October - November (annually)
Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students (Central Govt.)	ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh/year	Full tuition fee + maintenance allowance	October - November (annually)
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students (Central Govt.)	OBC (non-creamy layer) students with family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year	Tuition fee + maintenance allowance	October - November (annually)
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for SC Students (Top Class Education)	SC students admitted to notified top institutions	Full tuition fee coverage	April - May (annually)
National Fellowship for SC Students (UGC)	SC students pursuing PG/research	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF)	As per UGC notification
Sitaram Jindal Scholarship	Students with family income below Rs. 2 lakh/year, merit-based	Rs. 1,000 - Rs. 2,000/month	April 20, 2026
PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme (Education Loan)	All students admitted to recognised institutions	Collateral-free loan up to Rs. 10 lakh	Rolling basis

Applications for most government scholarships are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
BHU does not charge a tuition fee waiver separately; students must apply through the respective scholarship portals.
SC/ST students are exempt from minimum percentage requirements for admission but must meet scholarship-specific income criteria.
The PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme provides interest subsidy for students with family income up to Rs. 8 lakh per annum.

BHU MA Psychiatric Social Work FAQs

Ques. Is the MA in Psychiatric Social Work at BHU the same as MA in Social Work (MSW)?

Ans. No, these are two distinct programmes. The MA in Psychiatric Social Works (Mental Health) at BHU is offered by the Department of Psychiatry under IMS BHU and is specifically focused on mental health and psychiatric settings. The MA in Social Work (PG0463S) is offered by the Department of Sociology under the Faculty of Social Sciences and has a broader social work curriculum. The psychiatric social work programme is more clinical in nature and provides direct hospital-based training.

Ques. What is the total number of seats available in this programme?

Ans. As per the BHU PG Bulletin 2026, the total seats are: BHU (C1) category - UR: 2, OBC: 1, Ward: 2; Non-BHU (C2) category - UR: 2, SC: 1, ST: 1, EWS: 1, OBC: 2, PwBD: 1. Additionally, 1 paid fee seat is available in the Non-BHU category. The total intake is approximately 13-14 seats, making it one of the most competitive PG programmes at BHU.

Ques. Which CUET PG paper should I appear for to apply for this course?

Ans. You need to appear for CUET PG 2026 using Paper Code HUQP22 (Humanities). This is the same paper used for several humanities and social science programmes. Make sure to select BHU and this specific programme while filling the CAP-PG form after the CUET PG result.

Ques. What career options are available after completing this programme?

Ans. Graduates can work as Psychiatric Social Workers, Medical Social Workers, or Mental Health Counsellors in government and private hospitals, psychiatric institutions, NGOs, community mental health centres, and rehabilitation facilities. Positions are available in institutions like NIMHANS, AIIMS, state mental health authorities, and district hospitals. Some graduates also pursue PhD or MPhil in Psychiatric Social Work or Clinical Psychology.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation guaranteed for students of this programme?

Ans. Hostel accommodation at BHU is allotted based on entrance exam scores and availability. While BHU has over 75 hostels, allocation is not guaranteed for all students. Students who do not get on-campus hostel accommodation can find private PG accommodations near the Lanka and Hyderabad Gate areas of Varanasi at reasonable rates.

Ques. What is the difference between the regular fee and paid fee seats in this programme?

Ans. Regular fee seats (Rs. 6,720 per semester) are allotted through the standard CUET PG merit-based process. Paid fee seats (Rs. 46,720 per semester) are supernumerary seats available for candidates who do not secure a regular seat but still wish to join the programme. Both categories follow the same curriculum and receive the same quality of education and clinical training.