Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Fine Arts [MFA] in Painting at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Faculty of Visual Arts (FVA). The Faculty of Visual Arts at BHU is one of the oldest and most prestigious fine arts institutions in India, established in 1920. The MFA Painting programme provides advanced training in traditional and contemporary painting techniques, art history, aesthetics, and studio practice. With approximately 27 seats, the programme is highly competitive, with one of the highest CUET-PG cutoffs at BHU (360 for General category in 2025). The total tuition fee is just Rs. 6,000 for the entire 2-year course, making it one of the most affordable fine arts postgraduate programmes in India. Admission is based on CUET-PG scores, and the course is offered in full-time on-campus mode.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are currently in progress. CUET-PG 2026 exams were conducted from March 6 to March 27, 2026, and results are expected by May 6, 2026. BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) registration is expected to open in May-June 2026 (tentative, based on last year's schedule when registration opened on May 22, 2025).

Key Points

The Faculty of Visual Arts at BHU is one of the oldest fine arts institutions in India, with a rich tradition of producing acclaimed artists and art educators.
MFA Painting at BHU has one of the highest CUET-PG cutoffs at the university (360 for General in 2025), reflecting extremely high demand for very few seats.
The programme covers both traditional Indian painting styles and contemporary art practices, with strong emphasis on studio work and individual artistic development.
BHU offers a 25% institutional preference to its own undergraduate students in the open category during seat allotment.
Graduates are eligible for national and state-level art fellowships, residencies, and teaching positions in art colleges.

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FAQs

BHU MFA Painting Fees

The MFA Painting programme at BHU is one of the most affordable fine arts postgraduate programmes in India. The total tuition fee for the entire 2-year course is just Rs. 6,000 (Rs. 1,500 per semester). Hostel accommodation is available at nominal charges and is not mandatory.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Per Semester (INR)	Total (2 Years / 4 Semesters) (INR)
Tuition Fee	750	3,000
Examination Fee	250	1,000
Library Fee	100	400
Development / Other Charges	400	1,600
Total Fees	1,500	6,000

Hostel fee (optional): Approximately Rs. 5,375 per year for male students (double-seater); charges may vary by hostel type.
Hostel is not mandatory; students may opt for private accommodation.
Art materials and supplies are an additional expense that students must bear themselves.
Fees are subject to revision by the university; candidates should verify the latest fee structure from the official BHU admission bulletin.
SC/ST students may avail deferred fee payment options.

BHU MFA Painting Admission 2026

BHU MFA Painting admissions for 2026-27 are based on CUET-PG 2026 scores. The CUET-PG exam has been conducted and results are awaited. Given the very high cutoff (360+ for General category), candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly for the CUET-PG Fine Arts paper. Candidates who qualify CUET-PG must separately register for BHU's Combined Allotment Program (CAP-PG 2026) once the portal opens.

Important Dates

Event	Date
CUET-PG 2026 Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET-PG 2026 Registration End	January 23, 2026 (extended to January 25, 2026)
CUET-PG 2026 Admit Card Release	March 3, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Exam Dates	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET-PG 2026 Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Opens	May-June 2026 (Tentative)
BHU CAP-PG 2026 Registration Closes	June 2026 (Tentative)
BHU Allotment Round 1	July 2026 (Tentative)
Fee Payment / Seat Confirmation	July-August 2026 (Tentative)
Mop-Up Round (if applicable)	August-September 2026 (Tentative)
Classes Begin	October 2026 (Tentative)

Event	Date
Registration Start	December 14, 2025
Registration End	January 23-25, 2026
Admit Card	March 3, 2026
Exam Date	March 6 - March 27, 2026
Result	May 6, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree or equivalent under the 10+2+3 pattern from a recognized university, with Painting as a specialization.
Minimum aggregate of 50% marks in the qualifying examination (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
Candidates appearing in their final year of BFA are also eligible to apply, subject to meeting the criteria at the time of admission.

Admission Process

Register for CUET-PG 2026 on the NTA portal (exams.nta.nic.in/cuet-pg/).
Appear for the CUET-PG 2026 examination in the Fine Arts / Painting paper.
After CUET-PG result declaration, register separately on BHU's CAP-PG portal (bhucuetpg.samarth.edu.in).
Fill in programme preferences and submit the application with the required fee.
Participate in the allotment rounds; accept the allotted seat online.
Complete fee payment within the deadline to confirm admission.
Report physically to the Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, for document verification and enrollment.

BHU MFA Painting Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of institutional and government-backed scholarships to MFA Painting students. Given the very low fee structure, most students benefit significantly from government scholarship schemes. Additionally, several national art fellowships and residencies are available for fine arts graduates.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount / Benefit
UP Government Scholarship (Pre/Post Matric)	UP domicile students; family income below Rs. 2 lakh (OBC/General) or Rs. 2.5 lakh (SC/ST)	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance; up to Rs. 30,000-60,000 per year depending on category
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - Central Sector Scheme	Top 20 percentile in Class 12; family income below Rs. 8 lakh	Rs. 10,000 per year for PG students
Lalit Kala Akademi Junior Fellowship	Young artists below 35 years; merit-based	Rs. 10,000 per month for 2 years
Ministry of Culture - Scholarship for Young Artists	Artists below 25 years; merit-based	Rs. 5,000 per month for 2 years
BHU Merit Scholarship (Rank Holders)	1st and 2nd rank holders in university examinations	Rs. 4,000 (1st rank) and Rs. 3,000 (2nd rank) one-time reward
SC/ST Deferred Fee Payment	SC/ST students	Tuition fee payment deferred; paid in installments after employment

Lalit Kala Akademi and Ministry of Culture fellowships are typically applied for after completing the degree.
UP Scholarship applications are submitted through scholarship.up.gov.in.
NSP applications are submitted through scholarships.gov.in.
Candidates must maintain 75% attendance to remain eligible for BHU institutional scholarships.
Application deadlines for government scholarships are typically between October and December each year.

BHU MFA Painting Placement 2026

Dedicated campus placement data exclusive to MFA Painting at BHU is not available. Fine arts graduates typically pursue careers as professional artists, art educators, art directors, illustrators, and gallery curators. BHU's Faculty of Visual Arts has a strong alumni network in the Indian art world. Graduates are also eligible for government art fellowships, residencies, and teaching positions in art colleges and universities after qualifying UGC NET in Visual Arts.

Career Opportunities

Career Path
Professional artists (studio practice, exhibitions, galleries)
Art educators (school and college teaching after UGC NET)
Art directors and illustrators (media, advertising, publishing)
Gallery curators and art administrators
Government art fellowships, residencies, and teaching positions

BHU MFA Painting FAQs

Ques. What is the CUET-PG cutoff for MFA Painting at BHU?

Ans. MFA Painting at BHU has one of the highest CUET-PG cutoffs at the university. In 2025, the General category cutoff was 360 in Round 1, EWS was 369, OBC was 352, and SC was 270. This reflects the extremely high demand for very few seats (approximately 27). Candidates must score very high in the CUET-PG Fine Arts paper to secure admission.

Ques. Is BFA in Painting mandatory for admission to MFA Painting at BHU?

Ans. Yes, candidates must have a BFA degree with Painting as a specialization (or equivalent) to be eligible for MFA Painting at BHU. Candidates with a BA in Fine Arts or other art-related degrees may also be considered, but BFA with Painting specialization is the standard requirement. Candidates should verify the exact eligibility from the official BHU PG Bulletin.

Ques. What is the Faculty of Visual Arts at BHU known for?

Ans. The Faculty of Visual Arts (FVA) at BHU, established in 1920, is one of the oldest and most prestigious fine arts institutions in India. It is known for its strong tradition in Indian classical painting styles, particularly the Banaras School of Painting. The faculty has produced many acclaimed artists, art educators, and cultural figures. It offers programmes in Painting, Applied Arts, Plastic Arts, and Textile Design.

Ques. What career options are available after MFA Painting from BHU?

Ans. Graduates of MFA Painting from BHU pursue careers as professional artists (studio practice, exhibitions, galleries), art educators (school and college teaching after UGC NET), art directors and illustrators (media, advertising, publishing), gallery curators and art administrators, government art officers, and recipients of national art fellowships (Lalit Kala Akademi, Ministry of Culture).

Ques. Are art materials provided by BHU for MFA Painting students?

Ans. No, art materials and supplies are generally not provided by the university and are an additional expense that students must bear themselves. The cost of art materials can vary significantly depending on the medium and scale of work. Students should budget for this additional expense when planning their finances.

Ques. Can MFA Painting graduates from BHU qualify for UGC NET to become college lecturers?

Ans. Yes, MFA Painting graduates from BHU can appear for UGC NET in Visual Arts to qualify for Assistant Professor positions in art colleges and universities. The UGC NET Visual Arts paper covers art history, aesthetics, and studio practice. Qualifying UGC NET/JRF opens up academic career opportunities and research fellowships in fine arts.