Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), one of India's premier central universities, offers a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering as a full-time, on-campus research programme under the Department of Farm Engineering, Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS). The programme specialises in Agricultural Engineering with a focus on Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, and spans a minimum of 3 years (up to 6 years), with the first year dedicated to mandatory coursework. Seat intake is 6 per academic session. Admission is through the BHU Research Entrance Test (BHU-RET), with exemptions for candidates holding UGC-JRF, CSIR-NET, ICAR-JRF, or GATE qualifications. The programme is popular among agricultural engineering graduates seeking to contribute to India's critical challenges in soil erosion control, watershed management, irrigation and drainage, and sustainable water resource management. BHU's IAS, established in 1931, is one of India's oldest and most respected agricultural institutions, ranked consistently among the top universities by NIRF.

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. A second admission cycle was scheduled to begin from February 12, 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 Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering at BHU is offered under the Department of Farm Engineering, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, with a specialisation in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering.
Seat intake is 6 per academic session, with 50% seats filled through BHU-RET Exempted mode (JRF/NET/GATE) and 50% through BHU-RET.
The programme integrates modern tools such as Remote Sensing, GIS, and computational modelling with field-based research in soil erosion, watershed management, and irrigation engineering.
Candidates with M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering or M.Sc.(Ag.) in Soil and Water Conservation are eligible as main discipline candidates; those with M.Sc./M.Tech. in Soil and Water Conservation/Irrigation and Drainage Engineering are also eligible.
BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences has been a pioneer in agricultural education and research since 1931, offering one of the most comprehensive agricultural research environments in India.
ICAR-JRF qualified candidates are eligible for direct admission (RET-exempted) and receive a monthly fellowship, making this programme financially accessible for meritorious scholars.

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BHU Ph.D. (Agricultural Engineering) Fees

The Ph.D. (Agricultural Engineering) programme at BHU is offered under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences and carries a very affordable fee structure. Based on the Agriculture faculty 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 Agriculture 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 Ph.D. (Agricultural Engineering) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Agricultural Engineering) programme 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 BHU-RET or hold a valid JRF/NET/GATE/ICAR-JRF score to be eligible.

BHU Ph.D. 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 10-16, 2027
Publication of Result and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2027
Second Admission Cycle Begins	February 12, 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
BHU-RET 2026	Application Period	May-June 2026 (tentative)
BHU-RET 2026	Exam Date	July-August 2026 (tentative)
BHU-RET 2026	Result Declaration	August-September 2026 (tentative)
ICAR-JRF 2026	Exam Date	As notified by ICAR/NTA
GATE 2027 (AG - Agricultural Engineering)	Exam Date	February 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 2027
GATE 2027	Result Declaration	March 19, 2027

Note: Candidates with valid ICAR-JRF, UGC-JRF, CSIR-NET, or GATE scores are exempted from BHU-RET and directly called for interview. For 2027-28 admissions, BHU-RET dates will be announced on the official BHU admission portal.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold an M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering / M.E. (Agricultural Engineering) or equivalent degree with specialisation in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering / Irrigation and Drainage Engineering / Soil and Water Engineering / Water Resources Engineering, OR M.Sc.(Ag.) in Soil and Water Conservation, from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
Candidates with valid UGC-JRF, CSIR-NET, ICAR-JRF, or GATE scores are exempted from BHU-RET 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 BHU-RET (if not exempted via JRF/NET/GATE/ICAR-JRF); 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 Department of Farm Engineering.
Final merit list is prepared based on BHU-RET 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 Ph.D. (Agricultural Engineering) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Agricultural Engineering can avail of several fellowships and scholarships. The ICAR-JRF is the most relevant fellowship for agricultural engineering scholars, while GATE-qualified candidates also receive a monthly stipend. BHU also provides institutional fellowships for meritorious candidates. These fellowships make the programme financially accessible and allow scholars to focus entirely on their research.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount	Duration
ICAR-JRF Fellowship	Candidates with valid ICAR-JRF score	Rs. 31,000/month (1st-2nd year); Rs. 35,000/month (3rd-5th year)	Up to 5 years
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
GATE Scholarship	Candidates admitted on GATE score	Rs. 12,400/month (as per AICTE norms)	Duration of programme
BHU Research Fellowship (BRF)	Meritorious candidates without JRF/NET/GATE	Rs. 5,000/month (approx.)	As per university norms
INSPIRE Fellowship (DST)	Top rankers in science/engineering	Rs. 28,000/month + Rs. 20,000 annual contingency	Up to 5 years
National SC/ST Fellowship	SC/ST candidates	As per UGC norms	Duration of programme

ICAR-JRF is the most relevant fellowship for Agricultural Engineering scholars and requires a separate exam conducted by ICAR/NTA.
GATE score (AG paper - Agricultural Engineering) is valid for 3 years and qualifies candidates for RET exemption.
BHU Research Fellowship (BRF) is limited in number and awarded based on merit and availability of funds.
Candidates are advised to check the latest fellowship amounts on the respective official websites (icar.org.in, ugc.ac.in, gate.iitm.ac.in) as amounts are subject to revision.

BHU Ph.D Agricultural Engineering Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#288 out of 500 in India 2026

#11th in Uttar Pradesh

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BHU Ph.D. (Agricultural Engineering) FAQs

Ques. What is the specialisation offered under Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering at BHU?

Ans. The Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering at BHU is offered under the Department of Farm Engineering, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, with a primary specialisation in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering. Research areas include soil erosion control, watershed management, groundwater hydrology, irrigation and drainage engineering, remote sensing and GIS applications in agriculture, and climate-resilient soil and water conservation practices.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering at BHU?

Ans. There are 6 seats available per academic session for Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering (Soil and Water Conservation) at BHU. Of these, 50% (3 seats) are filled through the BHU-RET Exempted mode (for JRF/NET/GATE holders) and 50% (3 seats) through BHU-RET.

Ques. Which entrance exam is required for Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering admission at BHU?

Ans. Admission is through the BHU Research Entrance Test (BHU-RET). Candidates with valid ICAR-JRF, UGC-JRF, CSIR-NET, or GATE (AG paper) scores are exempted from BHU-RET and directly called for interview. The ICAR-JRF is the most relevant qualifying exam for agricultural engineering aspirants.

Ques. What is the qualifying degree required for Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering at BHU?

Ans. Candidates must hold an M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering (with specialisation in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering / Irrigation and Drainage Engineering / Soil and Water Engineering / Water Resources Engineering) or M.Sc.(Ag.) in Soil and Water Conservation from a recognised university with at least 55% marks. Candidates with M.E. (Agricultural Engineering) or equivalent degrees are also eligible.

Ques. Is the Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering at BHU the same as the one at IIT (BHU)?

Ans. No. The Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering at BHU (college_id 25924) is offered under the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Farm Engineering. IIT (BHU) is a separate institution. The BHU IAS programme focuses specifically on Soil and Water Conservation Engineering within an agricultural sciences context, while IIT (BHU) offers engineering-focused research.

Ques. What fellowship/stipend is available for Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering scholars at BHU?

Ans. Scholars with a valid ICAR-JRF qualification receive Rs. 31,000/month for the first two years and Rs. 35,000/month thereafter. GATE-qualified scholars receive approximately Rs. 12,400/month. Scholars without any external fellowship may receive a BHU Research Fellowship of approximately Rs. 5,000/month, subject to availability.