Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] in Agriculture at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 3-year full-time doctoral programme offered by the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS), one of the most prestigious agricultural research institutions in India. BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences is ranked #4 in India and #1 in Uttar Pradesh in the NIRF Agriculture Rankings 2025, reflecting its outstanding research output and faculty expertise. The programme covers a wide range of agricultural disciplines including Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Economics, Horticulture, and more. With a highly affordable fee structure (approximately Rs. 33,055 for the full 3-year programme), the Ph.D. in Agriculture at BHU is one of the most sought-after doctoral programmes in the country. Admission is through the NTA-conducted BHU Research Entrance Test (RET), and the programme is offered in full-time on-campus mode.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. The 2025-26 admission cycle has been completed (reporting date was February 10, 2026). The 2026-27 admission notification is expected to be released around November-December 2026, with the entrance test likely in December 2026 or January 2027, based on the previous year's schedule.

Key Points

BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences is ranked #4 in India and #1 in Uttar Pradesh in NIRF Agriculture Rankings 2025.
The Ph.D. programme is available across multiple departments including Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Economics, Horticulture, Agricultural Extension, and more.
Ph.D. scholars are eligible for UGC/CSIR/ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) stipends if they qualify the respective national fellowship examinations.
The Institute has state-of-the-art research facilities, experimental farms, and collaborations with ICAR institutes and international agricultural research organisations.
BHU Ph.D. Agriculture graduates have gone on to positions in ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities, government departments, and international research organisations.

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BHU Ph.D. (Agriculture) Fees

The Ph.D. (Agriculture) programme at BHU is offered at a very affordable fee, consistent with BHU's policy of accessible higher education. The total fee for the 3-year programme is approximately Rs. 33,055, which includes tuition, development fund, campus utility, library, student welfare, and other statutory charges. The fee is among the lowest for a Ph.D. programme at a top-ranked agricultural university in India.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (INR)	Year 2 (INR)	Year 3 (INR)
Tuition Fee	1,000	1,000	1,000
Other Charges (Development Fund, Campus Utility, Library, etc.)	3,385	2,015	2,015
Yearly Total	4,385	3,015	3,015
Total Fees (3 Years)			10,415

The above fee data is based on 2019-20 figures. As per more recent data, the total fee for the programme is approximately Rs. 33,055. Students are advised to check the official BHU Ph.D. admission bulletin for the latest fee schedule.

Hostel Fees

Hostel Type	Annual Fee (INR)
Boys Hostel	7,500
Girls Hostel	8,500

Hostel fees are not mandatory and are charged separately. Mess charges are additional and vary by hostel.
Ph.D. scholars receiving JRF/SRF stipends from UGC/CSIR/ICAR are not required to pay tuition fees (subject to university policy; students should verify).
Fees are payable at the time of admission through the BHU online portal.

BHU Ph.D. (Agriculture) Admission 2026

Admission to the Ph.D. (Agriculture) programme at BHU is through the NTA-conducted BHU Research Entrance Test (RET). Candidates who qualify the RET are called for an interview/viva-voce by the respective department. Final selection is based on the combined merit of the RET score and interview performance. The 2025-26 admission cycle has been completed. The 2026-27 admission cycle is expected to begin with a notification around November-December 2026.

Admission Dates

Event	2025-26 (Actual)	2026-27 (Tentative)
Ph.D. Admission Notification	November-December 2025	November-December 2026
Application / Registration Start	December 2025	December 2026
Last Date for Application	December 16, 2025	December 2026
BHU RET (Entrance Test)	December-January 2025-26	December 2026 - January 2027
Publication of Result and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2026	January-February 2027 (Tentative)
End of First Round of Admissions	February 5, 2026	February 2027 (Tentative)
Date of Reporting to Department	February 10, 2026	February 2027 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (M.Sc./M.Sc. (Ag.)/M.Tech. or equivalent) in the relevant agricultural discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/ICAR-NET/GATE or hold a valid JRF may be exempted from the entrance test (subject to university policy; students should verify with the respective department).
Candidates in the final year of their qualifying examination may apply provisionally.

Admission Process

Apply online through the BHU Ph.D. admission portal when the notification is released (typically November-December).
Pay the application fee as per the prescribed schedule.
Appear for the BHU Research Entrance Test (RET) conducted by NTA.
Shortlisted candidates are called for a departmental interview/viva-voce.
Final merit list is prepared based on RET score and interview performance.
Selected candidates receive an offer letter and must pay the admission fee within the stipulated time.
Report to the respective department at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi on the date of reporting.

BHU Ph.D. (Agriculture) Scholarships 2026

Ph.D. scholars at BHU can avail a range of fellowships and scholarships from national funding agencies. The most significant financial support comes from JRF/SRF fellowships from UGC, CSIR, ICAR, and DBT, which provide monthly stipends to eligible scholars. Additionally, BHU's own scholarship schemes and government scholarships are available for eligible students.

Fellowship Details

Fellowship/Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
ICAR-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Qualified ICAR-NET/JRF exam; enrolled in Ph.D. Agriculture	Rs. 31,000/month (JRF); Rs. 35,000/month (SRF)
UGC-JRF	Qualified UGC-NET with JRF; enrolled in Ph.D.	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
CSIR-JRF	Qualified CSIR-NET with JRF; enrolled in Ph.D.	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
DBT-JRF	Qualified DBT-JRF exam; enrolled in Ph.D. Life Sciences	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF); Rs. 42,000/month (SRF)
BHU Merit Scholarship	First/Second rank holders in the programme	Rs. 3,000-4,000 (one-time)
UP Post-Matric Scholarship	UP domicile; SC/ST/OBC/Minority; family income as per government norms	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)	As per NSP eligibility norms	Varies

JRF/SRF stipend amounts are as per the latest government revision; students should verify current rates with the respective funding agency.
Scholars receiving JRF/SRF from national agencies are generally not required to pay tuition fees; students should confirm with the BHU administration.
ICAR-JRF is the most relevant fellowship for Ph.D. Agriculture students; the ICAR-NET exam is conducted annually.
Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to remain eligible for BHU internal scholarships.

BHU Ph.D. (Agriculture) Placement 2026

Career Outcomes

Organization Type	Positions
ICAR institutes	Research positions
State agricultural universities	Faculty and research roles
Government departments	Agricultural officers
International research organisations	Research scientists

BHU Ph.D Agriculture Ranking

Collegedunia Ranking

#5 out of 53 in India 2025

#2nd in Uttar Pradesh

NIRF Ranking

#4 out of 40 in India 2025

#1st in Uttar Pradesh

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BHU Ph.D. (Agriculture) FAQs

Ques. What is the entrance exam for Ph.D. (Agriculture) at BHU?

Ans. Admission to Ph.D. (Agriculture) at BHU is through the BHU Research Entrance Test (RET), conducted by NTA. Candidates who qualify UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/ICAR-NET/GATE with valid scores may be eligible for exemption from the RET in certain departments; students should check the specific departmental requirements in the official Ph.D. admission bulletin.

Ques. Which departments are available for Ph.D. (Agriculture) at BHU?

Ans. The Institute of Agricultural Sciences at BHU offers Ph.D. in multiple departments including Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Economics, Horticulture, Agricultural Extension, Agricultural Biochemistry, and more. The exact list of departments and available seats is published in the official Ph.D. admission bulletin each year.

Ques. Can I get a fellowship/stipend during my Ph.D. (Agriculture) at BHU?

Ans. Yes, Ph.D. scholars can receive monthly stipends through national fellowships such as ICAR-JRF (Rs. 31,000/month), UGC-JRF (Rs. 37,000/month), or CSIR-JRF (Rs. 37,000/month) if they qualify the respective national examinations. Additionally, project-based fellowships from ICAR, DST, DBT, and other funding agencies are available through the faculty's research projects.

Ques. What is the duration and structure of the Ph.D. (Agriculture) programme at BHU?

Ans. The minimum duration for the Ph.D. (Agriculture) programme at BHU is 3 years (full-time). The programme involves coursework in the first year, followed by research work under a supervisor, and culminates in the submission and defence of a doctoral thesis. The maximum duration is typically 5-6 years.

Ques. What are the career prospects after Ph.D. (Agriculture) from BHU?

Ans. Ph.D. (Agriculture) graduates from BHU are highly sought after for positions in ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities, central and state government agricultural departments, international agricultural research organisations (CGIAR centres), private agri-business companies, and as faculty in agricultural colleges. BHU's strong research reputation and NIRF #4 ranking in Agriculture significantly enhance career prospects.

Ques. Is there a provision for NET/JRF-qualified candidates to get direct admission without the entrance test?

Ans. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/ICAR-NET/GATE may be eligible for exemption from the BHU RET in certain departments. However, they are still required to appear for the departmental interview/viva-voce. The exact policy varies by department and year; students should refer to the official BHU Ph.D. admission bulletin for the relevant academic year for precise details.