BHU Ph.D Plant Physiology: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Plant Physiology at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a full-time, on-campus doctoral research programme offered under the Faculty of Agriculture (Institute of Agricultural Sciences). The programme has a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years, with research focused on plant growth and development, photosynthesis, stress physiology, plant hormones, seed physiology, and crop physiology. BHU is one of India's premier Central Universities (NIRF Rank 3 among universities) with well-equipped plant physiology laboratories, growth chambers, and experimental farms that support cutting-edge research in plant science. The programme is popular among agriculture and botany graduates seeking careers in crop science research, biotechnology, and academia. Admission is through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test or the RET-Exempted mode for candidates holding national fellowships such as ICAR-JRF, UGC-NET, or CSIR-NET.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session have been completed. The online registration window was open from December 3 to December 16, 2026, with document verification and interviews held from January 10 to January 16, 2027, and results/offer letters published between January 24 and February 5, 2027. A second admission cycle is expected to begin from February 12, 2027. For the 2027-28 session, tentative registration is expected to open around November-December 2027 based on the current year's pattern.

Key Points

Offered under the Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU.
Admission is through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (for non-NET candidates) or RET-Exempted mode (for ICAR-JRF/UGC-NET/CSIR-NET holders).
50% of seats are filled through the RET-Exempted (NET/JRF) mode and the remaining 50% through NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.
Research areas include photosynthesis, plant stress physiology (drought, salinity, heat), plant hormones, seed physiology, and crop physiology.
BHU's experimental farm and advanced plant physiology laboratories provide excellent research infrastructure.
Candidates with valid JRF/SRF fellowships are eligible for monthly stipends of Rs. 37,000 (JRF) and Rs. 42,000 (SRF) as per revised ICAR/UGC/CSIR norms.

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Fees
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FAQs

BHU Ph.D. (Plant Physiology) Fees

The Ph.D. (Plant Physiology) at BHU falls under the Faculty of Agriculture (Agricultural Sciences category). The annual fees are extremely affordable, making BHU one of the most cost-effective institutions for doctoral research in India. The first-year fees include one-time charges such as admission fee, enrollment fee, and caution money, while subsequent years attract only recurring charges.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	1st Year (Rs.)	2nd Year Onwards (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	2,000	2,000
Library Fee	500	500
Campus Utility Fee	410	410
Development Fund	2,400	2,400
Student Health Welfare Scheme	350	350
Student Welfare Fund	300	300
Extra Curricular Activities Fund	210	210
Academic Assessment Fee	100	-
Registration Fee	20	-
Enrollment Fee	100	-
Admission Fee	150	-
I-Card and Passbook Fee	50	-
College Caution Money (Refundable)	1,000	-
Degree Charges	100	-
Total Fees	7,690	6,170

College Caution Money of Rs. 1,000 is refundable at the time of leaving the university.
Hostel fees are separate and optional.
BHU has 72 hostels on campus; hostel charges typically range from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 8,000 per year depending on the hostel type, plus mess charges.
Application processing fee: Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS candidates and Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
No EMI facility is applicable given the very low fee structure.

BHU Ph.D. (Plant Physiology) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Plant Physiology) at BHU are conducted annually through a two-cycle process. Candidates can apply either through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test mode or the RET-Exempted mode if they hold a valid national fellowship such as ICAR-JRF, UGC-NET, or CSIR-NET. The 2026-27 admission cycle has been completed; the second cycle is expected to begin from February 12, 2027. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, applications are tentatively expected to open in November-December 2027.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Opens	December 3, 2026
Online Registration Closes	December 16, 2026
Correction Window	December 17, 2026
Call Letter Issuance	December 20-24, 2026
Document Verification & Interview	January 10-16, 2027
Result / Offer Letter Publication	January 24 - February 5, 2027
Second Cycle Admission Begins	February 12, 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Registration Period	Exam Date	Remarks
UGC-NET (Phase 1)	October 7 - November 7, 2026	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027	Qualifying for RET-Exempted admission
UGC-NET (Phase 2)	April 1, 2027 (Tentative)	June 2027 (Tentative)	Qualifying for RET-Exempted admission
CSIR-NET	May 1 - May 21, 2027 (Tentative)	July 25-27, 2027 (Tentative)	Applicable for Life Sciences
NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test	As per NTA schedule	As per NTA schedule	Primary entrance for non-NET candidates

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold an M.Sc. (Ag.) or M.Sc. in Plant Physiology or Crop Physiology from a recognized university, with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
The undergraduate degree must be B.Sc. (Ag.) or B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, a 4-year credit-based programme under ICAR guidelines.
Candidates with valid ICAR-JRF, UGC-NET/JRF, or CSIR-NET are eligible for direct admission under the RET-Exempted category without appearing in the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.

Admission Process

Step 1: Apply online through the BHU Admission Portal (admission.bhu.ac.in) within the notified registration window.
Step 2: Pay the application processing fee online (Rs. 600 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 300 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Step 3: Appear in NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test (if not RET-Exempted); RET-Exempted candidates proceed directly to document verification.
Step 4: Attend document verification and interview at the Faculty of Agriculture as per the notified schedule.
Step 5: Merit list is prepared based on NTA/NET score and interview performance.
Step 6: Selected candidates receive offer letters and must pay fees within the stipulated deadline to confirm admission.
Step 7: Allotment of research supervisor by the Departmental Research Committee (DRC).

BHU Ph.D. (Plant Physiology) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Plant Physiology can avail of several fellowship and scholarship options through national-level competitive examinations. ICAR-JRF, CSIR-NET, and UGC-NET/JRF are all relevant for this discipline. BHU also provides a non-NET fellowship for scholars without any national fellowship, ensuring financial support throughout the doctoral tenure.

Fellowship Amounts

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility
ICAR-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)	ICAR-NET qualified with JRF
ICAR-SRF (Senior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 42,000/month (after 2 years, on assessment)	Upgrade from ICAR-JRF
CSIR-JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)	CSIR-NET qualified with JRF
CSIR-SRF	Rs. 42,000/month (after 2 years)	Upgrade from CSIR-JRF
UGC-JRF	Rs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)	UGC-NET qualified with JRF
UGC-SRF	Rs. 42,000/month (after 2 years, on assessment)	Upgrade from UGC-JRF
BHU Non-NET Fellowship	Rs. 8,000/month	PhD scholars enrolled at BHU without any national fellowship
DBT-JRF	Rs. 37,000/month	DBT-JRF qualified candidates

JRF/SRF fellowship amounts are as per revised ICAR/UGC/CSIR norms effective from January 1, 2023.
HRA (House Rent Allowance) is admissible to JRF/SRF holders as per institutional norms.
BHU Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 8,000/month is provided to scholars who do not hold any external fellowship, subject to satisfactory research progress.
Scholars are also eligible to apply for project-based fellowships from DST, DBT, ICAR, and other funding agencies through their supervisors.
SC/ST/PwBD scholars may also be eligible for additional government scholarships such as the National Fellowship for SC/ST students.

BHU Ph.D. (Plant Physiology) FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between Ph.D. Plant Physiology and Ph.D. Botany at BHU?

Ans. Ph.D. Plant Physiology under the Faculty of Agriculture focuses on the physiological processes of crop plants, including stress responses, photosynthesis, and crop productivity. Ph.D. Botany under the Faculty of Science is broader and covers plant taxonomy, ecology, molecular biology, and plant diversity. The Agriculture-based Plant Physiology programme is more applied and crop-oriented, while Botany is more fundamental in nature.

Ques. Is CSIR-NET accepted for Ph.D. Plant Physiology admission at BHU?

Ans. Yes. CSIR-NET (Life Sciences) is accepted for the RET-Exempted mode of admission to Ph.D. Plant Physiology at BHU. Candidates who have qualified CSIR-NET with JRF are exempt from appearing in the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test and are also eligible for the CSIR-JRF monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. Plant Physiology at BHU?

Ans. As per the 2023-24 Ph.D. Information Bulletin, 8 seats are available for Ph.D. in Plant Physiology under the Faculty of Agriculture. Of these, 50% are filled through the RET-Exempted (NET/JRF) mode and the remaining 50% through the NTA Ph.D. Entrance Test.

Ques. What are the current research focus areas in the Plant Physiology department at BHU?

Ans. The department focuses on abiotic stress physiology (drought, salinity, heavy metal toxicity), photosynthesis and carbon assimilation, plant growth regulators and their role in crop productivity, seed germination and dormancy, and molecular aspects of plant stress responses. These are highly relevant areas given the challenges of climate change and food security.

Ques. Can a candidate with M.Sc. Botany apply for Ph.D. Plant Physiology at BHU?

Ans. The primary eligibility requires M.Sc. (Ag.) or M.Sc. in Plant Physiology or Crop Physiology with an agricultural background. Candidates with M.Sc. Botany may be considered under allied discipline provisions if notified in the bulletin, but the primary requirement is an agricultural science background. Candidates should verify the specific allied discipline list in the official Ph.D. Information Bulletin for the relevant session.

Ques. What career paths are available after Ph.D. Plant Physiology from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as scientists at ICAR institutes (e.g., IARI, NRCPB, NIPB), as faculty in agricultural universities, as researchers in biotechnology companies working on crop improvement, and in government agricultural research stations. The interdisciplinary nature of plant physiology also opens doors in environmental science and climate change research.

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