Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, offers a Ph.D. in Political Science as a full-time, on-campus doctoral programme under the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences. The programme spans a minimum of 3 years and can extend up to 6 years, covering advanced research in areas such as Indian politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public administration, and governance. The total course fee is approximately Rs. 20,468 for the complete duration, making it one of the most affordable doctoral programmes in the social sciences in India. Admission is primarily through UGC NET/JRF qualification, and the programme is popular among students of political science and public policy who wish to pursue research at one of India's most prestigious central universities.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session have been completed. The first round of admissions concluded in February 2027, with reporting to the department on February 10, 2027. A second admission cycle was initiated from February 12, 2027, for any remaining vacant seats. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, the notification is expected to be released around November-December 2027, based on the previous year's pattern, with applications likely to open in December 2027.

Key Points

Ph.D. (Political Science) at BHU is offered under the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, one of the leading political science departments in India.
Research areas include Indian politics and governance, comparative politics, international relations, political theory and philosophy, public administration, federalism, electoral politics, and South Asian politics.
The department has faculty with diverse specializations, providing a wide range of research supervision options across all major sub-fields of political science.
BHU follows a structured PhD programme as per UGC guidelines, including mandatory coursework in the first year, pre-submission seminars, and thesis submission.
Scholars with UGC-JRF fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (for the first two years) and Rs. 35,000 (from the third year onwards).

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Fees
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Scholarships
FAQs

BHU Ph.D. Political Science Fees

The Ph.D. (Political Science) programme at BHU is highly affordable compared to private universities. The total fee for the entire 3-year programme is approximately Rs. 20,468, with the major component being the annual academic and examination fees. Students with JRF/fellowship are additionally supported through monthly stipends. Below is the component-wise fee structure based on the last published data:

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Admission Fee	1,418	-	-	1,418
Examination Fee	2,000	2,000	200	4,200
Other Charges (Annual)	4,950	4,950	4,950	14,850
Total Fees	8,368	6,950	5,150	20,468

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel	Fee (Rs.)
Male Hostel (per year)	5,375

Some fee components are refundable at the time of leaving the university.
Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability; it is not mandatory.
Students with JRF/CSIR fellowships receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 31,000 (Years 1-2) and Rs. 35,000 (Year 3 onwards), which significantly offsets the cost of study.
No EMI option is available; fees are paid annually at the time of re-registration.

BHU Ph.D. Political Science Admission 2026

Admissions to Ph.D. (Political Science) at BHU are conducted through a merit-based process primarily relying on UGC NET/JRF qualifications. For the 2026-27 session, BHU opened applications in December 2026 and conducted interviews in January 2027 (Social Sciences faculty interviews were held from January 5 to January 16, 2027). The process is transparent and merit-driven, with separate merit lists for JRF holders and NET-qualified candidates. For the 2027-28 session, the admission process is expected to follow a similar timeline.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Online Registration Window	December 6 - December 16, 2026
Correction Window	December 17, 2026
Issue of Call Letters	December 20 - December 24, 2026
Interviews (Social Sciences Faculty)	January 5 - January 16, 2027
Result Publication and Offer Letter	January 24 - February 5, 2027
End of First Admission Round	February 5, 2027
Reporting to Department	February 10, 2027
Second Admission Cycle (if applicable)	From February 12, 2027

Exam	Event	Date
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Registration	October 7 - November 7, 2026
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Exam Date	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 1)	Result	February 4, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Registration	April 1 - May 1, 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Exam Date	June 2027
UGC NET (Phase 2)	Result	July 2027

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Political Science or a related discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD).
Candidates with UGC-JRF, CSIR-JRF, ICMR-JRF, DBT-JRF, or equivalent national fellowships are given priority and are exempted from the written entrance test.
Candidates qualifying UGC NET (without JRF) are also eligible and are considered under the NET mode with 70% weightage to NET score and 30% to interview.

Admission Process

Release of official notification on the BHU admission portal (bhuonline.in / admission.bhu.ac.in).
Online registration and submission of application form with required documents.
Payment of application fee online.
Shortlisting of candidates based on JRF/NET qualification.
Personal interview/viva voce conducted by the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences.
Merit list preparation: 70% weightage to NET/qualifying exam score + 30% to interview (for NET mode); 100% interview for JRF mode.
Issue of offer letter and fee payment to confirm admission.
Reporting to the department on the specified date.

BHU Ph.D. Political Science Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. (Political Science) students can avail of several fellowships and scholarships that make the programme financially accessible. The most significant support comes through national fellowships like UGC-JRF, which provides a substantial monthly stipend. Additionally, BHU offers its own research fellowship for students who do not hold a national fellowship. The combination of low tuition fees and available fellowships makes this programme one of the most cost-effective doctoral options in the social sciences.

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility	Duration
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 31,000/month (Yr 1-2); Rs. 35,000/month (Yr 3+)	UGC NET JRF qualified	Up to 5 years
BHU Research Fellowship	As per university norms	Selected PhD students without national fellowship	Duration of PhD
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Rs. 28,000/month	Minority community students with UGC NET	Up to 5 years
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	Rs. 28,000/month	SC/ST students	Up to 5 years

JRF fellowships are awarded by UGC and are not directly given by BHU; students must qualify the respective national exams.
BHU Research Fellowship is subject to availability and university budget; students must apply separately after admission.
MANF and RGNF are government fellowships administered through UGC; application deadlines are announced separately.
Fellowship amounts are subject to revision by the respective funding agencies.

BHU Ph.D. Political Science FAQs

Ques. What are the main research areas available in Ph.D. (Political Science) at BHU?

Ans. The Department of Political Science at BHU offers research across all major sub-fields including Indian politics and governance, comparative politics, international relations and foreign policy, political theory and philosophy, public administration, federalism and centre-state relations, electoral politics, South Asian politics, and political economy. The department has faculty with diverse specializations, providing a wide range of research supervision options.

Ques. Is Ph.D. (Political Science) at BHU the same as Ph.D. in Public Administration?

Ans. No, they are different. Ph.D. (Political Science) covers the broader discipline of political science including theory, comparative politics, and international relations. Public Administration is a related but distinct field. BHU may offer separate research opportunities in Public Administration within the Political Science department or through other departments. Students should check the official PhD bulletin for specific sub-field availability.

Ques. What is the UGC NET subject code for Political Science?

Ans. UGC NET for Political Science has subject code 02. Candidates who qualify UGC NET in Political Science are eligible to apply for Ph.D. (Political Science) at BHU. Those who qualify with JRF are given priority in admissions.

Ques. Can a student with an MA in International Relations apply for Ph.D. (Political Science) at BHU?

Ans. Yes, MA in International Relations is generally considered a related discipline to Political Science. Candidates with such a background may be eligible to apply, subject to the department's discretion. It is advisable to check the official PhD Information Bulletin and contact the department to confirm eligibility.

Ques. How is the research environment in the Department of Political Science at BHU?

Ans. The Department of Political Science at BHU has a strong research tradition with faculty publishing in national and international journals. The department regularly organizes seminars, conferences, and workshops. Research scholars have access to BHU's extensive library resources, including political science journals, government documents, and digital databases, making it a conducive environment for doctoral research.

Ques. What career options are available after completing Ph.D. (Political Science) from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Assistant Professors in Political Science departments at universities and colleges (UGC-NET qualification required), researchers at think tanks and policy institutes, civil servants (IAS/IFS/IPS), political analysts, or consultants for government and international organizations. A PhD from BHU's Department of Political Science is highly regarded and opens doors to positions in central universities, research institutions, and policy organizations.