BHU Ph.D Visual Arts: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Ph.D. in Visual Arts at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a full-time, on-campus doctoral research programme offered under the Faculty of Visual Arts. BHU's Faculty of Visual Arts is one of the most prestigious fine arts faculties in India, with a rich tradition dating back to the university's founding in 1916. The programme offers Ph.D. specializations in Painting, Applied Arts, and Textile Design, with a minimum duration of 3 years and a maximum of 6 years. Research areas include art history, contemporary art practices, traditional Indian art forms, textile design, and applied arts. BHU is ranked among the top universities in India (NIRF Rank 3 among universities) and its Visual Arts faculty is renowned for producing distinguished artists and art scholars. Admission is through BHU-RET (Research Entrance Test) or the RET-Exempted mode for UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates.

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 Faculty of Visual Arts, BHU, with specializations in Painting, Applied Arts, and Textile Design.
Admission is through BHU-RET (university-level entrance test) or RET-Exempted mode for UGC-NET/JRF holders.
50% of seats are filled through the RET-Exempted (NET/JRF) mode and the remaining 50% through BHU-RET.
Research areas include Indian art history, contemporary art practices, traditional painting styles, textile design, and applied arts.
BHU's Faculty of Visual Arts has studios, galleries, and access to the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum, providing an exceptional environment for art research.
The faculty has produced distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to Indian art and design.

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Fees
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FAQs

BHU Ph.D. (Visual Arts) Fees

The Ph.D. (Visual Arts) at BHU falls under the Faculty of Visual Arts. 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	1,000	1,000
Library Fee	500	500
Campus Utility Fee	410	410
Development Fund	250	250
Student Health Welfare Scheme	350	350
Student Welfare Fund	300	300
Extra Curricular Activities Fund	200	200
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	4,530	3,010

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. (Visual Arts) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. (Visual Arts) at BHU are conducted annually through a two-cycle process. Candidates can apply either through BHU-RET or the RET-Exempted mode if they hold a valid UGC-NET/JRF. 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
BHU-RET	Conducted along with BHU PhD admission cycle	As per BHU schedule	University-level test for non-NET candidates

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts (4-year BFA course) and a Master's degree in Fine Arts (MFA) in Applied Arts, Plastic Arts (Sculpture), Painting, Textile Design, or Pottery Ceramic from a recognized university, with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
Candidates with valid UGC-NET/JRF are eligible for direct admission under the RET-Exempted category without appearing in BHU-RET.

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 BHU-RET (if not RET-Exempted); RET-Exempted candidates proceed directly to document verification.
Step 4: Attend document verification and interview at the Faculty of Visual Arts as per the notified schedule.
Step 5: Merit list is prepared based on BHU-RET/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. (Visual Arts) Scholarships 2026

BHU Ph.D. scholars in Visual Arts can avail of fellowship and scholarship options primarily through UGC-NET/JRF. BHU also provides a non-NET fellowship for scholars who do not hold any national fellowship. Additionally, government fellowships for SC/ST and minority candidates are available, making the programme financially accessible to all.

Fellowship Details

Scholarship / Fellowship	Amount	Eligibility
UGC-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship)	Rs. 37,000/month (first 2 years)	UGC-NET qualified with JRF
UGC-SRF (Senior Research Fellowship)	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
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF level)	Minority community candidates
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF level)	SC/ST candidates

JRF/SRF fellowship amounts are as per revised UGC 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 may also apply for project-based grants from cultural bodies like Lalit Kala Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and CCRT.

BHU Ph.D. (Visual Arts) FAQs

Ques. What specializations are available under Ph.D. Visual Arts at BHU?

Ans. Ph.D. Visual Arts at BHU is offered in three specializations: Painting, Applied Arts, and Textile Design. Each specialization has its own seat allocation (typically 3-4 seats each). Candidates should apply for the specialization that matches their MFA background and research interests.

Ques. Is UGC-NET available for Visual Arts disciplines?

Ans. Yes, UGC-NET is conducted for Visual Arts (Paper Code: 70). Candidates who qualify UGC-NET with JRF in Visual Arts are eligible for the RET-Exempted mode of admission at BHU and also receive the UGC-JRF monthly stipend of Rs. 37,000.

Ques. What is the eligibility for Ph.D. Visual Arts at BHU?

Ans. Candidates must have completed a 4-year BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) programme followed by an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in the relevant specialization with a minimum of 55% marks. The specific MFA specializations accepted are Applied Arts, Plastic Arts (Sculpture), Painting, Textile Design, and Pottery Ceramic.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. Visual Arts at BHU?

Ans. As per the 2023-24 Ph.D. Information Bulletin, 8 seats are available across all Visual Arts specializations (Painting: 3, Applied Arts: 4, Textile Design: 1). Of these, 50% are filled through the RET-Exempted (NET/JRF) mode and the remaining 50% through BHU-RET.

Ques. What research facilities are available for Visual Arts Ph.D. scholars at BHU?

Ans. BHU's Faculty of Visual Arts has well-equipped studios for painting, sculpture, and textile design. The Bharat Kala Bhavan museum on campus houses over 1 lakh rare art objects, miniature paintings, sculptures, and artefacts, providing an invaluable primary research resource. The Central Library also has an extensive collection of art history books and journals.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after Ph.D. Visual Arts from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as faculty in fine arts colleges and universities, as curators and researchers in museums and art galleries, as art critics and writers, as designers in textile and applied arts industries, and as independent artists with a strong research background. BHU's reputation and the Bharat Kala Bhavan connection provide excellent networking opportunities in the Indian art world.

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