Content Curator | Updated on - Apr 8, 2026

Sarala Birla University (SBU), Ranchi offers a full-time Ph.D. in Humanities under its Faculty of Humanities and Linguistics. The programme is a 3-year (minimum) doctoral research degree spread over 6 semesters, designed to foster advanced research in English literature, linguistics, cultural studies, Sanskrit, and allied humanities disciplines. The total course fee is Rs. 3,14,000 for the entire duration, with a per-semester fee of Rs. 47,500. The Faculty of Humanities and Linguistics offers Ph.D. programmes in English (6 seats) and Library & Information Science (2 seats) per session, and is conducted in full-time on-campus mode, governed by UGC Regulations 2018. It is well-suited for candidates aspiring for careers in academia, literary research, cultural studies, and language education.

Admissions for the Ph.D. programme 2026-27 (Spring session) are currently closed, with the last batch admitted between December 29, 2026 and January 5, 2027. For the upcoming 2027-28 session, admissions are expected to open tentatively in November 2027, based on the previous year's schedule. Candidates holding UGC-NET or equivalent national fellowships are exempted from the entrance test but must appear for the interview.

Key Points

Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU is offered under the Faculty of Humanities and Linguistics, with specialisations available in English and Library & Information Science.
The Faculty offers 6 seats for Ph.D. in English and 2 seats for Ph.D. in Library & Information Science per session.
Scholars with UGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATE/SET or similar national fellowship qualifications are exempted from the university entrance test.
The minimum residential requirement for full-time Ph.D. scholars is six semesters at the university campus.
Candidates can apply for only one department; multiple department applications are not permitted.
The university does not provide any financial assistance or fellowship to Ph.D. scholars from its own funds.
Research areas include English literature, linguistics, cultural studies, comparative literature, Sanskrit, and library science.

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) Fees

The Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU involves a one-time payment of Rs. 29,000 at the time of admission (including application fee, provisional admission fee, degree fee, and refundable caution money), along with a per-semester fee of Rs. 47,500. The total course fee for the 3-year (6-semester) programme is Rs. 3,14,000. The caution money of Rs. 10,000 is refundable upon successful completion of the programme.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Application Fee (One-Time)	2,000
Provisional Admission Fee (One-Time)	12,000
Degree Fee (One-Time)	5,000
Caution Money (One-Time, Refundable)	10,000
Tuition Fee (Per Semester)	38,500
Development Fee (Per Semester)	5,000
Exam Fee (Per Semester)	2,500
ICT Fee (Per Semester)	1,500
Per Semester Total	47,500
Total Tuition + Charges (6 Semesters)	2,85,000
One-Time Fees (Non-Refundable)	19,000
Caution Money (Refundable)	10,000
Total Fees (Entire Programme)	3,14,000
Hostel Fee (Per Semester, Optional)	51,000

Caution money of Rs. 10,000 is refundable upon programme completion.
Hostel fee of Rs. 51,000 per semester is inclusive of Non-AC shared accommodation, food (4 meals/day), and laundry.
Hostel is optional for Ph.D. scholars.
Students opting for hostel must avail it for a minimum of two consecutive semesters.
If a student withdraws mid-session, all fees including caution money are forfeited.
Application fee of Rs. 2,000 is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Fees are payable via net banking, debit card, or credit card through the IOB Payment Gateway.

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) Admission 2026

Admissions to the Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU are conducted through an offline entrance test followed by an interview. The selection is merit-based, combining entrance test scores, academic record, and interview performance. For the 2026-27 Spring session, admissions are now closed. The next session (2027-28) is expected to open tentatively in November 2027.

SBU Ph.D. Admission Schedule

Event	2026-27 (Actual)	2027-28 (Tentative)
Online Application Opens	November 11, 2026	November 2027
Last Date to Apply Online	December 11, 2026	December 2027
Offline Entrance Test	December 22, 2026	December 2027
Interview of Selected Candidates	December 18, 2026	December 2027
Final Selected Candidates List	December 24, 2026	December 2027
Admission Period	December 29, 2026 - January 5, 2027	January 2028

UGC-NET Entrance Exam Dates

Event	Phase 1 (2026-27)	Phase 2 (2027, Tentative)
Registration Start	October 7, 2026	April 1, 2027
Registration End	November 7, 2026	May 1, 2027
Admit Card	December 28, 2026	June 1, 2027
Exam Date	December 31, 2026 - January 7, 2027	June 2027
Answer Key	January 14, 2027	July 1, 2027
Result	February 4, 2027	July 2027

Note: UGC-NET qualification in English/Humanities/Library Science (Paper I + Paper II) exempts candidates from SBU's Ph.D. entrance test. Candidates still need to appear for the interview.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold an MA in English, MA in Humanities, MA in Sanskrit, M.Lib.Sc., or equivalent postgraduate degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks (or 6.0 CGPA on a 10-point scale).
SC/ST candidates are eligible with a minimum of 50% marks (5% relaxation).
Sponsored candidates must have a minimum of two years of professional work experience and a valid sponsorship letter for at least three years.

Admission Process

Fill the online application form on the SBU website (www.sbu.ac.in) and pay the application fee of Rs. 2,000 via the IOB Payment Gateway.
Candidates shortlisted based on application will be called for the offline entrance test (100 marks).
Candidates who qualify UGC-NET/CSIR-NET or equivalent national fellowships are exempted from the entrance test but must appear for the interview.
Final selection is based on: Entrance Test (100 marks, minimum 40% for General / 35% for SC/ST) + Academic Record (60 marks) + Interview (40 marks); minimum aggregate of 45% for General and 40% for SC/ST.
Final selected candidates list is published on the university website and notice boards.
Admission is completed by paying the semester fee and submitting required documents.

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) Scholarships 2026

SBU offers institutional scholarships on tuition fees for Ph.D. scholars based on merit and special categories. These scholarships are applicable on the tuition fee component and can meaningfully reduce the overall cost of the programme for eligible candidates.

Scholarship Categories

Scholarship Category	Discount on Tuition Fee
Merit Scholarship	Up to 50%
Defence Personnel (Ward/Spouse)	15%
Freedom Fighters (Ward)	10%
SBU/SBPS Students/Staff Ward	25%
Ward/Spouse of BAGM Employees	25%
Differently Abled	25%
Kashmiri Migrants	15%

Scholarships are applicable on the tuition fee component only (Rs. 38,500 per semester for Ph.D. in Humanities).
Merit scholarship of up to 50% is awarded based on academic performance in the qualifying examination.
Only one scholarship category is applicable at a time; scholarships are not cumulative.
Scholarship application must be made at the time of admission with supporting documents.
Candidates are advised to separately check UGC-JRF fellowship schemes for additional financial support.

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) FAQs

Ques. What are the available specialisations under Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU?

Ans. The Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU is primarily offered in English (6 seats) and Library & Information Science (2 seats) under the Faculty of Humanities and Linguistics. Research areas include English literature, linguistics, cultural studies, comparative literature, postcolonial studies, and library science. The specific research topic is finalized in consultation with the assigned supervisor after admission.

Ques. Is UGC-NET in English or Humanities accepted for entrance test exemption at SBU?

Ans. Yes. Candidates who have qualified UGC-NET in English, Hindi, Linguistics, Library Science, or any relevant humanities subject, along with CSIR-NET, GATE, SET, or similar national fellowships, are exempted from SBU's offline entrance test. However, they must still appear for the interview as part of the selection process.

Ques. What is the minimum qualification required to apply for Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU?

Ans. Candidates must hold an MA in English, MA in Humanities, MA in Sanskrit, M.Lib.Sc., or equivalent postgraduate degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks or 6.0 CGPA on a 10-point scale. SC/ST candidates are eligible with 50% marks.

Ques. How many seats are available for Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU?

Ans. For the 2026-27 session, 6 seats were available for Ph.D. in English and 2 seats for Ph.D. in Library & Information Science under the Faculty of Humanities and Linguistics. Seat availability for 2027-28 will be announced with the new admission notification.

Ques. Can a candidate with an MA in Hindi or Sanskrit apply for Ph.D. in Humanities at SBU?

Ans. Candidates with MA in Hindi, Sanskrit, or other humanities disciplines may be considered eligible, subject to the university's assessment of relevance and supervisor availability. Candidates are advised to contact rnd@sbu.ac.in to confirm eligibility and check supervisor availability before applying.

Ques. Does SBU have a library or digital resources for Ph.D. research in Humanities?

Ans. SBU has a well-equipped library on its 60-acre WiFi-enabled campus, supporting research across disciplines. The university's ICT infrastructure and Virtual Labs (ranked No. 1 in Jharkhand by IIT Delhi in 2026) provide digital access to research resources. Candidates are advised to contact rnd@sbu.ac.in for specific details about library and digital resources available for doctoral scholars in Humanities.

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SBU Ph.D Humanities: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Table of Contents

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) Fees

Fee Components

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) Admission 2026

SBU Ph.D. Admission Schedule

UGC-NET Entrance Exam Dates

Eligibility Criteria

Admission Process

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Categories

SBU Ph.D. (Humanities) FAQs

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