The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has announced the opening of applications for its PhD admissions for the academic year 2025-26. Candidates can apply through three modes: Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), National Eligibility Test (NET), and direct admission. The application portal is accessible at bhuonline.in, with the deadline set for December 16, 2025.
To apply for BHU PhD admissions, candidates must possess a valid email address, mobile number, scanned photograph and signature, as well as a payment method such as a credit card, net banking, or an ATM-cum-debit card.
Interviews for candidates applying in various disciplines will take place between January 5 and January 16, 2026. Specifically, those applying for arts, social sciences, medicine, Ayurveda, and sciences will be interviewed from January 5 to 16. Candidates from faculties including commerce, education, management studies, veterinary sciences, law, dental science, visual arts, performing arts, and agricultural sciences will be interviewed from January 10 to 16, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
For candidates applying through the JRF mode, eligibility requires qualification under the University Grants Commission (UGC), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), or similar national agencies. Those seeking admission solely based on assistant professorship without JRF or NET will not be considered. Merit will be determined entirely by interview performance.
Admission Process
Candidates who have qualified for the UGC NET or CSIR in the December 2024 or June 2025 exams under categories for JRF, assistant professorship without JRF, or PhD-only will also be eligible. The merit for these candidates will be calculated based on a total score out of 100, with 70 per cent weightage given to qualifying exam scores and 30 per cent to interview performance.
Direct admission is available for candidates holding prestigious national or international PhD scholarships equivalent to UGC, CSIR, or Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) standards. Senior management candidates may also be considered for admission, subject to prior approval from the Vice Chancellor. These candidates must have at least 12 years of experience and be at least 43 years old.
Second Admission Cycle
If seats remain unfilled after the first cycle, a second admission cycle will commence on February 12, 2026. Unfilled seats in one mode will be reallocated to another mode to ensure maximum utilisation of available slots.
BHU PhD admissions provide a rigorous selection process aimed at fostering research and higher education opportunities across various disciplines. The university encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds and qualifications to apply, ensuring a comprehensive approach to admissions.
