Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is a public Central University in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, founded on 4 February 1916.[1] Its 2026-27 international bulletin counts 5 institutes, 16 faculties, 144 departments, 29 centres and over 38,000 students, among them 928 foreign nationals.[1] Two lists of Indian institutions place BHU in the 951–1000 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2][3]
Foreign nationals pay in rupees. The 2026-27 bulletin lists a tuition fee per semester and a yearly development fee that is higher for students from outside the SAARC countries. For a B.A. (Honours) in most arts subjects the figures are Rs. 1,150 per semester plus Rs. 50,000 a year for non-SAARC students.[1] Foreign nationals do not sit the CUET entrance test and apply through BHU’s international admissions portal.[1]
Key facts
| Official name | Banaras Hindu University (BHU) |
| Location | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India (postal code 221005)[4] |
| Type | Public Central University; Institute of National Importance and Institution of Eminence[1] |
| Founded | 4 February 1916; centralised under the Banaras Hindu University Act passed in 1915[5] |
| Campuses | Main campus of 1,370 acres in Varanasi, and the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus (about 2,700 acres) at Barkachha, Mirzapur, about 75 km away[1] |
| Structure | 5 institutes, 16 faculties, 144 departments and 29 centres[1] |
| Students | Over 38,000 according to the 2026-27 international bulletin; Wikipedia gives 30,698 for 2020[1] |
| Foreign national students | 928 currently enrolled, according to the bulletin[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 951–1000 band (Education21 and PhDTalks lists; one other list prints 801–850)[2] |
| Foreign national seats | 15% supernumerary seats, of which 5% for children of NRIs (PIO and OCI) and 5% for children of Indian workers in Gulf and South Asian countries[1] |
| Tuition 2026-27, foreign nationals | Tuition per semester plus a yearly development fee. In the examples we checked: Rs. 1,150 to Rs. 42,000 a semester and Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 4,25,000 a year (higher for non-SAARC students)[1] |
| Registration fee, self-financing applicants | Rs. 6,000 (non-SAARC countries) or Rs. 3,000 (SAARC countries)[1] |
| English requirement | TOEFL 70 or IELTS 6.0 for Ph.D. applicants whose qualifying degree was not taught in English[1] |
| Official website | bhu.ac.in |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 6 November 2026.
About Banaras Hindu University
BHU was founded on 4 February 1916; the bulletin credits Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, working with figures such as Annie Besant, and describes it as the largest residential university in Asia.[1] Wikipedia says the university was centralised under the Banaras Hindu University Act passed in 1915.[5]
Its institutes include Agricultural Sciences, Environment and Sustainable Development, Management Studies, Medical Sciences and Science, and it runs a second campus, the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, in Mirzapur district.[1] The government has named it both an Institute of National Importance and an Institution of Eminence, the second status carrying a grant of Rs. 1,000 crore over five years.[1]
How is Banaras Hindu University ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, Banaras Hindu University is listed in the 951–1000 band by two lists of Indian institutions in the QS 2027 top 1,000: Education21 and PhDTalks.[2][3] Studyportals shows BHU at 951 and says it climbed 50 places compared with 2026.[7]
The sources do not agree. Buddy4Study prints a band of 801–850 for BHU in both 2026 and 2027, which does not fit the other three.[8] We use 951–1000 because three independent sources point to it. We could not check the original, because QS blocks automated access to its site. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Banaras Hindu University?
The international admissions notification for 2026-27 names a major focus on agriculture, life sciences, chemical science, mathematical and statistical sciences, earth sciences, the humanities, arts and languages, performing and visual arts, legal studies, commerce and management. Medical sciences and veterinary programmes are offered through NEET.[4]
The bulletin has a fee table for foreign nationals that covers undergraduate programmes (for example B.A. (Honours) in languages and arts subjects, B.Sc. (Honours) in Agriculture and B.Tech. in Dairy and Food Technology), postgraduate programmes, Ph.D. programmes and certificate and diploma programmes.[1] Foreign nationals do not need the CUET (UG or PG) or any other entrance test.[1] For the MBA programmes, the supernumerary seats for foreign nationals go to applicants on the basis of a combined GMAT score and online interview.[1]
How much does Banaras Hindu University cost in 2026-27?
| Programme | Tuition per semester | Development fee per year, SAARC | Development fee per year, non-SAARC |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. (Honours) in languages and arts subjects | Rs. 1,150 | Rs. 30,000 | Rs. 50,000 |
| B.Sc. (Honours) in Agriculture | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 40,000 | Rs. 65,000 |
| B.Tech. in Dairy Technology or Food Technology | Rs. 40,000 | Rs. 45,000 | Rs. 80,000 |
| M.Sc. Computational Science and Applications | Rs. 22,000 | Rs. 55,000 | Rs. 70,000 |
| M.Sc. Forensic Science | Rs. 42,000 | Rs. 3,00,000 | Rs. 4,25,000 |
| Ph.D. in Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy | Rs. 6,000 | Rs. 50,000 | Rs. 70,000 |
| Ph.D. in Bio-Statistics | Rs. 6,000 | Rs. 2,00,000 | Rs. 2,75,000 |
These are examples from the table “Admission fee (INR) programme wise” for foreign national students in the 2026-27 international bulletin.[1] The tuition fee is charged per semester and the development fee per year, so a B.A. (Honours) student from outside the SAARC countries pays about Rs. 52,300 a year (two semesters at Rs. 1,150 plus Rs. 50,000). The SAARC countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.[1]
How do you apply to Banaras Hindu University as a foreign national?
All international applicants, self-financing students and those applying through scholarship programmes, apply and upload their documents on the dedicated international admissions portal (bhufsradm.samarth.edu.in).[4][9] Government rules also require foreign nationals to register on the Study in India portal.[1]
- Eligibility: it differs by programme and is listed in the bulletin. For the Ph.D., for example, applicants need a master’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree in the subject with at least 55% in the aggregate.[1] Foreign nationals who studied in India are still treated as foreign candidates and apply under the foreign-student quota.[1]
- Offer letter and fees: BHU’s International Centre may issue a provisional offer letter, which you download from the portal. You pay the admission fee only after you have the letter.[1]
- Visa: the admission letter can only be used to apply for a visa. Undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma students need an S-1 student visa; Ph.D. students need a Research visa (S-5) and, if self-financing, a No Objection Certificate or routing through their embassy.[1]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year. For 2026-27 the portal shows registration as closed; watch the same portal for the next session.[9] Contact for admission enquiries: int.admission@bhu.ac.in.[9]
Which language level do you need?
For the Ph.D., foreign candidates must provide a TOEFL score of at least 70 or an IELTS score of at least 6.0 if the language of their qualifying examination was not English. Candidates who cannot provide either may sit an English proficiency test at BHU and must pass at the 10+2 level with an overall minimum score of 40%.[1]
For other programmes the bulletin asks for a certificate from the last institution attended on proficiency in English, unless the qualifying examination was taught in English.[1] Certificates and transcripts in other languages must come with a certified English translation.[1]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banaras Hindu University the same as IIT BHU?
How much does Banaras Hindu University cost for international students?
It depends on the programme. The 2026-27 bulletin lists a tuition fee per semester and a yearly development fee. A B.A. (Honours) student from a non-SAARC country pays Rs. 1,150 a semester plus Rs. 50,000 a year, and a Ph.D. student pays Rs. 6,000 a semester plus a development fee that is between Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 2,75,000 for non-SAARC students in the programmes we checked.[1]
Do foreign students need the CUET or another entrance test?
How many places are there for foreign students?
BHU provides 15% supernumerary seats for foreign nationals, of which 5% go to children of NRIs and 5% to children of Indian workers in the Gulf and South Asian countries.[1]
More about studying in India
- India: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in India
- Amity University (Noida)
- Anna University
- BITS Pilani
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
- Indian Institute of Science
- Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology Indore
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Jadavpur University
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- University of Delhi
- University of Hyderabad
Sources
[1] Banaras Hindu University: International Student Admission 2026-27 (FSR information bulletin) (bulletin for the 2026-27 session; file name dated 06 Mar 2026 and marked as final draft)
[2] Education21: QS World University Rankings 2027, India’s report card (article of 21 Jun 2026; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026 (QS publishes at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access))
[3] PhDTalks: 52 Indian universities in QS World University Rankings 2027 (article of 28 Jun 2026; secondary list)
[4] Banaras Hindu University: Notification, International Admissions 2026-27 (notice of 28 Feb 2026 from the Central Admission Committee)
[5] Wikipedia: Banaras Hindu University (history, act and IIT (BHU); page without a date)
[6] Business Today: QS World University Rankings 2027, 12 IITs lead India’s 20 best universities (article updated 18 Jun 2026; mentions IIT (BHU) Varanasi at 510th)
[7] Studyportals: Banaras Hindu University (page without a date; footer 2007–2026; lists QS 951 for 2027)
[8] Buddy4Study: QS World University Rankings 2027, India (article of 26 Jun 2026; prints 801–850 for BHU, which conflicts with the other sources)
[9] Banaras Hindu University: International student admission portal 2026 (page without a date; shows registration as closed)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.