Banaras Hindu University

What Banaras Hindu University is

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is a central university established in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, through an act of Parliament (BHU Act 1915). Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, it is one of the largest residential universities in Asia. The university is ranked 5th among universities and 11th overall in NIRF 2024.

BHU is organised into 4 institutes, 16 faculties, and approximately 140 departments. As of 2020, total student enrolment stood at over 30,000 students from 48 countries. The university campus spans over 1,300 acres, one of the largest in the world.

Note on scope: This profile covers BHU proper. The Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, formerly the Institute of Technology, BHU, is now an autonomous IIT and is not covered here.

Who it’s for

BHU is a strong option for students who want:

• A well-recognised, low-cost undergraduate education at a central university in arts, sciences, commerce, or law
• Access to a large residential campus with strong academic breadth
• MBA from FMS-BHU (Institute of Management Studies), one of the older management schools in India
• LLB and integrated law programmes through the Faculty of Law

The very low fee structure makes BHU accessible regardless of financial background. The trade-off is that, as a large institution with 30,000+ students, the teaching experience and infrastructure quality varies considerably across departments.

Students frequently weigh BHU against Delhi University for arts and social sciences, and against IIM/newer management schools for the MBA. For sciences, BHU’s Institute of Science has a credible research track record.

Programs offered

Undergraduate (CUET UG route for most programmes):

• BA Economics, BA Political Science, via Faculty of Social Sciences
• BA Honours (Arts), English, Hindi, Sanskrit, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Journalism & Mass Communication, and more via Faculty of Arts
• BSc Mathematics, BSc Physics, BSc Chemistry, BSc Statistics, via Faculty of Science / Institute of Science
• BCom Honours, via Faculty of Commerce
• LLB (5-year integrated), via Faculty of Law, admission through CLAT

Postgraduate:

• MBA, MBA (International Business), MBA (Agribusiness), via Institute of Management Studies (FMS-BHU), admission through CAT
• MA, MSc across all departments
• PhD programmes across all faculties and institutes

Campus and infrastructure

BHU’s campus in Varanasi is a self-contained residential township. The 1,300+ acre campus includes the Banaras Hindu University main campus and the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus in Barkachha, Mirzapur. Hostels are available for students across most programmes, though availability varies by department and programme level.

The campus houses Sir Sunderlal Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in eastern India, attached to the Institute of Medical Sciences. The Bharat Kala Bhavan museum on campus is one of India’s major art and archaeology museums.

Varanasi is well-connected by rail and air (Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport). The campus is located approximately 4 km from Varanasi Junction railway station.

Things to verify before applying

• CUET UG requirement: Most UG programmes at BHU require CUET UG scores. Confirm programme-specific CUET subject requirements on the BHU admissions portal before applying.
• Law admission via CLAT: BHU’s Faculty of Law (LLB 5-year integrated) uses CLAT scores. Verify current seat matrix and cutoffs directly.
• FMS-BHU MBA via CAT: The Institute of Management Studies accepts CAT scores. Confirm current intake and selection criteria on the FMS-BHU official page.
• Fee structure by programme: Fees vary significantly across departments. Very low tuition for most programmes, but verify the current fee sheet with the specific department.
• Hostel availability: Hostel seats are limited relative to total student strength. Confirm availability for your specific programme before applying.
• IIT BHU vs BHU: IIT (BHU) Varanasi is a separate autonomous institution. Do not conflate the two when researching engineering admissions.

Where to go next on this site

• CUET UG exam guide, the primary admission route for most BHU UG programmes
• CLAT exam guide, for BHU Law (LLB 5-year)
• CAT exam guide, for FMS-BHU MBA
• BA Economics programme guide
• BA Political Science programme guide
• BCom programme guide
• BSc Mathematics programme guide
• BSc Physics programme guide

Sources Used

• Banaras Hindu University Official Website
• NIRF 2024 University Rankings
• NIRF 2024 Overall Rankings
• [BHU Faculties and Departments List (Official)](https://www.bhu.ac.in/Images/files/Annexure-XVI%20(List%20of%20Faculty,%20Departments.docx)
• Wikipedia, Banaras Hindu University
• BHU Online Admissions Portal