BHU RET 2026: Not Held, Ph.D. Admission 2026-27 via JRF, NET

BHU RET 2026 will not be held. Banaras Hindu University stopped its Research Entrance Test from the 2024-25 session. Ph.D. admission 2026-27 is through JRF, NET and Direct modes, with an interview instead of a written test. Online registration ran from 6 to 25 October 2026 (extended from 21 October). Under the revised schedule, interviews are on 12 November 2026 (PwBD candidates only) and 17 to 27 November 2026.

BHU RET 2026

This page explains how BHU Ph.D. admission 2026-27 works without RET: dates, how to apply, admission modes, eligibility, merit rules, fees and the old RET papers.

Is BHU RET 2026 being held?

No. BHU has not conducted its own Research Entrance Test since the 2024-25 session, following the UGC notification of 27 March 2024 that lets universities admit Ph.D. scholars on NET scores. There is no written entrance test for 2026-27.

Instead, BHU’s Ph.D. Admission Information Bulletin 2026 offers three modes: JRF mode, NET mode and Direct mode. Every shortlisted candidate must appear in person for document verification and an interview at the department.

BHU Ph.D. Admission 2026-27 Important Dates

BHU released the Ph.D. 2026-27 notice on 6 October 2026, with one schedule for all 16 faculties.

How to Apply for BHU Ph.D. Admission 2026-27

Applications were made online on BHU’s Ph.D. registration portal by 25 October 2026 (extended), and are now closed. No offline form was accepted.

1. Read the Ph.D. Admission Information Bulletin 2026 and note the subject basket, required qualification and seats of the departments you want.
2. Open the registration portal from bhuonline.in and register as a new user with your email ID and mobile number. Your login details are sent to your registered email.
3. Sign in with your email address and password, choose the mode (JRF, NET or Direct) and fill the form. You can choose up to five departments, centres or schools.
4. Upload your scanned photo, signature and certificates, including a valid category certificate if you claim reservation.
5. Pay the registration processing fee online by credit card, debit card or net banking, then submit the form.
6. Use the correction window on 26 October 2026 if needed, and check your portal for the call letter from 2 to 4 November 2026 (revised schedule).

The fee is non-refundable. You must fill a separate form for each mode, and you cannot change the mode or your preferences after final submission. If you forget your password, enter your registered email ID under Forget Password on the portal; the password is sent to your registered mobile.

Which modes can you use for BHU Ph.D. admission 2026-27?

BHU fills Ph.D. seats through three modes, and each needs its own form.

• JRF mode: for candidates with a JRF of UGC, CSIR, ICMR, DBT or another national agency that is still valid on the date of application. Fellowships such as NFOBC, NFSC and NFST based on NET scores do not count for this mode.
• NET mode: for UGC/CSIR NET Category 1, 2 or 3 candidates, ICAR-SRF (Ph.D.) or GATE qualified candidates, with a result not older than one year on the date of application.
• Direct mode: for specific groups, such as holders of a national or international Ph.D. fellowship at least equal to JRF, permanent BHU teachers, research staff in funded BHU projects and holders of a DM, M.Ch., MD, MS or DNB.

DST-INSPIRE fellows cannot apply in any mode. Most Direct-mode admissions are on supernumerary seats, over and above the advertised seats.

Who can apply for BHU Ph.D. 2026-27?

You need the qualifying Master’s degree listed for your subject in Section B of the bulletin, with at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade (60% for the Faculty of Management Studies).

• SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer) and PwBD candidates get a 5% relaxation in the minimum marks.
• Your NET, GATE or ICAR-SRF result must already be declared when you submit the form.
• OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must be issued after 31 March 2026.
• Seats are reserved at 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC-NCL and 10% for EWS, with 5% horizontal reservation for PwBD.

Seats are advertised department-wise across 16 faculties. The bulletin lists each subject basket with its category-wise seat matrix.

How is the BHU Ph.D. 2026-27 merit list prepared?

Merit depends on the mode, and the interview carries 30 marks in every mode.

• JRF and Direct modes: 100% weightage to interview marks.
• NET mode: 70% weightage to your NET, GATE or ICAR-SRF percentile and 30% to your interview percentile. For GATE and ICAR-SRF, BHU works out the percentile from your All India Rank.
• Interview calls: all JRF-mode applicants; in NET mode, 10 candidates per seat in merit order, or up to 15 with approval.
• Interviews are in person only. The Performing Arts and Visual Arts faculties also hold a qualifying practical test.

Before the result, BHU puts a marksheet with your interview marks and percentiles on your portal. Results come in up to four rounds between 28 November and 17 December 2026 (revised schedule), and a tie goes to the older candidate.

What fee do BHU Ph.D. scholars pay after admission?

After an offer, you pay the admission fee through the link on your portal. The bulletin sets these amounts:

If you cancel on the portal before the closing date of admission, you get a full refund. Within one month after that date, Rs 1,000 is deducted; after one month, there is no refund.

What was BHU RET, and are its old papers useful?

BHU RET was the university’s own written test for Ph.D. admission. The latest papers in BHU’s archive are from RET 2021, a computer-based test dated 16 March 2022, with 100 MCQs in two sections, 300 marks and 2 hours, and 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer.

You no longer need RET for admission, but the papers still help you revise core subject topics before the interview or the NET. Download the BHU RET previous year question papers for 2015 to 2021, subject-wise.

BHU Ph.D. 2026-27 Official Notices and Downloads

These are BHU’s official documents for Ph.D. admission 2026-27.

• PDFRevised Schedule for Ph.D. Admission 2026Official site · d2bpq0k0hmyes4.cloudfront.netOpen
• PDFBHU Ph.D. Admission 2026-27 Notice (schedule for all 16 faculties) (6 October 2026)Official site · d2bpq0k0hmyes4.cloudfront.netOpen
• PDFBHU Ph.D. Admission Information Bulletin 2026-27 (6 October 2026)Official site · d2bpq0k0hmyes4.cloudfront.netOpen
• LINKBHU Ph.D. 2026-27 registration portalOfficial site · bhu2.ucanapply.comOpen

BHU RET 2026 FAQs