Banaras Hindu University: Courses, Admissions, Placements, Rankings & CutOff 2025

Banaras Hindu University was formally established in 1916 under the provisions of the BHU Act of 1915, passed by the Indian legislature. Its founding was spearheaded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, a nationalist leader and education reformer who envisioned an institution that would blend India’s ancient learning traditions with modern science and technology. He received crucial support from several luminaries of the time, including Dr. Annie Besant, who had already founded the Central Hindu College in Varanasi, which later merged with BHU. Together they imagined a truly Indian university, free from colonial bias, nurturing a sense of self-reliance and cultural pride while also meeting the demands of modern education. This unique vision shaped BHU into one of the first comprehensive universities in India, offering a range of subjects under one roof. 

Since 2022, BHU has fully adopted the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admissions to its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. This means that students aspiring to enter BHU must register for CUET through the National Testing Agency (NTA), appear for the relevant subject papers, and then participate in BHU’s counselling process. After CUET scores are released, BHU publishes cut-off lists on its official admission portal, and students apply online by uploading documents, filling their course preferences, and paying fees. The process is transparent and centralized, ensuring equal opportunity for candidates across India. Reservation rules laid down by the Government of India—covering SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwD categories—are followed strictly. 

Not all courses at BHU use CUET. For its technical and medical wings, separate national tests apply. IIT-BHU, which houses the university’s engineering and technology courses, admits undergraduates through JEE Advanced after clearing JEE Main. For postgraduate engineering, GATE scores are considered. The Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS-BHU) runs MBBS, BDS and Ayurveda programmes; admissions for these are through NEET-UG, while postgraduate medical (MD/MS) and dental (MDS) seats are filled via NEET-PG and AIAPGET (for Ayurveda). Management programmes such as the MBA in the Faculty of Management Studies consider scores from national tests like CAT, followed by group discussions and interviews. For research degrees like MPhil or PhD, BHU conducts its own entrance test or accepts UGC-NET/JRF qualified candidates, depending on the discipline. 

BHU has explicitly warned prospective students not to trust any third-party messages on WhatsApp claiming to offer admissions or guaranteed seats. Official communications regarding admissions, counselling schedules, fee payment and other updates are shared only through the university’s official website and via emails sent from verified domains such as admission@bhu.ac.in. The university issues notices on its portal cautioning against fraudulent agents. This system protects students from scams and ensures that all applicants receive the same information directly from the source. 

The Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Library is the heart of BHU’s academic life. Established in 1917, it was named after the Maharaja of Baroda who helped finance its construction. Architecturally inspired by the British Museum in London, the library houses over 1.3 million volumes, including rare books, manuscripts, journals, newspapers, maps and digitized collections. It functions as a Manuscript Conservation Centre under India’s National Mission for Manuscripts, preserving centuries-old documents in Sanskrit, Persian and other languages. The library offers separate reading halls for research scholars, digital access to international journals, and a state-of-the-art reference section. For many students and researchers, it is not just a repository but a living archive of India’s intellectual heritage. 

Within BHU’s main campus stands the imposing Shri Vishwanath Mandir, commonly called the New Vishwanath Temple or Birla Temple. Commissioned by the Birla family and completed in 1966, the temple replicates on a larger scale the design of the original Kashi Vishwanath shrine. Its white marble structure is crowned by a 250-foot spire, making it one of the tallest temple towers in the world. The temple houses shrines dedicated to several deities but remains primarily devoted to Lord Shiva. Beyond being a spiritual centre for students, it symbolizes BHU’s vision of harmonizing modern learning with India’s spiritual ethos, and it draws thousands of visitors each year. 

Sir Sunderlal Hospital, attached to BHU’s Institute of Medical Sciences, began as a modest clinic in 1926 and has grown into one of eastern India’s largest and most advanced healthcare facilities. It now operates with more than 1,500 beds, a modern trauma centre, and numerous super-specialty departments such as cardiology, neurosurgery and oncology. The hospital not only serves as the primary teaching hospital for BHU’s medical students but also provides affordable treatment to lakhs of patients annually from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and surrounding states. Its reputation as a tertiary referral centre places it on par with AIIMS in terms of facilities and expertise. 

The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of BHU is appointed by the President of India—the Visitor of the university—after a recommendation by a selection committee constituted by the Ministry of Education. The VC functions as the chief executive and academic head of the institution, presiding over the Executive Council, Academic Council and Finance Committee. The current VC (as of mid-2025) is Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, who has emphasized modernization of infrastructure, digital learning initiatives, and stronger industry linkages for placements. The VC’s tenure is typically three years, extendable by another term. 

Founded in 1920, Bharat Kala Bhavan is BHU’s world-renowned museum of art and culture. Its collection of over 104,000 artifacts spans prehistoric terracottas, ancient sculptures, Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures, textiles, coins, and rare manuscripts. It also preserves letters, photographs and personal belongings of famous Indian personalities. Scholars from around the world visit the museum to study its holdings, making it a living classroom for art history, archaeology and conservation. The museum reflects BHU’s commitment to nurturing not only scientific and technical knowledge but also India’s artistic and cultural heritage. 

The official BHU CUET-UG portal provides a dedicated FAQ section to help applicants. It covers step-by-step instructions such as: how to register using the CUET Application Number and date of birth; how to verify accounts through OTP; resetting forgotten passwords; completing the application profile by uploading photographs and certificates; choosing course preferences; and finalizing submissions before deadlines. These FAQs ensure that even first-time applicants can navigate the process without confusion, reducing errors during registration. 

BHU’s admission portal contains a prominent Help section where students can raise technical or procedural queries. In addition, the university lists official helpline numbers and email addresses for real-time support. Students can also check the “Notices” tab for updates about counselling schedules, document verification and fee payments. By centralizing communication and providing official support channels, BHU minimizes the risk of misinformation and keeps applicants informed at every stage of admission.