Banaras Hindu University, Banaras
Banaras Hindu University, Banaras is a higher education institution located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Overview
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is a public central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The university was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, an Indian educationist and politician who served as the four-time president of the Indian National Congress. BHU is one of the largest residential universities in Asia, with over 30,000 students enrolled across its campuses.
The university is recognized by the University Grants Commission and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities. BHU has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council and is consistently ranked among the top universities in India. The institution is unique in that it houses the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi on its campus, making it the only university in India to have an IIT within its precincts.
BHU comprises 5 Institutes, 16 Faculties, 136 Departments, and 1 Mahila Mahavidyalaya. The university also has four colleges admitted to its privileges, which are located in Varanasi city. The campus spans over 1,300 acres and includes academic buildings, research centres, hostels, a hospital, and the Bharat Kala Bhavan museum.
History
Banaras Hindu University was founded in 1916 by Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, a visionary educationist and Indian independence activist. The university was established with the noble objective of imparting knowledge and fostering holistic development, ensuring both career and character building. The foundation stone was laid in 1916, and the university began its academic journey with a commitment to integrating Indian culture and values with modern education.
The institution was conceived as a residential university that would bring together students from across India and abroad. Over the decades, BHU expanded significantly, adding institutes, faculties, and departments across diverse disciplines including arts, sciences, medicine, engineering, agriculture, management, law, and performing arts. The university played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement and has been associated with numerous national leaders and thinkers.
BHU has been led by several distinguished Vice-Chancellors over its history, including Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who served as the second President of India. The university continues to uphold its founding vision of providing education that combines academic excellence with ethical and cultural values.
Programs
Banaras Hindu University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across a wide range of disciplines through its faculties, institutes, and departments.
Undergraduate Programmes
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Technology
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS)
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
- Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
- Bachelor of Performing Arts
- Bachelor of Visual Arts
- Bachelor of Agriculture
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science
Postgraduate Programmes
- Master of Arts in various subjects
- Master of Science in various subjects
- Master of Commerce
- Master of Technology
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Laws (LL.M.)
- Master of Education (M.Ed.)
- Master of Medicine (MD)
- Master of Surgery (MS)
- Master of Pharmacy
- Master of Agriculture
- Master of Veterinary Science
Doctoral Programmes
- Doctor of Philosophy in various disciplines
- Doctor of Literature
- Doctor of Science
The university offers programmes through 5 Institutes including the Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Institute of Management Studies, and Institute of Science. The 16 Faculties cover Agriculture, Arts, Ayurveda, Commerce, Dental Science, Education, Environment and Sustainable Development, Law, Management, Medicine, Performing Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan Sankaya, Visual Arts, and Veterinary and Animal Sciences.
Facilities
Banaras Hindu University provides comprehensive academic, residential, and support facilities across its 1,300-acre campus in Varanasi.
Campus The university operates from a sprawling campus in Varanasi that includes academic buildings, research centres, administrative offices, and residential facilities. The campus has four interdisciplinary schools including the School of Material Science, School of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biochemical Engineering, and School of Biotechnology under the Institute of Technology.
Library The university maintains a central library with extensive collections of books, journals, and digital resources to support the academic and research needs of students and faculty across all disciplines.
Hostel and Accommodation BHU is a residential university providing hostel facilities for students across its campuses. The hostels accommodate both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Sports and Recreation The campus includes sports facilities and the BHU Club, which was founded in 1934 by Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya to foster a culture of excellence and holistic development within the university community.
Medical Facilities The Institute of Medical Sciences operates a hospital on campus that provides healthcare services to students, staff, and the general public.
Cultural Facilities The university houses the Bharat Kala Bhavan, a museum with a rich collection of art and artefacts. The campus also includes the BHU Press, established in 1936, which plays a critical role in the university's publishing and printing efforts.
Other Facilities The university offers comprehensive banking and postal services on its campus. The campus also houses a Kendriya Vidyalaya and three schools. The Public Relations Office operates the official social media handles of the university.
Admissions
Admissions to Banaras Hindu University are conducted through national-level entrance examinations and the university's own admission processes.
Undergraduate Admissions Admission to undergraduate programmes is through the Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET) and the Banaras Hindu University Medical Entrance Test (BHU PET) for specific programmes. For professional courses like MBBS, admission is through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). For B.Tech programmes, admission is through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main. The university also accepts scores from the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for certain programmes.
Postgraduate Admissions Admission to postgraduate programmes is through the Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test (BHU PET) and other national-level examinations including the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), Common Admission Test (CAT), and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate courses (NEET PG).
Doctoral Admissions Admission to Doctor of Philosophy programmes is through the Research Entrance Test (RET) conducted by the university, followed by an interview.
Application Process Candidates must register for the respective entrance examinations through the official portals. For BHU-specific tests, candidates must apply through the university's admission portal. International students are required to apply online through the university website and the Samarth portal. The university publishes admission notifications and prospectus on its official website.
Affiliations
- Affiliation
Banaras Hindu University is a central university established under the Banaras Hindu University Act, 1915.
- Regulatory Bodies and Approvals
University Grants Commission: Recognized. National Assessment and Accreditation Council: Accredited. Association of Indian Universities: Member. All India Council for Technical Education: Recognized as a Quality Improvement Programme centre.
- Accreditation
National Assessment and Accreditation Council: Accredited.
- Governance Structure
Founder: Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Vice-Chancellor: Prof. Sudhir K. Jain. Training and Placement Officer: Dr. Umesh Singh. Placement Coordinator (Institute of Management Studies): Dr. Ashutosh Mohan.
- Campus Location
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Contact Information
Phone: +91 9454927370 (Training and Placement Officer). Email: placementofficer@bhu.ac.in, bhutpo@gmail.com. Placement Email (IMS): placements@fmsbhu.ac.in. Website: www.bhu.ac.in.
Alumni
Banaras Hindu University has a distinguished legacy of producing leaders who have contributed significantly to politics, science, literature, and public service in India and abroad.
Documented Alumni:
- Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala was the first democratically elected and 22nd Prime Minister of Nepal. He was one of the most important literary figures of Nepal and a focus of Nepalese politics during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
- Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam served as a visiting professor at BHU. He was a Bharat Ratna laureate and the 11th President of India. He was a scientist and science administrator at the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian Space Research Organisation.
- Sir C.V. Raman served as a visiting professor at BHU. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for discovering the phenomenon of Raman Scattering and received the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan served as Vice-Chancellor of BHU. He was the first Vice President of India and the second President of India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
- Bhupen Hazarika earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1944 and Master of Arts in Political Science in 1946 from BHU. He was a legendary singer and composer.
- Narla Tata Rao was an engineering graduate from BHU in 1941. He was a renowned engineer.
- Palle Rama Rao earned his Ph.D. in Metallurgy from the Institute of Technology, BHU in 1989. He is a metallurgist and scientist.
- Suhas Pandurang Sukhatme was an engineering graduate from the Institute of Technology, BHU in 1958. He served as the former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
- Madhu Sudan Kanungo was a Professor of Biology at BHU. He was a
References
- Official Website of Banaras Hindu University
- Placement and Internship Cell - Banaras Hindu University
- Career Guidance, Training and Placement Cell - Banaras Hindu University
- Public Relations Office - Banaras Hindu University
- Placement and Internship Cell, Banaras Hindu University - LinkedIn
- No Increase in Fees of Any Student, Says BHU - News18