Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Law [BALLB] {Hons.}

The Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Law [BALLB] {Hons.} at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a prestigious 5-year full-time integrated undergraduate programme offered by the Faculty of Law, one of India's oldest and most distinguished law schools established over a century ago. The course spans 10 semesters, combining liberal arts subjects with comprehensive legal education, and carries a total fee of approximately Rs. 3.62 Lakhs for the complete duration. With a seat intake of 74 students and admission based on CUET UG scores, the programme is highly competitive and popular among students aspiring for careers in judiciary, litigation, law firms, and civil services. The course is offered in full-time on-campus mode at the BHU campus in Varanasi.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are currently in progress. The CUET UG 2026 registration window was open from January 3, 2026 to February 26, 2026 (now closed). The CUET UG 2026 exam is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026, with results expected by July 4, 2026. BHU's own counselling and registration process for CUET-qualified candidates is expected to begin after CUET UG results are declared, tentatively in July-August 2026.

Key Points

• The Faculty of Law at BHU has a legacy of over 100 years and is known as a "Factory of Judges" due to the large number of alumni who have cleared judicial services examinations.
• The BALLB {Hons.} programme is a self-financed special course, which is why its fees are significantly higher than the regular 3-year LLB programme at BHU.
• The programme follows a 10-semester structure covering both arts subjects (Political Science, Sociology, Economics) and core law subjects, with elective specialisations in later semesters including IPR, Maritime Law, Competition Law, and ADR.
• Students are required to maintain a minimum of 70% attendance to be eligible to appear in semester examinations.
• BHU's campus spans 1,360 acres and is one of the largest residential university campuses in Asia, offering hostel accommodation to most students.
• The Faculty of Law has a dedicated Moot Court Committee and hosts the annual Mahamana Malaviya National Moot Court Competition, which attracts over 90 teams from across India.
• A Legal Aid and Service Clinic has been operational since 1977, providing students with hands-on experience in serving marginalised communities.

BHU BALLB Fees

The BALLB {Hons.} programme at BHU is a self-financed course, and its fee structure reflects this. The annual tuition fee for the current batch is Rs. 72,300 per year, which translates to Rs. 36,150 per semester. Over the 5-year (10-semester) duration, the total tuition fee amounts to Rs. 3,61,500. Hostel accommodation is available on campus at a nominal annual charge of approximately Rs. 6,000, with mess charges of around Rs. 4,500 per month (approximately Rs. 54,000 per year) billed separately.

Fee Structure

• Hostel accommodation is not mandatory; students may opt for private accommodation near the campus.
• A hostel caution/security deposit of Rs. 2,000 is collected in the first year, which is refundable at the end of the course.
• Mess charges are billed separately by the hostel mess and are not part of the university fee.
• Fees are subject to revision by the university; the figures above are based on the 2026-27 fee structure.
• No EMI facility is officially offered; however, students can apply for scholarships and state government reimbursements to offset costs.

BHU BALLB Admission 2026

Admissions to the BALLB {Hons.} programme at BHU are conducted through CUET UG scores. The CUET UG 2026 exam is scheduled for May 11-31, 2026, and BHU's counselling process is expected to commence after results are declared. The 2025 admission cycle saw CUET cutoff scores ranging from 366 (General, Round 4) to 374 (General, Round 1), indicating high competition for the 74 available seats.

BHU BALLB Admission Dates

Entrance Exam Dates

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent examination from a recognised board.
• A minimum aggregate of 50% marks in Class 12 is required for General/OBC/EWS category candidates (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
• There is no upper age limit for admission to the BALLB {Hons.} programme at BHU.

Admission Process

• Candidates must register and appear for CUET UG, selecting the relevant BA LLB subject combination.
• After CUET UG results are declared, BHU releases a merit list based on CUET scores.
• Shortlisted candidates are called for BHU's online counselling and seat allotment process.
• Candidates must complete document verification and fee payment within the stipulated deadline to confirm admission.
• Multiple rounds of counselling (including a Mop-Up round) are conducted to fill remaining seats.

BHU BALLB Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in the BALLB {Hons.} programme at BHU can avail a range of scholarships from central and state government sources, as well as private foundations. The UP State Post-Matric Scholarship is one of the most widely availed schemes, which can reimburse up to the full tuition fee for eligible students from economically weaker sections. Additionally, students from other states can apply for their respective state government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).

Scholarship Details

• Students must apply for state scholarships within the deadline announced each academic year (typically October-November).
• The UP scholarship amount is credited directly to the student's bank account after verification.
• Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds can also approach the Faculty Dean for fee exemption on a case-by-case basis.
• Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to change; students should verify current details on official portals before applying.

BHU BALLB Placement 2026

The Faculty of Law at BHU has a dedicated Internship, Placement, Career Counselling and Personality Development Committee (IPCP). The placement cell is still developing, with the faculty traditionally being judiciary-oriented; however, recent years have seen growing participation from top law firms and corporate legal departments. Students have secured internships and placements at leading firms including Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Trilegal, AZB and Partners, Khaitan and Co., JSA, and PSL Advocates, among others. The faculty is widely regarded as a strong launchpad for judicial services, with hundreds of alumni clearing PCS(J) and other judicial examinations.

Placement Statistics

• BHU Law School is primarily known for producing judiciary professionals.
• Corporate placements are growing but are not as structured as NLUs.
• Students interested in corporate law careers are advised to proactively pursue internships at law firms during the course.

BHU BALLB FAQs

Ques. Does BHU still conduct its own BLAT (BHU Law Admission Test) for BALLB admissions, or has it shifted to CUET?

Ans. BHU has transitioned to CUET UG for admissions to the BALLB {Hons.} programme. The university's own BLAT entrance test is no longer used for this course. Candidates must appear in CUET UG and select the BA LLB subject combination to be eligible for BHU's merit list and counselling process.

Ques. What is the actual annual fee for BALLB at BHU? There seems to be confusion between Rs. 62,000 and Rs. 72,000.

Ans. The fee was revised upward for batches admitted from 2022-23 onwards. Students who joined before the revision pay approximately Rs. 62,000 per year, while new admissions from 2022-23 onwards pay Rs. 72,300 per year (Rs. 36,150 per semester). The revised fee applies to all new admissions.

Ques. Is hostel accommodation guaranteed for BALLB students at BHU?

Ans. BHU is a residential university and makes efforts to provide hostel accommodation to most students. However, hostel allotment is not guaranteed and depends on availability. Students are advised to apply for hostel accommodation immediately after admission confirmation. The hostel fee is approximately Rs. 6,000 per year (excluding mess charges of around Rs. 4,500 per month).

Ques. Is BHU's BALLB programme good for corporate law careers, or is it only suitable for judiciary aspirants?

Ans. BHU's Faculty of Law has traditionally been judiciary-oriented and is often called the "Factory of Judges." However, in recent years, the placement cell has been actively working to attract corporate law firms, and alumni have secured positions at top firms like Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Trilegal, and AZB & Partners. That said, students with strong corporate law aspirations should proactively pursue internships at law firms during the course, as the structured corporate placement infrastructure is still developing compared to NLUs.

Ques. What is the minimum attendance requirement for BALLB students at BHU?

Ans. Students must maintain a minimum of 70% attendance in each subject to be eligible to appear in semester examinations. The attendance policy is strictly enforced, and students falling below this threshold are not permitted to sit for exams.

Ques. Can students from states other than Uttar Pradesh get scholarships for BALLB at BHU?

Ans. Yes. Students from other states can apply for their respective state government's post-matric scholarship schemes through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in). Additionally, central government schemes such as the Central Sector Scholarship and SC/ST Post-Matric Scholarship are available to eligible students regardless of their home state. Private scholarships like the Reliance Foundation Scholarship are also open to students from all states.