Prime Highlights
- Nepal aims to increase international student enrolment to 10,000 within three years through policy reforms and visa simplification.
- Universities are promoting specialised courses in yoga, Buddhism, glacier studies and affordable medical education to attract global students.
Key Facts
- StudyInNepal works to promote Nepal as an international education destination.
- Kathmandu University reportedly has around 12% international graduates, reflecting growing overseas interest in Nepalese education.
Background
Nepal is stepping up efforts to position itself as an international education destination through governance reforms, simplified visa rules and stronger global promotion. Academic leaders, policymakers and university representatives recently met to discuss the country’s readiness for internationalising higher education and increasing foreign student enrolment.
The discussions were organised by StudyInNepal in collaboration with Tribhuvan University and included representatives from leading universities across the country. Stakeholders stressed the need for policy support, easier visa procedures and better international outreach to raise annual international student numbers from the current 1,200–1,500.
Bikalp Raj Pokhrel, co-founder of StudyInNepal and vice-president of the Educational Consultancy Association of Nepal, said stronger university engagement could help the country attract around 3,000 international students in the near term. He added that supportive reforms could increase the figure to 10,000 students within three years.
Institutions such as Kathmandu University and Lumbini Buddhist University are already drawing foreign students in fields such as Buddhist studies, medical education and hydropower. Nepal is also promoting specialised programs in yoga, Himalayan studies, glacier research, sustainability and experiential learning to strengthen its global appeal.
Stakeholders highlighted Nepal’s affordability, safe environment and cultural learning opportunities as key strengths. The country experiences financial losses approaching USD 1 billion each year because students choose to study abroad while political interference and infrastructure deficiencies continue to cause problems in the education system.
