Predominantly Hindu and Buddhist, Nepali culture is unique compared to the typical Western experience, informing social customs, traditions and values. As a result, immersing yourself in Nepali culture is a valuable educational opportunity to see the world from a new perspective, learning how other people think and live outside if your own social experiences. If you are interested in learning more about Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, culture, and traditions, Nepal may be the place to visit. Nepali culture is also heavily influenced by traditional folklore.
Many of Nepal’s social, artistic, and culinary traditions are heavily influenced by the region’s primary religious beliefs, Hinduism and Buddhism. The same is true for social values and lifestyle. For example, Nepal emphasizes forest and biodiversity conservation. As a developing nation, there are also many opportunities to get involved with humanitarian volunteer and internship programs in Nepal, as well as studying social and economic development.
DIRECT ADMISSION Study Abroad offers several programs in Nepal. Study political, environmental, and economic forces in Nepal or issues faced by communities in exile from Tibet on a semester program. Conduct Earth science fieldwork on a summer program in Nepal’s Himalaya. Or study health or human rights on a comparative program in Nepal and three other countries.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for managing educational activities in Nepal. The Minister of Education (assisted by the state or assistant minister) is the political leader of the ministry. The ministry, as a part of the government, is headed by the Secretary of Education and consists of the central office and other offices at the regional and district levels. Its central office is primarily responsible for policy development, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
The ministry has established directorates in each of the five development regions and education offices in each of Nepal’s 75 districts to bring the educational administration to the people. These decentralized offices are responsible for overseeing local informal and school-level educational activities. Regional directorates are primarily responsible for coordinating, monitoring and evaluating educational activities, and the district education offices provide services.
The National Center for Educational Development (NCED) is Nepal’s teacher-training body. It has 34 educational training centres (ETCs) to provide pedagogical support for teachers.
Nepal has two primary types of schools: community and institutional. Community (public) schools receive government grants, and institutional (private) schools are self-funded. Institutional schools are non-profit trusts or companies.
Study abroad
Nepal ranks 11th in countries of origin for international student in the United States. According to “Open Doors 2009”, the annual report on international academic mobility published by the Institute of International Education with support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, the number of Nepali students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education increased from 8,936 in the 2007–08 academic year to 11,581 in 2008–09 (a 29.6-percent increase). In the 2006–07 academic year, Nepal ranked 13th among countries of origin of international students.
Universities
Nepal’s first college was Tri-Chandra College, founded in 1918. Until 1985, Tribhuvan University was the country’s only university. During the early 1980s, the government developed the concept of a multi-university system in which each school would have its own nature, content, and function.
The first new university was Mahendra Sanskrit University. It was followed by Kathmandu University (the first private university) in 1990 and Purbanchal and Pokhara Universities in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
Engineering colleges
Engineering colleges also exist throughout Nepal, with most admitting local students through an entrance exam. Like the country’s medical colleges, foreign students are admitted after an interview. To be eligible for admission to Nepalese engineering colleges, candidates are encouraged to pass the Intermediate in Science or have a diploma in engineering (or its equivalent).
The Institute of Engineering of Tribhuvan University is the country’s oldest engineering school. It has four colleges, and 13 private engineering colleges are affiliated with it. The IOE’s central campus is Pulchowk Campus, considered to the best engineering college in Nepal. Pulchowk offers bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees in engineering. More than 16,000 students from around the world take the school’s entrance examination.
Nepal Engineering College (NEC) in Changunarayan is the country’s first private engineering college to offer bachelor’s and master’s level courses. Popular engineering fields in Nepal are architecture, civil engineering, computer engineering, electronics and communications, electrical and electronics, energy and rural engineering. The B.E. architecture courses take five years to complete, and other bachelor’s degree courses take four years.
Medical colleges
Medical colleges, mostly private, exist throughout Nepal. Local students are admitted after an entrance exam, and foreign students are admitted after an interview. To be eligible for admission to MBBS courses in Nepal’s medical colleges, students must pass the higher secondary examination in science or its equivalent. Medical education is regulated by the Medical Council of Nepal. In addition to accrediting the country’s medical colleges, the council conducts the licensing examination for new doctors, makes policies related to curriculum, admission, terms and examinations and makes registration recommendations.
MBBS in Nepal is the best opportunity for Indian students. Nepal is nearby to India and has amicable relations with the nation. The best thing about Nepal medical colleges is that most of the faculty are from India. MBBS course in Nepal is valid in India only after qualifying the MCI screening test once you complete the medical course.
All the medical colleges/universities are approved by the Medical Council of India. Even the syllabus curriculum is similar to the Indian counterparts. There is no such language barrier.
Nepal is famous among Indian students majorly because of the quality of education, competitive fee structure and less documentation are among the fewer reasons why for Indian students selecting this country for higher education.
Top medical colleges in Nepal
- Nobel Medical College, Biratnagar
- National Medical College, Birgunj
- Nepalgunj Medical College, Nepalgunj
- Chitwan Medical College, Chitwan
- Birat Medical College, Biratnagar
- Janki Medical College, Janakpur
- Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara
- Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara