Every year after SEE and +2 results, hundreds of thousands of Nepali students search for one thing: how to fund their bachelor’s degree. This page maps every major scholarship pathway available at bachelor level in Nepal – domestic government scholarships, university-specific scholarship exams, bilateral government scholarships abroad, and reserved category options.
One important thing to understand upfront: most bachelor scholarships in Nepal are not separate applications – they are built into the entrance exam and admission process. Your entrance exam rank largely determines your scholarship access. Understanding which scholarships exist and how they are allocated is the first step.
Overview – Types of Bachelor Scholarships in Nepal
| Type | Who Administers | Who Can Apply |
| Government university (subsidised seat) | TU, KU, PU, IOE, MEC | All eligible students via entrance exam |
| Nijamati Karmachari Scholarship | MoFAGA | Children of civil servants only |
| UGC Scholarship | University Grants Commission | Dalit, disability, conflict victims, Mukta Kamlari, Muslim women, economically disadvantaged |
| MoEST bilateral scholarships abroad | Ministry of Education | All Nepali students – selected by exam/merit |
| University scholarship exams (PU, KU) | Individual universities | Nepali citizens via scholarship entrance exam |
| Private college merit scholarship | Individual colleges | Top entrance exam performers |
1. Government University Seats – The Most Valuable Bachelor Scholarship
The biggest bachelor-level scholarship in Nepal is one most students don’t think of as a scholarship: admission to a government constituent campus. The fee difference between a government campus and a private college is the scholarship.
| Programme | Government Campus Fee (approx. total) | Private College Fee (approx. total) | Scholarship Value |
| BE Engineering (IOE) | NPR 4–6 lakh | NPR 15–25 lakh | NPR 10–20 lakh |
| MBBS | Free / near-free at IOM | NPR 40–70 lakh | NPR 40–70 lakh |
| BSc CSIT | NPR 3–4 lakh | NPR 8–15 lakh | NPR 5–10 lakh |
| BBS/Management | NPR 50,000–1 lakh | NPR 5–8 lakh | NPR 4–7 lakh |
| BSc Nursing | Near-free at IOM/NAMS | NPR 15–25 lakh | NPR 15–25 lakh |
How to access these: Rank well in the relevant entrance exam – IOE for engineering, MEC CEE for medical/nursing, TU IOST for BSc CSIT, TU FOM/CMAT for management. Your rank determines which campus you get.
2. Nijamati Karmachari Scholarship (Civil Servant Children)
One of the most specific and least-publicised bachelor scholarships in Nepal – exclusively for children of Nepal government employees (civil servants, both serving and retired).
- Total seats: 400 (central level) plus district-level allocations
- Administered by: Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) through the Nijamati Karmachari Santati Chhatrabriti Byabasthapan Samiti
- Who can apply: Children (sons and daughters) of Nepal government employees – both currently serving and retired civil servants under the Civil Service Act 2049, Nepal Health Service Act 2053, and Legislature-Parliament Secretariat Act 2064. Children of constitutional body appointees and retired judges also qualify.
- Eligibility: Enrolled in first year or first/second semester of a bachelor’s degree programme in Nepal. Must have passed +2 or equivalent with at least C+ grade or GPA 2.4.
- Programmes covered: MBBS, BDS, B.Sc. Nursing, BAMS, Engineering, BSc (Science), Management, Agriculture and Forestry, and others
- Application portal: santati.mofaga.gov.np
- How to apply: Online application through the portal – upload required documents including parent’s government service certificate, +2 result, enrolment confirmation, and citizenship certificate
⚠️ This scholarship is specifically for students already enrolled in a bachelor’s programme – you apply after enrolment, not before. Monitor MoFAGA’s official notices for the application opening date each year.
3. UGC (University Grants Commission) Scholarships
UGC provides equity-based scholarships for students from marginalised backgrounds pursuing higher education at any UGC-affiliated university in Nepal.
- Dalit students
- Students with disabilities
- Economically disadvantaged students
- Children of martyrs and conflict victims
- Mukta Kamlari (freed bonded labourers)
- Muslim women students
Application: Through your enrolled institution – UGC channels scholarships via universities. Applications typically open Falgun–Chaitra (February–March) annually. Check: ugcnepal.edu.np
4. MoEST Bilateral Scholarships Abroad
Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) receives scholarship seats from foreign governments for Nepali students to study bachelor’s degrees abroad. These are competitive and vary each year.
| Country | Programmes | Notes |
| China | Engineering, Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture, Management and others | Largest bilateral scholarship provider; apply via MoEST and Chinese Embassy; Chinese language training included for most programmes |
| India | Various – ICCR scholarships cover multiple disciplines | Indian Cultural Centre, Kathmandu administers ICCR scholarships; apply online at a4.iccr.gov.in |
| Bangladesh | Engineering, Science, Management, others | Via MoEST – limited seats; selection by merit |
| Russia | Engineering, Sciences, Medicine, others | Russian language training included; verify degree recognition in Nepal before accepting |
| Hungary, Turkey, Egypt, others | Various | Seats vary annually; published via MoEST notices |
How to apply: Monitor MoEST scholarship notices at moest.gov.np. Bilateral scholarships are announced with specific deadlines – typically Poush–Falgun (December–February) for the following academic year.
⚠️ Before accepting any bilateral scholarship abroad: Verify that the degree will be recognised in Nepal for employment or further study purposes. Check with TU CDC for equivalency confirmation and with the relevant professional council (Nepal Engineering Council, Nepal Medical Council etc.) for professional degrees.
5. Pokhara University (PU) Scholarship Exam
PU runs structured scholarship entrance exams for bachelor’s level programmes with 1,328 total scholarship seats at bachelor level:
- Science and Technology: 501 seats (BE, BCA, BIT, BSc and others)
- Management: 788 seats (BBA, BHM, BCIS and others)
- Humanities and Social Sciences: 39 seats
Category split: 60% open, 40% reserved (Dalit, Janajati, Madhesi, women, disability, economically disadvantaged).
Application: Online via PU Scholarship Portal. Exam typically held Bhadra (August). Monitor: pu.edu.np
6. Reserved Category Seats at Government Universities
All government universities in Nepal allocate reserved seats for specific groups within their scholarship quota. If you qualify for any reserved category, you compete in a separate pool – improving your chances significantly.
Common reserved categories across all universities:
- Dalit – caste-based affirmative action; requires community certificate
- Adibasi/Janajati (Indigenous) – recognised ethnic groups listed by the Government of Nepal
- Madhesi – Madhesi community members from Terai districts
- Female quota – typically 10% of seats reserved for women at IOE and other technical faculties
- Persons with disabilities
- Government school students – students who completed Grades 6/8–12 at government/community schools receive priority at government constituent campuses. This is one of the most accessible reserved categories – if you went to a government school, prepare this certificate before the admission process.
- Backward/remote districts – students from classified remote districts receive special consideration
- Children of martyrs and conflict victims
7. Private College Merit Scholarships
Most private colleges in Nepal affiliated with TU, PU, or KU offer merit scholarships to attract high-performing students:
- Entrance exam rank scholarships: Top scorers in TU/PU/KU entrance exams get 25–100% tuition waiver for Year 1, sometimes renewable based on semester performance
- +2 GPA-based scholarships: Students with GPA 3.6+ or Distinction in +2 often get automatic partial scholarship at enrolment
- 10% institutional quota: TU and PU affiliated private colleges are required to allocate 10% of seats as scholarship seats – recipients pay government campus-equivalent fees
⚠️ Always ask private colleges these specific questions before enrolling: What percentage of the fee is covered? Does it apply to all years or only Year 1? Is it renewable – and on what GPA threshold? What happens if you drop a semester rank?
8. Subject-Specific Bachelor Scholarship Guides
For detailed scholarship information by subject area, see EduNepal’s dedicated guides:
- Engineering Scholarships in Nepal – IOE entrance, Pulchowk Campus (240 scholarship seats), KU, PU
- Medical Scholarships in Nepal – MBBS (691 seats), BSc Nursing (711 seats), BDS, allied health, bilateral scholarships
- IT Scholarships in Nepal – BSc CSIT, BCA, BIT, BE Computer
- Management Scholarships in Nepal – BBA, BBS, BHM, CMAT, PU scholarship exam
9. International Bachelor Scholarships for Nepali Students
Several countries offer bachelor-level scholarships specifically accessible to Nepali students:
- Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) – fully funded bachelor’s at Chinese universities. Large number of Nepali students already studying under this scheme. Apply via Chinese Embassy Nepal and MoEST bilateral channel. Deadline typically February–March.
- Korean Government Scholarship (GKS – Undergraduate) – fully funded bachelor’s in Korea including Korean language training. Apply via Korean Embassy, Kathmandu. Deadline typically February–March.
- ICCR Scholarships (India) – Indian government scholarships for Nepali students at Indian universities covering undergraduate programmes. Apply at a4.iccr.gov.in
- Turkish Government Scholarship (Türkiye Burslari) – fully funded bachelor’s in Turkey. Nepal is eligible. Applications open January–February annually.
Key Things to Know Before Applying for Any Scholarship
- Most domestic scholarships require reserved category documents prepared in advance. Community certificates, government school certificates, disability certificates – these take time to obtain. Start collecting them as soon as +2 results are published, not after entrance exams.
- Scholarship seats are allocated after the entrance exam – not before. You cannot know in advance which scholarship seat you will qualify for. Focus on the entrance exam preparation first.
- Government campus admission = scholarship, even without a named scholarship award. The fee difference is real money – treat it as such in your planning.
- For bilateral scholarships abroad, verify degree recognition before accepting. A scholarship abroad that produces an unrecognised degree is not a scholarship – it is an expensive mistake.
- Nijamati Karmachari scholarship is applied for after enrolment. If your parent is a civil servant, apply immediately after enrolling in your bachelor’s programme – don’t wait.
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