Higher education

Unlike Dutch higher education, Nepali higher education is not divided into HBO i and WO i . Nepali higher education institutions can offer both types of education. This often means that, for each diploma, we have to determine whether it is HBO or WO. On this page, we describe the diplomas we often see.

• Duration i : usually 3 or 4 years. Some study programmes have a longer duration:
  • Architecture (Bachelor in Architecture, B. Arch) takes 5 years to complete.
  • Dentistry (Bachelor of Dental Surgery, BDS) and medicine (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, MBBS) have a duration of 5 to 5½ years.
  • Law (Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws, B.A. LL.B) takes 5 years to complete. Please note: there is also a postgraduate bachelor’s programme in law, which takes 3 years to complete.
• Content: education focused on research or professional practice, sometimes an internship and/or a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a Migration Certificate – School Leaving Certificate Examination (Grade XI & XII), sometimes with extra requirements for subjects and grades.
• Function of the diploma: access to a study programme for a postgraduate bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, or work.
• Diploma: a bachelor’s degree. There are various diploma names, such as:
  • Bachelor in Architecture
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws
  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery
  • Bachelor of Education
  • Bachelor of Hotel Management
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
  • Bachelor of Science

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, students can continue studying for a postgraduate bachelor’s degree. We often see the following 2 postgraduate bachelor’s degrees:

• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Education

Bachelor of Laws

If students complete a study programme in law after a bachelor’s degree, they receive a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.).

• Duration: 3 years.
• Content: law. The study programme is mostly about theory, but students usually do not write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree. The field of study does not matter.
• Function of the diploma: work as a lawyer. Also, students can continue studying for a master’s degree or a post graduate diploma.
• Diploma: Bachelor of Laws.

Please note: students can also choose to do a 5-year bachelor’s programme in law immediately after graduating from high school; see Bachelor’s degree. After completing this study programme, students obtain a Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws (B.A. LL.B). This diplomas has the same level as the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B).

Bachelor of Education

If students complete a teacher training programme after a bachelor’s degree, they receive a Bachelor of Education.

• Duration: 1 year. Please note: students can also choose to do a 3 or 4-year teacher training programme immediately after graduation from high school; see Bachelor’s degree.
• Content: a teacher training programme. Students usually choose a major and a minor. They also follow educational subjects, such as pedagogy and didactics. They also do an internship, but they do not write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree.
• Function of the diploma: work as a teacher. Also, students can continue studying for a master’s degree or a post graduate diploma.
• Diploma: Bachelor of Education.

• Duration: 1 year.
• Content: usually profession-oriented education.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree. The field of study does not matter.
• Function of the diploma: work.
• Diploma: Post Graduate Diploma.

• Duration: usually 1 or 2 years.
• Content: profession-oriented or research-oriented education. Sometimes, students need to write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree. Sometimes, the bachelor’s degree needs to have a duration of at least 4 years.
• Function of the diploma: access to an MPhil or a PhD programme.
• Diploma: a master’s degree. There are various diploma names, such as:
  • Master of Arts
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Science
  • Master of Technology

After obtaining a master’s degree, students can continue studying for a Master of Philosophy (MPhil). Sometimes, students who want to do a PhD first have to obtain an MPhil.

• Duration: 1½ to 3 years.
• Content: further specialisation in the field of study of the previous education and greater emphasis on academic research. Students need to write a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a master’s degree in a related field of study.
• Function of the diploma: access to a PhD programme.
• Diploma: Master of Philosophy.

• Duration: 3 to 5 years.
• Content: academic research and a thesis, sometimes coursework as well.
• Admission requirements: a master’s degree or a Master of Philosophy (MPhil).
• Diploma: Doctor of Philosophy.