Universities in Nepal — Complete List & Guide

Nepal's higher education sector is anchored by 14 federal universities, 3 provincial universities, and 7 medical academies that collectively serve over 500,000 students across thousands of programs. Understanding this landscape is essential for students choosing where to study.

Federal Universities
The 14 federal universities are established by acts of Parliament and funded primarily by the government through the University Grants Commission (UGC). The major ones include:

1. Tribhuvan University (TU) — Established 1959, Kirtipur. Nepal's oldest and largest university with 62 constituent and 1,080+ affiliated colleges. 2. Kathmandu University (KU) — Established 1991, Dhulikhel. Known for research excellence and semester-based system. 3. Pokhara University (PU) — Established 1997, Pokhara. Strong in management and tourism programs. 4. Purbanchal University — Established 1993, Biratnagar. Serves eastern Nepal with 123 affiliated colleges. 5. Lumbini Bauddha University — Established 2004, Lumbini. Focused on Buddhist studies and philosophy. 6. Nepal Sanskrit University — Established 1986, Dang. Specializes in Sanskrit and traditional studies. 7. Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) — Established 2010, Chitwan. Dedicated to agricultural sciences. 8. Mid-Western University — Established 2010, Surkhet. Serves the Karnali region. 9. Far-Western University — Established 2010, Kanchanpur. Serves Sudurpashchim Province. 10. Rajarshi Janak University — Established 2017, Janakpur. Serves Madhesh Province.

Other federal universities include Nepal Open University (distance learning), Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology, and Gandaki University.

Public vs Private Institutions
Within each university system, there are two types of colleges: constituent (fully government-funded, part of the university) and affiliated (privately managed, follow university curriculum). You can colleges" class="text-blue-600 hover:underline">browse all colleges on our platform to compare them.

Medical Academies
Nepal has 7 medical academies including BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), and Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS). These institutions conduct their own entrance exams — see our entrance-exams" class="text-blue-600 hover:underline">entrance exam guides for details.

Affiliation System
Most private colleges in Nepal are affiliated to one of the federal universities. The affiliating university sets the curriculum, conducts examinations, and awards degrees. Students should verify a college's affiliation status before enrolling to ensure degree recognition. Browse available programs" class="text-blue-600 hover:underline">academic programs across different universities on our platform.