National College

National College, Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, is an undergraduate institution established in 1996 by a group of academicians and affiliated with Kathmandu University (KU). The college has developed its academic identity around development and social sciences and presents its purpose through a mission of preparing professionals for social and economic transformation in diverse settings. Its stated vision is to become a centre of excellence in South Asia by combining knowledge, skills, and behaviour in support of self-reliant citizenship.

Over the years, the college has built a focused undergraduate portfolio that includes Development Studies, Development Finance, Social Sciences, and Psychology. Its academic direction combines classroom learning with field studies, internships, research, workshops, guest lectures, and project work. The overall approach places strong emphasis on social inquiry, critical engagement, and applied learning.

The institution is also associated with the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Center for Development Studies and Regional Cooperation. Alongside its academic programs, the college has developed scholarship support, research grants, student clubs, and international exposure through exchange activity and internships. This combination gives National College a distinct place among Kathmandu-based undergraduate institutions with a concentration in development-oriented and social science education.

Quick Highlights

• Established: 1996

• Location: Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu

• Affiliation: Kathmandu University, associated since 1996

• Academic Focus: Development studies, development finance, social sciences, and psychology

• Programs and Seats: BDevS – 30 seats, BDFin – 30 seats, BoSS – 30 seats, BPsych – 50 seats, Bachelor in International Relations and Diplomacy (BIRD)

• Centre Association: UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Center for Development Studies and Regional Cooperation

• Admission Route: KUSAAT followed by interview

• Minimum Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent with 45% aggregate or 2.0 GPA and no grade below D+

• Scholarship Categories: Topper, 4.0 GPA, Needy and Diligent, Merit-Based, ECA, SAF Madanjeet Singh, KAS, and research grants

• Research Support: 30 research grants were recorded for 2023–2024, with an earlier record of 88 grants and financial assistance during 2019–2022

• International Exposure: Exchange activity with Japan since 2006, internship opportunities in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and the Philippines, and additional exchange links with China, NIAS Bengaluru, and Palacky University in the Czech Republic

Academic Programs Offered

National College offers four undergraduate programs under Kathmandu University. Each program reflects the college’s broader concentration on development, society, behaviour, and applied academic inquiry. 

• BDevS: Bachelor in Development Studies is centred on development processes, social change, well-being, sustainable development, economics, sociology, environmental studies, development management, and research methods. The program is designed for students interested in understanding development from interdisciplinary and practical perspectives.

• BDFin: Bachelor in Development Finance combines finance with economics, management, development, and research. The program connects financial knowledge with wider development questions and is intended for students seeking to work across finance-related and development-related fields.

• BoSS: Bachelor of Social Sciences brings together sociology, anthropology, culture, political sciences, psychology, public policy, and research. The course places attention on both Nepalese and global societies and supports broad-based social science learning.

• BPsych: Bachelor of Psychology introduces the study of human behaviour and mental processes and includes research-oriented academic work. The program adds a behavioural and psychological dimension to the college’s undergraduate offerings.

Together, these programs give the institution a clearly defined academic range. Rather than operating across unrelated disciplines, the college has built its portfolio around connected areas of study that engage with society, development, public life, behaviour, and research.

Admission Process with Required Documents

Admission to National College is tied to the Kathmandu University School of Arts’ Admission Test, commonly referred to as KUSAAT. The process includes a written examination and an interview. A recent college file gives the structure in more detail and records the test as a 90-minute written exam followed by interview. It includes General Knowledge, Math (IQ), English, Nepali, English to Nepali translation, and essay writing. Another college file also records same-day publication of results.

Applicants are expected to meet the following eligibility conditions.

• 10+2 or equivalent degree in any discipline

• Minimum aggregate of 45% or minimum 2.0 GPA

• No grade below D+

• CBSE students need a minimum of 45% aggregate

• A-Level students need a minimum of Grade D in three subjects

• Students awaiting Class XII results may apply for provisional admission and submit proof of passing within 15 days of result publication

• Candidates improving results in up to two non-graded subjects may also apply provisionally

The enrollment stage requires selected candidates to submit the following items to confirm their seat.

• Admission fees

• Educational certificate

• Two photographs

• Citizenship

Teaching Faculty and Learning Methodology

The teaching environment at National College is presented as student-centred, academically serious, and closely tied to social and developmental learning. The institutional emphasis is not limited to classroom delivery alone. The academic model brings together faculty support, field engagement, project work, internships, research supervision, guest lectures, and workshops.

A key feature of the learning methodology is the place given to field studies. Research skills are introduced early, and field-based academic work is carried out every semester. This gives students repeated exposure to data collection, observation, social analysis, and research practice while they progress through their undergraduate years. The recurring use of field study also connects theory with real contexts rather than treating academic learning as only text-based or examination-based.

The final year strengthens this practical and research-oriented structure. Students complete an internship in the penultimate semester, followed by an independently completed research-based project work of six credit hours in the final stage of study. This project is supervised by an expert or professional relevant to the research theme and is reviewed during the final defense by an external examiner. The structure places importance on independent inquiry, academic discipline, and formal evaluation.

The wider teaching approach also includes guest lectures, workshops, field trips, and student initiatives. These elements give the academic environment greater variety and help extend learning beyond routine class sessions. Leadership messages connected with the college also place emphasis on confidence-building, intellectual development, self-reliance, social commitment, and the preparation of capable human resources for changing social and economic contexts.

The result is an undergraduate learning model that combines classroom instruction with applied exposure. Rather than separating academic knowledge from practice, National College connects teaching with research, field engagement, internships, supervised project work, and broader student participation across the four-year experience.

Infrastructure and Learning Facilities

The learning environment at National College is shaped by facilities and academic supports that are directly connected to study, research, and student development. The institution presents its physical infrastructure alongside faculty support and established undergraduate programs, indicating an academic setting designed to support sustained undergraduate learning.

Key learning facilities and academic resources include:

• Field study integration in every semester

• Supervised final-year project work

• External review and defense of research-based project work

• Internship opportunities within Nepal and outside Nepal

• Research grants linked to student project work and independent research

• Academic support through the National College Research Committee

• Publication platform through Samriddhi Journal of Development Studies

• International academic exposure through exchange and partner links

Research support is a notable part of the college’s academic infrastructure. Multiple named grants are associated with student research and project activity, including the Himalaya Shamsher JB Rana Research Grant, MahendraManorama Mishra Research Grant, Kaushila Foundation Research Grant, Dr. Shyam Krishna Poudel Memorial Research Grant, Akshobhya Khushi Pandey Research Grant, National College Chairman’s Grant, and Shantabati Chalise Memorial Research Grant.

These facilities and supports show that the college’s infrastructure is closely tied to how students learn. The emphasis is on spaces and systems that support field-based study, formal supervision, research development, publication, and practical engagement rather than on isolated campus features.

Student Life and Campus Experience

Student life at National College extends beyond classroom instruction. Leadership messages and prospectus pages refer to field trips, sports activities, internships, guest lectures, workshops, and student-led initiatives as regular parts of the college experience. The presence of the National College Student Society also suggests an organized space for student participation and campus involvement.

The campus experience is also shaped by cross-cultural engagement. Prospectus material refers to international students from countries including Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia, alongside visiting faculty and guests from China, Canada, Bangladesh, Japan, and India. Exchange collaborations with Japanese universities, China-related cultural exchange, and newer partnerships with NIAS Bengaluru and Palacky University widen the academic exposure available to students.

Student testimonials included in the prospectus also connect the college environment with leadership development, critical thinking, time management, teamwork, social awareness, and participation in student society and college events. These testimonials are individual experiences rather than institutional guarantees, but they do show the kinds of activities and responsibilities students encounter during their undergraduate years.

Extracurricular Activities (ECA)

National College identifies several student activity spaces and co-curricular platforms.

• National College Student Society (NCCS)

• Book & Media Club

• Startup Club

• Sports Club

• Environment Club

• Sports activities

• Workshops and events

• Field visits and field study activities

• Student initiatives linked to campus participation

Scholarships and Financial Support

The college records multiple scholarship and financial support categories. Some are semester-based, some are merit-based, and some are linked to need, extracurricular activity, SAARC participation, or research work.

• Topper (TP) Scholarship for the highest grades at admission and in later semesters

• Scholarship for students achieving 4.0 GPA or CGPA in a semester

• Needy and Diligent (ND) Scholarship

• Merit-Based (MB) Scholarship

• ECA Scholarship

• SAF Madanjeet Singh Scholarship for SAARC students in BDevS

• KAS (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung) Scholarship

• Research grants for student project work and independent research

The National College also records selected recent figures: 12 students recognized under the 4.0 GPA category in 2024, 10 ND awards in 2024, 5 MB awards in 2023, 8 ECA scholarship recipients in 2024, and 3 SAF Madanjeet Singh awards in 2025. Research support was recorded at 30 grants during 2023–2024. Earlier prospectus material also records 88 research grants and financial assistance during the four academic sessions from 2019 to 2022.

Achievements and Institutional Milestones

National College has developed through a series of academic and institutional milestones that reflect program expansion, research support, and international engagement. These milestones outline the growth of the institution across different phases.

• Established in 1996

• Affiliated with Kathmandu University since 1996

• BDevS introduced in 1999

• BDFin introduced in 2006

• BoSS introduced in 2013

• Associated with the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Center for Development Studies and Regional Cooperation

• Recorded 5 University Toppers

• Recorded 88 research grants and financial assistance from 2019 to 2022

• Recorded 30 research grants during 2023–2024

• Nepal-Japan exchange activity in practice since 2006

• Internship opportunities documented in Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and the Philippines

• Collaboration with NIAS Bengaluru from 2023

• Erasmus+ semester exchange opportunity with Palacky University, Olomouc, from 2023

These milestones show a college that has expanded with a clear academic direction. The growth of programs, the continued place of research support, and the development of international links all contribute to the institution’s established profile.

Why Choose National College?

National College offers a focused undergraduate environment for students interested in development, finance, society, psychology, and research-based learning. Its strengths come from a combination of academic direction, practical exposure, and student support.

• Kathmandu University affiliation

• Focused undergraduate programs in connected academic fields

• Research-based learning from early semesters

• Field studies conducted every semester

• Internship opportunities inside and outside Nepal

• Final-year project work with supervision and external review

• Scholarship categories across merit, need, extracurricular activity, and regional support

• Research grants linked to student academic work

• Student clubs and organized campus participation

• International exchange and academic exposure

• Publication support through Samriddhi Journal of Development Studies

For students seeking an institution with a clear concentration rather than a broad and unrelated course mix, National College presents an academic setting built around development and the social sciences, supported by practical learning and sustained undergraduate engagement.

Message from the Chairman and Principal

The institutional message connected with the chairman presents National College as a place where undergraduate education should contribute to intellectual competence, moral grounding, and social commitment. The four-year student experience is linked with field trips, sports, internships, guest lectures, student initiatives, and independent research. This reflects a view of higher education in which learning develops through participation, discipline, and academic engagement beyond regular class sessions.

The principal’s message places the college within Nepal’s wider social and developmental context. It emphasizes the institution’s long academic journey and highlights the development of BDevS, BDFin, and BoSS as part of its educational direction. The message also presents the college as a student-focused academic environment that supports confidence, self-reliance, and responsible learning.

Together, these messages give a consistent institutional perspective. National College is presented not only as a teaching institution but also as a place intended to prepare students for thoughtful participation in changing social and economic contexts.

Conclusion

National College, Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, presents a focused undergraduate model built around Kathmandu University affiliation, development-oriented and social science education, research-based learning, and practical academic exposure. The uploaded files show a college that combines degree programs with field studies, project work, internships, scholarships, student clubs, and international exchange opportunities.

Its academic identity is closely tied to development education, research support, and student participation across classroom and out-of-class activities. For students looking for undergraduate study linked to social inquiry, development, finance, psychology, and interdisciplinary learning, National College offers a clearly defined institutional setting within Kathmandu.

FAQ

1. Where is National College located?

National College is located in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu.

2. Which university is National College affiliated with?

National College is affiliated with Kathmandu University.

3. Which undergraduate programs are available at National College?

The college offers BDevS, BDFin, BoSS, and BPsych.

4. How many seats are available in each program?

The recorded seat allocation is 30 seats each for BDevS, BDFin, and BoSS, and 50 seats for BPsych.

5. What is the minimum eligibility for admission?

Applicants need 10+2 or an equivalent qualification with at least 45% aggregate or 2.0 GPA, with no grade below D+.

6. What does the admission process include?

Admission includes KUSAAT followed by an interview. The written test runs for 90 minutes and includes General Knowledge, Math (IQ), English, Nepali, English to Nepali translation, and essay writing.

7. Can students apply before their Class XII results are published?

Yes. Students awaiting Class XII results may apply provisionally and submit proof of passing within 15 days of result publication.

8. What documents are required after selection?

Selected candidates must submit admission fees, an educational certificate, two photographs, and their citizenship.

9. Does the college offer scholarships?

Yes. Scholarship categories include Topper, 4.0 GPA, Needy and Diligent, Merit-Based, ECA, SAF Madanjeet Singh, KAS, and research grants.

10. Does National College offer internship and exchange opportunities?

Yes. The college includes internship opportunities within Nepal and outside Nepal and has exchange and academic links with partner institutions in Japan, China, India, and Europe.

Contact National College's administrative office for detailed information on the course, admissions, location, fees, scholarships, facilities, counseling, or eligibility.