University of Nepal (UNepal) is an autonomous, multidisciplinary, research-oriented public university established under the University of Nepal Act, 2081 (2024). The university is governed through a Board of Trustees and currently operates two academic schools: the School of Arts, Sciences & Technology (SAST) and the School of Public Policy (SPP).
SAST provides undergraduate education through a four-year Liberal Arts and Sciences framework. It offers 15 bachelor's programs spanning computing, data science, integrated science, psychology, economics, business, energy, environmental studies, humanities, communication, policy studies, and social sciences. SPP runs the Master of Public Policy (MPP), a two-year graduate program.
UNepal's undergraduate structure combines broad interdisciplinary study with progressively deeper disciplinary specialization. Common core courses, majors, minors, electives, cross-disciplinary study, research, community engagement, and a capstone project or thesis form part of the academic model. Teaching and learning are also organized around a Dialogic, Reflective, and Transformative approach.
| Field | Current information |
|---|---|
| Official name | University of Nepal |
| Nepali name | नेपाल विश्वविद्यालय |
| Short form | UNepal |
| Institution type | Public university |
| Academic orientation | Multidisciplinary and research-oriented |
| Legal basis | University of Nepal Act, 2081 (2024) |
| Act assent/publication | 9 October 2024 |
| Governance | Board of Trustees |
| Chancellor | Dr. Bindu N. Lohani |
| Vice-Chancellor | Dr. Arjun Karki |
| Registrar | Dr. Surya Raj Acharya |
| Academic schools | School of Public Policy; School of Arts, Sciences & Technology |
| Undergraduate structure | Four-year Liberal Arts and Sciences model |
| Graduate program | Master of Public Policy |
| Office | Sano Gaucharan, Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu |
| Academic premises | Trishakti Marg, Uttar Dhoka/Lazimpat, Kathmandu |
| Website | https://unepal.edu.np/ |
| info@unepal.edu.np | |
| Phone | +977-1-5914588 |
The legal establishment of University of Nepal dates to 2024. The University of Nepal Act, 2081 provides the statutory framework for the institution as a public university engaged in higher-education study, teaching, and research. The Act received assent and publication on 9 October 2024 and provides for commencement on the thirty-first day after assent.
Institutional development had begun before the enactment of the university law. In 2021, the Government of Nepal formed an infrastructure-development preparation body for the proposed university. Gaindakot in Nawalparasi was associated during this development stage with plans for a central campus.
The 2021 preparation process and the 2024 legal establishment represent separate stages. The earlier body supported institutional development, while 2024 is the legal establishment year of University of Nepal.
The university was organized around a multidisciplinary academic model that combines teaching, research, interdisciplinary study, academic autonomy, social responsibility, and engagement with issues relevant to Nepal.
University of Nepal operates under a Board of Trustees governance structure.
The senior university leadership includes:
Dr. Bindu N. Lohani — Chancellor
Dr. Arjun Karki — Vice-Chancellor
Dr. Surya Raj Acharya — Registrar
The Board of Trustees includes:
Dr. Bindu N. Lohani
Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal
Prof. Bipin Adhikari
Ms. Chandni Joshi
Dr. Jagadish C. Pokharel
Er. Lal Krishna K.C.
Ms. Laxmi Devi Pandey
Mr. Madhab Paudel
Mr. Rameshore Khanal
Prof. Dr. Ram M. Shrestha
Dr. Shiba Thapa
Ex-officio participation in the governance structure is connected with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the University Grants Commission, the Vice-Chancellor, and the Registrar.
The Board of Trustees has responsibility for university governance and institutional oversight within the framework established for UNepal.
UNepal's vision is "Reshaping higher education for a better future."
Its mission focuses on preparing competent, conscientious, and socially responsible scholars and leaders through knowledge, creativity, critical inquiry, entrepreneurship, and responsible application of learning. The academic direction also emphasizes graduates who can engage with local priorities while working within broader intellectual and professional settings.
The university identifies the following values and principles:
Integrity and ethics
Intellectual rigor and academic excellence
Pursuit of truth
Academic autonomy and freedom
Tolerance, dignity, and respect
Equity, inclusion, and social responsibility
Collegiality and accountability
Creativity and inquiry
Public purpose
Institutional responsiveness and resilience
Research, public service, community engagement, and responsible citizenship are integrated into the university's wider academic direction.
University of Nepal currently operates through two academic schools with distinct academic levels and program structures.
The School of Arts, Sciences & Technology is responsible for undergraduate education. Its four-year programs follow Liberal Arts and Sciences principles, combining a shared interdisciplinary foundation with majors, minors, electives, and advanced study in selected disciplines.
The School of Public Policy operates at the graduate level and runs the Master of Public Policy. The MPP combines policy core courses, concentration study, electives, an internship, and a final Capstone Policy Project or thesis.
Across the two schools, academic work incorporates research, analytical study, writing, interdisciplinary learning, and application of knowledge.
The School of Arts, Sciences & Technology follows a four-year, full-time undergraduate structure. Students begin with a broad academic foundation and progressively move toward more focused disciplinary study.
Early coursework introduces ideas and methods from humanities, social sciences, business, physical and life sciences, mathematics, computing, data-related disciplines, and other interdisciplinary areas. Communication, contextual learning, inquiry, and intellectual breadth form part of this stage.
During later years, students undertake deeper study within a selected discipline while retaining opportunities to study outside the major. This relationship between breadth and specialization is represented through the university's T-Model. The horizontal component represents interdisciplinary breadth, while the vertical component represents disciplinary depth.
Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits for an undergraduate degree.
| Component | Maximum credits | Academic purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core | 40 | Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and Sciences study |
| Major | 40 | In-depth study within a selected discipline |
| Minor | 20 | Study in a secondary field |
| Electives, including micro-credentials | 20 | Additional exploration and skill-focused study |
| Capstone Project or Thesis | 4–6 | Applied or independent research |
These components organize undergraduate learning across shared study, specialization, additional academic interests, and final research or project work.
Cross-disciplinary seminars and inquiry are incorporated throughout the undergraduate structure. The capstone project or thesis gives students a final period of sustained applied or independent academic work.
The undergraduate foundation is organized around eight broad academic areas:
History, Culture, and Society
Literature, Communication, and Media Studies
Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law
Energy, Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
Computer and Data Science, Mathematics, and Artificial Intelligence
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Sciences
Cognitive Science: Mind, Brain, and Behavior
Economics, Finance, and Business Studies
These areas provide the broader academic setting from which majors, minors, and electives develop. Students therefore encounter disciplines beyond their eventual major before moving into more specialized study.
SAST offers 15 bachelor's programs.
| No. | Academic area | Degree / Program |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computing, Data and AI | BS in Computer Science and Information Technology (CSIT) |
| 2 | Computing, Data and AI | BS in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) |
| 3 | Integrated Science | BS in Integrated Science |
| 4 | Mind, Brain and Behavior | BA in Psychology |
| 5 | Economics, Finance and Business | BA in Finance and Economics |
| 6 | Economics, Finance and Business | BA in Economics |
| 7 | Economics, Finance and Business | BS in Business Analytics |
| 8 | Energy and Sustainability | BS in Sustainable Energy Systems (SES) |
| 9 | Environment and Technology | BS in Environmental Technologies and Management (ETM) |
| 10 | Climate and Sustainability | BS in Climate Change and Sustainability (CCS) |
| 11 | Interdisciplinary Policy Studies | BA in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law (PPEL) |
| 12 | Humanities | BA in English Studies |
| 13 | Communication | BA in Communication and Media Studies (CMS) |
| 14 | Social Sciences | BA in Social Sciences |
| 15 | Social Sciences | BA in Gender and Development Studies (GDS) |
The undergraduate portfolio includes both BA and BS degrees. The range extends from computing, data, integrated science, energy, and environmental subjects to psychology, economics, business, humanities, communication, policy studies, and social sciences.
UNepal uses a Dialogic, Reflective, and Transformative teaching model.
The dialogic element emphasizes engagement, questioning, and inquiry. Students examine ideas through discussion and interaction rather than relying only on one-way transmission of information.
The reflective element focuses on interpretation and internalization. Students consider what they have learned, relate ideas to wider contexts, and examine assumptions.
The transformative element connects learning with creation, contribution, and application. It extends academic work into research, projects, new questions, and wider social contexts.
The undergraduate environment also incorporates research-oriented learning, micro-credential courses, incubation activities, laboratories, integrated capstone work, and startup-related projects. Community-based learning connects academic study with stakeholders and real-world situations.
The teaching model therefore combines inquiry, reflection, research, interdisciplinary study, and practical application within the undergraduate curriculum.
Research is embedded in UNepal's academic philosophy. Students are encouraged to frame questions, examine evidence, compare ideas, and work across disciplinary boundaries.
Community engagement also forms part of the learning structure. By treating community settings as part of academic learning, students can connect classroom study with public issues, stakeholders, and local contexts.
Undergraduate research and engagement may include:
Research and inquiry within courses
Cross-disciplinary seminars
Community-based learning
Independent and applied projects
Capstone or thesis work
Micro-credential study
Incubation and project activities
Engagement with national and international partners
This structure links academic learning with research, inquiry, community interaction, and application.
Undergraduate intake, applicants were required to have successfully completed Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
The selection process included:
Grade 12 or equivalent academic qualification
Academic performance
Statement of Purpose
Resume
Aptitude or entrance assessment
Oral interview
Supporting information related to disadvantaged status where applicable
Travel or visa documentation for international applicants where applicable
Application dates, charges, tuition figures, and other intake-specific financial or procedural details can differ between admission cycles.
UNepal's undergraduate admission structure includes full or partial scholarships and financial aid associated with merit and demonstrated financial need.
Scholarship categories include:
Nepal Gaurav
Need-based Scholarship
Merit-based Scholarship
Partnership Scholarship
Endowment support through personal or institutional arrangements
Scholarship administration is connected with the university's stated principles of fairness, transparency, and integrity. Individual scholarship conditions can vary by intake and category.
The School of Public Policy runs the Master of Public Policy, the university's first graduate program.
The MPP is a two-year, full-time, in-person program comprising four semesters and 60 credits. Its academic structure covers policy theory, economics, finance, research methods, quantitative analysis, law, management, international relations, concentration courses, electives, internship experience, and a Capstone Policy Project or thesis.
The core curriculum includes:
Public Policy: Principles and Process
Economics for Public Policy
Public Finance: Theory and Practice
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Research Methods, Policy Writing & Communication
Quantitative Methods for Public Policy
Law and Public Policy
Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills
Leadership and Organizational Management
International Relations, Trade and Investment
Infrastructure System Management
Public Policy Seminar
Students build concentration-level expertise through three or more additional courses.
Agriculture and Food Policy
Development Policy
Economic and Financial Policy
Energy and Resources Policy
Environment and Climate Policy
Infrastructure and Transport Development
International Relations
Industry and Trade Policy
Tourism Development Policy
Social Policy
Elective study extends into fields such as data science, regulation, public-private partnerships, monetary and fiscal policy, climate policy, project management, project finance, and program evaluation.
Bridge courses in economics, mathematics, statistics, and Python coding are available for students who require additional preparation in these areas.
The MPP identifies public organizations, policy research and think tanks, policy consulting and advisory services, international development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and media among the professional settings connected with policy education.
National and international partnerships form part of the School of Public Policy's academic activities.
UNepal has formalized Memoranda of Understanding with:
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India
Agreements have also been signed with:
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI)
Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI)
These arrangements cover areas including academic cooperation, faculty participation, professional development, joint academic activities, and interaction between university programs and external institutions.
The wider university framework also includes collaborative research, academic exchange, mentoring, visiting scholars, and shared projects with institutions in Nepal and abroad.
The undergraduate student experience is closely connected with the university's curriculum structure. Students move through common interdisciplinary study before concentrating more strongly within their chosen field. Majors can be complemented by minors and electives, allowing continued study beyond a single discipline.
Research, writing, critical inquiry, communication, quantitative work, community engagement, and project activity are distributed across the academic framework.
Student-facing academic activities include:
Internships
Capstone and thesis work
Community engagement
Cross-disciplinary seminars
Micro-credential courses
Incubation activities
Project-based learning
Research activities
Interaction with national and international academic partners
Competitive funding and part-time engagement opportunities
The form and availability of individual activities can differ by program, academic year, and partnership arrangement.
University of Nepal's current operations are centered in Kathmandu.
The university office is at Sano Gaucharan, Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu. Academic premises are at Trishakti Marg in the Uttar Dhoka/Lazimpat area of Kathmandu.
Gaindakot in Nawalparasi is connected with earlier plans for a central campus during the university's development stage. UNepal has also outlined a phased multi-campus model through which academic operations may expand to additional locations over time.
University: University of Nepal
Office: Sano Gaucharan, Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu
Academic Premises: Trishakti Marg, Uttar Dhoka/Lazimpat, Kathmandu
Phone: +977-1-5914588
Email: info@unepal.edu.np
Website: https://unepal.edu.np/
UNepal's current academic identity is defined by the programs and structures that are already operating or formally announced.
For undergraduate students, the main academic characteristic is the combination of interdisciplinary foundational study with later disciplinary concentration. The SAST structure includes common core courses, major study, minor options, electives, cross-disciplinary inquiry, and a final capstone project or thesis.
The curriculum is therefore suited to an academic model in which students study outside their principal field while developing greater depth in a selected discipline over time.
At the graduate level, the Master of Public Policy provides the university's current postgraduate option. Its 60-credit curriculum combines policy analysis, economics, quantitative methods, public finance, law, management, sector-focused concentration study, internship experience, and final independent policy work.
Admission procedures, financial arrangements, scholarship conditions, and reporting locations remain linked with individual admission cycles.
Master of Public Policy (MPP) - University of Nepal The Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the University of Nepal is a full-time gr...
Yes. University of Nepal is a public university established under the University of Nepal Act, 2081 (2024) and governed through a Board of Trustees.
University of Nepal was legally established in 2024. Preparatory institutional work began earlier, including the formation of an infrastructure-development preparation body in 2021.
SAST offers 15 four-year bachelor's programs across computer science, data science and artificial intelligence, integrated science, psychology, economics, finance, business analytics, sustainable energy, environmental technologies and management, climate change and sustainability, philosophy-politics-economics-law, English studies, communication and media studies, social sciences, and gender and development studies.
Undergraduate students complete a minimum of 120 credits. The curriculum includes a Common Core, major study, minor study, electives including micro-credentials, and a Capstone Project or Thesis.
The School of Public Policy runs the Master of Public Policy. It is a two-year, full-time, in-person program consisting of four semesters and 60 credits.
The university office is at Sano Gaucharan, Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu. Academic premises are at Trishakti Marg in the Uttar Dhoka/Lazimpat area of Kathmandu.
Applicants were required to have completed Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification from a recognized institution. Selection also included academic performance, an aptitude or entrance assessment, a Statement of Purpose, and an oral interview.
Yes. Scholarship categories include Nepal Gaurav, need-based, merit-based, Partnership Scholarship, and endowment-supported arrangements. Conditions vary according to the applicable scholarship category and intake.
