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Study in India from Nepal has become one of the most popular choices for students seeking quality education with convenience. India's open border with Nepal, cultural similarities, and proximity make it an easy destination to reach. Institutions like the IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS, alongside UGC-recognized universities and AICTE-approved colleges, offer programs in Engineering, Medicine, Management, IT, and Humanities. Admizz provides guidance from college selection through entrance exam preparation, accommodation, and documentation. For the Embassy of India's scholarships, including COMPEX, you must apply yourself, and we explain how.
Quick answer
Nepali citizens do not need an Indian visa or FRRO registration to study in India, according to India's Bureau of Immigration. The main scholarship route is COMPEX, run by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu for BE/B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, Agriculture, Food Technology and Nursing, with selection by a computer-based test. The 2026-27 window ran from 27 August to 16 September 2026, with exams from 28 September to 3 October. Applicants register on Study in India, pay NPR 400, and must apply directly because the Embassy does not accept applications through consultants.
Checked in October 2026
Reason 01 of 04 · Scholarships for Nepal
According to the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, the Government of India provides around 1,500 scholarships and seats every year to Nepali nationals.
Reason 02 of 04 · Open border
India's Bureau of Immigration says citizens of Nepal are exempt from the requirement of an Indian visa and registration. Get admitted, register on the Study in India portal, and enroll.
Reason 03 of 04 · Right now. Across India.
Students from Nepal already study at institutions across the country, from Delhi to Bengaluru, so you will rarely be the only one from home.
Reason 04 of 04 · You're already home
Shared festivals, shared food, shared languages, shared history. Studying in India isn't moving abroad — it's stepping next door.
Embassy of India, Kathmandu
Scholarship schemes for Nepali students
Apply directly to the Embassy. It does not accept applications through consultants or agencies.
Open border · no visa
What you don't need
Right now · across India
Across India
Students from Nepal on campus
Shared by heart
Nepal & India, side by side
Same festivals, same scripts, same plates — studying in India isn't moving abroad.
Nepali citizens do not need an Indian visa, and the Bureau of Immigration lists them as exempt from registration too. You still need an accepted admission and the right ID at the border.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa Needed | No. Citizens of Nepal are exempt from the requirement of an Indian visa (Bureau of Immigration) |
| Entry from Nepal | By land or air, a government-approved photo ID that shows your nationality, photograph, date of birth and validity |
| Entry from elsewhere | A valid passport if you enter India from any place other than Nepal. A passport and visa are needed if you arrive from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan |
| FRRO/FRO Registration | Not required. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are exempt from the requirement of visa and registration |
| Study in India ID | Registering on studyinindia.gov.in gives you an SII ID, which the COMPEX 2026 application required |
| Class 12 Equivalence | Embassy schemes ask for a UGC (or AIU) equivalence certificate for your 10+2, from equivalence.ugc.ac.in |
| Intake | Months | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy Scholarship Cycle | Set by the Embassy each year | ICCR schemes (ABVGSS, SJSS) are usually advertised in February-March and AYUSH in May-June. COMPEX 2026 opened on 27 August |
| Institution Intakes | Set by each institution | Direct applications follow each college's or university's own admission calendar |
Dates change every year. Check the Embassy of India, Kathmandu website for scholarship schemes and the admissions page of each institution for direct applications.
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The political and academic capital. Home to several central universities and national research institutes.
Climate
Hot summers · Cold foggy winters
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Top universities
Entry requirements depend on the route. These are the ones published by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.
| Test | Minimum Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| COMPEX (BE/B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, B.Sc. Agriculture, Food Technology, Nursing) | Computer-based test run by the Embassy | 2026 papers: English, Physics, Chemistry (EPC), Mathematics and Biology. Class XII: 60% aggregate and 50% in English |
| IITs, NITs and IIITs via COMPEX | JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced) as applicable | Needed in addition to selection in COMPEX |
| Medical (MBBS/BDS) via Embassy Self-Financing Scheme | NEET-UG, at least the 50th percentile | Also 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and 50% in English |
| Other courses and direct applications | Set by each institution | Check the admission page of your institution for exams such as CUET or its own test |
Tuition differs by institution and course, so check the fee page of the college you are applying to. These are the fees the Embassy of India in Kathmandu publishes for its schemes.
COMPEX application fee
NPR 400
Deposited at Nepal SBI Bank, 2026 notification
Law Scholarship Scheme
Up to NPR 6.4 lakh a year
Reimbursement of tuition, admission and hostel fees
Self-Financing Scheme (MBBS, BDS, BE/B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Pharmacy)
No financial aid
Seats are self-financed; the Embassy gives no scholarship
The Embassy accepts applications only from the student. Admizz can explain these schemes, but you submit the application yourself.
Embassy of India scheme for BE/B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Sc. Food Technology and B.Sc. Nursing, chosen by a computer-based test
ABVGSS for undergraduate and SJSS for postgraduate study, plus the AYUSH scheme for traditional medicine, applied for on the ICCR A2A portal
New in September 2026: reimbursement up to NPR 6.4 lakh a year for BA LLB, LLB or LLM at a top-20 NIRF-ranked law college
2026-27 notices included SAARC (B.Sc. Hospitality and Hotel Management), HJBSS (ME/M.Tech) and Nepal Aid Fund (M.Sc. Agriculture)
IISc Bangalore
University of Delhi
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Banaras Hindu University
Anna University
VIT
IISc Bangalore
University of Delhi
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Banaras Hindu University
Anna University
VIT
Manipal Academy
Symbiosis International University
Delhi Technological University
KIIT University
RK University
Manipal Academy
Symbiosis International University
Delhi Technological University
KIIT University
RK University
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Indian visa | No Indian visa: the Bureau of Immigration says citizens of Nepal are exempt from the requirement of an Indian visa. |
| Coming from Nepal | By land or air, carry a government-approved photo ID that shows your nationality, photograph, date of birth and validity. |
| Coming from elsewhere | You need a valid passport. From China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan you need a passport and an Indian visa. |
| FRRO/FRO registration | Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are exempt from the requirement of visa and registration. The 14-day registration rule applies to foreign nationals on student visas valid for more than 180 days. |
| Study in India (SII) ID | Register on studyinindia.gov.in to get an ID. The COMPEX 2026 application required it. |
| Class 12 equivalence | If your Class 12 is a Nepali board qualification, expect to need a UGC equivalence certificate (equivalence.ugc.ac.in). Embassy schemes ask for it. |
Sources: Bureau of Immigration, Visa free regime and Registration requirements; Embassy of India, Kathmandu, COMPEX-2026 notification.
| Route | Courses | What the official source says |
|---|---|---|
| COMPEX (Embassy of India) | BE/B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Sc. Food Technology, B.Sc. Nursing | Computer-based test. A nomination does not guarantee a seat. You cannot change college after placement. |
| ICCR scholarships (A2A portal) | ABVGSS undergraduate, SJSS postgraduate, AYUSH | ABVGSS and SJSS exclude medical, paramedical, fashion and law courses and integrated courses such as BA LLB. |
| Embassy Self-Financing Scheme | MBBS, BDS, BE/B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Pharmacy | No financial aid. MBBS/BDS needs NEET-UG at the 50th percentile or above. Applications are made in person at the Education Wing with a parent or guardian. |
| Direct to an institution | Any course | Each institution sets its own entry requirements. Check its admission page. |
Source: Embassy of India, Kathmandu, scholarship pages and 2026 notifications. The 2026-27 Self-Financing Scheme deadline was 24 July 2026.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | The Embassy of India in Kathmandu invites online applications from Nepali nationals. Preference goes to candidates who completed school in Nepal. |
| Eligibility, BE/B.Tech | 60% aggregate and 50% in English in Class XII, and at least 60% in each of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. |
| Eligibility, other courses | B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Pharmacy, B.Sc. Food Technology and B.Sc. Nursing: 60% aggregate and 50% in English, and at least 55% in each of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. |
| Age | 16 to 23 years on 1 July 2026. You can apply for a maximum of two courses. |
| 2026-27 dates | Applications opened 27 August 2026 and the online application closed 16 September 2026. Exams ran 28 September to 3 October 2026 in Kathmandu. |
| Fee | NPR 400, deposited at Nepal SBI Bank, then Step 3 completed online. |
| IIT, NIT and IIIT seats | Also need a JEE (Main) and, as applicable, JEE (Advanced) result. |
| Apply yourself | The Embassy does not recognise or receive applications through education consultants, middlemen or agencies, and such applications may be rejected. |
| Conditions | The Embassy's general instructions say you cannot reject or withdraw the admission after placement without being debarred from future scholarships and having to refund the amount spent by the Government of India. |
Sources: Embassy of India, Kathmandu, COMPEX-2026 notification and general instructions for scholarship schemes. The Embassy page lists April/May as a tentative month, but the 2026 round opened in August, so watch for the next notice.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Open border | The Embassy of India describes India and Nepal as sharing an open border and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts. |
| Part-time work | We found no official rule on part-time work for Nepali students, so confirm the rules for any job or internship with your institution and the employer before you start. |
| Scholarship holders | The Embassy's conditions on placement and withdrawal apply, so read the notification of your scheme in full. |
Source: Embassy of India, Kathmandu, About India-Nepal relations and scholarship pages.
Yes. India's Bureau of Immigration says citizens of Nepal are exempt from the requirement of an Indian visa and registration. Coming from Nepal by land or air you need a government-approved photo ID showing your nationality. You need a valid passport if you enter from anywhere else, and a passport and visa if you arrive from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan.
COMPEX is a scholarship scheme of the Embassy of India in Kathmandu for Nepali nationals taking BE/B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, B.Sc. Agriculture, B.Sc. Food Technology or B.Sc. Nursing in India. You need 60% aggregate and 50% in English in Class XII plus subject minimums, and you must be 16 to 23 on 1 July 2026. Selection is by a computer-based test.
The 2026-27 round opened on 27 August 2026 and applications closed on 16 September 2026. The computer-based tests ran from 28 September to 3 October 2026. Dates change every year, and the Embassy page lists April/May as a tentative month, so watch indembkathmandu.gov.in for the next notice rather than relying on this page.
No. The Embassy of India accepts applications only from the applicant and says it does not recognise or receive applications through education consultants, middlemen or agencies. Such applications may be rejected. Admizz can explain the process and help you choose institutions, but you must submit the application yourself.
No. The Bureau of Immigration states that citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are exempt from the requirement of visa and registration. The FRRO/FRO registration within 14 days applies to foreign nationals on student visas valid for more than 180 days, and Nepali citizens enter visa-free.
It depends on the route. COMPEX uses its own computer-based test, and IIT, NIT or IIIT seats through COMPEX also need a JEE result. MBBS or BDS through the Embassy's Self-Financing Scheme needs NEET-UG at the 50th percentile or above. For other courses, each institution sets its own entry requirements.
Tuition depends on the institution and course, so check each college's fee page. Figures we can confirm are the COMPEX application fee of NPR 400 and the Embassy's Law Scholarship, which reimburses up to NPR 6.4 lakh a year for tuition, admission and hostel fees. Self-Financing Scheme seats get no financial aid.
Yes. The Embassy of India says around 1,500 scholarships and seats are provided to Nepali nationals every year. Schemes include COMPEX, ICCR's ABVGSS and SJSS, the AYUSH scheme, SAARC, HJBSS and Nepal Aid Fund schemes, and a Law Scholarship Scheme announced in September 2026. Each has its own eligibility and dates.
It depends on the route. Embassy schemes publish their own calendar: ICCR's ABVGSS and SJSS are usually advertised in February-March, AYUSH in May-June, and COMPEX 2026 opened in August. Direct applications follow each institution's own deadlines, so check its admission page early.
Yes. Admizz provides guidance for Nepali students on university selection, documents and entrance exam preparation. For the Embassy's scholarships, including COMPEX, the Embassy accepts applications only from the student, so we explain the steps and you submit the application yourself.
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