Study at Durham University

Why Nepali Students Choose UK for Higher Education — and HOA for Guidance

The United Kingdom is Nepal’s most popular study abroad destination. A UK Bachelor’s degree takes just 3 years (versus 4 in the US or Australia), making it more cost-efficient per year of study. The UK is home to 4 of the world’s top 10 universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL), and over 40 UK universities feature in the global QS top 200. For Nepali students, the total cost of a 1-year Master’s in the UK ranges from NPR 55–82 lakhs all-in (tuition, living costs, and visa) at NPR 195/£1 — with Sheffield and Liverpool among the most affordable destinations.

The UK Student Visa (as governed by Appendix Student of the UK Immigration Rules) allows up to 20 hours of part-time work per week during term time and full-time work during vacations, enabling students to offset living costs. The mandatory 28-day bank balance is £10,539 for universities outside London (NPR ≈ 20.5 lakhs) and £13,761 for London (NPR ≈ 26.8 lakhs), per UK Home Office guidance. House of Admissions prepares complete visa files with a 99% approval rate. Students choosing universities in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Sheffield pay NPR 13–20 lakhs per year in living costs, compared to NPR 25+ lakhs in London.

Nepali graduates who studied in English at Tribhuvan University, Pokhara University, Kathmandu University, or Purbanchal University can apply to 25+ UK universities via Medium of Instruction (MOI) letters instead of IELTS — saving NPR 25,000+ in examination fees and up to 3 months of preparation time. HOA provides free MOI eligibility checks at both offices. After graduation, the Graduate Route Visa grants 2 years of unrestricted work rights with no job offer or sponsor required, per UK Home Office policy (gov.uk/graduate-visa). A switch to the Skilled Worker Visa at the £38,700 salary threshold leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years of qualifying UK residence.

House of Admissions has secured £2M+ in scholarships for Nepali students since 2016, including 50+ Chevening placements (fully funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), GREAT Scholarships (£10,000 partial award), Commonwealth Scholarships (fully funded), and university merit awards of £2,000–£10,000+. Every HOA student receives personalised scholarship matching as part of the free service. Institutions and businesses wishing to provide HOA’s UK guidance to their student communities are welcome to enquire about a free partnership arrangement. Two offices serve all of Nepal: HOA Kathmandu at Putalisadak (main office), and HOA Pokhara at Trade Mall, Chipledhunga. Book a free consultation at either office →