Japan Overtakes Australia as Most Preferred Study Destination for Nepali Students

Japan has emerged as the most preferred destination for Nepali students pursuing higher education abroad, while management studies remain the most popular academic field among those leaving the country for foreign universities, the state-run national news agency RSS reported.

Citing data from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, RSS said that Japan attracted the highest number of Nepali students receiving the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) required for overseas studies this year as well as in the last fiscal year.

According to the ministry, 28,585 students obtained NOC approvals between July 17 and mid-October of the current fiscal year 2025/26 from its office in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur. Of the total, 9,453 students received approval to study in Japan, followed by 7,730 for Australia and 4,611 for the United Kingdom.

RSS further reported citing government officials that Japan has become increasingly attractive to Nepali students partly because learning the Japanese language allows them to pursue further studies while also working there. Until a few years ago, Australia had been the top destination for Nepali students seeking higher education abroad, the RSS report added

Birendra Jung Thapa, chief of the ministry’s NOC branch, confirmed to RSS that the number of students planning to go to Japan has increased in recent days. Thapa said applicants submit NOC requests through an online system and approvals are issued in sequence once all required documents are verified.

Data from Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) also highlight the growing financial outflow linked to foreign education. According to the central bank’s Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report, Nepali students spent Rs 67.47 billion on education abroad in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2025/26.

The report shows that travel payments under the services account reached Rs 105.56 billion during the review period, including spending on education. In comparison, Nepal earned Rs 42.21 billion from tourism during the same period, meaning spending on foreign education alone exceeded the country’s tourism income.

According to ministry data, 123,589 Nepali students received approval to study in 84 countries in the previous fiscal year 2024/25.

Japan accounted for the largest share with 39,847 students, followed by the United Kingdom (27,475), Australia (16,279), South Korea (9,757) and the United States (8,870).

By field of study, management attracted the highest number of Nepali students going abroad. In the last fiscal year alone, 116,780 students obtained approval to study management, followed by information technology (30,744), science (20,674) and hospitality (14,023).

The ministry has also recently updated the programme-wise list of foreign universities and colleges eligible for study approvals in line with the Foreign Study Approval Directive 2022 (with amendments).

Officials said the list includes institutions ranked by global ranking systems such as the Times Higher Education and the QS World University Rankings, aiming to help students verify the authenticity of universities and avoid problems while studying abroad.

The ministry has also published official information portals of universities and colleges in several countries—including China, Australia, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Malta, the United States, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, South Korea, Qatar and Moldova—to help students access verified information through official channels.

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