The government of Nepal has approved new stringent regulations aimed at tightening oversight of foreign-affiliated colleges and educational consultancies, marking a significant shift in the country’s higher education and student services sectors. The Cabinet endorsed two regulatory frameworks on July 7: the Foreign Academic Programme (Operation and Regulation) Regulations, 2083, and the Educational Consultancy, Language Teaching and Preparatory Class (Operation and Management) Regulations, 2083. These measures are designed to enhance quality, transparency, and accountability amid growing demand for both foreign-affiliated education and study abroad services.

Under the new rules, colleges in Nepal affiliated with foreign universities must now partner exclusively with institutions ranked among the world’s top 1,000 universities. This requirement formalizes a previously unenforced guideline that the parent university maintain a consistent presence—at least five consecutive years—in recognised international rankings such as Times Higher Education or QS World University Rankings. The government has given the 49 currently operating foreign-affiliated colleges a three-year period to comply, emphasizing that failure to present valid proof of ranking could result in licence revocation.

In addition to ranking criteria, foreign-affiliated colleges must carry out two stages of Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) both in Nepal and from relevant authorities in the parent university’s home country. Existing colleges have three years for accreditation compliance, with new colleges allowed five. Admissions will be limited to twice a year, aligning with the academic calendar, and class sizes capped at 30 students or fewer as mandated by the foreign university’s standards. The regulations also bar colleges from affiliating with more than one foreign university, requiring institutions with multiple affiliations to reduce them to one within five years. Furthermore, all affiliated colleges will be required to incorporate a compulsory Nepal Studies course to ensure students’ familiarity with national history and culture.

Infrastructure requirements have been tightened, mandating that colleges eventually own their campuses with minimum land allotments varying by region—from roughly 1,500 square metres in Kathmandu Valley to 5,000 square metres in the Tarai. Colleges offering postgraduate programmes must deposit Rs 2.5 million, while undergraduate programmes require Rs 3.5 million, a rise from previous caps.

The government has retained jurisdiction over foreign-affiliated colleges within the Ministry of Education, despite recommendations to transfer authority to the University Grants Commission.

Alongside regulations targeting colleges, educational consultancies and related language training and preparatory classes face enhanced licensing, operational, and financial rules. Consultancies must deposit Rs 2.5 million as security and pay an annual licence renewal fee to operate legally, ending previous practices without security deposits or renewal requirements. Furthermore, all financial transactions must be digitized, with cash payments prohibited, enhancing transparency and consumer protection. Consultancies are required to publicly disclose fees and must maintain offices either owned or leased for at least three years, abiding by new accessibility standards.

New standards set minimum qualifications for consultancy counsellors, requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or completion of recognised professional training. Agencies will be classified into categories based on service quality, student outcomes, and complaint records. The government has introduced provisions to hold consultancies accountable for students stranded abroad or affected by fraudulent advice, requiring them to provide compensation for financial and emotional damages.

The regulations also prohibit foreign investment in educational consultancies, mandating existing foreign-owned firms convert to full domestic ownership within a year. Activities such as organising education fairs aimed at recruiting students for overseas study have been banned, although events promoting domestic universities or international enrolment initiatives in Nepal may be allowed with ministry approval.

The International Education Providers’ Association of Nepal (IEPAN) welcomed the new framework as a necessary legal foundation but expressed concerns over the global ranking requirement and enrolment thresholds. Conversely, the Educational Consultancy Association of Nepal (ECAN) criticised the regulations for the high security deposit that it claims could force many consultancies out of business, suggesting limited prior consultation.

Currently, approximately 1,500 educational consultancies operate nationwide, but only 924 have renewed their licences under the Ministry of Education. While language training and preparatory schools may register with provincial authorities, educational consultancies are now required to operate exclusively under federal jurisdiction.

These reforms reflect Nepal’s heightened efforts to regulate and improve higher education quality and overseas study services amid a booming education market, aiming to protect student interests and raise institutional standards.