Nalanda University Admission 2026: Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Application Status | Open |
| Academic Session Start | First week of August 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only (no paper applications accepted) |
| Application Fee: Indian Students | ₹500 per programme |
| Application Fee: International Students | USD 8 per programme |
| Application Portal | Click Here |
| Helpline Hours | Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 6:30 pm IST |
Nalanda University Admission 2026: Entrance Exam Accepted
| Programme Level | Entrance Exam / Score Required |
| M.A. / M.Sc. (all streams) | Merit-based shortlisting |
| M.B.A. in Sustainable Development and Management (Indian students) | CAT / XAT / MAT (minimum 70 percentile) |
| M.B.A. in Sustainable Development and Management (International students) | GMAT score or minimum 2.8/4.0 GPA at UG level |
| M.B.A. (Working Executives with 5+ years experience) | CAT / XAT / MAT score not required; NOC from employer required |
| Ph.D. (all streams) | No entrance exam; shortlisting via SoP, research proposal and interview |
Also Read – University of Hyderabad Admission 2026
Nalanda University Admission 2026: Courses Offered and Eligibility Criteria
Nalanda University offers postgraduate (M.A., M.Sc., M.B.A.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) programmes. It does not offer traditional full-time undergraduate (UG) courses on campus. Students seeking UG admission or courses after Class 12 should note that no such programmes are available for the 2026 cycle.
Nalanda University Master’s Programmes (M.A. / M.Sc.)
| Programme | Duration | Eligibility Criteria |
| M.A. in Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in Historical Studies | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in International Relations and Peace Studies | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in World Literature | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in Hindu Studies (Sanātana Dharma) | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in Archaeology | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in Economics | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in Philosophy | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in Hindi | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. in Sanskrit | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.A. / M.Sc. in Mathematics | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.Sc. in Ecology and Environment Studies | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| M.Sc. in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
| Master’s in Science and Technology Policy Studies | 2 Years | Bachelor’s degree with 55% / 2.2 GPA |
Nalanda University M.B.A. Programme
| Applicant Category | Duration | Eligibility Criteria |
| Indian Students | 2 Years (Exit option after 1 Year with Diploma) | Bachelor’s degree with 55% + minimum 70 percentile in CAT / XAT / MAT |
| International Students | 2 Years (Exit option after 1 Year with Diploma) | Bachelor’s degree with minimum 2.8/4.0 GPA + relevant GMAT score |
| Working Executives (Indian) | 2 Years (Exit option after 1 Year with Diploma) | Bachelor’s degree with 55% + minimum 5 years work experience + NOC from employer (CAT/XAT/MAT not required) |
Nalanda University Ph.D. Programmes
| Programme | Duration | Minimum Eligibility |
| Ph.D. in Archaeology | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Ecology and Environment Studies | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Economics | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Historical Studies | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Hindu Studies (Sanātana Dharma) | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in International Relations and Peace Studies | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Philosophy | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Sustainable Development and Management | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in World Literature in English | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Hindi | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
| Ph.D. in Mathematics | 4 Years | Master’s degree with 65% / equivalent GPA |
Nalanda University Fee Structure 2026
| Programme | Indian Students | International Students |
| Master’s Programmes (M.A. / M.Sc.) | ₹1,34,000 | USD 2,066 |
| M.B.A. Programme | ₹2,22,000 | USD 3,422 |
| Ph.D. Programme | ₹3,67,000 | USD 5,649 |
Also Read – Central University of Haryana Admission 2026
Nalanda University Admission Process 2026
Step 1: Visit the official website and open the admission portal.
Step 3: Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
Step 4: Log in to the portal and complete the application form.
Step 5: Enter personal, academic and contact details carefully.
Step 6: Upload the required documents in the prescribed format.
Step 8: Review the form and submit the application successfully.
Step 9: Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
Nalanda University Admission 2026 – Selection Process
1. Shortlisted applicants are called for an interview, either in person or via video conferencing.
2. Selection is purely on merit.
3. Selected candidates are recommended for provisional admission for the academic year 2026-27 and informed via email.
4. The university reserves the right to admit or not admit any candidate without specifying any reason.
5. Filling and submitting the application form does not guarantee selection.
Documents Required for Nalanda University Admission 2026
The following documents are required at the time of application. All documents must be uploaded in PDF format via the online portal.
For Master’s Applicants:
1. Mark sheets and degree certificates of all qualifying examinations
2. Bachelor’s degree certificate from a recognised university
3. Self-Introduction / Bio-note (not more than 250 words)
4. Statement of purpose (SoP)
5. CAT / XAT / MAT scorecard (for Indian M.B.A. applicants)
6. GMAT scorecard (for international M.B.A. applicants)
7. English proficiency certificate: TOEFL / IELTS / TOEIC / PTE / STEP (for international or non-English medium students)
8. NOC from employer (for working executive M.B.A. applicants)
9. RTGS / NEFT payment transaction receipt (application fee)
For Ph.D. Applicants:
1. Master’s degree certificate with mark sheets (and M.Phil. degree certificate if applicable)
2. Two letters of recommendation / reference
3. Detailed research proposal (with a Turnitin plagiarism report showing similarity of 10% or below)
4. Writing samples or published papers (minimum 2 to 3)
5. NOC from employer forwarded through proper channel (for part-time / employed applicants)
6. English proficiency certificate (for international applicants)
Scholarships for Nalanda University Admission 2026
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility |
| NU Merit Scholarship | Class topper per programme (SGPA ≥ 8.0/semester) |
| ICCR Scholarship | Students from 140+ countries |
| Study in India Scholarship | International students via SII portal |
| ASEAN Scholarship | Students from 10 ASEAN member states |
| BIMSTEC Scholarship | Students from BIMSTEC nations |
| NU Bhutan Scholarship | Students from Bhutan |
| Thailand (Thai Endowment) Scholarship | Thai nationals (School of Buddhist Studies) |
| NU Scholarship for International Meritorious Students | Students from developing countries |
| Prof. Sunaina Singh Merit Scholarship | Meritorious or financially constrained students |
| Shri Narsingrao Gangaram Pimple Scholarship | Monk students from any country |
| Smt. Saraswati Narsingrao Pimple Scholarship | Students from Tanzania |
| Prof. Pyong Rae Lee Scholarship | Students from developing countries (Buddhist Studies) |
Nalanda University Admission 2026: FAQs
What is the last date for Nalanda University admission 2026?
Admissions for the 2026–27 academic sessions at Nalanda University are now underway. Candidates can apply for Master’s and MBA programmes till June 15, 2026, while the last date to submit PhD applications is June 30, 2026.
Is Nalanda University admission offered in undergraduate courses?
No. Nalanda University admission 2026 is open only for postgraduate (M.A., M.Sc., M.B.A.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) programmes, along with various short-term certificate and diploma courses. No full-time undergraduate programmes are available for the 2026 cycle.
Is distance learning or an online programme available at Nalanda University?
No. All programmes at Nalanda University are fully residential. Distance education is not available at the university.
Is an English proficiency test score required for Nalanda University admission 2026?
Students whose native language is English or who have studied in an English-medium institution are not required to submit a separate English proficiency certificate for Nalanda University admission 2026. Students from non-English speaking countries or non-English medium institutions must submit a valid TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, PTE, or STEP scorecard along with their Nalanda University application form.
Does Nalanda University admission 2026 require an entrance exam?
For admission at Nalanda University, no entrance exam is required for M.A. and M.Sc. courses. M.B.A. applicants must submit valid CAT, XAT, or MAT scores, while Ph.D. admission is based on the SoP, research proposal, and personal interview.
Can a student from any stream apply for Nalanda University admission?
Yes. Nalanda University admission 2026 is open to students from Humanities, Sciences, Engineering, Management, Law, or any other academic background, subject to meeting the minimum eligibility criteria. However, a candidate cannot apply to more than two programmes under Nalanda University Admission 2026.
What is the Nalanda University application fee 2026?
The Nalanda University admission 2026 application fee is ₹500 for Indian students and USD 8 for international students. The fee is payable separately per programme via RTGS/NEFT at the time of submitting the application form.