As part of a larger initiative to raise the quality, accountability, and transparency of the country's higher education system, the Government of Nepal has approved two new regulations that set more stringent requirements for educational consultancies  and foreign-affiliated institutions. The new rules are intended to safeguard students from fraud and abuse, increase transparency in the quickly growing education consulting industry, and tighten monitoring of colleges running foreign university programs.

Following regulations for educational consultancies and foreign-affiliated college in Nepal, both prepared by the Ministry of Education and Sports, was endorsed by The Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday ( 8 July 2026).
1. Educational Consultancy, Language Teaching and Preparatory Class (Operation and Management) Regulations, 2083
2. Foreign Academic Programme (Operation and Regulation) Regulations, 2083

Key Regulatory Changes for Educational Consultancies:
The government has made significant modifications to the regulations governing education consultancy firms, language training centres and preparatory classes . These sectors have grown significantly in recent years due to the increasing number of Nepali students pursuing education aboard .In order to protect students, the new regulations include more stringent licensing requirements, more stringent financial control, and more robust consumer protection measures. The goal of the regulation changes is to promote accountability among institutions that support higher education both domestically and internationally while also raising the general standard of Nepal's educational system.
- Before beginning operations,  Education consultancy firms will be required to deposit Rs 2.5 million as security and pay a licence fee of Rs. 50,000. Licences will remain valid for one year and must be renewed annually.
- Institution will not be allowed to provide educational consultancy services without obtaining a licence from the Ministry of Education.
- Institutions are required to operate from their own buildings or premises with a minimum three-year lease agreement.
- Education consultancy firms will remain under the ministry's jurisdiction.
- Language teaching centres and preparatory classes may be regulated by provincial or local governments.
- The regulations also establish minimum professional standards for consultancy providers. Every  education consultancy must employ counsellors who have at least a Bachelor's degree and have completed relevant professional training.
- The rule requires educational consultants to have 100% domestic investment. Existing firms with foreign investment will be given one year to transfer ownership entirely to domestic investors.
- To encourage better service standards, the ministry will classify  education consultancy institutions into Grade A, B and C categories based on service quality, operational performance and student success rates.
- The ministry has been empowered to identify high-risk foreign universities and prohibit consultancies from sending students to such institutions.
- Education consultancies will no longer be permitted to accept cash payments. All fees must be collected through banks or other digital payment systems, with institutions required to issue official receipts for every transaction.
- Education consultancies  must publicly disclose their service fees on their websites to improve transparency.
- If students become stranded abroad or if the overseas educational institution recommended by the consultancy is later found to be operating illegally, the consultancy may be held liable to provide compensation.
- Students will also be required to obtain a No Objection Letter (NOC) before making tuition fee payments through the banking system for overseas study.
- Institutions that fail to renew their licences, exploit or defraud students, provide misleading information or evade taxes could face cancellation of their operating licences and forfeiture of their security deposits under the new regulations.
- The rules further prohibit education fairs or exhibitions specifically aimed at recruiting students for foreign study programmes.  Any other educational fairs or exhibitions may only be organised after obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Education.

Key Regulatory Changes for Foreign-Affiliated Colleges:
According to the Secretariat of the Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel,  affiliation with foreign universities would now have to adhere to stricter institutional and academic standards.  The updated requirements are meant to improve the caliber, legitimacy, and global competitiveness of higher education provided through foreign academic programs in Nepal, according to Education Minister Pokharel. Colleges that currently operate under foreign affiliations will also be subject to the new rules, in addition to new institutions seeking approval. The government intends to give existing colleges with a specified period to comply with the new requirements. Colleges that fail to meet the prescribed standards even after the grace period could face restrictions on affiliation renewal, bans on admitting new students or other legal action.

- Any foreign university that offers affiliation needs to be among the world's top 1,000 universities.  Previous regulations mandated that colleges must have continuously ranked in the top 1,000 at least once during the preceding five years in international rankings. This condition is formalized as an obligatory eligibility criterion in the new regulation.
- The regulations also require affiliated colleges to complete two stages of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) process.
-  Student enrollment quotas will now be based on evaluations of a capacity, and human resources rather than just institutional demand.

The new regulations are designed to protect students from fraud and abuse, education consulting sector, and strengthen oversight of universities that offer international programs.