How many Nepali students go abroad—and where?
Nepal’s outbound student mobility is exceptionally high.
The Ministry of Education issued 112,593 No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) in FY 2023/24 for study overseas—sending students to 66 destinations, with ~80% going to Japan, Canada, Australia, the UK, and the US (top flows: Japan ~34.4k; Canada ~16k; Australia ~14.4k; UK ~13.3k; US ~11.3k).
The British Council notes Nepal’s outbound mobility rate reached ~19% in 2021 (share of tertiary students abroad)—far above much larger senders—and that rising TNE (transnational education) in Nepal hasn’t yet slowed the outflow. Remittances (up to ~26.6% of GDP) often fund study abroad, while domestic HE enrolments are feeling the drain.
1) Financial barriers that start at home
a) Foreign exchange rules and practical payment hurdles
Students must navigate Nepal’s foreign exchange regime. While banks can remit tuition and maintenance under education channels, everyday payments (tests, deposits, small fees) are constrained by NRB’s USD “dollar card” annual limit of USD 500, complicating application pipelines (test bookings, SEVIS fees, deposits, etc.). (globalimebank.com)
NRB policy changes in 2024 also tweaked general passport FX allowances (for non-India travel), illustrating how ceilings and categories can shift and create uncertainty families must track during time-sensitive admissions/visa windows. (nrb.org.np)
b) Rising proof-of-funds thresholds abroad
Guardrails are tightening in major destinations:
- Canada raised living-cost funds to CAD 22,895 (beyond tuition and housing evidence), increasing the upfront cash students must document. (The PIE News, Canada.ca)
- UK policy changes since January 2024 removed dependants for most taught master’s students and tightened Graduate Route use; further restrictions have been debated/announced in 2025, adding planning risk. (GOV.UK, The PIE News)
- Australia has continued to revise English-test settings and accepted tests (updates effective 7 Aug 2025), which can alter pathways and costs for test prep and retakes. (Immigration and Citizenship Website)
Why this matters: Each increment in proof-of-funds or documentation requires more liquidity, stronger paper trails, and longer lead times—frictions that disproportionately affect middle-income Nepali households financing study through savings, loans, or remittances.
2) The NOC and documentation maze
Nepal’s NOC is still a mandatory step to move funds and document eligibility for study abroad. While routine for agencies, it’s a material administrative burden for families (timelines, document accuracy, changes of course/provider). Missed details can delay visa lodgement or fee deadlines. (noc.moest.gov.np, some.ox.ac.uk)
3) Visa scrutiny, refusals, and policy volatility
- Australia: 2024 saw record-high visa rejections reported for Nepal-origin applicants amid integrity crackdowns and “genuine student” scrutiny—forcing many to re-apply, shift destinations, or lose deposits. (The PIE News)
- UK: Ongoing tightening—ban on most dependants (since Jan 2024), and a 2025 government push to reshape the Graduate Route—has changed cost/benefit calculations, especially for couples. (GOV.UK, The PIE News)
- Japan & US: Demand remains strong (Japan led NOCs in 2023/24), but language/financial vetting and school quality checks can still derail plans. (myRepublica)
Bottom line: Policy shifts are frequent and fast. Students who plan a year ahead can find their assumptions outdated by decision time.
4) Cost of living vs. part-time work: the hard maths
Japan
Work rights are typically up to 28 hours/week during term (with proper permission), yet average part-time earnings hover around ¥59,000/month (~US$420)—far below internet myths of fully self-funding tuition and living costs. Over-reliance on part-time income pushes students to long hours, language-intensive jobs, and burnout. (日本留学情報サイト Study in Japan)
Australia
Official cost calculators show substantial living expenses (rent, transport, food, insurance) and rising prices. Even with permitted work hours, students often underestimate setup costs and housing deposits; failing to budget for term breaks and limited shifts is a common trap. (Study Australia)
5) Exploitation risks: wage theft, housing, and agency misconduct
International students globally face heightened risk of wage theft and underpayment, especially where work-hour caps and visa compliance fears deter reporting. Australia-focused research and official reports document underpayment across hospitality, cleaning, and retail; students are less likely to recover wages due to fear of visa consequences and process complexity. (SSRN, UNSW Sites)
In Japan, restrictive hours and language barriers limit job choice and bargaining power; students report difficulty balancing kanji-heavy study with low-paid, physically demanding work. (Nippon)
Housing is another pressure point: in tight rental markets (e.g., Sydney/Melbourne), students face overcrowding, informal leases, and premium rents near campuses or transport. (Migrant Justice Institute)
Finally, counselling/agent quality varies widely. Poor guidance (course mismatch, weak SOPs, unrealistic budgets) increases refusals and stress. Several destination governments now push agent quality frameworks and crackdowns on low-integrity recruitment and franchised delivery. (The PIE News)
6) Brain drain and domestic knock-ons
High outbound mobility coincides with declining domestic HE enrolment and concerns about talent leakage. Analyses in Nepal point to large official outflows (over 112k NOCs last year) and significant foreign exchange outgo for tuition—against a backdrop where remittances prop up the economy. The tension: remittances in vs. tuition out, plus fewer young people in Nepalese classrooms. (Nepali Times, ICEF Monitor)
7) What helps: evidence-based tactics for Nepalese students and families
- Budget to destination-specific proof-of-funds + 15–25%: Build buffers to absorb policy changes (e.g., Canada’s 2025 uplift). Keep funds liquid and provable (bank statements, GICs, sanctioned loans). (The PIE News)
- Plan documents early and double-check NOC details: Align offer letters, CAS/COE/I-20, NOC entries, and bank letters well before fee due dates. (noc.moest.gov.np)
- Choose credible providers and agents: Prioritise universities/colleges with clear compliance histories and transparent refund policies. Track agent quality initiatives where available. (The PIE News)
- Be realistic about part-time earnings: In Japan, don’t model tuition coverage from part-time work; in Australia, treat work income as a supplement, not the backbone of your budget. (日本留学情報サイト Study in Japan, Study Australia)
- Know your rights at work: In Australia, research award rates and complaint pathways; keep timesheets and payslips. Evidence shows underpayment is widespread—documentation is your best protection. (SSRN)
- Consider TNE at home where it fits: Growing, accredited foreign-affiliated programmes in Nepal can reduce cost and risk while delivering recognised qualifications—though quality varies and due diligence is essential. (britishcouncil.org.np)
8) Outlook: policy flux is the new normal
Destinations are simultaneously courting students and tightening rules (English tests, dependants, post-study work). Australia’s test-policy updates, the UK’s graduate-route debate, and Canada’s financial-proof hikes all exemplify a moving target. For Nepali students, the core challenges will remain: financing under FX limits, navigating layered documentation (NOC + visas), and juggling study with safe, lawful work in high-cost cities. Staying current with official pages—and budgeting for change—matters as much as grades. (Immigration and citizenship Website, The PIE News)
Sources (select)
- Nepal MOEST NOC portal and 2023/24 NOC counts and destination breakdowns. (noc.moest.gov.np, ICEF Monitor, studytravel.network, myRepublica)
- British Council (2025) report on Nepal’s TNE landscape and outbound mobility. (britishcouncil.org.np)
- Canada IRCC proof-of-funds requirements (updated 2025). (The PIE News, Canada.ca)
- UK government policy pages and 2025 sector reporting on graduate route/dependants. (GOV.UK, The PIE News)
- Australia: Home Affairs English-language test updates; official cost-of-living tool; reporting on elevated refusal trends for Nepal. (Immigration and citizenship Website, Study Australia, The PIE News)
- Wage theft/exploitation literature and guidance (Australia). (SSRN, UNSW Sites)
If you want, I can tailor this into a publish-ready blog post for your site (with destination-specific budget tables for Japan, Australia, the UK, Canada, and the US) and a downloadable checklist (NOC + visa docs + funds evidence) for Nepalese families.