Getting into a good bachelor's program is only half the battle — the other half is figuring out how to pay for it. The good news is that Nepal actually has a decent number of scholarship options for students heading into BIT, BBA, BSc CSIT, and BE (Engineering) programs, ranging from full government-funded seats to partial fee waivers from private colleges. Most students just don't know where to look.

1. Government Scholarships (University Grants Commission & Ministry of Education)

These are the big ones—fully or partially funded by the Nepal government and available across most universities and programs, including BIT, BBA, CSIT, and Engineering.

UGC (University Grants Commission) Scholarships — Aimed at expanding access to higher education, these cover students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, Dalit students, children of martyrs and conflict victims, Mukta Kamlari (freed bonded laborers), and Muslim women students.
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) Engineering Scholarships — Every year, MoEST allocates scholarship seats specifically for higher education in engineering subjects. If you clear the IOE (Institute of Engineering) entrance exam and meet the government's eligibility criteria, you automatically become eligible to be considered for this scholarship—no separate application needed at the entrance stage.
Constitutional Reservation Provision — Nepal's constitution mandates that a portion of scholarship seats (up to 45% in many higher education institutions) be reserved for various inclusion categories, meaning a significant chunk of seats across universities are scholarship-linked by law, not just by university policy.

Who should apply: Students from Dalit, Janajati, Madhesi, Muslim, disadvantaged, disabled, or conflict-affected backgrounds and women applying under inclusive quotas should specifically check for these before assuming they need to pay full fees.

2. IOE (Institute of Engineering, TU) Scholarships — For BE Students

If you're aiming for a Bachelor of Engineering (BE)—Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, or Architecture—through TU's Institute of Engineering, scholarships here work through the entrance exam process itself:

Passing the IOE entrance exam and meeting Ministry of Education legal standards makes you eligible for scholarship seats funded by the government for that academic year.
There are also reserved quotas — women's quota, inclusive/disadvantaged quota, teacher/staff quota, and reserved seats for government-affiliated institutions — each with its own portion of the total scholarship seats.
To apply under a reserved quota, you'll typically need supporting documents like a recommendation letter from your district administration office confirming your minority/disadvantaged status, so start collecting these early—don't wait until admission week.

Tip: Regular (non-scholarship) category admissions through alternate 10-semester or extended programs are usually not eligible for these scholarships, so double-check which admission category you're entering under.

3. Tribhuvan University (TU) Merit Scholarships — For CSIT, BIT, BBA & More

For students studying BSc CSIT, BIT, BCA, or BBS/BBA through TU-affiliated colleges, the most common scholarship route is merit-based:

TU typically grants a full scholarship to the top-ranked male and female student (based on entrance exam merit) at each affiliated college.
Many private TU-affiliated colleges also offer their own partial or need-based scholarships on top of this—but these vary a lot from college to college, so it's worth asking directly during admission rather than assuming there's none available.

4. Pokhara University Bachelor-Level Scholarships

Pokhara University runs one of the more structured scholarship schemes in the country, covering a wide range of bachelor's programs across its constituent and affiliated colleges:

Scholarship quotas are split across the Faculty of Science & Technology (covering BE programs like Computer, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering, plus BCA and similar), the Faculty of Management Studies (BBA and related programs), and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Eligibility is generally open to Nepali citizens who meet the minimum academic qualifications for the program, with selection typically based on entrance merit and inclusion criteria as outlined in Pokhara University's Scholarship Regulations.
Notices for this scholarship are usually published on Pokhara University's official site alongside the regular admission notice—so if you're applying to a PU-affiliated college for BBA, BIT, BCA, or BE, check for the scholarship notice at the same time you check the admission notice.

5. Purbanchal University Scholarship (Faculty of Science & Technology)

Purbanchal University also conducts a separate scholarship entrance exam for its bachelor's level programs under the Faculty of Science and Technology, which covers technical programs relevant to CSIT and IT students. This is distinct from the regular admission entrance and requires a separate application, so keep an eye on PU's official notices if you're considering a PU-affiliated college.

6. Private College & Institution-Specific Scholarships

A lot of private colleges—especially ones offering BIT, BSc IT, or BSc CSIT—run their own scholarship schemes independent of the university, often to attract strong students. A few patterns worth knowing:

Some IT-focused colleges offer scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition fees for a portion of their annual intake (commonly around 10%), based on academic merit and financial need, following government directives on scholarship allocation.
Independent scholarship schemes (like merit-based entrance scholarships run directly by a college) are increasingly common, especially for BSc IT and CSIT programs, and are usually announced separately from university-wide scholarships.
National-level competitive scholarships aimed specifically at IT students (for example, scholarships tied to national ranking in entrance exams) also exist and are worth searching for by name each admission season, since new ones appear frequently.

How to find these: Check each college's official admission page directly — private college scholarships rarely get as much publicity as government ones, so you often have to go looking rather than wait for the news to find you.

How to Apply: General Requirements

While each scholarship has its own process, most will ask for some combination of:

Citizenship certificate (or birth certificate for those under 16)
+2/A-Level mark sheet and character certificate
Entrance exam scorecard (IOE, CSIT entrance, etc.)
Caste/ethnicity certificate (for Dalit, Janajati, Madhesi categories)
Disability certificate (if applicable)
Recommendation letter from District Administration Office (for disadvantaged/minority quotas)
Income certificate (for economically disadvantaged category)
Passport-size photos and a completed application form (usually available on the university or college website)

Tips for Maximizing Your Chances

Apply broadly, not narrowly. Don't assume you only qualify for one category — many students are eligible under multiple quotas (e.g., merit + inclusive) and can apply for both.
Track deadlines separately from admission deadlines. Scholarship application windows sometimes close before or after general admission deadlines, so don't assume they're the same.
Ask directly at private colleges. Institution-specific scholarships are rarely advertised loudly — a phone call or visit to the admission office often reveals options not listed online.
Keep your documents ready in advance. Certificates like disadvantaged-status recommendations can take time to process through government offices, so start early rather than during admission week.
Re-check every intake cycle. Scholarship quotas, amounts, and eligibility criteria can change year to year, so don't rely on last year's information — always confirm with the current year's official notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Are there scholarships available for BBA students in Nepal?
Yes — mainly through TU merit scholarships at affiliated colleges, Pokhara University's Faculty of Management Studies scholarship quota, and individual private college scholarship schemes.

Q2. How do I get a scholarship for BSc CSIT?
The main route is TU's merit-based scholarship for the top-ranked student at each affiliated college, plus any private college-specific scholarships offered independently.

Q3. Is there a government scholarship for engineering (BE) students? Yes. Passing the IOE entrance exam and meeting the Ministry of Education's eligibility criteria makes you eligible for government-funded engineering scholarships, along with reserved quotas for women and disadvantaged groups.

Q4. Can I apply for a scholarship as a Dalit, Janajati, or Muslim student?
Yes — UGC scholarships specifically cover these categories, along with students with disabilities, conflict-affected students, and Mukta Kamlari.

Q5. Do private colleges offer scholarships too?
Yes, many do — especially IT-focused colleges offering BIT or BSc IT, some covering up to 100% of tuition for top-performing or financially disadvantaged students.

Final Word

Scholarships in Nepal for bachelor's-level students aren't limited to one government scheme — they're spread across university merit programs, government inclusion quotas, and individual college initiatives. The students who benefit most are usually the ones who check every possible source rather than assuming there's nothing available for their program. Before you finalize your college for BIT, BBA, CSIT, or Engineering, take an extra day to check the scholarship notices on the university's official website and the individual college's admission page — it could save you a significant amount over four years.