Most pages about KU scholarships are written in policy language: “meritorious and needy students,” “Financial Support Scheme forms,” that sort of thing. None of it tells you what you’ll actually pay, or what you’d save. So here’s the actual numbers first, then the scholarship rules in plain terms.
What KU Programs Actually Cost
These are total program fees (not per year), from KU’s official 2082/2083 fee structure. Keep in mind this is the most recent published fee schedule, KU revises fees periodically, so treat this as your planning baseline and confirm the current figure when you apply.
School of Engineering
| Program | Duration | Total Fee (NRs.) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical & Electronics Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Computer Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Bachelor of Information Technology | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Geomatics Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Mining Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Health Informatics | 4 years | 960,000 |
| Architecture | 5 years | 1,097,000 |
School of Science
| Program | Duration | Total Fee (NRs.) |
|---|---|---|
| BTech in Biotechnology | 4 years | 987,000 |
| BSc in Agriculture | 4 years | 987,000 |
| BE in Environmental Engineering | 4 years | 960,000 |
| BSc in Computer Science | 4 years | 960,000 |
| BSc in Bioinformatics | 4 years | 950,000 |
| BSc in Environmental Science | 4 years | 924,000 |
| BSc in Computational Mathematics | 4 years | 924,000 |
| Bachelor of Data Science | 4 years | 924,000 |
| BSc in Applied Physics | 4 years | 698,000 |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy | 4 years | 777,000* |
* Pharmacy fees follow Medical Education Commission (MEC) rates, not KU’s standard schedule.
Most Engineering and Science undergraduate programs land in the same narrow band, around NRs. 9.2 to 9.9 lakh total. Applied Physics is the clear outlier on the lower end at 698,000, and Architecture is the highest due to its extra year.
What a Scholarship Actually Saves You
KU’s main scholarship isn’t a fixed cash amount, it’s a fee waiver, full or partial, worth up to the entire program fee of one student. Here’s what that looks like in real money for a few common programs:
| Program | Total Fee | If You Win a Full Scholarship | If You Win a 50% Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSc Computer Science | 960,000 | You pay 0 | You pay ~480,000 |
| BTech in Biotechnology | 987,000 | You pay 0 | You pay ~493,500 |
| BSc Applied Physics | 698,000 | You pay 0 | You pay ~349,000 |
That’s the real range we’re talking about, anywhere from nothing to roughly half off, depending on whether you get a full or partial award.
Your Odds: 1 in 30
Here’s the part that actually matters for whether you should bother applying. For every 30 fee-paying students admitted into a program, KU sets aside one scholarship slot, full or partial, equal in value to one student’s fee.
That’s roughly a 3% scholarship rate per program intake. It’s not huge, but it’s also not nothing, and it’s specifically reserved for students who are both financially needy and academically meritorious, not a lottery.
The Condition That Trips People Up: GPA 3.0
This is the part people skip past and then lose their scholarship over. To keep the scholarship past your first year, you need to:
- Maintain a minimum total GPA of 3.0 every academic year
- Not need to sit compartmental (back) exams
- Maintain general discipline as a student
Miss any of those and your scholarship stops being “regular,” meaning you could lose it even if your overall academic record still looks fine on paper. If you’re on a KU scholarship, GPA 3.0 isn’t a suggestion, it’s the actual renewal bar every single year.
Can’t Get the Scholarship? There’s a Loan Option
If you don’t qualify for the scholarship but still need help, KU also offers an educational loan:
- Covers 25% to 50% of your total fees
- Requires you to sign a repayment bond with the university
- Depends on how much loan funding is available for your specific program that year (which depends on how much previous loan money has been repaid)
So unlike the scholarship, this is real money you pay back, not a waiver. Worth knowing the difference before you apply for either.
One Program-Specific Bonus: Geomatics Engineering
If you’re applying for BE in Geomatics Engineering, there’s a separate scholarship on top of the general scheme: the Nepal Government covers 33% of total fees for 21 candidates, three from each province, awarded by your KUCAT rank within your specific province (not nationally). On the current fee of 960,000, that’s roughly 316,800 off your total cost.
This one isn’t automatic either, you need to fill out a separate scholarship form after the CBT rank-based list is published. See our admission guide for the rest of the Geomatics-specific details.
How to Actually Apply
- Watch for scholarship info during the admission period, it’s announced alongside the regular admission notice.
- The scholarship application form comes out during online admission, not before or after.
- Submit it with your supporting documents (academic transcripts, an income certificate for need-based applications, citizenship certificate, recommendation letters).
- You may be called for an interview.
- The decision is made before you’re formally admitted to the program.
FAQ
Is the scholarship a cash payout or a fee waiver? A fee waiver, full or partial, up to the value of one student’s total program fee. You don’t receive cash, your fee bill is reduced or eliminated.
What are my actual odds of getting it? Roughly 1 in 30 fee-paying students per program intake, around 3%.
What GPA do I need to keep it? A minimum total GPA of 3.0 every academic year, reviewed annually.
Is the educational loan the same as the scholarship? No. The loan covers 25 to 50% of fees but has to be repaid under a signed bond. The scholarship doesn’t need to be repaid.
Do all programs cost roughly the same? Most Engineering and Science undergraduate programs fall between NRs. 924,000 and 987,000 total. Applied Physics is notably cheaper at 698,000, and Architecture is the most expensive at 1,097,000 due to its 5-year duration.
Are these fees guaranteed to stay the same for 2026/2027? Not guaranteed. These figures come from KU’s most recent published fee structure (2082/2083). Fees can be revised, always confirm the current number on KU’s official fee structure page before you apply.
For program eligibility, test groups, and the application timeline, see our complete KU admission 2026/2027 guide. Official fee and scholarship details are maintained on KU’s Fee Structure and Scholarships & Aid pages.