Nava Nalanda Mahavihara

Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (NNM) Nalanda is one of the world’s first residential universities originated from the word “Nalam” meaning Lotus signifying the one who gives knowledge. The foundation stone of the university was laid on November 20, 1951 as a research institute known by the name “Magadh Institute of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in Pali and Allied Languages and Buddhist Learning” later came to be known as Nava Nalanda Mahavihara. The NNM is accorded with “Deemed to be University” status on November 13, 2006 with the approval of UGC.

The NNM offers a number of UG, PG, and Research level courses in the following departments under two faculty heads:

Faculty of Pali and other Languages:

• Department of Pali
• Department of Sanskrit
• Department of Hindi
• Department of English
• Department of Chinese and Japanese

Faculty of Buddhist Studies

• Department of Philosophy
• Department of Ancient History, Culture & Archaeology
• Department of Buddhist Studies
• Department of Buddhist Heritage and Tourism Management
• Department of Tibetan Studies
• Department of Vipassana and Yoga

Desired students who wish to be admitted to the university shall have to qualify in the Admission/Proficiency Test conducted by the Mahavihara for admission to Diploma, Preparatory BA Hons., Certificate, MA, Ph.D., and other programs. To enroll to the university a student must submit the required documents within a stipulated period of time to the Office of the Registrar. Application forms for the various courses can be obtained from the university office. Applicants need to submit the filled application form along with the requisite documents and application processing fee to the Office of the Registrar before the due date. Every year the admission process starts in the month of March or April for the academic session beginning from July.

Students must satisfy the eligibility criteria for the course they want to pursue. The table below describes the required educational criteria for the multiple courses offered at NNM.

Reservation criteria in admission in the NNM are based on the norms of the reservation policy of Government of India and UGC. Out of the total seats in the university 27% seats are reserved for Other Backward Class, 15% for Scheduled Castes, and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes. Moreover admissions to the reserved seats are subject to the passing of the qualifying exam and appearing in the entrance test if required. 3% seats on horizontal reservation basis are reserved for PwD candidates fulfilling the minimum eligibility requirements to appear in the entrance test. And 10% of seats on approved intake shall be provided to students belonging to EWS category.

Note: 10% of the seats are reserved for the children of permanent employees of the NNM. Admission under the Sports seats are as per the NNM rules.

Students of the university are awarded with the scholarships in all the courses offered in NNM. Although, scholarships are given to only ten students per course. Applications nominated by the Government of India under scholarship scheme and self financing foreign nationals are not subject to the proficiency test conducted by the university for admission, provided they have passed the equivalent qualifying exam for a foreign university or institution.

* Candidates who wish to have in-depth details regarding the scholarships offered at NNM should get in touch with the university authorities.