Nalanda University offers admissions to MBA, MA, MSc, and Ph.D. programs across disciplines such as Sustainable Development & Management, Historical Studies, Ecology and Environment Studies, Buddhist Studies, etc.
- For admission to the MBA program, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks (or equivalent CGPA) and a valid score in CAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT, or CUET PG, and must have a Statement of Purpose (SOP) followed by a personal interview. The first-year MBA fee is around INR 1.17 Lakhs.
- For the MA and MSc programs, candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks. Admission is based on CUET PG scores, followed by an interview.
- Admission to the Ph.D. program requires a Master’s degree with a minimum of 65% marks or equivalent CGPA. Candidates must submit a Research Proposal, and selection is based on academic record, proposal quality, and a presentation and interview.
Applications for all programs are submitted through the Nalanda University admission portal. Selection involves a combination of entrance exams, SOPs, interviews, and academic merit.
Nalanda University Admission Highlights
The table given below highlights Nalanda University Admission highlights:
| Nalanda University Admission Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Name of the University | Nalanda University, Bihar |
| University Type | Public |
| Basic Admission Criteria | Entrance-based, SOPs, and Personal Interview |
| Application mode | Online |
| Name of Entrance | MBA: CAT/MAT/XAT/GMAT + Personal Interview |
| MA/M.SC: CUET PG | |
| Ph.D: UGC NET | |
| Scholarship | Yes |
Nalanda University Admission Dates 2026
Nalanda University offers admission to the MBA through CAT/XAT/MAT. CAT and XAT 2026 Dates have been released for admission to the MBA program at Nalanda University. The important dates for CAT/XAT 2026 are as follows:
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| CAT Registration Timeline | Aug 1, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025 |
| CAT Admit Card Availability | Nov 05, 2025 - Nov 30, 2025 |
| CAT Exam Date | Nov 30, 2025 |
| XAT Registration Timeline | Jul 10, 2025 - Dec 05, 2025 |
| XAT Admit Card Availability | Dec 20, 2025 |
| XAT Exam Date | Jan 04, 2026 |
Nalanda University MBA Admission 2026
MBA is the most popular program offered at Nalanda University, which is offered to Indian and International students.
- For admission to the MBA program, candidates must have graduated from any discipline with a grade of 55%.
- Students must have a minimum of 70 percentile in CAT/ XAT/MAT/GMAT.
- Candidates can directly apply at the Nalanda University official website with their scores from the entrance exams, and write their self-introduction with a maximum of 300 words, and Statement of Purpose (SOPs) such as why do you want to choose Nalanda University and knowledge about applying subject.
- Based on the scores in the entrance exam, academic merit, and SOPs, candidates will be called for an interview.
Students can find more information about Nalanda University MBA admission details in the table below.
| Course | Specializations | Eligibility Criteria | Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA | Sustainable Development and Management | Graduation in any discipline, with a grade of 55% or equivalent CGPA | Scores in CAT/ XAT/MAT/GMAT + SOPs + Personal Interview |
General Information:
- TOEFL or IELTS, or any other standard English Proficiency certificate is needed for candidates from non-English speaking countries or medium.
- For working executives, a minimum of 5 years of experience is required, a no-objection certificate from the employer is needed, and CAT/MAT/XAT scores will not be applicable.
- Nalanda University offers an Exit option after one year of MBA with a Diploma.
| See what Sumit from MBA General (2020) has to say about the admission at Nalanda University. In his words, “For admission, you should have a minimum 55% or equivalent GPA in your UG. For my MBA program, at least 70 percentile score in CAT/XAT/MAT is needed. If you are eligible, then you have to submit the application form, and your selection will be on the basis of Statement of Purpose (SoP), self-introduction note, and followed by an Interview.” Read More> |
Nalanda University MA & M.Sc Admission 2026
Nalanda University offers MA and M.Sc at the PG level with various specializations in MA with a duration of 2 years.
- For admission to the MA & M.Sc. programs, candidates must have graduated from any discipline with a minimum of 55% marks or 2.2/4.0 GPA.
- Students also need to appear for the CUET PG exam.
- Candidates can directly apply at the Nalanda University official website with their scores from the entrance exam, and write their self-introduction with a maximum of 300 words, and Statement of Purpose (SOPs) such as why do you want to choose Nalanda University and knowledge about applying subject.
- Based on the scores in the entrance exam, academic merit, and SOPs, candidates will be called for an interview.
Students can find more information about Nalanda University's MA & M.Sc admission details in the table below.
| Course | Specializations | Eligibility Criteria | Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Hindu Studies (Sanatana Dharma) | Graduation in any discipline, with a grade of 55% or equivalent CGPA | Scores in CUET PG + SOPs + Personal Interview |
| World Literature | |||
| Historical Studies | |||
| Buddhist Studies, Philosophy & Comparative Religions | |||
| International Relations and Peace Studies | |||
| Archaeology | |||
| Economics | |||
| Philosophy | |||
| Hindi | |||
| Mathematics | |||
| M.Sc | Ecology and Environment Studies | Graduation in any discipline, with a grade of 55% or equivalent CGPA | Scores in CUET PG + SOPs + Personal Interview |
| Mathematics |
Nalanda University Ph.D Admission 2026
Nalanda University offers admission to Ph.D programs for National and International students with a duration of 4 years as full-time and part-time.
Nalanda University Full-time Ph.D Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant should have a Master’s or M.Phil degree with at least 65% marks or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA).
- NET/CSIR-NET qualification is mandatory for Indian candidates.
- Along with that, candidates must submit letters of recommendation or reference, self letter of introduction, a Statement of Purpose (SOP) that explains why you want to choose Nalanda University, and knowledge about applying subject, and a Detailed Research Proposal with Turnitin plagiarism report (≤10% similarity).
- International applicants must provide English proficiency proof via TOEFL/IELTS/other standard tests, or proof of a degree taught entirely in English.
- Final selection through online interaction, document verification, and interview.
Nalanda University Part-time Ph.D Eligibility Criteria:
- Master’s degree with 65% marks (preferably with dissertation) or M.Phil. with 60% marks.
8–10 years of work experience.
- Must submit:
- Letter of Self-Introduction.
- 2 Letters of Recommendation.
- Statement of Purpose (SoP).
- Detailed Research Proposal with Turnitin report (≤10% similarity).
- 2–3 writing samples or published work.
- NOC from current employer, and the application must be forwarded via the proper channel.
- International applicants must meet the same English proficiency criteria as above.
Nalanda University Ph.D. Specializations:
The following are the specializations that are offered at Nalanda University Ph.D level.
| Ph.D Program specializations | |
|---|---|
| PhD in World Literature (English) | PhD in Historical Studies |
| PhD in Sustainable Development and Management | PhD in Archaeology |
| PhD in Ecology and Environmental Studies | PhD in International Relations and Peace Studies |
| PhD in Buddhist Studies, Philosophy, and Comparative Religions | Ph.D in Hindu Studies - Sanātana Dharma |
Nalanda University Admission Process 2026
Candidates seeking admission to such courses must apply online for admission through the official website of the college. Payment for the application can be submitted in online mode only. Necessary steps to apply online are as mentioned below:
- Visit the official website of Nalanda University @ www.nalandauniv.edu.in
- Click on the Admission, and click on Apply here. @ online.nalandauniv.edu.in
- Enter your details and click on Next.
- Fill out the application form.
- Submit the application form along with the statement of purpose and other documents.
- Pay the application fee of INR 500 online.
Nalanda University Admission FAQs
Ques. What is the eligibility for MBA admission at Nalanda University?
Ans. A Bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks or equivalent CGPA. A valid score in CAT/XAT/MAT/GMAT/CUET-PG, plus SOP, is required for admission to MBA at Nalanda University.
Ques. Is there any exit option in the MBA program at Nalanda University?
Ans. Yes. Nalanda University offers an exit option after one year of the MBA program. Candidates who opt for this can leave with a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development and Management.
Ques. Is a part-time Ph.D. available at Nalanda University?
Ans. Yes, a part-time Ph.D. is available at Nalanda University for candidates with a Master’s degree and 8 to 10 years of work experience, along with required documents and an employer’s NOC.
Ques. Can working professionals apply for the MBA program at Nalanda University?
Ans. Yes, working executives with a minimum of 5 years of professional experience are eligible to apply to Nalanda University. However, they must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer. For such candidates, CAT/MAT/XAT scores are not mandatory.
Ques. What is the admission process for MA programs at Nalanda University?
Ans. Admission to MA programs requires a Bachelor’s degree with at least 55% marks or 2.2 GPA. Candidates must appear for the CUET PG examination and also submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) along with a self-introduction (300 words). Based on the entrance score and SOP quality, shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
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