Nalanda University Expands Academics with New Programs, Fellowships, and Global Partnerships
Nalanda University, the modern reincarnation of the ancient seat of learning, is entering a new chapter in its journey with an ambitious academic expansion. In a major development, the university has introduced six new Master’s programs in 2025 alone, bringing the total to 12 postgraduate programs offered on campus. This expansion marks a significant step toward positioning Nalanda as a global academic hub rooted in the Eastern intellectual tradition.
The newly launched programs span a wide range of disciplines, including Historical Studies, Buddhism, Philosophy and Comparative Religions, Hindu Studies (Sanātana Dharma), World Literature, International Relations and Peace Studies, Economics, Archaeology, and Hindi. In addition to these, students can now pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Sustainable Development and Management and an M.Sc. in Ecology and Environment Studies.
In a move aimed at bolstering its research credentials, Nalanda University has also introduced Post-Doctoral Fellowships. These fellowships are designed to attract talented scholars and researchers from around the world and reflect the university’s renewed focus on cutting-edge academic inquiry, rooted in its centuries-old legacy.
The university’s academic growth is matched by its infrastructural transformation. On June 19, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated Nalanda’s new campus, which is designed to be net-zero in energy use and is inspired by the architectural aesthetics of ancient monasteries. Situated just 10 kilometers from the site of the original Nalanda Mahavihara, the new campus blends modern design with historical reverence, symbolizing a seamless integration of past and future.
Since its inception in 2014 at a temporary location in Rajgir’s International Convention Centre, the university has faced several administrative and leadership challenges. However, 2025 signals a turning point. After a long wait, Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), took over as Nalanda University’s full-time Vice Chancellor in May 2025. His appointment marks the end of an interim period led by Prof. Abhay Kumar Singh, who had been steering the institution since May 2023.
With this fresh leadership, the university has begun taking decisive steps to scale up its academic impact. For the 2024–2025 academic year, more than 400 students are enrolled in Master’s and PhD programs, including 224 international students from 21 countries—a clear sign of growing global interest in what Nalanda has to offer. In total, the university now has over 1,200 students, including 800 enrolled in short-term certificate and diploma courses.
In a bid to make its offerings more accessible to Indian students, Nalanda has joined the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) framework for admissions this year. This move is expected to increase enrollment numbers significantly, with projections of 40 students per postgraduate program. This strategic integration with the national entrance system demonstrates the university’s alignment with contemporary education standards while retaining its unique identity.
Complementing its academic overhaul is an expanding network of partnerships. Nalanda University has signed nearly 20 new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with national and international institutions—nine of them within the past year alone. These collaborations are expected to promote academic exchange, joint research, and global exposure for students and faculty.
“The essence of Nalanda is a dynamic reflection of ancient wisdom and civilizational ethos,” said Vice Chancellor Prof. Chaturvedi. “Our vision is grounded in integrative wisdom, where faith, intellectual pursuits, and material well-being are interlinked, not isolated.”
As Nalanda University steps confidently into its second decade, it is clear that the institution is not only reconnecting with its glorious past but is also firmly carving a niche in the global academic future—as a place where ancient traditions meet modern innovation, and students from all over the world come to learn, research, and grow.
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