Tribhuvan University (TU; Nepali: त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यालय) is a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest and the largest university in Nepal. It offers 1,000 undergraduate and 500 postgraduate programs across a wide range of disciplines. Additionally, the institution has 5 Institutes, 4 Faculties, 40 Central Departments. 64 constituent campuses 1,053 affiliated colleges and 4 Research Centers across the country.
History
Named after the late King Tribhuvan, Tribhuvan University was established on 25 June 1959 (11 Ashar 2016 BS). It is the oldest and largest university in Nepal. In its early years, all the postgraduate classes were held at Tripureshwor Campus, where the administrative office was also located. It was only in 1967 that the university was relocated to its main campus in Kirtipur – an ancient town about 5km south-west of the city of Kathmandu. The university site, spread over 154.77 hectares, constitutes the Central Administrative Office and the Central Campus.
Academics
University Campus, TUTU eastern entrance
Since its inception, the state-owned university has expanded its programmes. There are five technical institutes and four general faculties. The university offers 115 courses for the technical proficiency certificate level. TU offers 1079 courses at Bachelor's level and 1000 courses at Master's level. It offers PhD degrees in the technical institutes and faculties.
Tribhuvan University ran its programmes only through its constituent campuses before 1980. With the increasing number of students seeking higher education, it was not possible to accommodate all the students in the constituent campuses. This situation led to the establishment of colleges in the private sector because the constituent campuses alone could not meet the demand. From 1979 to 1980, TU started providing affiliation to private colleges. As of April 2016, 1,084 private and public colleges were affiliated with TU.
In the 2014–2015 academic session 405,341 students were enrolled in TU academic programmes. 148,141 (36.55%) students study in its 60 constituent campuses including 38 central departments, while 257,200 (63.45%) students study in 1,053 affiliated colleges.[citation needed]
Student enrollment and educational quality
Tribhuvan University is the leading University in Nepal. Many colleges are affiliated with Tribhuvan University. In 1971, all the community colleges were part of Tribhuvan University. The university has the largest number of full-time enrollments in the world. The 49th graduation ceremony of Tribhuvan University was on 18 December 2023, in Kathmandu, Nepal. The registrar of Tribhuvan University said more than 73000 students were graduating at that time. The significant number of graduates made Tribhuvan University hold a Guinness World Record.
Although the education system of Tribhuvan University has produced many graduates, many of them still need to get jobs in the market. They cannot find jobs in Nepal, so they go abroad to look for financial opportunities. Nepal's Public colleges are government-funded, and community colleges are privately funded. Both types of colleges are university-oriented and implement the university curriculum and university exam system. The university's education and services, such as business education, employment, training, and vocational education, are not up to date with new technology and career preparation.
TU has 8,841 teaching faculty and 7,413 non-teaching staff including the support staff in its constituent campuses. The number of total employees is 15,254.[citation needed]
Rankings
Tribhuvan University is ranked in the top 1201-1500 universities in the world as per the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2024, published by the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine. It is ranked among the 251-300 best universities of Asia. It is ranked at 6676 in the world and 1st in the country as per the unirank University Ranking.
Technical institutes
The university administers its science and technology programs, such as BSc, BE, MBBS, etc., through its technical institutes. There are five technical institutes at the university, each taking care of a specific domain within the field of science and technology education.
Tribhuvan University also has a free student union as another facility. This free student union has established the rights and interests of students who come to study at the university and to solve students' problems. The committee of the students' union has to be elected at the university. The university students who are affiliated with different political parties vote for their supporter leaders. The student union election is held every two years. Regardless of winning by embracing the idea of any party, the student union works to solve problems for all students.
Student Life
Student Organizations
1) CSIT Association of Butwal Multiple Campus
The CSIT (Computer Science and Information Technology) Association at Butwal Multiple Campus represents students pursuing computer science and information technology programs at the campus. Located in Butwal, the capital of Lumbini Province, the association functions as a departmental student organization dedicated to advancing academic and professional development opportunities for CSIT students.
The association's primary objectives include advocating for the academic interests and rights of computer science students, organizing seminars and workshops to facilitate professional development, fostering collaboration between students and industry professionals, and addressing departmental challenges that affect student learning experiences. The association operates through an elected committee system, with leadership positions determined through student voting. Leadership elections are conducted periodically to ensure responsive representation of student interests.
Activities and Events
The CSIT Association of Butwal Multiple Campus organizes various academic and professional development initiatives. Notable events and programs include:
BMC Innovatex (innovatex.csitabmc.com)- An annual innovation and entrepreneurship hackathon that brings together students, professionals, and entrepreneurs to showcase technology projects, startups, and innovative solutions in information technology.
Tech Month (techmonth.csitabmc.com) - A month-long series of technical seminars, workshops, and competitions focused on contemporary issues in computer science and information technology, conducted annually to develop technical skills and knowledge among students.
These initiatives provide platforms for students to gain practical experience, network with industry professionals, and contribute to technological advancement within Lumbini Province.
Beyond campus-specific initiatives, the association actively contributes to development efforts across Lumbini Province, extending its engagement beyond academic activities to support broader educational and community development goals in the region. The organization maintains a commitment to serving all CSIT students impartially, irrespective of any political ideologies or factional affiliations of individual members or elected representatives.
Online Presence
The CSIT Association maintains an official web presence to facilitate communication and information dissemination regarding its activities and events. Students and stakeholders can access information about the association's initiatives through its official online platforms and dedicated event websites.
