Study and find schools in Bhutan

Studying in Bhutan

Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom between India and China, and for international students its higher education is concentrated in one national system: the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB). RUB was established on 2 June 2003 through a Royal Decree to unify the country's previously independent tertiary institutions into a federated university. Today it comprises nine constituent colleges and two affiliated private colleges spread across the country. Medicine, nursing and traditional medicine are taught separately at the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB).

English is the language of teaching: according to RUB, all of its programmes are conducted in English, with additional support for non-native speakers. The local language is Dzongkha, and international semester students at Royal Thimphu College must take an introductory Dzongkha module. Numbers are small: Royal Thimphu College, for example, welcomed 19 new international students in autumn 2026.

The education system

RUB's colleges each have academic autonomy but share one governance and quality assurance framework. They are spread across the country, and many are specialised:

• Sherubtse College in Kanglung, Trashigang: Bhutan's oldest higher education institution, founded in 1968, with bachelor's degrees in sciences, economics and political science
• College of Science and Technology in Rinchending, Phuntsholing: engineering
• College of Natural Resources in Lobesa, Punakha: established in 1992 as the Natural Resources Training Institute
• Gedu College of Business Studies: business and management, established in 2008
• Paro College of Education and Samtse College of Education: teacher training
• Royal Thimphu College in the capital, a private college affiliated with RUB and KGUMSB

Award-bearing programmes range from diplomas and bachelor's degrees to postgraduate certificates and diplomas, master's degrees and PhDs. Most bachelor's programmes run full-time for three or four years; a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, for example, is a one-year course for graduates who want to become teachers. Royal Thimphu College is accredited by the Bhutan Accreditation Council with its highest grade, A+ (Excellent), according to the college.

Admission and recognition

Bhutanese students apply through RUB's online system with their Class XII results and citizenship ID, competing for government scholarship places or self-funding places. International students follow a separate route through the colleges. For undergraduate programmes they need at least a higher secondary school certificate or equivalent; for postgraduate programmes, a bachelor's degree. Final eligibility criteria are approved by RUB's Academic Board, and entry requirements, seats and fees vary from college to college, so RUB advises applicants to check the website of the college they want.

Applicants to degree programmes must show an IELTS overall band score of 5.5 or an equivalent test. Students who studied in English may be exempt, though colleges can set their own proficiency test, and those who do not meet the requirement take a paid English for Academic Purposes bridge course first. Applications need academic transcripts with an English translation, a statement of purpose, recommendation letters, a passport, proof of English and travel and medical insurance. The application fee is US$100 and non-refundable, and the window for full-time programmes is March to May each year.

Short stays are also possible. A semester abroad at RUB means enrolling in at least two modules, and short-term study abroad (one to six weeks) is organised for groups of at least five students. At Royal Thimphu College, students enrolled at a home university can take two to five modules, or two modules with a credited internship; the deadline for spring 2027 is 17 November 2026, with classes starting on 24 February 2027.

Student visa and residence

Visitors need a visa arranged in advance, and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that visas are not issued on arrival (advice valid on 7 October 2026). For students, the RUB college facilitates the process once it has issued a Confirmation of Admission, but the student pays the visa fees. The Department of Immigration lists these requirements for a student visa:

• a recommendation from the relevant agency
• a passport valid for at least six months from the planned departure from Bhutan
• an admission offer from an academic institution in Bhutan
• the visa application form and a means of subsistence form
• a statement of purpose (and, for exchanges, the partnership agreement and an undertaking from the institution)

According to RUB, student visas are valid for the length of the programme unless the Department of Immigration decides otherwise. The department also publishes a Visa/Entry Permit Guideline for International Students, 2026. Royal Thimphu College warns that visa processing can take about two to three months, so apply early.

Costs

RUB publishes its tuition fees for the 2026-27 financial year in ngultrum (Nu). For international students on full-time degree programmes, fees per year are:

• Undergraduate: Nu 316,324 (arts and humanities) or Nu 370,396 (science and engineering)
• Master's: Nu 474,486 or Nu 555,594
• PhD: Nu 514,027 or Nu 601,893

These fees are three times the rate for Bhutanese students on government scholarships, except for students from SAARC countries, who pay 1.5 times that rate (for example Nu 158,162 for an undergraduate year in arts and humanities). Short programmes are priced in US dollars: a semester abroad costs US$3,533, and a three-to-six-week programme US$2,781.

Students can live on or off campus, depending on availability, and pay their own accommodation and living costs. At Royal Thimphu College, room and board are included in the semester abroad fee, but the college offers no scholarships or financial aid to international students.

Where to study

Thimphu, the capital, is home to RUB's central office and Royal Thimphu College. Other colleges are in smaller towns: engineering in Phuntsholing on the Indian border and in Dewathang, teacher education in Paro and Samtse, sciences and humanities in Kanglung in the east, and natural resources in Punakha. The choice of programme often decides the town.

Practical life

Health insurance is compulsory for the whole period of study at RUB; basic public health services are free, but the Spanish ministry notes that local medical services are limited and that altitude sickness can occur. During the monsoon, landslides can disrupt road traffic. Flights to Bhutan, run by Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines, connect with New Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Dhaka and Bangkok.

The local currency is the ngultrum, at par with the Indian rupee. Credit card use is very limited and cash machines are hard to find. The sale of tobacco and smoking in public places are banned across the country. RUB colleges run an orientation programme and a buddy scheme that pairs international students with Bhutanese students.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Bhutan in English?

Yes. The Royal University of Bhutan states that all its programmes are taught in English, and degree applicants need an IELTS overall score of 5.5 or an equivalent.

How much does a degree in Bhutan cost for an international student?

At RUB, an undergraduate year costs Nu 316,324 in arts and humanities and Nu 370,396 in science and engineering in 2026-27. Students from SAARC countries pay half of that.

Can I do a semester abroad in Bhutan?

Yes. RUB colleges accept semester students for at least two modules, and Royal Thimphu College runs a semester programme with a spring 2027 deadline of 17 November 2026.

Do I need a visa to study in Bhutan?

Yes. You need an admission offer and a student visa from the Department of Immigration, which your college helps you apply for. Visas are not issued on arrival.

When can I apply?

RUB takes applications from international students for full-time degree programmes from March to May each year; short programmes are arranged on a rolling basis.