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2012 Summer Courses!

 

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A Quick Look at
Online Learning

Insurance
All students at CBS who are not Nepali citizens must have adequate medical insurance. At the time of enrollment, students are therefore required to demonstrate proof that they are covered by an insurance policy for the period of their studies. Please bring a copy of your insurance card as well as the emergency contact phone/ E-mail contacts for office records. Although in Nepal, it is not possible to purchase long-term insurance that covers international students, a list of travel insurance providers can be found at www.hasbrouck.org/articles/insurance.html. Please note that none of these are affiliated nor endorsed by CBS.
 
Visa
International students enrolled at the Centre for Buddhist Studies are eligible for Student Visas as long as they remain in good standing with the program.  Students should obtain a Tourist Visa from a Nepalese Embassy in their home country before arriving in Kathmandu or they may obtain a Tourist Visa at their point of entry into Nepal.  During orientation week the process for obtaining a Student Visa will be explained to all students and they will be assisted through the application process.
 
Please Note:  A Nepalese Visa for BA and MA Students currently  costs 20US$ per month.  For those enrolled as a Visiting Student, the Nepalese Visa currently costs 50US$ per month.
 
To obtain a Student Visa, please carefully read the following information pertaining to Bank Accounts and the required Non-Objection Letter.
 
Bank Accounts
To get a Student Visa in Nepal, one must show proof of having a minimum of US$ 3,000 deposited in a Nepali bank (US$ 5,000 if a visa is also needed for one's spouse). Opening a bank account can at times be very time consuming and prolong the entire visa process. The longest delay is often the time it takes Nepali banks to clear funds. Both overseas personal checks and traveler's checks can take more than one month to clear. One thing to keep in mind when depositing cash dollars is that Nepali Banks charge 2% commission on the deposit

Important Note: Until you have received the bank statement showing your balance of $ 3,000 (which at times may take up to one month) you cannot spend the money in your account. You will therefore need additional funds to cover living expenses during this period. To facilitate the process, you are required to do one of the following procedures:

  • Bring US$ 3,010 (bank fees apply), couples US$ 5,010, or the equivalent in Euros, to fully fund the account. This must be cash money. Checks or traveler's checks will not be accepted by the bank.

  • Bring US$ 510 to open the account and be prepared to immediately wire the remaining funds into the new account.
 
Non-Objection Letter
Furthermore, to obtain a Student Visa, students are also required to have a 'Non-Objection' letter from their embassy. This letter must state that your home country embassy has no objection to you (their citizen) studying in Nepal.

Important Note: If your country does not have an embassy or consulate in Kathmandu you must obtain an official government letter from your home country before you come to Nepal. While the US Embassy in Nepal provides the letter free of charge, most others charge a fee. Aside from US citizens, it may therefore be easier and less expensive for you to get this document from your government before coming to Nepal.
 
Living Expenses
To help students calculate their financial needs, the table below shows an estimate of costs for incoming students for the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters) 2011-2012. This allows for an average level of comfort but not luxurious living.

Student Visa Fees - BA and MA students  (20US$ / month) US$   160
Books and supplies (average student)
US$   200
Room and board (US$ 250 / month) US$   2,000
Annual seminar fee (Fall semester only)
US$   65
Optional fieldtrips (Bodhgaya, Lumbini, etc) US$   250
             Total US$  2675
 
Financial Aid
To encourage all potential applicants, CBS aims to keep tuition expenses as low as possible without sacrificing quality of education. In general, students are advised to research other financing options, such as national government grants and foundation grants. For example, several governments provide full or partial grants to students of their countries. As a degree-granting institution, CBS does expect that students bear the bulk of the responsibility for financing this education and it is hoped that students view the investment in the CBS program as a worthwhile endeavor. Nonetheless, CBS would very much like to reward top students with merit based scholarships, and also realizes that some candidates will have difficulty meeting tuition costs. Thanks to the generosity of several donors we have a limited amount of financial assistance available for students.
 
Scholarships

CBS is pleased to provide merit-based scholarships to students through the Khyentse Foundation-Rangjung Yeshe Institute Scholarship Fund, which each year offers a limited number of scholarships to lay and ordained students at CBS. These awards are open to both local and international students at RYI, and are awarded primarily on the basis of academic performance. Students are eligible to apply for the scholarship after completing two semesters as a CBS Student.  Applications must also be submitted with an accompanying essay.  Scholarships are not available for the Summer Program.

The Khyentse Foundation-Rangjung Yeshe Institute Scholarship is awarded for two consecutive semesters, beginning in September.  Applications for scholarships will be accepted during the month of April only, through your student portal. Applications are due on April 30th. Please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for information about accessing the student portal.
 

 
Work Study

CBS currently offers a Work-Study Program for which financial need is a primary consideration. Students who wish to apply for work-study must indicate this on his or  her initial application and fill out a work-study application. A detailed CV (résumé) is required in order to help the Scholarship Committee review the application and attempt to find a position that fits the skills of the student. As work-study students are expected to maintain their work hours even during periods of exams, students who are considering applying for work-study should seriously consider their own study needs before taking on the burden of additional work.  Work-study is not guaranteed.  Awards depend on how many work positions are available and whether or not the applicants have the required skill sets.  Work-study is not available for the Summer Program.

Work-study applications for the Fall semester will be accepted during the month of April only, with applications due on April 30th. Work-study applications for the Spring semester will be accepted beginning November 1st with applications due on November 30th.

Students can apply for work-study through the student portal:  www.shedra.org/portal. Please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for information about accessing the student portal.