KATHMANDU: A total of 1,527 students from various faculties were conferred degrees during the second phase of Kathmandu University’s (KU) 31st convocation ceremony.

Among the graduates, 21 received PhDs, 93 completed MPhil and research-based Master’s degrees, 279 earned regular Master’s degrees, two completed Post Graduate Diplomas in Education (PGDE), and 1,132 graduated with Bachelor’s degrees.

Faculty-wise, the School of Medical Sciences saw the highest number of graduates, with 504 students receiving their degrees.

Additionally, 355 students graduated from the School of Engineering, 207 from the School of Science, 161 from the School of Arts, 146 from the School of Management, 112 from the School of Education, and 42 from the School of Law.

The graduating cohort consists of 800 men and 727 women.

The ceremony also included 179 international students from Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States, accounting for 11.72 percent of the total graduating class.

Notably, this convocation marked the university’s very first graduates in several specialized programs: 26 students graduated with a Bachelor of Technology in Artificial Intelligence, three with a Doctor of Medicine in Neonatology, and four with a Master of Science in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

With the conclusion of this phase, the total number of graduates from Kathmandu University to date has reached 51,567.

Among them, 6,039 are international students. The convocation ceremony was chaired by Sasmit Pokharel, the Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, who also serves as the University’s Pro-Chancellor. During the event, Pokharel urged the graduates not to be overly anxious about their future.

“I myself graduated from this very university just four years ago. I had no idea back then that I would be standing here today,” Pokharel shared. “Some of you might find success quickly, while for others, it may take some time.”

Pokharel further encouraged the graduates to apply the knowledge they gained at the university toward transforming society.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Rishikesh Wagle expressed his immense pride in seeing a former student return to the university as the Education Minister and Pro-Chancellor.

However, Vice-Chancellor Wagle also pointed out that the current student visa process remains a major hurdle in turning Nepal into an international educational destination, calling on the government to provide the necessary policy support.

“Our visa policies for international students are still not sufficiently smooth or welcoming,” Wagle noted.

Professor Bhushan Patwardhan, Chancellor of the Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute in India, attended the ceremony as the chief guest and delivered the convocation address.

Professor Patwardhan reminded the graduates that they are a vital part of Nepal’s future, expressing confidence that whichever field they enter, they will carry forward Nepal’s rich heritage of knowledge and the rigorous training of Kathmandu University.