Nepal Government Cracks Down on Unaccredited UAE Colleges After Student Fraud Allegations

The Government of Nepal has halted the issuance of No Objection Certificates to students seeking admission to several academic institutions in the United Arab Emirates following serious complaints of educational fraud. The decision comes after dozens of Nepali students reported being enrolled in colleges and universities that allegedly lack proper accreditation and authority to grant academic degrees.

The No Objection Certificate, commonly referred to as an NOC, is a mandatory document issued by Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology that enables students to transfer funds abroad for tuition fees, admission costs, food, and accommodation. Without it, students cannot legally send money overseas for higher education.

According to Birendra Jung Thapa, chief of the NOC department in Kathmandu, certificates are now being issued only to selected institutions after thorough screening. The move follows mounting evidence that several institutions operating in free zones in Dubai, Ajman, and Sharjah were enrolling Nepali students for degree programs they were not authorized to deliver.

The United Arab Emirates, once an unlikely academic destination for Nepali youth, has recently witnessed a surge in student migration. Government figures show that more than 5,000 Nepali students received NOCs to study in the UAE during the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year. Many of these students were reportedly recruited by education consultancies in Nepal promising internationally recognized degrees, part-time job opportunities, and credit transfers to European universities.

Students allege that some of the institutions operate in special economic free zones, where regulatory oversight differs from mainland education authorities. This regulatory gap, they claim, allowed training institutes to present themselves as universities and advertise degree programs without proper accreditation from the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation.

A letter from the Nepali Consulate General in Dubai to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described what it called a serious situation of educational fraud committed against Nepali students by institutions operating in these zones. The consulate reportedly identified between 10 and 12 institutions that may have misled students.

Several affected students have spoken out publicly. Manish Tiwari, who enrolled in a Bachelor in Hospitality Management program in Sharjah in late 2023, said he was initially denied physical access to the campus and was instructed to attend online classes. When he eventually visited the premises, he found what he described as a small facility consisting of only a few rooms, far from the infrastructure showcased online.

Another student, Bishwajeet Kumar Yadav, who traveled to Ajman to pursue a PhD at an institution presenting itself as a university, later discovered it was licensed only as a training center and did not possess degree granting authority. Yadav returned to Nepal and has since become one of the leading voices demanding accountability.

Students report paying consultancy fees ranging from approximately Rs750,000 to Rs1.5 million, in addition to travel and living expenses. Many allege that agents misrepresented the institutions and promised part-time employment that would cover living costs. Fraud complaints have now been filed with police in Kathmandu against several education consultancies accused of misrepresentation and deceptive advertising.

A growing student movement known as the Scan the Scammers Campaign has emerged, urging authorities to investigate both the consultancies in Nepal and the institutions in the UAE. Social media awareness efforts have intensified as returning students share their experiences in an attempt to prevent others from falling victim.

In the UAE, some students who remain enrolled claim they have faced pressure when questioning the authenticity of their programs. One student from Sharjah stated that he was warned his visa could be canceled if he continued raising concerns.

Sagar Dhakal, advisor to Nepal’s Education Minister Mahabir Pun, confirmed that the ministry is conducting a wider investigation beyond the suspension of NOCs. Authorities are examining the role of consultancies and exploring diplomatic channels to address the matter with UAE based institutions. Further action is expected in the coming weeks.

For many affected students, the financial losses are significant, but the emotional toll is even greater. The government’s crackdown signals a tightening of oversight in cross border education, yet students insist that stronger monitoring and stricter regulation of consultancies are urgently needed to safeguard the future of Nepali youth seeking international degrees.