A two-year MA in History and Philosophy course (MAHP) has been launched by Kathmandu University (KU) and the Southasia Institute for History and Philosophy (SIHP), geared for aspiring scholars and practitioners from Nepal and internationally. The call for applications has been announced for courses starting in October 2025 and in April 2026.
Speaking at the launch event on June 19, which brought together faculty and scholars from various institutions, KU Vice Chancellor Professor Achyut Wagle said: “The new MA programme is geared to understanding these times, which are turbulent for both people and the planet. The course marks a milestone in Nepal’s higher education, and we look forward to welcoming national and international students for two years of rigorous learning aimed at producing future thinkers with humanism.”
Historian Yogesh Raj, Academic Director at SiHP, noted: “The MA programme seeks to consolidate the emancipatory ideals of the humanities while correcting their dominant anthropocentric perspectives. The course structure promotes historically grounded and philosophically informed research, policy and advocacy enquiries. It helps foster plural notions of Southasia among the public and inclusive configurations of Southasian studies in academia.”
According to SiHP, the MA course is useful for those seeking careers in humanities research and instruction, as well as a wide range of possibilities from policy analysis, diplomacy, public service, media to social activism. The course will develop scholars able to countenance problems and advance solutions from local, national and Subcontinental perspectives.
MAHP’s 60-credit course has been tailored to Himalayan and Southasian socio-ecological realities and aspirations. The curriculum includes foundational and advanced courses in History and Philosophy, and elective courses in Society, Technology and Environment.
Prospective candidates for the MA course can come from a variety of academic streams, and need to take SiHP’s Advanced Level Test for Humanities in Southasia exam (ALT-HuS). The instruction fee for the course is set at Rs 6 lakh for Nepali nationals (Rs 9 lakh for SAARC region, Rs 12 lakh for elsewhere). Full to partial fellowships are available to Nepali students based on merit, inclusion and need.
The application deadline for the October 2025 course is 25 July 2025.
