Study in Bhutan

Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, well known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs), and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.

In the High Himalayas, peaks such as 7 326m Jomolhari are popular trekking destinations. Paro Taktsang monastery (also known as Tiger's Nest) clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley Studying in Bhutan provides an interesting dimension to study abroad.

Bhutan is a simple place that is so rich in culture. Students can witness a rich new culture that they have never experienced before.

Bhutan is rich in culture and has unique traditions that have been kept for years. Study abroad enthusiasts would take this opportunity to immerse themselves in a whole new culture and way of life.

Education in BHUTAN

A modern educational system was introduced in Bhutan in the 1960s. before that, education was provided only by monasteries. than 340 schools and institutions of higher education have been established, including over 150 community schools to serve most remote rural areas.

Bhutan has 2 major universities namely the Royal University of Bhutan, and the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan. These offer programs leading to internationally recognized degrees.

Some of the programs offered include business and management, engineering and physical sciences, computing and information science, biological sciences and agriculture, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences, Business, Economics, History, Humanities, Management, Mathematics, Sociology, Administration, Finance & Banking, Law & Jurisprudence, Management, Environmental Studies, Management, and Natural Sciences to mention but a few.

The adult literacy rate in Bhutan was estimated at 66.56%. While the male literacy rate is 75.02%, and 57.08% for females is, according to UNESCO.

Important things to note

Here are a few things to take note of before you go out and about in Bhutan.

Money- the official currency of Bhutan is the Bhutan Ngultrum (BTN), which is pegged to the Indian rupee. Banks exchange US, Canadian and Australian dollars, UK pounds, euros, Japanese yen, and some other Asian and Scandinavian currencies.

Bank/ Credit Cards- Cards are accepted at major handicraft stores and large hotels but you will often be charged up to 5% to cover the fees levied by the credit card companies. PINs have to be four digits.

ATMs- the Bank of Bhutan (BoB), Bhutan National Bank, and Druk PNB Bank ATMs accept some foreign credit cards, but ATMs in Bhutan use the magnetic strip rather than chips cards. The government sometimes blocks international ATM transactions for short periods to combat fraud

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About Bhutan

Bhutan is a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas that is bordered by China in the north and India to the south. The country's total area is about 38 394 km2, ranking it 133rd in terms of land area.

The country has an estimated population of about 754 388 people, with a population density of 19.3 people per km2 as of 2018.

Bhutan is divided into twenty administrative Districts called Dzongkhags and these are Bumthang, Chukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pema Gatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashi Gang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, and Zhemgang Dzongkhags.

Ethnic groups

Bhutan is made up of four main ethnic groups namely Ngalop, Sharchop, Lhotshampa, Indigenous and tribal groups, Tibetans. The Ngalop group primarily consists of Bhutanese living in the western part of the country.

The Lhotshampa are a heterogeneous group of Nepalese ancestry. The Sharchops, Ngalongs make up 50% and Lhotsampas 35%, and indigenous or migrant tribes 15%.

p<>Ngalop- are the descendants of Tibetan immigrants mostly found in northern, central, and western Bhutan. Sharchop- these live in eastern Bhutan and speak Tshangla.

Ancient Tribal Populations-The Lhokpu, Mönpa, and Gongduk are small, isolated, aboriginal communities that settled in Bhutan and the timeline cannot be traced.

Lepchas- They call themselves Róng or Róngkup meaning children of the Rong. The term Lepcha, derived from Nepali, was originally derogatory meaning inarticulate speech. Nowadays, however, it is widely used without the negative connotation.

Nepalese or Lhotsampa- These are of Nepalese descent and are called Lhotsampa or people of the south. Oraon or Kurukh- The small Oraon community is an extension of much larger populations of northern India.

Languages

Bhutan has a diverse linguistic landscape and the Dzongkha language is the country’s national language. This is a list of some of the languages that are spoken in Bhutan.

Dzongkha- is The Official and National Language of Bhutan. The language is used in government administration and as the medium of instruction in Bhutan’s schools.

Chocangaca- it is closely related to Dzongkha and is spoken in eastern Bhutan’s Mongar and Lhuntse Districts.

Lakha- is spoken in central Bhutan’s Trongsa and Wangdue Phodrang Districts. communities.

Brokkat- the language is spoken by only about 300 residents in the Dhur village in the Bumthang District.

Brokpa- is spoken in parts of Trashigang District. origins of the language are traced to the pastoral yak herd groups of Bhutan.

Laya- it is spoken by the indigenous Layaps who are descendants of nomadic or semi-nomadic cattle herders, living in northwest Bhutan’s high mountains.

Did you know? Facts about BHUTAN

• The word Bhutan means Land of the Thunder Dragon mainly because of the fierce storms that often roll in from the Himalayas.

• A third of Bhutan’s population is under the age of 14

• Thimpu is one of just two capital cities in Asia that does not have traffic lights. There was a public outcry when the light was installed that it was quickly removed.

• Bhutan is the only nation in the world where the sale of tobacco is banned.

• Gangkhar Puensum is the highest point in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.

• Anyone found guilty of killing a highly endangered and sacred black-necked crane could be sentenced to life in prison.

• . The government lifted a ban on TV and the Internet only 11 years ago.

Must see places in BHUTAN

Taktsang Monastery- this is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. The monastery is located on a high granite cliff and was established for meditation. The monastery is perched on a rocky ledge with a drop of about 800m, overlooking the Paro valley and the river.

Thimphu- Thimphu is a charming capital city nestled in the Himalayas with the Chuu River flowing through it. it is the only city in the world with no traffic lights.

Thimphu has retained its old cultural ways and modern development is closely monitored. new buildings must be built only in Bhutanese style and up to a certain height. Here you can see popular landmarks like Tashichho Dzong, National Memorial Chorten, and Motithang Takin Preserve are the top attractions of Thimphu for visitors.

Paro- this is a beautiful valley surrounded by lush green rice fields. It is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered through the area.

Visitors get to experience and behold the undisturbed serene beauty, the clean air, and the peaceful atmosphere. You can find Rinpung Dzong, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese monasteries in Paro which hosts the Paro Tsechu or festival of masks.

National Museum of Paro- is a museum that exhibits rich stamp collections, slate carvings, Thangka paintings, prehistoric items, jewelry, traditional weapons, and other articles reflecting the unique Bhutanese culture.

Jampa Lhakhang- this is the spiritual heartland of Bhutan and it is full of the most ancient and precious Buddhist sites. It houses some of the oldest Buddhist temples.

About Bhutan's Economy

Bhutan has a traditional economic system. the allocation of available resources is made based on inheritance and primitive methods.

It is one of the world's smallest and least developed countries whose economy is based on agriculture, hydropower, and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population.

Agriculture consists of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. The nominal GDP was estimated at $2.842 billion, with a per capita of $3 423 as of 2019. GDP (PPP) was estimated at $8.199 billion with a per capita of $9 876 as of 2019.

Government statistics as of 2015 showed an employment rate of 61.6% and the labor force by occupation was dominated by agriculture with 58%, industry with 20%, and services with 22%. Inflation as of 2020 is estimated at 4.2%.

Bhutan’s GDP contribution by sector as of 2017 was as follows:

• Agriculture 16.2%

• Industry- 41.8%

• Services- 42%

Industry

The industry is mainly based on cement production, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism Trade

Exports in Bhutan were estimated at $554.6 million as of 2017 and its major exports included electricity (to India), ferrosilicon, cement, cardamom, calcium carbide, steel rods/bars, dolomite, gypsum.

Main export partners include India 81.1%, Bangladesh 6.4%, Hong Kong 5.8%, China 3.8%, and Nepal 2.9%, to mention but a few.

Its imports were valued at $1.025 billion as of 2017. The main products include fuel and lubricants, airplanes, machinery and parts, rice, motor vehicles, to mention but a few. Its main import partners included India 78.3%, China 6%, Japan 3.8%, South Korea 3.4%, Thailand 2.6%, and Singapore 2.6%mention but a few.

Why Study in Bhutan

Affordable Tuition Fees in Bhutan
Tasty dishes and Cuisines
there is a lot to taste in Bhutan, from the unique indigenous recipes to the fusion of both local and international dishes..
Affordable Accomodation in Bhutan
Life after University
]Bhutan can be an ideal place to work and study after university. There are companies and NGOs that hire international students in several vacancies or on an internship basis.
International Environment in Bhutan
Interaction with other international students
studying in Bhutan offers students the chance to interact, exchange and familiarise themselves with other foreign students.
Great Weather in Bhutan
Site Seeing
Bhutan is a place full of history and unique culture. There is plenty to see in Bhutan in terms of the landscape and the unique architecture.

Scholarships in Bhutan

There are plenty of scholarships are available for students studying in Bhutan.

Students can apply for any scholarship including merit-based scholarships, sports scholarships, engineering scholarships, law scholarships, medical scholarships, and grants, to mention but a few.

Bhutan Student Visa

Bhutanese policy ensures that only a limited number of tourists enter the country at any one time.

The following groups are exempt from a Bhutanese Visa: Citizens of India do not need a visa to enter Bhutan.

They can obtain entry into Bhutan by air and land and may use any of the acceptable documents including the Indian Passport, Aadhar card, Voter ID card with photograph.

Citizens of Bangladesh and the Maldives do not need a visa provided they have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry.