Potential is everywhere…
Opportunity is not.
Samaanta Foundation provides comprehensive higher-education fellowships to talented students from underserved communities across Nepal — covering not just tuition, but everything it takes to graduate and lead.
In the news
The New York TimesHomegrown Help for Deserving Students in Nepal
In the tiny hamlet of Koth Gaun, two neighbours became among the first students supported by a homegrown fellowship helping talented public-school graduates reach…
Read more about Homegrown Help for Deserving Students in Nepal (opens in a new tab)
The Kathmandu PostLevelling the Playing Field for Nepal’s Students
How a Nepal-based fellowship covers the full cost of higher education for students from underserved communities.
Read more about Levelling the Playing Field for Nepal’s Students (opens in a new tab)
The RecordEducation as the Great Equaliser
A look at the comprehensive 'Education Plus' model and the fellows it has supported across the country.
Read more about Education as the Great Equaliser (opens in a new tab)
Education Plus
A scholarship pays fees. A fellowship changes a trajectory. Our fellows receive tuition and academic costs, room and board, mentorship, training, internships and a community that stays with them long after graduation.
Our impact
-
158
Fellows supported
As of 2026
-
15
Cohorts
As of 2026
-
32
Districts represented
As of 2026
-
74
Graduates
As of 2026
-
+120
Community projects
As of 2026
-
18000+
People reached
As of 2026
Meet our fellows
How the fellowship works
- Outreach and application
We reach students in communities where higher education is rarely an option. - Selection
Candidates are assessed on potential and need, not connections. - College placement
Fellows are matched to institutions that fit their goals. - Comprehensive support
Tuition, room and board, materials and living costs are covered. - Mentorship and leadership
Training, mentoring, internships and community projects. - Graduation and paying it forward
Alumni return to support the fellows who follow them.
Latest updates
-
Welcoming the Fifteenth Cohort
This year we welcomed our largest and most geographically diverse cohort yet.
-
Recruitment 2026: Applications Now Open
Applications for the next cohort of Samaanta fellows are open. Here is everything you need to know.
-
We are Hiring: Partnership & Communication Officer
We are looking for a Partnership & Communication Officer to grow our partnerships and tell the Foundation’s story.
Fellow story
From Humla to the world
Placeholder narrative. Replace with a real fellow story of roughly 120 words — where they started, what changed, and where they are now. This section is the one place on the homepage that breaks the grid, so it should carry the strongest story you have.
A short pull quote in the fellow’s own words belongs here.
Work with us
Join the team working to make higher education possible for talented students across Nepal.
Ten years of Samaanta
Our journey so far
Lack of opportunity, not ability, limits potential. From a handful of students in one Lalitpur school in 2012 to fellows across seventeen districts today — watch the story of Samaanta.
One more fellow
Every fellowship is funded by people who believe talent deserves a fair chance. Your support covers tuition, housing, mentorship and the years in between.