Every counselling cycle we watch applicants make the same mistake: they build a shortlist that starts with rankings and works backwards. A better order runs from accreditation to fit to money to work rights.
Filter 1: Accreditation and destination recognition
- Australia: CRICOS-registered institution.
- United Kingdom: Home Office Student Route sponsor with a Track Record of Compliance.
- Canada: Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with a valid PAL where required.
- United States: SEVP-certified institution.
- New Zealand: NZQA-accredited provider.
Filter 2: Course fit with your Bachelor
Does the programme use what you learned in your Bachelor, or does it require a background you do not have? Read the entry requirements carefully.
Filter 3: Total cost against sponsor capacity
Build a per-university total-cost sheet in NPR at the current exchange rate:
- Tuition per year × length of the programme.
- Living costs at the destination benchmark: AUD 29,710 per year; CAD 22,895 per year; NZD 20,000 per year; UK GBP 1,334 to GBP 1,483 per month; US per Form I-20.
- Visa and health cover.
- Travel.
- Nepal-side documentation costs.
If the total exceeds your sponsor capacity by more than 15 percent, the programme is not on the shortlist.
Filter 4: Post-study work rights
- Australia Subclass 485: 2 years for Bachelor and taught Master, 3 for Master by research, 4 for PhD, regional extension available.
- UK Graduate Route: 2 years for Bachelor and taught Master submitted before 1 January 2027, 18 months after; PhD 3 years.
- Canada PGWP: up to 3 years, aligned with programme length; universities exempt from field-of-study restrictions.
- USA OPT: 12 months plus 24-month STEM OPT for STEM-designated programmes.
- New Zealand: up to 3 years for Level 7+.
Filter 5: PR pathway (if that is your goal)
Check whether the occupation your programme feeds into is on the current skilled-migration list of the destination country, and which assessing authority will handle your skills assessment.
Ranking is applied last
Once a programme has passed the five filters, ranking sorts between remaining options. Use current-year public rankings from Times Higher Education, QS, or Complete University Guide.
How to size the shortlist
- Six to ten programmes.
- Split: two safe, four target, two ambitious.
- For scholarship applications (Chevening, Commonwealth), aim for at least three offers.
Key takeaways
- Accreditation and course fit come first; rankings come last.
- Total-cost sheet in NPR against sponsor capacity keeps the shortlist realistic.
- Post-study work rights are set by the destination government, not by ranking.
- Six to ten programmes, split across safe, target and ambitious.
- Confirm accreditation on the current destination government website.
Related resources
See our full study abroad cost comparison, the best countries guide, and our destination hubs: Australia, Canada, UK, USA, New Zealand.