Nalanda University has extended the last date for filing online admission applications by a week.

The university, which has been witnessing a jump in online applications, has decided to extend the date till June 28.

Till date 4,962 online registrations have been made for admission, out of which about 250 are from abroad.

K. Chandramoorthi, the in-charge registrar of Nalanda University, said: "The university has witnessed a jump in number of applications compared to previous years. The number of applicants will go up in the coming days."

The university this year has sought applications for the session 2017-18 for the existing master's programme in the three schools - School of Ecology and Environment Studies, the School of Historical Studies and School of Buddhist Studies Philosophy and Comparative Religions.

As the varsity focused on research-based studies, students will be admitted to the three courses based on the candidate's past academic credentials, quality of describing the statement of purpose and writing samples before they are shortlisted for interviews.

Admission to Nalanda University is a two-tier process. In the first phase, a candidate's application is shortlisted on the basis of his/her academic performance, statement of purpose, referee's recommendation, written work and other achievements.

In the second phase, a panel of faculty members through video conferencing interviews the shortlisted candidates.

The university admission process began in January this year and will end on June 28. The new academic session of the varsity is likely to start in August.

The university on September 2014 started its first academic session with 11 students - three in the School of Historical Studies and eight in the School of Ecology and Environment Studies.

University sources said the number of applicants is growing every year.

The university is running from a makeshift campus near Rajgir bus stand, but the construction work of the new campus has started.

In March, the university had started the construction work of the new campus. Nalanda University chancellor Vijay Bhatkar had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the non-residential buildings on the Rajgir campus on March 1.

The first phase of the campus will have academic blocks, administrative block, auditorium, library and other buildings.

Andhra Pradesh-based Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited will construct the new campus at a cost of Rs 435.07 crore. The work that started in March will be completed in 36 months.