The new session of Nalanda University's two postgraduate courses at School of Historical Studies and School of Ecology & Environment Studies would start on August 3.
Confirming the development, Nalanda University's director communications Smita Polite said: "The university will launch its new academic session from August first week this year." The orientation programme for the fresh batch of students would be conducted on August 1 at the university's makeshift campus near Rajgir bus stand. The last date for applying for the new session is July 10.
The students taking admission this year would have to pay almost half the fees their seniors had to fork out for the courses in 2014. The university's governing board had announced a downward revision of course fee (for two years) from last year's Rs 3 lakh to Rs 1.16 lakh. The tuition fee for each student would be Rs 58,000 per annum from this session.
Nalanda University had started its journey afresh on September 1 last year. A total of 15 students are pursuing education in the university's two existing schools at present under nine faculty members.
The university decided against launching any new course this year. Its third school - School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions - would start next year.
The admission process for the new session started in February this year. Till now, the university administration has received around 1,500 applications, including several from around 12 foreign countries.
A source said the admission to Nalanda University was a two-tier process. First, the applicants are shortlisted on the basis of their academic background, graded written work, communication skills, and the statement of purpose why they are interested in joining the university and their vision about the new and ancient Nalanda University. The shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview either in person or online.
Sources said the university administration was expecting a surge in the number of students taking admission to the two schools. They claimed around 20 students had confirmed their admission.
The construction work of the sprawling Nalanda University campus in Rajgir would start by the end of this year, the tender for which was floated on Monday. The decision to start the first phase of construction was taken in the 12th meeting of the varsity's governing board in New Delhi on Sunday.
A day after the board meeting, former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo, the chancellor-designate of the university, and vice-chancellor Gopa Sabharwal flew down to Patna and met chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday.
Yeo is likely to take charge of the varsity from Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on July 17.
