Fake university scam in Dubai: 65 Nepali students allegedly cheated by education consultancies, govt probe intensifies

KATHMANDU: What began as a dream of earning a globally recognized degree while working in Dubai has turned into a nightmare for at least 65 Nepali students, exposing a growing international education scam that stretches from Nepal to Dubai, the UAE, the Middle East, and beyond. The alleged fraud involves Nepali education consultancies enrolling students in training centers falsely marketed as universities, triggering serious concerns over student safety, foreign education regulation, overseas employment-linked education, and cross-border academic fraud.

A Dream Sold as a Global Opportunity

Kapilvastu resident Sulabh Pokhrel is among dozens of victims who hoped Dubai would become a gateway to a global education pathway, eventually opening doors to Europe, the United States, or high-paying Middle East jobs. After completing +2 in Butwal, Pokhrel followed what has become a common trend among Nepali youth—seeking international education combined with part-time work to ease financial burdens at home.

Encouraged by peers and reassured by education consultancies in Kathmandu, Pokhrel was advised that Dubai was ideal for Hotel Management (BHM) studies. Compared to four-year bachelor’s programs in Nepal, he was told he could complete a bachelor’s degree in two years, secure internships in reputed hotels, and earn while studying in the UAE’s booming hospitality industry.

His family invested Rs 15–20 lakh, believing the promise of a recognized university degree and future global mobility.

Training Center Posed as University

Pokhrel traveled to Dubai in January, enrolled through Aspire Global Education Consultancy, and was sent to an institution known as ASTI Academy. However, upon arrival, reality clashed sharply with the promises made in Nepal.

“There was no campus like a university, no proper classrooms, no academic environment, and none of the facilities promised by the consultancy,” Pokhrel said. “Only after reaching Dubai did we realize it was not a university at all, but a training institute.”

The institution reportedly later informed students that it only provided training and educational counseling, not university degrees—leaving students stranded with non-recognized qualifications, no academic progression, and no refund.

After nearly 18 months wasted in time, money, and emotional energy, Pokhrel returned to Nepal mentally exhausted and financially drained.

Students Return Home, Seeking Justice

Pokhrel is now trapped in a bureaucratic maze—shuffling between education consultancies, the Ministry of Education, and police offices—seeking accountability.

“My future plans collapsed. My family is in stress, and I am mentally exhausted,” he said. “Time is gone forever. At least the investment should come back.”

He is not alone.

Kathmandu Student Shares Similar Ordeal

Kathmandu resident Rusa Silwal shares an almost identical story. She was sent to the same Dubai-based institute by Harvard Education Consultancy, another Kathmandu-based firm. Like Pokhrel, she returned to Nepal after realizing she had been misled.

When Silwal attempted to lodge a complaint at the Kathmandu District Police, she claims officers refused to register her case.

“They told us, ‘We are not here to handle your issues,’ and threw our file away,” Silwal alleged. “We are already victims—our money, time, and future plans are gone. On top of that, this behavior from police broke us further.”

She suspects possible collusion between consultancies and law enforcement, a claim that adds to the gravity of the case.

65 Formal Complaints Filed in Nepal and UAE

According to the Ministry of Education, at least 65 Nepali students have formally filed complaints—both in Nepal and through the Nepali Embassy in Dubai—alleging education fraud in the UAE.

Sevant Koirala, head of the Higher Education Division at the Ministry, confirmed that all registered complaints have been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs for legal action.

“We have already stopped issuing No Objection Certificates (NOC) for students linked to consultancies named in fraud complaints,” Koirala said. “The investigation process has begun.”

The Ministry has also acknowledged that Free Zone-based institutions in the UAE have been misrepresented as “universities” by consultancies despite lacking proper accreditation.

18 Consultancies Under Scrutiny

Based on student complaints, 18 education consultancies have been named for allegedly sending students to fake or misrepresented institutions in the UAE. These include:

Pro Aviation, Satkshi Education Foundation, Eduport Education Consultancy, Shiv Hum Education, Oxbridge International Consultancy, Merits, Brightpath, Cityhub, Aspire Global, Kantipur Abroad, City Park, Mentora, Excel International, Saram I, NTER, A.S. Education, Sakura Nepal, and Edugate Consultancy.

Embassy Warns of Rising Scams in Middle East Education Market

Hari Prasad Odari, Nepal’s Consul General in Dubai, confirmed a sharp increase in education-related fraud complaints from Nepali students.

“After hearing repeated cases of student fraud, we officially called on affected students to submit complaints,” he said. “We are forwarding all verified cases to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal.”

He urged prospective students to conduct thorough due diligence before traveling.

“Before coming to the UAE or any Middle East country, students must verify whether the institution is a recognized university, whether degrees are accredited, and whether claims made by consultancies are legitimate,” he warned.

Experts Urge Caution, Promote Studying in Nepal

Education experts argue that the crisis highlights deeper structural problems in overseas education migration, particularly for students chasing combined work-study opportunities in the Middle East.

Devaraj Paneru, principal of Liberty College under Global College, urged students to reconsider the rush abroad.

“Working while studying abroad is not as easy as advertised,” he said. “It creates immense mental, financial, and academic pressure. Many young minds suffer silently.”

Paneru stressed that only families with sufficient financial capacity to fund education without forcing students into work should consider overseas study, especially in countries where education regulations differ significantly from Nepal, Europe, or the US.

Thousands of Illegal Consultancies Operating in Nepal

As foreign education demand grows, so does the number of consultancies—many operating without registration or oversight.

The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection reports that while only 720 consultancies are officially registered in Nepal, an estimated 10,000 consultancies are operating nationwide. Officials claim around 90 percent of them are illegal.

The department has already taken action against nearly 100 unregistered consultancies in Kathmandu Valley alone. Complaints include students being sent to non-existent colleges, unaccredited institutions, or training centers falsely branded as universities.

ECAN Calls for Crackdown on Rogue Consultancies

The Education Consultancy Association of Nepal (ECAN) has condemned the alleged fraud, calling it a blow to Nepal’s international education credibility.

ECAN General Secretary Deepak Raj Bhusal said strict legal action is necessary.

“Any consultancy that deceives students and abandons them abroad must be shut down,” he said. “Illegal actors are damaging trust in even genuine consultancies.”

ECAN has also formed an internal disciplinary committee and pressed for broader reforms, particularly as NOC issuance has been halted amid rising complaints.

Growing Numbers, Growing Risks

Official data shows that more than 100,000 Nepali students leave the country annually for foreign studies. In the last fiscal year 2081/82, a total of 123,589 students obtained NOCs, including 2,092 for the UAE.

Yet without effective regulation, experts warn Nepal could face a surge in overseas academic exploitation, particularly in Dubai and the broader Middle East education market, where global branding often masks weak accreditation.

As investigations continue, students like Sulabh Pokhrel and Rusa Silwal wait—caught between lost time, broken dreams, and unanswered questions—while authorities confront what is rapidly emerging as a cross-border education fraud scandal with global implications.