The newly opened university in Tenhawa VDC of Parsa Chauraha has asked 15 students who applied for the course to submit their research proposals, LBU registrar, Kedar Shakya said.

He said that students from Thailand, Japan, Sri-Lanka, Germany, America and Russia have also contacted for seeking enrollment in the three year Ph.D. course.

The students of Buddhism applying for a Ph.D. need not do Masters in Philosophy (M Phil) as a prerequisite.

The university is yet to start courses in Buddhist studies at the intermediate and Bachelor levels. The development of curriculum for the courses is nearing completion and the courses will be introduced within this year, Shakya said.

He said that the courses of Bachelor and Master level would also be of three years duration but Academic Council of the University is yet to take a decision.

Besides the MA and BA level courses in Buddhist religion, LBU will run five other faculties ? Mahayani Buddhism, Therabada Buddhism, Bajrayan Buddhism, Language/ Script department and History of Bauddha religion, ancient art and cultural department.

Those earning degrees in Buddhist studies would be eligible to serve in the bureaucratic services. For this, the university has been holding necessary consultation with the Public Service Commission.

He said that the demand of manpower specialising in Buddhist religion from the foreign educational institutions was very high.

The first World Buddhist Convention held in Lumbini had endorsed the proposal of instituting a Bauddha University.