Applicants should fulfill the following criteria for the programme:

1. Have completed a BSc programme awarded by a recognized University in the field of Forestry, Environment, Ecology and Life Sciences.
2. Have secured a minimum of 55% in each subjectand overall aggregate of 60%
3. Be a registered citizen of the SAARC member countries
4. Be fluent in English (both written and speaking)

The scholarship will cover:

• Tuition fees
• Economy air travel from the native country to Bhutan and back (initial and final)
• Monthly stipend of  15,000.00 (Fifteen thousand) only.
• Book and printing allowance of 5,000.00 (five thousand) only annually.
• Initial establishment allowance of  20,000.00(Twenty Thousand – International students) only
• One-time research grant of 70,000.00 (Seventy thousand) only shall be eligible from first year second semester only.
• In-country travel of 500.00 per day shall be eligible while on organized study travel and 50% if it exceeds a month.

Application procedures and Admission deadlines

• Applications shall be submitted to South Asia Foundation (SAF) country offices of each country in the SAARC region. Applications shall not be accepted directly from the candidates.
• The SAF office of each country shall select one candidate for MSc based on the eligibility criteria mentioned herein.
• The name of the selected candidate from each SAARC country with the relevant documents should be submitted to the office of the Focal Person, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha, Bhutan by February 6, 2026 through SAF offices in respective country for further review and acceptance into the scholarship programme.
• The final assessment of the selected candidate shall be done jointly by a team of committee from the College of Natural Resources on February 24, 2026. There will be an online interview with the candidates for the final selection.
• Based on the final assessment, the candidates may or may not be accepted into the programme if respective SAF office failed to follow the set eligibility criteria.
• The CNR reserves the right of acceptance or rejection of candidates nominated by SAARC countries into the programme.
• The letter of acceptance or rejection into the scholarship programme will be sent to respective SAF office for further conveyance to the individual candidate latest by March 2, 2026 via e-mail or through the college website.
• All travel documents of the selected student should reach UMCSAFS office not later than March 16, 2026 to process for travel and other necessary arrangements. If the candidate fails to submit the documents within the given time frame, it will result in the cancellation of the scholarship.

How to apply

Complete documents may be submitted to the Programme Leader, Dr. Yonten Dorji (Ydorji.cnr@rub.edu.bt), Phone: 77206524 for MSc in CB) and Mr. Laxmi Sagar (sagar.cnr@rub.edu.bt), Phone: 17924508 for MSc in NRM)  with a copy to Dean of Research and Industrial Linkages (dril.cnr@rub.edu.bt) and to the South Asia Foundation at bhutanoye@gmail.com.

Documents required to be submitted

The candidate applying for UMCSAFS scholarship programme should submit the following documents to the respective SAF offices and CNR:

1. Bachelor’s degree certificate from a recognized university
2. English Language Proficiency Certificate
3. A copy of Citizenship ID card
4. Copy of valid passport
5. Security clearance certificate or Police Clearance from respective countries
6. Medical fitness certificate from competent government hospital of respective countries
7. Birth Certificate
8. Two copies of recent passport-sized photos
9. e-mail address and mobile phone number of the candidate
10. Application form and Research Proposal (mandatory) along with the required documents.

A copy of documents for the selected candidate shall be maintained at each SAF Country Office for record, assessment and acceptance into the programme.

All the accepted candidates should produce original documents at the time of admission at the College of Natural Resources, Lobesa, Bhutan.

Websites

SAF Bhutan Chapter: www.bhutanoye.org;  CNR:  www.cnr.edu.bt