Similar to its culture, education in Ladakh is hugely inspired by Himalayan and central Asian culture and rightly so. Cultural and Buddhist studies are common in the colleges of Ladakh.

With an aim to improve education in Ladakh, the University of Ladakh Act was passed in 2018. It ensures to provide rich technical education to its students also promising to include cultural education, along with improvement in campus and other infrastructural facilities.

Let us look at colleges in Ladakh before and after the University of Ladakh Act (UOL)

1) Central Institutes of Buddhist Studies

Central Institutes of Buddhist Studies formerly known as School of Buddhist Philosophy is a Buddhist University for formal education as Acharya in Buddhist Philosophy. The college has a Gurukul structure although it offers degrees and certificates. It has diplomas and degrees in Buddhist Philosophy, Bhoti Language, Sanskrit etc. It also has PhD programmes.

The history of this institute dates back to 1959 when the monks had to go to Tibet to pursue their education. In 1955 after an official delegation with PM Jawaharlal Nehru the institute was established with holy rituals performed by H E Skyabje Ling Rinpoche. It was initially affiliated to programs from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, and the Tibetan Medicine and Astrology Department, Dharamsala but got disaffiliated in 2016  when  University Grant Committee(UGC)  declared it as “deemed to be university”.

Courses Offered: Diploma in Buddhism, Bhoti Language and Literature

Certificate Course in Buddism and Bhoti Language

6 year course in Sowa Ripga, Sculpture, Scroll Painting, Wood Carving

PhD in Buddhist Philosophy (Bhoti & Sanskrit Language),  Bodh Puranic HistoryBhot Literature, Comparative Philosophy and Sanskrit Literature

Entrance Process: The college has its own entrance exam along with an Interview Process.

Eligibity: Art : 12^th Passed

Diploma : 12^th passed

Certificate Course: 10^th Passed

PhD : MA/MPhill/ Acharya

Hostel: Available

Other Facilities: Student Welfare Committee

Website: https://cibs.ac.in/

2) University of Ladakh

“The University of Ladakh Act was passed in 2018 that enabled the establishment of The University of Ladakh. The university makes sure that students in Kashmir who wish to pursue higher and quality education need not travel hundreds of kilometers far from their homes. It is a Cluster University having six colleges under it, which have a variety of courses including technical, non-technical, arts, science, commerce, along with programs specific to Himalayan, trans-Himalayan, and central Asian regions enabling the research which makes it a unique trans-Himalayan institute. It also has a center for Buddhist Studies. The six colleges included in the cluster university are EMJ College Leh, Degree College Kargil, Degree College Nubra, Degree College Zanskar, Degree college Drass, Degree college Kaltsi.

Courses Offered: Under Graduate Courses: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Computer Application

Post Graduate: Master in Science

Entrance Process: LUCET is the common entrance test for admission.

Eligibility: For UG- Passed 10+2 or equivalent Examination securing a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate.

For PG – Passed graduation or equivalent Examination securing a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate.

Hostel: N/A

Awards/Recognition: The foundation stone for the commencement was laid by the Prime Minister in February, 2019.

Website: http://universityofladakh.org.in/

 3) Eliezer Jordan Memorial College

Eliezer Jordon Memorial College is a degree college under cluster university of Ladakh. Although now under UOL, it was established in 1994 as an Arts college. In 2005 Science stream was introduced to the college and later in 2010 commerce stream. The streams in the college were established as a way to offer higher education to students near their homes who had to travel to Jammu and Kashmir instead. The college got its name in the year 2004 in the memory of Mr. Eliezer Jordon

Courses Offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BComm)

Entrance Process: LUCET-2020 is the common entrance test for admission.

Eligibility: For UG-  10+2 or equivalent examination securing a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate.

Hostel: Available

Other Facilities: Library, Arts and Science block

4) Government Polytechnic College

Established in 2005, Government Polytechnic college offers a diploma in technical subjects like computer and civil engineering. With the recruitment of 95 students each year it is a Co-ed college. It is affiliated to Jammu and Kashmir state board of Technical Education and its courses are approved by AICTE.

Courses Offered : Diploma in Computer Science and Engineering, Civil Engineering, Travel and Tourism

Entrance Process: Score of AJEE, RMSAT or UBTER JEEP examinations

Fees : Rs 12,000/- per year

Hostel: Available

Other Facilities: Library, Laboratories, IT Infrastructure

Website: N/A

5) District Institute of Education and Training

Established in the year 1982, the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) was established with an aim to increase the quality of education of school and elementary level students. In order to achieve the goal of universalisation of elementary school, this institution offers training and several workshops along with Diploma in Education. It organizes pre service and in service training.

Courses Offered: D. Ed Diploma in Education

Hostel: Available

Other Facilities: Accommodation for trainee teachers

Website: N/A (They have a facebook page)

6) Government Degree College Nubra

One of the colleges of university of Ladakh, was established in the year 2011. For four years the college offered classes in the Government Higher Secondary school in Nubra. The construction of building is under way. The first batch of college in 2016 for BA gave 100% result.

Courses Offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Hostel: N/A

Website: http://universityofladakh.org.in/

7) School of Architechture and Landscape, Ladakh

Established in 1970, school of architechture and landscape Ladakh offers one course i.e. B.Arch. It is the only college in Ladakh that offers degree and education in Architecture. It is accredited by AICTE and is affiliated to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir.

Courses Offered: Bachelor of Architechture, (B.Arch)

Eligibility: 10+2 PCM passed

Hostel: N/A

Other Facilities:  Auditorium, seminar halls and conference halls.