If you grew up in the hills, you already know how to work hard. You woke up early, walked long distances to school and earned every mark the hard way. But after Class 12, hard work alone is not enough. What matters is what you can do with what you know, and that is a different kind of learning. NEXIS School of Business in Siliguri is built around this idea, and students learn by doing real work instead of only studying.
Quick Overview:
Employers hire for what a graduate can do, not just what they remember from a syllabus. NEXIS is a three-year, on-campus programme in Siliguri with a real project in every semester, classes taught by industry experts and internships from the first year. There is also a scholarship test just for Class 12 students of the Eastern Himalayas.
In this Article:
Why Marks Alone Are Not Enough
For a long time the plan was simple: study hard, score well, get a degree and find a job. Recruiters now say something different. Many graduates know the theory well but get stuck when they have to write a real pitch, read a company’s accounts or talk to a customer who does not care about frameworks.
Part of the problem is how business is often taught. Students memorise a model to write it in an exam, but they cannot use it when a real situation looks different from the textbook. Most colleges also keep internships for the final year. By then there is hardly any time to change direction if a student finds they don’t enjoy the work or are better suited to something else.
Marks show what a student remembers. Experience shows what they can do, and that is closer to what most companies want.
Why Hill Students Look at NEXIS in Siliguri
NEXIS is a full-time, three-year undergraduate programme on a corporate-style campus in Siliguri. A few things make it a practical choice for students coming from the hills.
First, there is no cut-off on Class XII board marks. NEXIS looks at the whole person, including academics, extracurriculars, leadership and experience. The programme is open to students from any stream, with or without Maths, and everything is taught from the basics.
Second, there is the Himalayan Scholarship Test. It is a 30-minute online test only for Class 12 students of the Eastern Himalayas, and it can earn a scholarship of up to 50%. Rank 1 can earn up to 50%, rank 2 up to 30%, rank 3 up to 20% and the top 10 up to 10%. More than 40 scholarships were awarded last year.
Third, the batch is small. Business Management has only 40 seats, so students get closer contact with professors and industry experts. NEXIS also offers fee financing, with collateral-free education loans and semester-wise payment plans.
What Hands-On Learning Looks Like
Many colleges use “hands-on” to describe one guest lecture a semester. At NEXIS, every semester has a real project. Accounting is taught by a practising Chartered Accountant, and across three years students learn from 60+ industry experts through classes, masterclasses and live projects. Here is how the projects run:
- Semester 1, Dropshipping: choose a product, set up an online store and make your first sale.
- Semester 2, Local Business Consulting: work with local cafes, dealerships and small businesses, understand their problems and suggest ideas to improve sales and growth.
- Semester 3, AI Build-Lab: take a problem shared by a company and build an AI-powered solution for it.
- Semester 4, Content Creator’s Challenge: pick a niche, publish original content and grow a real digital presence.
- Semester 5, Global Immersion: a seven-day international trip to meet people from around the world.
- Semester 6, Build Your Business: turn an idea into a venture with mentorship and funding access through the in-house incubation centre.
Along the way, students learn tools used at work, including Tally, Excel, Google Workspace, Canva and Zoho. They also learn SEO, Google Ads and Meta Ads, and build their resume and LinkedIn presence.
Real Work Experience From Year One
Most colleges wait until the final year to send students for internships. NEXIS has a 100% internship record in the first year. In the Summer Internship Report 2026, students interned at 25+ companies, and 95% of the roles were paid.
Students worked with companies such as ITC Foods, Tata Motors, Campus Fund, BeerBiceps, Doodhvale Farms, GFS Realtors and StratWings, in roles like Founder’s Office Intern, Digital Marketing Intern and AI Generalist Intern. The plan is three internships in three years, supported by a network of 75+ recruiters and industry partners, so students can try different areas before choosing a path.
For someone who has just come from the hills to a new city, this early exposure builds confidence. You learn from your first mistake in a real workplace long before graduation.
Making the Move From the Hills
Moving to a new city for college is a big step, especially if you are the first in your family to study business or to leave the hills. Look beyond the name of the course and ask what you will do day to day, how many live projects and internships are part of the three years, and when they start.
Think beyond the first job too. After NEXIS, you can take a job, grow your family business, start your own business with the incubation centre, or go for higher studies with guidance on GMAT, CAT and studying abroad.
Admission has three steps. You apply online, take the 45-minute NEXGen aptitude test, and then have a one-to-one interview. The admissions committee gives its final decision within 10 days.
One important point: NEXIS is not a UGC-recognised university and does not award degrees. Students who complete the three-year programme receive a Professional Certificate from NEXIS. Students can also enrol independently, in parallel, in a recognised BBA or B.Com degree, with options such as Jain University and NMIMS Mumbai. Check the recognition of the university and programme before you enrol.
Before deciding, visit the campus, speak to current students and ask to see their work. You can explore admissions and fees or book a campus tour and see the classrooms for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a marks cut-off to get into NEXIS?
No. There is no cut-off on Class XII board marks. Students from any stream can apply, with or without Mathematics.
How does the admission process work?
You apply online, take the 45-minute NEXGen aptitude test and then have an interview. The committee gives its decision within 10 days.
Do first-year students get internships at NEXIS?
Yes. NEXIS has a 100% first-year internship record. In Summer 2026, students interned at 25+ companies, and 95% of the roles were paid.
Does NEXIS give a BBA or B.Com degree?
No. NEXIS awards a Professional Certificate and is not a UGC-recognised university. Students can enrol independently in a recognised BBA or B.Com in parallel, such as at Jain University or NMIMS Mumbai.
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