Student case study · Belgium
Sonam, from Dolakha to Leuven
Master of Tourism, September 2025 intake
Eight years guiding treks, a BBS with 54%. His experience got him a place his marks alone wouldn't have.
- Work experience
- Average marks
- Tourism
- Starting point
- BBS, 54%
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5
- Study gap
- 8 years after his bachelor's, trekking guide and operations lead
- Paid for by
- His own savings and a sponsor commitment from his brother
- First call to visa
- 241 days
Where Sonam started
Sonam had guided treks in the Rolwaling and Everest regions for 8 seasons and helped run a small trekking company in Kathmandu. He wanted a tourism master's to move into planning and sustainable tourism, but his BBS marks were 54%.
What we found
A long gap is easy to explain when it's a career. His 8 years were the core of his application: letters from the company, permits he had managed, and a short report he'd written on waste on trekking routes.
We were plain with him that some programmes would reject his marks regardless. We applied only to those that weigh professional experience.
Step by step, with dates
3 Dec 2024
First counselling.
8 Feb 2025
IELTS: 6.5.
28 Feb 2025
Applications with experience letters and his waste report.
30 Apr 2025
Admitted in Leuven.
May 2025
Police clearance and medical certificate; brother's sponsor commitment prepared.
3 Jun 2025
NOC; Immigration Office fee; type D visa lodged.
1 Aug 2025
Visa granted, 241 days after the first call.
12 Sep 2025
Flies to Brussels for Leuven.
The result
Sonam finished his one-year master's in September 2026 and is applying for sustainable tourism roles in Nepal and with international agencies, using his 12-month search year to look in Europe first.
In Sonam's words
Every other consultancy asked about my marks. Prasthan asked about my treks.
If your profile looks like this
- 1
A gap filled with real work in your field is a strength. Document it properly.
- 2
Apply only to programmes that weigh experience if your marks are average. See Belgium entry rules.
- 3
See hospitality and tourism abroad for how other countries compare.
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