Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is considered as a private matter, remains hidden and only partly reported in Nepal. Secondary data shows that IPV is increasing in Nepal. Family members and husband are the most common perpetrators for IPV. Available literature indicates the situation is worse among females with poor socio-economic status and lower literacy. No separate evidence of the situation among educated females is available. This study explored violence experienced by university female students and its association with background variables.

Methods This is a cross-sectional survey of female students conducted in 2014 under MENTOR-VIP. The survey questionnaire comprised of 7 sections adopted from WHO’s Women’s Health Study tools. 500 students (total 2,300) were sampled and 370 were interviewed. Among them 123 were married. Logistic regression was applied to assess the association of independent variables on intimate partner violence. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Division of Tribhuvan University.

Results Prevalence of intimate partner violence was high (33%); married students also experienced physical violence. Married students who have land ownership, employed, member of community groups and higher level of husband’s education were less likely to experience physical violence. Married students who do not have own land (OR = 2.92), not employed (OR = 1.21) were more likely to experience violence than those having own land and employed. Similarly, lower level of husband’s education (OR = 3.35) and unskilled jobs (OR = 1.56) were associated to higher occurrence of violence compared to university level of education and white collar job or working abroad.

Conclusions This study found that intimate partner violence also exists among Nepalese females in higher education. The results provided diverse understandings of lifetime experience of intimate partner violence and would contribute to design intervention and future research agenda in this regard.