Nanocrystalline Nd3+ doped Y2O3 was synthesized by sol–gel technique. Crystallite size calculated by Scherrer relation was found to be in the range 28–30nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed YO, OH stretching and CO bending bonds. Pellets of Y2O3:Nd3+ were irradiated with 100MeV swift Si8+ ions and γ-rays for the fluence/dose in the range 3×1011–3×1013ionscm−2 and 1.0_14kGy respectively. A prominent thermoluminescence (TL) glow with peak at 527K and a weak one with peak at 600K were observed in Si8+ ion irradiated samples while, a prominent TL glow with peak at 393K besides a shoulder at 434K and a weak one with peak at 581K were observed in γ-irradiated phosphors. The relative TL efficiency of Y2O3:Nd3+ of 100MeV Si ion beam to γ-rays of 60Co and is found to be 0.059. The TL kinetic parameters were calculated using Chen’s peak shape method and the results obtained are discussed. Y2O3:Nd3+ was observed for its use in space dosimetry application.