UV–visible, FTIR absorption spectra of some prepared undoped and NdF 3 -doped borophosphate glasses with varying dopant contents were studied before and after gamma irradiation. The base undoped borophosphate glass exhibits strong UV absorption which is related to the presence of unavoidable trace iron impurities within the chemicals used for the preparation of such glass. NdF 3 -doped samples show characteristic bands specifically at high concentration which are attributed to the Nd 3+ ions.Gamma irradiation on the undoped borophosphate glass causes no obvious induced defects. On the other hand, the low NdF 3 content glass produces extended UV absorption together with the resolution of an extra induced visible at about 500nm. On increasing the NdF 3 content, gamma irradiation retains the characteristic bands due to Nd 3+ ions. Infrared absorption spectra of undoped and NdF 3 -doped glasses reveal characteristic IR vibrational bands due to the combination of both phosphate and borate groups (BO 3 and BO 4 ) with the first phosphate partner dominating in response to the high percent (50mol%). The introduction of NdF 3 within the dopant level (1.5–6%) produces no distinct effect on the FTIR spectra.Gamma irradiation is observed to cause no obvious effects on the FTIR spectra which is related to the stability of mixed phosphate and borate units causing the compactness and resistance towards gamma irradiation.