Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS) is a private medical college in Pokhara, Nepal, affiliated with Kathmandu University (KU). Established in 1994, the college began with the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program and later expanded into nursing, allied health, postgraduate medical specialties, and super-specialty education.
MCOMS operates through academic and clinical settings in Pokhara. Basic science teaching is associated with the Deep Heights campus, while the Phulbari campus is centered on Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH), where clinical departments, hospital services, and clinical teaching are based.
The institution developed from an agreement signed on 18 October 1992 between the then His Majesty's Government of Nepal and the Manipal Education and Medical Group. The medical college was established in 1994, followed by Manipal Teaching Hospital in 1998. MCOMS is identified as Nepal's first private medical college.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS) |
| Institution type | Private medical college |
| Established | 1994 |
| Location | Pokhara, Kaski, Gandaki Province, Nepal |
| University affiliation | Kathmandu University |
| Academic settings | Deep Heights and Phulbari |
| Teaching hospital | Manipal Teaching Hospital |
| Academic areas | Medicine, nursing, laboratory sciences, medical imaging, postgraduate medicine, surgery, and super-specialty medical education |
| Admission framework | Medical Education Commission framework for regulated medical and health professional programs |
| Degree framework | Kathmandu University rules and academic requirements |
The institutional history of MCOMS began before the first MBBS class. An agreement was signed in 1992 between the Government of Nepal and the Manipal Education and Medical Group for the establishment of a medical college in Nepal.
MCOMS was set up in Pokhara in 1994 under Kathmandu University affiliation, with MBBS as its initial academic program. Clinical infrastructure expanded with the establishment of Manipal Teaching Hospital in 1998.
The medical college and teaching hospital became closely connected parts of the same academic setting. The college supports foundational and professional education, while the hospital provides the clinical environment required for medical teaching and training.
The academic scope later expanded beyond undergraduate medicine. Nursing, allied health, postgraduate MD/MS specialties, and DM-level programs became part of the institution's academic structure.
MCOMS has also enrolled students from Nepal and other countries, giving the campus an international student presence alongside its national student community.
MCOMS is located in Pokhara, Kaski District, Gandaki Province. For local administrative context, readers can refer to Pokhara Metropolitan City.
Academic activities are mainly connected with Deep Heights and Phulbari.
The Deep Heights setting is associated primarily with basic sciences and the earlier academic stages of medical education.
Academic areas represented in the basic sciences include:
Anatomy
Biochemistry
Community Medicine
Microbiology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology
Classrooms, laboratories, academic departments, and administrative functions support foundational teaching in these disciplines.
The Phulbari setting houses Manipal Teaching Hospital and provides the main clinical environment for students entering hospital-based phases of their education.
Students in clinical programs encounter hospital departments, inpatient and outpatient services, diagnostic units, clinical teaching areas, and specialty services through this setting.
The hospital functions as the principal clinical training environment associated with MCOMS. Its role includes undergraduate clinical teaching, postgraduate specialty training, internship-related learning, and exposure to hospital-based patient care.
The separation between basic science teaching and the hospital environment reflects the progression of medical education from foundational subjects and laboratory learning toward supervised clinical practice.
MCOMS has been affiliated with Kathmandu University since the college began its MBBS program in 1994.
Kathmandu University provides the academic framework for the affiliated programs. Admission eligibility, curriculum requirements, examinations, academic progression, internship provisions where applicable, and degree awards follow the relevant university rules together with national regulatory requirements.
The affiliation forms a central part of the academic identity of MCOMS. Students study at MCOMS, while their academic programs operate within the Kathmandu University system.
Admission to regulated medical and health professional programs in Nepal operates within the framework of the Medical Education Commission (MEC).
For bachelor-level medical and nursing education covered by the national integrated entrance system, admission is based on MECEE-BL and prevailing MEC provisions. Postgraduate medical admission follows the applicable MECEE-PG framework.
The admission process can include:
Entrance examination under the applicable MEC system
Merit-based selection or matching
Seat allocation determined for the admission cycle
Scholarship categories established under prevailing provisions
Foreign student categories where applicable
Reservation categories where applicable
Academic eligibility prescribed for the respective program
Institutional admission after completion of the required matching and selection process
MEC regulations govern admission procedures, scholarship allocation, category distribution, seat determination, and other regulated admission conditions.
Seat numbers are determined for individual admission cycles and should not be treated as permanent annual quotas.
Kathmandu University rules apply to the academic requirements of the programs, while MEC requirements govern the national admission framework for regulated medical education.
The undergraduate programs covered in the seat structure include MBBS, BSc Nursing, BSc MEd Lab, and BSc MIT.
| Program | Total Seats | Seat Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) | 75 | 24 foreign, 43 paying, 8 scholarship |
| BSc in Nursing | 40 | 13 foreign, 23 paying, 4 scholarship |
| BSc Laboratory Medicine | 5 | 2 foreign, 2 paying, 1 scholarship |
| BSc Medical Imaging Technology (BSc MIT) | 5 | 1 foreign, 3 paying, 1 scholarship |
MBBS was the first academic program introduced at MCOMS in 1994.
The stated seat distribution includes 75 seats:
Foreign: 24
Paying: 43
Scholarship: 8
The eight scholarship seats are divided as follows:
Open Scholarship: 4
Dalit: 1
Khasarya: 1
Tharu: 1
Pichhadiyeko Chhetra: 1
The program combines basic medical sciences, clinical education, and internship within the academic framework prescribed for MBBS study under Kathmandu University.
BSc Nursing has a stated intake of 40 seats:
Foreign: 13
Paying: 23
Scholarship: 4
The scholarship allocation includes:
Open Scholarship: 2
Adibasi Janajati: 1
Pichhadiyeko Chhetra: 1
The program combines academic nursing education with clinical learning and professional preparation.
BSc MEd Lab has five stated seats:
Foreign: 2
Paying: 2
Open Scholarship: 1
The program is connected with laboratory-based health science education and diagnostic practice.
A related course page is available for BSc Laboratory Medicine.
BSc Medical Imaging Technology has five stated seats:
Foreign: 1
Paying: 3
Open Scholarship: 1
The program is concerned with the scientific, technical, and clinical use of medical imaging in diagnosis and patient assessment.
Because seat allocation is determined through the MEC regulatory process, these figures may change between admission cycles.
MCOMS also conducts postgraduate medical education within the Kathmandu University framework.
The seat structure includes MD/MS programs categorized according to the applicable admission requirements.
| Program | Total Seats | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy / Clinical Anatomy | 2 | 2 open |
| MD Pathology / Clinical Pathology | 1 | 1 open |
| Pharmacology / Clinical Pharmacology | 1 | 1 open |
| Program | Total Seats | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| MD Anaesthesiology | 1 | 1 open |
| MS General Surgery | 3 | 2 open, 1 foreign |
| MD Internal Medicine | 3 | 3 open |
| MD Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 2 | 2 open |
| MS Ophthalmology | 2 | 2 open |
| MS Orthopedics / Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery | 3 | 3 open |
| MD Paediatrics | 1 | 1 open |
| MD in Psychiatry | 1 | 1 open |
| MD Radiodiagnosis / Radiology | 2 | 2 open |
The wider postgraduate academic setting also includes disciplines represented through course-specific pages for MD Physiology / Clinical Physiology, MD Microbiology / Clinical Microbiology, and MD Community Medicine.
Surgical specialty study also includes MS Otorhinolaryngology (ENT).
Two DM programs are included in the seat allocation:
| Program | Total Seats | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| DM Nephrology | 1 | 1 open |
| DM Cardiology | 1 | 1 open |
These programs represent advanced medical study after completion of the earlier academic and professional stages required under the applicable admission and university regulations.
The academic environment at MCOMS also includes advanced study in laboratory and clinical science disciplines.
Relevant course pages include:
These fields are connected with laboratory medicine, clinical interpretation, diagnostic science, teaching, and research.
Programs at MCOMS follow the applicable Kathmandu University academic framework.
Medical education at the institution brings together classroom instruction, laboratory work, practical learning, and hospital-based clinical training.
Basic science departments provide the scientific foundation required before students move further into clinical subjects. Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, and community medicine are among the disciplines represented in the academic environment.
Clinical education takes place through hospital departments and patient-care settings. Students progress from theoretical and laboratory learning toward supervised clinical observation, case discussion, practical skills, and professional responsibilities appropriate to their level of study.
The MBBS structure includes academic study followed by compulsory rotating internship as required under the applicable curriculum.
Postgraduate medical education is department-based and combines specialty study with clinical work, academic activities, assessment, and examinations.
Kathmandu University governs curriculum requirements, examinations, academic progression, internship provisions where applicable, and degree awards.
Teaching at MCOMS includes several forms of academic instruction suited to medical and health professional education.
These include:
Lectures
Tutorials
Laboratory sessions
Case-based learning
Clinical rotations
Departmental teaching
Practical instruction
Assessment differs according to the program and level of study.
Written examinations, practical assessments, clinical examinations, internal academic evaluation, and other forms of assessment may be used according to the curriculum of the respective program.
An MBBS student, nursing student, laboratory science student, postgraduate resident, and DM trainee therefore follow different academic and assessment structures.
Manipal Teaching Hospital is central to clinical education at MCOMS.
Located at Phulbari, the hospital provides the environment in which students encounter inpatient care, outpatient services, clinical departments, diagnostic facilities, procedures, and specialty practice.
Clinical disciplines associated with the academic environment include:
Internal Medicine
General Surgery
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Paediatrics
Orthopedics
Ophthalmology
Psychiatry
Anaesthesiology
Radiology
Other clinical and super-specialty areas
For undergraduate medical students, the teaching hospital connects classroom and basic science knowledge with supervised clinical learning.
Postgraduate and super-specialty students train within departments linked to their respective fields, where clinical responsibilities and academic study form parts of the same educational setting.
The hospital also supports internship and practical clinical exposure required within applicable health professional programs.
MCOMS has academic facilities that support both foundational and clinical learning.
The Deep Heights setting includes classrooms and laboratories used for basic science teaching. Laboratory work allows students to study subjects that require practical observation, procedures, and scientific application.
Library resources support undergraduate and postgraduate study, coursework, examination preparation, departmental learning, and academic research.
At Phulbari, hospital departments, diagnostic areas, wards, outpatient services, and clinical teaching spaces provide the practical environment required for clinical education.
The academic infrastructure is therefore distributed according to the different requirements of basic science and clinical study.
Research forms part of the academic environment at MCOMS, particularly in postgraduate, laboratory, and clinical departments.
Faculty members and clinical departments have participated in medical research, case reports, and academic publications concerning clinical presentations, diagnostic problems, treatment experiences, and specialty-specific subjects.
The presence of basic sciences, diagnostic disciplines, clinical specialties, and super-specialty departments creates several academic settings in which research activity can be carried out.
Postgraduate medical education also connects clinical training with case discussion, academic presentation, departmental learning, and research-related work.
Residential facilities form part of the MCOMS campus setting.
Separate accommodation arrangements for male and female students are included within the institutional environment, along with dining and residential support.
Medical and health professional education can involve classroom study, laboratory work, clinical postings, and hospital-based academic responsibilities. Campus accommodation places students closer to the settings where these activities take place.
Student activities also extend beyond formal classes. The institutional environment has included:
Sports activities
Cultural programs
Academic groups
Health-related activities
Community-oriented programs
MCOMS has enrolled students from Nepal as well as other countries, creating a student community with different national and cultural backgrounds.
Scholarship allocation in regulated medical education operates under the prevailing MEC framework.
The undergraduate seat distribution includes scholarship seats in MBBS, BSc Nursing, BSc MEd Lab, and BSc MIT.
MBBS and BSc Nursing include open and reservation scholarship categories. The stated BSc MEd Lab and BSc MIT allocations include open scholarship seats.
Reservation, scholarship, paying, and foreign-seat distributions are tied to the applicable MEC seat determination and admission process. They should therefore be understood as admission-cycle allocations rather than permanent institutional quotas.
Academic graduation and entry into professional practice are separate stages in regulated health professions.
Medical graduates seeking to enter medical practice in Nepal must meet the registration and licensing requirements of the Nepal Medical Council.
Nursing graduates fall under the professional regulatory framework of the Nepal Nursing Council.
Graduates of allied health disciplines covered by the relevant professional framework may come under the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC).
Completion of a university degree therefore does not replace the professional licensing or registration process required for regulated practice.
Graduates must meet the applicable requirements of the respective professional council before entering professional practice where such licensing or registration is required.
Students enrolled at MCOMS follow the academic and examination requirements attached to their respective Kathmandu University programs.
Academic progression depends on meeting prescribed standards, completing coursework, practical and clinical components, passing required examinations, and fulfilling internship or training requirements where these form part of the program.
Kathmandu University provides the degree framework for the affiliated programs.
MCOMS serves as the teaching and training institution, while university requirements govern academic progression and degree awards.
For regulated medical and health professional programs, this academic system operates alongside MEC admission requirements and the professional requirements of the relevant councils after graduation.
Students considering MCOMS should distinguish between three separate stages of medical and health professional education:
Admission is governed by the applicable medical education entrance and selection framework.
Academic study and degree requirements follow Kathmandu University rules for the respective program.
Professional practice after graduation requires compliance with the relevant professional council where licensing or registration applies.
These stages are related but separate.
Passing an entrance examination does not by itself complete admission. Admission does not guarantee completion of the degree, and completion of a regulated professional degree does not replace licensing or registration requirements.
Students comparing medical colleges can also refer to Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu, while considering each institution separately in terms of affiliation, location, program structure, admission system, and academic environment.
MCOMS combines basic science education, medical and health professional teaching, and hospital-based clinical training within Pokhara.
Its academic history began with MBBS in 1994 and later expanded into nursing, allied health sciences, postgraduate specialties, and selected DM programs.
Three institutional and regulatory layers shape the academic pathway.
Kathmandu University provides the university affiliation, curriculum framework, examination structure, academic progression requirements, and degree award.
The Medical Education Commission regulates admission and seat determination for the medical education programs that fall under its jurisdiction.
Professional councils regulate entry into the corresponding professions after completion of the required education.
This structure makes MCOMS an institution covering several stages of medical and health professional education, from undergraduate study to postgraduate specialty and selected super-specialty training.
Program availability, seat distribution, scholarship categories, and admission allocations remain subject to the applicable regulatory and academic decisions for each admission cycle.
Manipal College of Medical Sciences (MCOMS) is located in Pokhara, Kaski District, Gandaki Province, Nepal. Its academic activities are associated mainly with Deep Heights and Phulbari.
MCOMS was established in 1994 with the MBBS program. Manipal Teaching Hospital was established in 1998 to support clinical education and hospital-based training.
MCOMS is affiliated with Kathmandu University (KU). Its affiliated programs follow the applicable Kathmandu University academic, examination, progression, and degree-award requirements.
The undergraduate programs covered in the college profile include MBBS, BSc Nursing, BSc Medical Laboratory, and BSc Medical Imaging Technology (BSc MIT).
Yes. MCOMS offers postgraduate medical education in several MD/MS disciplines, including Internal Medicine, Anaesthesiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Radiodiagnosis, Pathology, and other medical and surgical fields.
Yes. The college profile includes DM Cardiology and DM Nephrology among its super-specialty programs.
Admission to regulated medical and health professional programs follows the applicable framework of the Medical Education Commission. Bachelor-level medical and nursing admission covered by the national system follows MECEE-BL, while postgraduate medical admission follows the applicable MECEE-PG framework.
Scholarship seats are included within the regulated seat structure for programs such as MBBS, BSc Nursing, BSc MLT, and BSc MIT. Scholarship categories and seat distribution are determined under the applicable Medical Education Commission admission framework and may differ between admission cycles.
Clinical education is centered on Manipal Teaching Hospital at Phulbari, Pokhara. Students use the hospital environment for clinical teaching, departmental learning, practical exposure, and training appropriate to their program and academic level.
Yes. Residential facilities for students are part of the MCOMS campus environment, including separate accommodation arrangements for male and female students.
Degrees for programs affiliated with MCOMS are awarded under the Kathmandu University academic framework after students complete the required coursework, examinations, practical or clinical components, and internship or training requirements where applicable.
Graduates entering regulated health professions must meet the applicable licensing or registration requirements of the relevant professional council. Medical graduates come under the Nepal Medical Council, nursing graduates under the Nepal Nursing Council, and applicable allied health graduates may come under the Nepal Health Professional Council.
