Norvic College of Health Sciences and Technologies (NCHST)

Norvic College of Health Sciences and Technologies (NCHST), formerly known as Norvic Institute of Nursing Education (NINE), was established in 2009. The college is located in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal, and is a sister organization of Norvic International Hospital and Medical College.

NCHST works in health sciences education, with academic programs in nursing, pharmacy, and public health. The college holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and uses Norvic International Hospital as a major clinical practice setting for students.

College overview

• Established: 2009

• Former Name: Norvic Institute of Nursing Education

• Location: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal

• University Affiliation: Purbanchal University

• Academic Areas: Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health

• Clinical Practice Setting: Norvic International Hospital

• Certification: ISO 9001:2015

Institutional background

NCHST began with a nursing education focus under the name Norvic Institute of Nursing Education. Its academic scope includes Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science, BSc Nursing, Bachelor of Pharmacy, and Bachelor of Public Health.

Its connection with Norvic International Hospital has a direct role in clinical education. The hospital is a 200-bed multi-specialty hospital providing inpatient and outpatient services across different specialties. It serves as a key setting for practical and clinical exposure for students in relevant health science programs.

The college uses a multidisciplinary faculty team for classroom teaching, demonstrations, and clinical supervision. Faculty members work across the specialized subjects covered by different programs. Senior faculty with postgraduate backgrounds in nursing and public health are assigned to guide students during research work.

Academic affiliation and programs

The bachelor-level health science programs at NCHST are affiliated with Purbanchal University. The programs follow the university's respective academic structures in nursing, pharmacy, and public health.

Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science

The Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science is a three-year Purbanchal University program designed for students progressing into advanced nursing education after prior nursing preparation.

The first year covers Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Nursing Concept and Theories, Pediatric Nursing, Medical Sociology/Anthropology, and Professional English.

Second-year study includes Midwifery, Community Health Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Educational Science, Epidemiology, Geriatric Nursing, and Applied Computer Technology.

The third year includes Leadership and Management, Research and Biostatistics in Nursing, Oncology Nursing, and an elective area. Elective options include Community Health Nursing, Midwifery, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Psychiatric Nursing. Theory and practical study are integrated across the program.

BSc Nursing

BSc Nursing is a four-year degree under Purbanchal University. The program combines nursing science with medical sciences, clinical practice, community health, research, and management.

First-year study covers Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology/Parasitology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Foundation of Nursing, and Community Health Nursing.

The later years include Nursing Concept and Theories, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Geriatric Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Midwifery, Gynaecology Nursing, Basic Epidemiology, Research and Biostatistics in Nursing, Educational Science, Leadership and Management, and advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing.

Clinical learning forms an important part of the program, with Norvic International Hospital providing a hospital setting for relevant practical and clinical activities.

Bachelor of Pharmacy

The Bachelor of Pharmacy is a four-year, eight-semester program under Purbanchal University with a total of 168 credits.

The credit structure consists of 122 theory credits, 32 practical credits, 6 project-work credits, 2 seminar credits, and 6 professional-internship credits.

The program covers three broad academic areas: basic sciences, basic medical sciences, and pharmaceutical sciences. Major areas of study include pharmaceutical chemistry, instrumental analysis, pharmacognosy and natural products, pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics, hospital and clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, physical pharmacy, pharmaceutics, and dosage-form design.

The curriculum also covers pharmaceutical care, medication distribution and control, drug information, pharmaceutical manufacturing, public health, and work within clinical health-care teams. Project work and professional internship are included within the formal academic structure.

Bachelor of Public Health

The Bachelor of Public Health follows an eight-semester structure under Purbanchal University. The program combines public health sciences with laboratory work, field-based practice, epidemiology, community health, environmental health, health education, statistics, and public health service management.

Early study includes Introduction to Public Health, Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology, Public Health Microbiology, Public Health Biochemistry, Public Health Entomology and Rodentology, Public Health Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, First Aid and Safety, Foods and Nutrition, and Ecosystem and Environmental Health.

Later areas of study include epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases, family health, public health nutrition, environmental and occupational health, demography and population studies, reproductive health and gender, rural, urban and international health, public health statistics, community organization, public health infrastructure and disaster management, health education, and public health service management.

Several subjects include laboratory, field-based, or concurrent field practice, connecting academic study with practical public health work.

Clinical learning and observation exposure

Norvic International Hospital serves as an important clinical practice environment for NCHST students. Its multi-specialty setting allows relevant programs to incorporate practical learning across different hospital departments and patient-care contexts.

Observation visits also extend beyond hospital settings. Students have visited industrial workplaces, community and social-service organizations, geriatric and disability services, tuberculosis and research facilities, milk pasteurization and water-supply facilities, sewage-management settings, nutrition services, rehabilitation centres, and HIV/AIDS-related service environments.

These settings relate particularly to nursing and public health subjects involving community health, environmental health, occupational health, nutrition, epidemiology, and field practice.

Faculty and research guidance

Academic activities at NCHST are supported by a multidisciplinary faculty team responsible for classroom instruction, demonstrations, and clinical supervision.

Faculty members work within their specialized subject areas across the different programs. Senior faculty with postgraduate backgrounds in nursing and public health also guide students during research activities.

Research is incorporated into the academic structure of the nursing programs, while the pharmacy curriculum includes project work alongside practical study and professional internship.

Admission through MECEE-BL and MEC rules

Admission to PBNS, BSc Nursing, B.Pharm, and BPH is based on MECEE-BL and follows the prevailing rules and procedures of the Medical Education Commission (MEC), Nepal.

The applicable MEC framework covers admission procedures, code of conduct, scholarship provisions, seat allocation, fee structure, and the official admission calendar.

Seat numbers are determined by MEC for the relevant admission cycle and may vary from one year to another. Fees, scholarship provisions, seat distribution, admission procedures, and examination-related guidelines may also change according to MEC decisions. Applicants need to follow the MEC provisions and calendar applicable to their admission year.

Professional licensing after graduation

Completing an academic program and entering professional practice are separate stages. Graduates must meet the licensing requirements of the professional council responsible for their field, including the applicable licensing examination before entering professional practice.

Nursing graduates fall under the requirements of the Nepal Nursing Council. Pharmacy graduates are subject to the requirements of the Nepal Pharmacy Council, while public health graduates follow the relevant professional framework of the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC).

For PBNS, prior nursing preparation and professional registration form part of the academic pathway into post-basic nursing education.

Learning environment

The academic programs at NCHST combine classroom study with the practical components required within their respective disciplines.

The nursing programs include substantial clinical and practical study. BPH incorporates laboratory and field-based work, while B.Pharm includes practical credits, seminars, project work, and professional internship.

Norvic International Hospital provides a clinical setting for relevant health science training, while observation visits extend learning into community, industrial, environmental, rehabilitation, and public health settings.