Pokhara University School of Health and Allied Sciences (SHAS) is a constituent school under the Faculty of Health Sciences of Pokhara University. Located at Dhungepatan, Pokhara-30, Kaski, the School has developed from an institution centered on pharmaceutical sciences into a multidisciplinary health-science school covering pharmacy, medical laboratory sciences, public health, nursing, physiotherapy, optometry, medical imaging, medical biochemistry, and medical microbiology.
SHAS is QAA-accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Nepal. Its academic approach combines classroom teaching with laboratory work, practical sessions, seminars, field exposure, community-based learning, projects, research, and clinical activities where required by the program.
Admission to applicable medical and nursing education programs follows the prevailing framework of the Medical Education Commission (MEC), Nepal. Bachelor-level admission is based on MECEE-BL, while master-level admission follows MECEE-PG. Seat allocations, fees, scholarships, and admission procedures remain subject to MEC decisions for each admission cycle.
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | Pokhara University School of Health and Allied Sciences |
| Short Name | SHAS |
| Institution Type | Constituent School |
| University | Pokhara University |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Location | Dhungepatan, Pokhara-30, Kaski, Nepal |
| Academic Areas | Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Medical Imaging, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology |
| Quality Status | QAA-accredited by University Grants Commission (UGC), Nepal |
| Admission Authority | Medical Education Commission (MEC), Nepal |
| Bachelor Entrance | MECEE-BL under prevailing MEC rules |
| Master Entrance | MECEE-PG under prevailing MEC rules |
| Academic Support | Laboratories, central library, practical and field exposure |
| Accommodation | Girls' hostel adjacent to the academic complex |
| Research Publication | Journal of Health and Allied Science (JHAS) |
Pokhara University was established in 1997. The academic foundation that later developed into the School of Health and Allied Sciences began in 2001 with the establishment of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Nayabazar Pokhara Campus.
The Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, commonly identified as B.Pharm, was the principal program during this first phase. Pharmaceutical education therefore occupies an important place in the institutional history of SHAS.
In 2003, the School moved to the Shwet Bhavan campus at Simalchaur. During the same period, its academic scope expanded beyond pharmacy with the introduction of Medical Laboratory Technology. The institution was renamed the School of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences to reflect this broader academic direction.
Postgraduate pharmacy education followed in 2005 with M.Pharm studies in Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmaceutics. The program initially operated for a single batch before resuming later.
The School moved to its present location at Dhungepatan in 2007. Public Health and Nursing became part of its academic structure as its role expanded further within health sciences. The institution subsequently became known as the School of Health and Allied Sciences.
In 2011, the M.Pharm program in Natural Products Chemistry resumed, while Clinical Pharmacy was introduced as another postgraduate pharmaceutical area. Physiotherapy was added during the School's later academic expansion.
The development of SHAS reflects a gradual movement from a pharmacy-centered school to a multidisciplinary institution offering education across several medical and allied-health areas.
Prof. Purusotam Basnet and Prof. Natasha Skalko-Basnet are associated with the early development of pharmaceutical education at Pokhara University. Prof. Purusotam Basnet served as program director from 2001 to 2004 and later as dean from 2004 to 2008. Prof. Natasha Skalko-Basnet served as program director from 2004 to 2008.
Today, SHAS operates as a constituent school under Pokhara University's Faculty of Health Sciences.
The School of Health and Allied Sciences is located at Dhungepatan in Ward No. 30 of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Kaski.
The academic complex brings together classrooms, laboratories, administrative services, library access, and other institutional facilities used by students studying health-science programs.
The School's teaching arrangements extend beyond conventional lectures. Depending on the program, students take part in laboratory sessions, seminars, practical classes, field visits, projects, research work, hospital-related learning, and community exposure.
The girls' hostel is located adjacent to the academic complex. Transportation is also arranged for specified practical classes, hospital-based activities, and field visits organized as part of academic programs.
SHAS works within Pokhara University's wider academic mission covering teaching and learning, research and publication, outreach activities, and community service.
Within health sciences, the School focuses on developing skilled and qualified human resources in medical and paramedical disciplines. Its stated academic objectives include strengthening laboratory-based education, supporting experimental learning, encouraging research-oriented study in basic and applied sciences, and preparing graduates for the requirements of their respective fields.
These objectives are reflected in the combination of theoretical and applied teaching used across the School.
Pharmacy students work within a discipline that includes pharmaceutical science and practice. Medical laboratory students rely heavily on laboratory-based learning. Nursing programs include clinical preparation. Public health programs use field and community exposure. Physiotherapy has a practical rehabilitation component.
The balance of activities varies by program, but the overall academic environment gives practical and research-based learning a defined place alongside classroom instruction.
The School of Health and Allied Sciences is QAA-accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Nepal.
The School operates academically under Pokhara University, while professional health education also involves the regulatory framework of the Medical Education Commission and the respective professional councils.
This creates several connected layers for students.
Pokhara University is responsible for the academic programs and degrees. MEC regulates applicable medical and nursing education admission processes, including entrance examinations, seat allocation, scholarship provisions, fees, and related admission arrangements. Professional councils govern licensing requirements for entry into regulated health professions after graduation.
Students should therefore distinguish between university education, MEC-controlled admission arrangements, and council licensing requirements.
SHAS offers bachelor-level and master-level programs across several health-science disciplines. Seat allocations are determined under the applicable MEC system and can vary between admission cycles.
| Program | Seats |
|---|---|
| Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm) | 10 |
| Master of Public Health (MPH) | 20 |
| MSc in Medical Biochemistry | 5 |
| MSc in Medical Microbiology | 5 |
These seat figures should be treated as admission-cycle allocations. MEC may revise seats for a later year, so the number attached to a program is not necessarily permanent.
Pharmacy is central to the history of SHAS because the School's academic development started with pharmaceutical sciences.
The Bachelor of Pharmacy program prepares students through academic study in areas connected with drug development, drug delivery, pharmacology, and pharmacy practice. The current seat allocation for B.Pharm is 40.
At postgraduate level, Master of Pharmacy provides advanced study within pharmaceutical sciences. The School's academic history includes postgraduate study in Natural Products Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, and Clinical Pharmacy. The present seat allocation for M.Pharm is 10.
Pharmacy is a council-regulated profession. After completing the academic program, graduates must meet the licensing requirements applicable through the professional council before entering professional practice.
BSc Medical Laboratory Technology became part of the School's development when academic activities expanded beyond pharmacy.
The program focuses on medical laboratory work used in clinical, research, and public-health settings. Its academic areas include laboratory tests, equipment, techniques, and procedures connected with disease investigation, treatment support, and prevention.
The current seat allocation for BSCMLT is 20.
Laboratory-based teaching is particularly important for this program because students need practical exposure alongside theoretical study.
MSc in Medical Biochemistry provides postgraduate study in biochemical processes connected with health and disease.
Academic areas include molecular biology and laboratory techniques used in biochemical study and research. Five seats are allocated to the program.
The fee stated for MSc in Medical Biochemistry is NPR 757,830.
Laboratory work and research-based learning form relevant parts of the academic environment for this postgraduate program.
MSc in Medical Microbiology covers advanced study of microorganisms and their relationship with human health and disease.
Its academic areas include infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and laboratory techniques used in microbiological research.
The program has five seats.
The fee stated for MSc in Medical Microbiology is NPR 757,830.
As with Medical Biochemistry, practical laboratory work and research activities are important parts of the learning setting associated with the discipline.
Public health is offered at both bachelor and master levels at SHAS.
The Bachelor of Public Health program covers areas including public health, epidemiology, health promotion, disease prevention, health systems, policies, and interventions directed toward population health.
The current seat allocation for BPH is 40.
At postgraduate level, Master of Public Health extends study into areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy, health promotion, community health, and broader public-health practice.
The current seat allocation for MPH is 20.
Field visits and community exposure are particularly relevant to the way public-health education is conducted because the discipline involves studying health beyond an individual clinical setting.
Nursing is another established academic discipline at SHAS.
BSc Nursing has a current seat allocation of 30. The program combines foundational health-science study with nursing theory and clinical practice. Areas connected with the program include anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, nursing theories, and clinical learning.
Bachelor of Nursing Science in Oncology has 20 seats. This program focuses on nursing care in oncology. Its areas include cancer biology, cancer treatment, symptom management, and patient care in oncology settings.
A separate Bachelor in Nursing Science (BNS) course page is also available through Collegenp.
Nursing education falls within the regulatory framework applicable to medical and nursing education. Graduates are also subject to the professional licensing requirements relevant to nursing practice.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy is the School's rehabilitation-focused bachelor program.
The current seat allocation for BPT is 20.
Its academic areas include anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and rehabilitation techniques. Practical learning forms an important part of physiotherapy education because students require an applied understanding of movement, physical function, and rehabilitation.
The School's broader teaching arrangements support practical sessions, clinical exposure, and related learning activities where required by the program.
Bachelor of Optometry is included among the School's health-profession programs.
The current seat allocation for Bachelor of Optometry is 20.
The program adds another clinical and allied-health discipline to the academic areas available under the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging Technology (B.Sc MIT) is also offered at SHAS.
The program has five seats in the current allocation.
Its inclusion broadens the range of diagnostic and allied-health disciplines available within the School.
Admission to applicable medical and nursing education programs follows the prevailing rules of the Medical Education Commission, Nepal.
Bachelor-level admission is based on MECEE-BL, while master-level admission follows MECEE-PG.
The admission framework includes:
Minimum eligibility requirements for the relevant program
National entrance examination
Merit-based selection
Seat allocation under MEC provisions
Scholarship arrangements
Fee regulations
Admission procedures and timelines
Applicable code of conduct
Completion of required university and School admission formalities
Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility requirements must sit the relevant national entrance examination. Selection is then made according to merit order within the defined seat allocation.
Students selected for admission complete the required academic and administrative formalities, including fee payment and the submission of necessary documentation within the applicable admission process.
The number of seats assigned to each program can change from one year to another. MEC decisions for a particular admission cycle take precedence over figures from an earlier year.
Fees, scholarship provisions, examination arrangements, seat distribution, and admission procedures may also be revised under MEC decisions and the official MEC calendar.
Specific fee figures are available for two master-level programs.
| Program | Fee |
|---|---|
| MSc in Medical Biochemistry | NPR 757,830 |
| MSc in Medical Microbiology | NPR 757,830 |
These fees remain connected to the regulatory framework applicable to the admission cycle. Any revision made through MEC decisions applies to the relevant intake.
Scholarship arrangements for applicable health-professional programs operate under the prevailing MEC framework.
Scholarship provisions are connected with admission rules and seat allocation rather than functioning as a separate institutional process. The applicable scholarship categories, seat distribution, and procedures are determined for each admission cycle.
Applicants should therefore consider the MEC entrance calendar, merit system, scholarship provisions, seat allocation, and admission schedule together when planning admission.
Changes in one admission cycle do not automatically apply to the next.
Graduation from a regulated health-profession program and permission to enter professional practice are separate stages.
After completing their academic programs, graduates must pass the licensing examination required by the respective professional council before entering the profession.
Relevant bodies connected with programs at SHAS include:
Council requirements apply according to the profession concerned. Students approaching graduation need to follow the licensing rules and examination procedures applicable at that time.
Teaching at SHAS uses different methods according to the academic and practical needs of each discipline.
Activities include:
Classroom lectures
Seminars
Laboratory sessions
Practical classes
Field trips
Community exposure
Problem-based and inquiry-based learning
Projects
Research activities
Hospital-based practical work where required
National and international conferences and symposia
The balance differs among programs.
Medical laboratory sciences depend strongly on laboratory activity. Nursing requires clinical learning. Public health involves community and field exposure. Physiotherapy requires practical rehabilitation-oriented study. Pharmacy combines theoretical knowledge with laboratory and professional components.
Technology also supports the teaching environment through high-speed internet and digital learning resources.
Laboratories are a central part of health-science education at SHAS.
The School's history of laboratory-based teaching dates back to the introduction of Medical Laboratory Technology. Laboratory facilities also support programs in pharmacy, medical biochemistry, medical microbiology, and other disciplines requiring practical scientific work.
Students may take part in experiments, laboratory procedures, demonstrations, practical exercises, projects, and research activities according to the requirements of their course.
In-course seminars add another academic component by allowing students to engage with subject matter through presentation, discussion, and research-related work.
Practical education can also take place outside the campus through hospital attendance, community activities, and field visits.
Pokhara University's central library is located within the academic complex and supports students enrolled in SHAS programs.
The library has textbooks and reference materials for the School's academic disciplines from national and international authors.
Digital facilities include:
Computers
High-speed internet
Electronic resources
CC cameras
Digital recording systems
The availability of electronic resources supports teaching, learning, project work, and research.
The library operates from 6:00 to 18:00.
Its extended operating hours allow students to use study materials before and after regular teaching periods.
Several health-science programs require practical education outside standard classrooms and laboratories.
SHAS arranges transportation for practical classes conducted at hospitals and for field visits organized by academic programs.
The Faculty of Health Sciences is also establishing a 100-bed multidisciplinary Pokhara University Teaching Hospital (PUTH). Its planned academic use includes clinical practice, clerkship, and internship for students, alongside medical services for the community.
Because the hospital is under establishment, it should be understood as a developing Faculty facility rather than as a completed institutional service.
Community exposure also forms part of the School's teaching framework, especially for academic areas where population health, field observation, and practical engagement are relevant.
Transportation support is available for specified academic activities.
SHAS provides transport for students attending practical classes in hospitals and for program-organized field visits.
For regular daily travel to and from Pokhara University, students generally use local public bus services, including services operating for university students.
The School's transportation arrangement is therefore connected mainly with practical and field-based academic activities.
Pokhara University provides a girls' hostel adjacent to the academic complex.
The hostel is available to female students and is offered at a nominal charge.
Its location close to the academic complex places resident students near their classrooms and other university facilities.
Hostel accommodation operates under university rules and management.
Research forms part of the academic activities of the School of Health and Allied Sciences.
Students and faculty work within an environment that includes projects, laboratory study, seminars, conferences, symposia, and research-related activities.
SHAS publishes the Journal of Health and Allied Science (JHAS) annually to support research and academic information sharing.
The Faculty of Health Sciences has also received European Commission grants through the Erasmus+ program for capacity building in higher education and mobility.
These activities connect the School's teaching role with research, publication, and wider academic engagement.
SHAS has administrative and accounts sections supporting academic operations and student services.
The Administration Section handles institutional and student-related administrative responsibilities.
The Account Section works with areas such as tuition fees, payments, scholarships, financial assistance arrangements, and financial policies.
Students interact with these sections during processes connected with admission, registration, payments, and other administrative requirements.
The central library, laboratories, hostel, transportation arrangements, academic sections, and administrative services together form the support structure available within the School and university setting.
Health-science admission involves several regulatory and academic steps that students need to consider together.
Applicants should pay attention to:
The applicable MECEE-BL or MECEE-PG schedule
Eligibility requirements for the selected program
Seat allocation for the current admission year
MEC fee decisions
Scholarship provisions
Merit-based selection rules
Admission procedures and deadlines
Required university formalities
Professional council requirements
Licensing examination requirements after graduation
A seat figure from one admission year should not be treated as permanent. The same applies to fees, scholarship arrangements, and related MEC procedures.
This is particularly relevant for programs with smaller intakes, including B.Sc Medical Imaging Technology, MSc Medical Biochemistry, and MSc Medical Microbiology.
Students planning admission should work with the rules and calendar applicable to their own admission cycle.
Yes. The School of Health and Allied Sciences operates as a constituent school of Pokhara University under the Faculty of Health Sciences.
SHAS is located at Dhungepatan, Pokhara Metropolitan City-30, Kaski, Nepal.
Its development began in 2001 with the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Nayabazar, Pokhara. The School later expanded into medical laboratory sciences, public health, nursing, physiotherapy, and other health disciplines.
Yes. SHAS is QAA-accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Nepal.
Bachelor of Public Health and Bachelor of Pharmacy each have 40 seats in the current seat allocation.
BSc Nursing has 30 seats in the current allocation.
Bachelor of Physiotherapy has 20 seats.
Admission to applicable bachelor-level medical and nursing education programs is based on MECEE-BL and follows prevailing MEC rules covering eligibility, entrance examination, merit, seat allocation, fees, scholarships, and admission procedures.
Master-level admission follows MECEE-PG under the prevailing rules and calendar of the Medical Education Commission.
Yes. Seat allocations are subject to MEC determination and may vary from one admission year to another.
Pokhara University provides a girls' hostel adjacent to the academic complex at a nominal charge.
Transportation is arranged for hospital-based practical classes and program-organized field visits. Daily travel generally uses local public bus services.
Students have access to Pokhara University's central library, which includes textbooks, reference materials, computers, electronic resources, and high-speed internet. It operates from 6:00 to 18:00.
Yes. SHAS publishes the Journal of Health and Allied Science (JHAS) annually.
Graduates of regulated health-profession programs must pass the licensing examination required by the respective professional council before entering professional practice.
