Overview
Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) at Norvic College of Health Sciences and Technologies
The Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) at Norvic College of Health Sciences and Technologies (NCHST) in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, is an undergraduate public health program under Purbanchal University. The revised 2019 curriculum is organized into eight semesters under the Faculty of Medical and Allied Sciences.
The program combines public health sciences, epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, nutrition, family and reproductive health, health education, statistics, research, health policy, program management, and field-based learning. Practical components are integrated across the curriculum through laboratory work, concurrent field practice, residential field practice, proposal writing, training activities, and research practicum.
Course overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course: | Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) |
| College: | Norvic College of Health Sciences and Technologies |
| Affiliation: | Purbanchal University |
| Faculty: | Faculty of Medical and Allied Sciences |
| Structure: | 8 semesters |
| Location: | Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Admission: | MECEE-BL under prevailing MEC provisions |
| Professional Council: | Nepal Health Professional Council |
What students study
The first two semesters establish the scientific and public health foundation of the program. Subjects include Introduction to Public Health, Anatomy, Physiology and Patho-physiology, Public Health Microbiology, Public Health Biochemistry, Applied Professional English, Public Health Entomology and Rodentology, Public Health Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, First Aid and Safety, Basic Foods and Nutrition, Ecosystem and Environmental Health, and Epidemiology of Risk Factor and Communicable Diseases-I. Several of these areas include laboratory or field-based practice.
The third semester moves further into population and community health through Public Health Core Actions, Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases-II, Family Health-I, Applied Public Health Nutrition, Environmental and Occupational Health, and Demography, Population Studies and Family Planning. Concurrent field-based practice accompanies several subjects, connecting academic study with community and population-health settings.
Fourth-semester study covers Reproductive Health and Gender, Epidemiology of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Family Health-II, Public Health Epidemiology Methods, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Psychology in Public Health, and Rural, Urban and International Health. The semester also includes concurrent field practice and term-paper preparation.
Public health management and community practice
The fifth and sixth semesters shift toward applied public health systems and program work. Students study Public Health Statistics and Computer Application-I, Community Organization, Participation and Action, Public Health Infrastructure Engineering and Disaster Management, Fundamentals of Health Education, Health-Promoting School Program, and Fundamental of Public Health Service Management.
Sixth-semester subjects include Applied Health Education and Promotion, Public Health and Medical Services in Nepal, Public Health Policy, Plan and Program in Nepal, and Community Health Diagnosis and Intervention. Practical components include classroom-based activities and residential field-based practice in community health diagnosis and intervention.
NCHST also identifies observation-visit settings related to industrial workplaces, water and sanitation, nutrition, rehabilitation, community services, and other health-related environments. These settings complement the public health curriculum's emphasis on environmental health, community conditions, health services, and population-level observation.
Research, monitoring, and program management
The seventh semester develops quantitative, research, and management competencies through Public Health Statistics and Computer Application-II, Public Health Research, Health Program Supervision Monitoring and Evaluation, Health Economics and Financing, and Health Management Information System and Logistic Management.
Students also undertake laboratory-based statistics and computer work, public health research proposal writing, and a Comprehensive Public Health Management Field Practicum conducted as residential field-based practice.
The eighth semester includes Education and Training of Human Resource, Public Health Profession and Entrepreneurship, and Public Health Project Management. Applied components include training program conduction, project proposal writing, and Public Health Research Practicum.
Field-based and practical learning
Fieldwork is integrated throughout the eight-semester structure rather than being limited to a single final placement. The curriculum uses laboratory-based practice, field-based practice, concurrent field-based practice, residential field-based practice, term-paper preparation, proposal writing, training program conduction, and research practicum.
This structure allows students to work progressively with public health problems from scientific and epidemiological foundations through community assessment, health education, policy, statistics, research, monitoring, financing, information systems, and project management.
Admission through MECEE-BL
Admission to BPH follows MECEE-BL and the prevailing rules of the Medical Education Commission (MEC), Nepal.
Applicants must meet the eligibility and admission requirements applicable to the relevant MEC admission cycle. The admission framework covers the entrance examination, admission procedures, code of conduct, scholarship provisions, seat allocation, fee structure, and the official admission calendar.
Seat numbers are determined by MEC for each intake and may change from one year to another. Fees, scholarship provisions, seat distribution, and examination guidelines may also be revised through MEC decisions. Applicants should therefore follow the requirements issued for the applicable admission cycle.
Professional licensing
After completing the BPH program, graduates must meet the professional licensing requirements of the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC), including the applicable licensing examination before entering professional practice.
Professional registration remains subject to the council requirements in force at the time of application.
Academic and professional direction
The curriculum covers epidemiology, health education and promotion, community health, environmental and occupational health, family and reproductive health, public health statistics, research, policy and planning, program supervision and evaluation, health economics, health information systems, logistics, and project management. These areas provide an academic base for public health work involving communities, health programs, research, monitoring, management, and population-health services.
Students considering BPH should assess whether their interests align with population health, disease prevention, community work, epidemiology, research, health education, public health systems, and program management. Admission eligibility, financial commitments, MEC requirements, and professional licensing should also form part of the decision.
