Overview
Master of Science in Nursing (MSc Nursing) at Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSc Nursing) at Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS) is a two-academic-year postgraduate nursing program under Kathmandu University. It is designed for nursing graduates who want to extend their academic and professional preparation in nursing education, management, research, advanced practice, and leadership.
The program combines Educational Science, Research and Biostatistics, specialty study, Health Management & Leadership, and a research project completed through proposal development and dissertation work.
Admission requires an eligible nursing bachelor's degree, relevant post-degree experience, Nepal Nursing Council registration, and selection through the Medical Education Commission entrance framework.
Quick Highlights
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | Master of Science in Nursing (MSc Nursing) |
| Level | Master's degree |
| Institution | Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences |
| University | Kathmandu University |
| Location | Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal |
| Duration | 2 academic years |
| Reference seats | 20 |
| Entrance framework | MECEE-PG |
| Entrance authority | Medical Education Commission |
| Minimum academic requirement | 60% aggregate in the qualifying nursing bachelor's degree |
| Experience | Minimum 1 year of clinical or teaching experience after the qualifying nursing degree |
| Professional registration | Nepal Nursing Council registration required |
| Research component | Research proposal and dissertation |
| Degree award | Kathmandu University |
| Nursing contact | nursingschool@kusms.edu.np |
MSc Nursing at KUSMS
MSc Nursing is part of the postgraduate nursing education offered by Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS).
KUSMS is the School of Medical Sciences of Kathmandu University in Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok. The school operates within the Kathmandu University–Dhulikhel Hospital institutional setting and offers nursing education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The MSc Nursing program was introduced within the KUSMS academic development sequence in 2016. It extends nursing study beyond the bachelor's level through specialty nursing, educational science, research, biostatistics, health management, leadership, and dissertation work.
The program is intended for nurses who already hold an eligible nursing bachelor's qualification and have relevant clinical or teaching experience. It is therefore a postgraduate progression route rather than an entry-level nursing qualification.
Program Duration
Duration: 2 academic years
The MSc Nursing program is completed over two academic years. Its academic structure is organized by year, with specialty study and research running across both years.
| Academic year | Main components |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Educational Science; Research and Biostatistics; Specialty Subject Part I; preparation and submission of research proposal |
| Year 2 | Health Management & Leadership; Research and Biostatistics; Specialty Subject Part II; research project dissertation |
The structure places academic nursing study and research alongside each other rather than leaving research until the end of the degree. Students begin preparing their research proposal during the first year and complete dissertation work during the second.
Purpose of the MSc Nursing Program
The program is designed for nursing graduates seeking deeper knowledge and understanding within the discipline.
Its stated academic direction includes preparation for functions associated with:
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Nursing education
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Nursing management
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Nursing research
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Advanced nursing practice
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Leadership
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Specialty nursing study
The course description also connects postgraduate nursing preparation with nurse educator, nurse manager, and nurse researcher functions. These are areas the program is designed to prepare students for rather than guaranteed positions after graduation.
The program therefore combines subject specialization with responsibilities that may arise in education, management, research, and advanced nursing settings.
Specialty Nursing Areas
MSc Nursing includes specialty study across both years. Specialty Subject Part I is studied in the first year, followed by Specialty Subject Part II in the second.
Specialty areas identified for the program have included:
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Midwifery Nursing
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Medical Surgical Nursing
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Child Health Nursing
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Community Health Nursing
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Psychiatric Nursing
These specialties were identified for a specific intake in the KUSMS course information, so they should not be treated as a permanent guarantee that every specialty is available in every admission cycle.
The specialty component allows postgraduate nursing education to move beyond a single general curriculum. Students study their chosen nursing area while completing common postgraduate components in education, research, biostatistics, management, and leadership.
Year One of MSc Nursing
The first academic year establishes the educational, research, and specialty-study base of the master's program.
Educational Science
Educational Science forms part of the first-year curriculum. Its inclusion connects the degree with the nurse educator function identified in the broader purpose of MSc Nursing.
The course information does not provide a topic-by-topic Educational Science syllabus, so the component is retained at its official curriculum title without adding subjects that are not specified.
Research and Biostatistics
Research and Biostatistics is studied during the first year and continues into the second.
This gives research a continuing place within the two-year course. Students do not encounter research only through a final dissertation; research preparation begins earlier in the program.
Specialty Subject Part I
Students undertake the first part of their specialty nursing study during Year One.
This component establishes the first stage of advanced study in the selected specialty area before progression to Specialty Subject Part II during the second year.
Research Proposal
Students are required to prepare and submit a proposal for their research project during the first year.
Proposal development therefore forms a defined academic step leading toward the research project dissertation completed in Year Two.
Year Two of MSc Nursing
The second academic year continues specialty and research study while adding management and leadership.
Health Management & Leadership
Health Management & Leadership is a specified Year Two component.
Its place in the curriculum reflects the program's stated emphasis on preparing graduates for nursing management and leadership responsibilities. It sits alongside specialty nursing and research rather than operating as a separate qualification.
Research and Biostatistics
Research and Biostatistics continues during the second year.
The repetition of this component across both years indicates continuity between research preparation, analysis-related academic work, and completion of the final research project.
Specialty Subject Part II
The second part of specialty study follows Specialty Subject Part I from the first year.
This gives the selected specialty a two-stage structure across the degree.
Research Project Dissertation
The second year includes completion of the research project dissertation.
The research pathway can therefore be read as a sequence: research and biostatistics study, proposal preparation and submission, continued research study, and completion of the dissertation.
MSc Nursing Eligibility
Applicants must satisfy specific academic, professional experience, and registration requirements.
Academic qualification: Applicants must have successfully completed either:
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Four-year BSc Nursing; or
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A minimum three-year Bachelor in Nursing Sciences (BNS)
The qualifying degree must be from a recognized institution, and the applicant must have secured an aggregate of 60% or more marks.
This means the program is intended for applicants who already hold a bachelor's-level nursing qualification. A non-nursing bachelor's degree does not fall within the stated MSc Nursing eligibility.
Clinical or Teaching Experience Requirement
Experience: Minimum one year
Applicants must have at least one year of clinical or teaching experience after successful completion of either the four-year BSc Nursing degree or minimum three-year BNS qualification.
The timing of the experience matters. The requirement specifies experience after successful completion of the qualifying nursing degree.
Both clinical and teaching experience are included within the stated requirement, allowing eligible applicants to come from either of those nursing-related professional settings.
Nepal Nursing Council Registration
Applicants must be registered with the Nepal Nursing Council.
Professional registration is therefore an admission requirement for MSc Nursing rather than a matter considered only after completion of the master's degree.
This is an important distinction between MSc Nursing and an undergraduate nursing pathway. A postgraduate applicant enters the course with an existing nursing qualification, relevant experience, and professional registration.
Entrance Examination and Selection
MSc Nursing admission operates through the postgraduate medical education entrance framework administered by the Medical Education Commission (MEC), Government of Nepal.
Entrance: MECEE-PG
The entrance examination for MSc Nursing is conducted by MEC, and selection follows the applicable MEC guidelines.
The postgraduate admission framework can involve:
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Eligibility assessment
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MECEE-PG entrance examination
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Merit-based selection
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Matching and admission procedures
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Seat allocation
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Scholarship provisions
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Applicable MEC admission rules and guidelines
These admission processes are separate from the academic examinations students undertake after joining the university program.
Admission Pathway
An MSc Nursing applicant moves through both professional and academic eligibility requirements before enrollment.
The pathway includes:
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Completion of an eligible four-year BSc Nursing or minimum three-year BNS qualification.
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Achievement of at least 60% aggregate marks in the qualifying degree.
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Completion of at least one year of clinical or teaching experience after the nursing bachelor's degree.
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Registration with the Nepal Nursing Council.
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Participation in the applicable MECEE-PG entrance process.
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Selection according to MEC guidelines.
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Completion of KUSMS and Kathmandu University admission requirements.
After admission, the student enters the two-year Kathmandu University academic program.
Seats and Seat Allocation
Reference seats: 20
The finalized KUSMS program context identifies 20 reference seats for the MSc Nursing program.
This number should be read as a reference intake rather than permanent capacity for every admission cycle. Postgraduate medical and health-science seat allocation operates within the applicable Medical Education Commission system, and the number of seats can change according to the relevant determination.
The same principle applies to scholarship allocation and matching. A program may continue academically while admission categories or seat distribution change between admission cycles.
Curriculum and Academic Governance
MSc Nursing operates under Kathmandu University academic rules and regulations.
The university framework governs the curriculum, academic examinations, progression, research requirements, completion requirements, and degree award.
MEC has a separate role in postgraduate entrance and selection.
| Academic stage | Governing framework |
|---|---|
| Eligibility for regulated admission | Applicable MEC and program requirements |
| Entrance | MECEE-PG through MEC |
| Selection | MEC guidelines |
| Curriculum | Kathmandu University |
| Academic examinations | Kathmandu University |
| Research and dissertation | Kathmandu University academic program |
| Degree award | Kathmandu University |
This division separates admission regulation from academic study. Selection through MEC allows an eligible applicant to enter the admission process, while completion of the master's degree depends on satisfying the academic requirements of Kathmandu University.
Research in MSc Nursing
Research is one of the clearest academic strands running through the program.
Students study Research and Biostatistics in both years. During Year One, they prepare and submit a proposal for a research project. In Year Two, the research component leads to a dissertation.
This sequence gives research a defined progression:
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Research and Biostatistics
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Identification and preparation of the research project
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Proposal submission
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Continued research study
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Research project dissertation
The wider KUSMS academic environment also includes research-related institutional systems, while MSc Nursing specifically contains research, biostatistics, proposal preparation, and dissertation work within its curriculum.
The degree should not, however, be described as a research-only program. Specialty nursing, education, management, and leadership remain substantial parts of its academic design.
Nursing Education and the Educator Role
Educational Science forms part of the first year, and the stated purpose of MSc Nursing includes preparation for nurse educator functions.
Together, these elements place nursing education within the postgraduate scope of the degree.
This does not mean that completion automatically results in an educational appointment. Rather, the program includes academic preparation relevant to nursing education as one of several professional directions covered by the master's course.
Nursing Management and Leadership
Management and leadership appear both in the stated purpose of the program and in its curriculum.
Health Management & Leadership is a named second-year component. The broader course purpose also refers to nurse management, advanced practice, and leadership roles.
The curriculum therefore does not limit postgraduate nursing education to specialty clinical knowledge. It also incorporates organizational and leadership dimensions relevant to nursing practice and health services.
Nursing Research Preparation
The program identifies nurse research as another area of postgraduate preparation.
Research and Biostatistics across both academic years, followed by proposal preparation and dissertation work, provide the academic structure supporting this part of the degree.
Students should distinguish this research preparation from a guarantee of employment in a designated research post. The program develops postgraduate research competence as part of nursing education, while professional roles depend on the setting and requirements attached to individual positions.
Relationship with BSc Nursing and BNS
MSc Nursing is a postgraduate route that accepts specified nursing bachelor's qualifications.
Both four-year BSc Nursing and a minimum three-year Bachelor in Nursing Sciences can meet the academic qualification requirement when the applicant also satisfies the 60% aggregate, experience, and Nepal Nursing Council registration conditions.
The two undergraduate qualifications therefore provide eligible entry routes into the master's program, but they remain separate bachelor's degrees.
MSc Nursing builds on prior nursing education and professional experience. It should not be understood as a substitute for the undergraduate qualification required for entry.
Academic Setting at KUSMS
KUSMS is based in Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok, with its broader academic setting connected to basic-science facilities at Chaukot in the Panauti area and Dhulikhel Hospital as the university hospital within the Kathmandu University collaboration.
The wider basic-science environment includes laboratories, lecture halls, Problem-Based Learning classrooms, audio-visual resources, and a library. These are institutional facilities and should not be interpreted as a statement that every MSc Nursing activity takes place at the Chaukot site.
The course itself has a nursing contact channel through nursingschool@kusms.edu.np.
Examinations and Degree Award
Academic examinations for MSc Nursing follow applicable Kathmandu University rules and regulations.
The MECEE-PG entrance examination takes place before admission and should not be confused with the examinations and assessments completed during the master's degree.
Degree award: Kathmandu University
Students complete the two-year curriculum, specialty study, research requirements, examinations, and dissertation requirements attached to the program before completing the Kathmandu University master's degree.
What Makes MSc Nursing Different from Undergraduate Nursing Study?
The MSc Nursing program begins from a different academic and professional starting point than BSc Nursing or BNS.
Applicants already need:
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A qualifying nursing bachelor's degree
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At least 60% aggregate marks
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At least one year of post-degree clinical or teaching experience
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Nepal Nursing Council registration
The postgraduate curriculum then moves into specialty nursing, educational science, research, biostatistics, health management, leadership, and dissertation work.
This makes MSc Nursing a progression from prior nursing education and experience rather than a first qualification for entering nursing study.
Who May Consider MSc Nursing?
The program is intended for eligible nursing graduates who want postgraduate study in a selected nursing specialty while extending their preparation in education, management, research, advanced practice, and leadership.
It may align with nurses interested in:
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Advanced study within a nursing specialty
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Nursing education
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Nursing management
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Nursing research
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Health management and leadership
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Research proposal and dissertation work
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Further academic development within nursing
Applicants also need to be prepared for a two-year course in which specialty study and research run through both academic years.
Contact Information
Institution: Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS)
Course: Master of Science in Nursing (MSc Nursing)
Location: Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal
Nursing Email: nursingschool@kusms.edu.np
General Phone: +977-011-490577
General Email: info@kusms.edu.np
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MSc Nursing at KUSMS?
MSc Nursing is a two-academic-year postgraduate nursing program at Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences under Kathmandu University. It includes specialty nursing, education, research, biostatistics, management, leadership, and dissertation work.
How long is the MSc Nursing program?
The program has a duration of two academic years.
Who is eligible for MSc Nursing at KUSMS?
Applicants must have completed either four-year BSc Nursing or a minimum three-year BNS from a recognized institution with at least 60% aggregate marks. They must also meet the experience and professional registration requirements.
Is work experience required?
Yes. Applicants need at least one year of clinical or teaching experience after successful completion of their qualifying nursing bachelor's degree.
Is Nepal Nursing Council registration required?
Yes. Registration with the Nepal Nursing Council is a stated eligibility requirement for MSc Nursing admission.
Which entrance examination applies to MSc Nursing?
Admission follows the applicable MECEE-PG framework administered by the Medical Education Commission.
Who conducts MSc Nursing selection?
The Medical Education Commission conducts the entrance examination, and selection follows applicable MEC guidelines.
What subjects are included in the MSc Nursing structure?
The course includes Educational Science, Research and Biostatistics, Specialty Subject Part I and II, Health Management & Leadership, research proposal preparation, and a research project dissertation.
Does MSc Nursing include research?
Yes. Research and Biostatistics are included in both years. Students prepare and submit a research proposal in the first year and complete a research project dissertation in the second.
What specialty areas are associated with MSc Nursing?
Specialty areas identified for an intake have included Midwifery Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, and Psychiatric Nursing. Specialty availability belongs to the applicable intake.
Which university awards the MSc Nursing degree?
Kathmandu University awards the degree. KUSMS is its School of Medical Sciences.
How is MSc Nursing different from BSc Nursing or BNS?
BSc Nursing and BNS are undergraduate nursing qualifications, while MSc Nursing is a postgraduate degree requiring an eligible nursing bachelor's qualification, relevant post-degree experience, and Nepal Nursing Council registration before admission.
