Bachelor of Health Care Management (BHCM)

Bachelor of Health Care Management (BHCM) at National Open College

The Bachelor of Health Care Management (BHCM) at National Open College (NOC), Sanepa, Lalitpur, is a four-year undergraduate program affiliated with Pokhara University. The eight-semester program brings together management, healthcare administration, hospital operations, health policy, finance, information systems, research, and practical learning.

Students enter after +2 or equivalent study and complete academic work that includes internships and a health care project. NOC recorded more than 600 BHCM graduates and its 26th cohort underway in July 2025.

Quick Highlights

What Students Study in BHCM

BHCM combines general management study with subjects specific to hospitals and healthcare organizations. The current structure starts with English, management, computer applications, healthcare principles, anatomy and physiology, psychology, economics, sociology, mathematics, hospital administration, and hospital planning.

Later study covers human resource management, marketing, health information systems, business research methods, biostatistics and computer applications, healthcare law, hospital quality management, healthcare inventory and biomedical equipment management, introductory disease management, strategic management, health policy and program management, and concentration or elective courses in hospital and health management. Internships and a Health Care Project are also included in the course structure.

This mix gives students an academic view of healthcare from the administrative side rather than from direct clinical practice. Areas such as hospital planning, healthcare finance, health information systems, policy, law, quality management, and organizational management form an important part of the program.

Eligibility and Admission

Eligibility: Applicants should have completed any +2 equivalent qualification with a minimum D+ grade or second division and above.

For BHCM admission at NOC, applicants with +2 or an equivalent qualification apply to the college, pass the college entrance test, and submit the required documents with the admission fee.

The stated intake for BHCM is 48 seats.

Learning Beyond Regular Classes

BHCM students have access to learning activities that complement the university curriculum. These include basic skills training, first-aid workshops, healthcare communication and patient-safety workshops, guest lectures, computer skills in the first semester, soft-skills activities in the second semester, and digital marketing skills in the fourth semester.

Internship and practicum exposure are also part of the program environment. NOC identifies internships at national hospitals and practicum exposure at international hospitals among its BHCM learning activities.

The wider college environment includes a library, basic science laboratories, e-portal access, Wi-Fi, classrooms with LED projectors, a conference hall, and opportunities for seminars, presentations, and project-based learning.

Skills Developed Through the Program

The course is structured around skills relevant to managing healthcare organizations and services. Students work with subjects and activities connected with:

• Hospital administration and planning

• Organizational and human resource management

• Health information systems

• Healthcare finance and accounting

• Policy and program management

• Quality management

• Research and biostatistics

• Healthcare law

• Communication and presentation

• Inventory and biomedical equipment management

• Strategic management

The program also aims to strengthen analytical thinking, communication, research writing, administrative ability, and understanding of healthcare policy, economics, and legal frameworks.

Career Areas After BHCM

BHCM graduates may explore entry and developing roles across healthcare administration, public-health organizations, research, development organizations, and health-related enterprises. Career outcomes depend on individual skills, experience, further study, available positions, and employer requirements.

Areas identified for BHCM graduates include:

• Hospital management and operations

• Quality and departmental coordination

• Health program support

• Planning and monitoring

• Administrative work in health departments or local government units

• Project and research support in NGOs and INGOs

• Research assistance and data collection

• Academic support work

• Health-related business and service management

Examples of position titles include Hospital Manager, Operations Officer, Quality Assistant, Department Coordinator, Health Program Assistant, Planning and Monitoring Officer, Project Assistant, Junior Consultant, Research Assistant, and Data Collector.

Further Study

BHCM can also provide a route to postgraduate study in healthcare management. National Open College offers the Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM), allowing graduates who meet the applicable admission requirements to continue study in the same academic field.

Scholarship at National Open College

NOC has a semester-performance scholarship applicable to BHCM and its other academic programs. A student who secures the top position in the respective semester is eligible for a scholarship covering 60% of the tuition fee for the following semester.

FAQ

How long is the BHCM program at National Open College?

The BHCM program runs for four years and is divided into eight semesters.

What is the eligibility for BHCM at NOC?

Applicants need any +2 equivalent qualification with a minimum D+ grade or second division and above.

Is BHCM affiliated with Pokhara University?

Yes. The Bachelor of Health Care Management at National Open College is affiliated with Pokhara University.

How many seats are available for BHCM at National Open College?

The stated intake is 48 seats.

Does BHCM include an entrance test?

Yes. Applicants are required to apply and pass the college entrance test as part of the admission process.

Does the BHCM course include internships?

Yes. Internship components form part of the academic structure, and NOC also includes hospital-based internship and practicum exposure in its BHCM learning activities.

What subjects are studied in BHCM?

The curriculum covers management, healthcare principles, hospital administration and planning, economics, accounting and finance, epidemiology, health information systems, healthcare law, research, biostatistics, quality management, strategic management, and related hospital and health management subjects.

What career areas can BHCM graduates consider?

Graduates may consider roles connected with hospital administration, operations, quality management, health programs, planning and monitoring, NGOs and INGOs, research, academic support, and health-related enterprises.