Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM)

Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM) at National Open College

The Master of Healthcare Management (MHCM) at National Open College (NOC), Sanepa, Lalitpur, is a two-year postgraduate program affiliated with Pokhara University. The program is organized across four semesters and focuses on the management, financing, organization, evaluation, research, communication, and strategic operation of healthcare services.

MHCM is intended for graduates from healthcare management and health science backgrounds who want postgraduate study centered on healthcare administration rather than clinical practice. The curriculum combines management study with health-sector subjects, followed by practicum and thesis work. By July 2025, NOC recorded more than 600 MHCM graduates and its 40th current batch.

Quick Highlights

Who Can Study MHCM?

The program is structured for students with prior education related to healthcare management or health sciences. The admission route includes BHCM and PGDHCM graduates as well as applicants holding a health science degree of three years or more.

Bachelor's-level healthcare management or related health science qualifications are also identified with a minimum second division or above.

This academic background requirement gives the class a health-sector orientation. Between Spring 2023 and Spring 2025, the MHCM student population included graduates from medicine and dentistry, nursing, BHCM and PGDHCM, medical laboratory and imaging technology, public health, pharmacy, and allied health sciences. Nearly half of the students in that period held MD, MBBS, or BDS qualifications.

Admission Process

Applicants meeting the MHCM eligibility criteria need to:

• Apply for admission to National Open College

• Pass the college entrance test

• Submit the required academic and personal documents

• Complete the applicable admission formalities

The postgraduate and master's document checklist includes:

• Two sets of notarized copies

• Transcript and character certificate from Grade 10

• Transcript and character certificate from Grade 12 or equivalent

• Bachelor's transcript and character certificate

• Citizenship document

• Equivalency for a degree obtained abroad

• Original migration certificate

• Six recent passport-size photographs

MHCM Course Duration and Structure

Duration: 2 years

Structure: 4 semesters

The current four-semester curriculum combines healthcare management, economics, financing, organizational management, research, public health, communication, information technology, evaluation, strategic management, marketing, project management, practicum, and thesis work.

Key subjects in the current structure include:

• Health Economics

• Health Communication

• Hospital Service Management

• Information Technology in Healthcare

• HRD & Organization in Development Care

• Health Financing & Insurance

• Quality Management in Healthcare Organization

• Healthcare Evaluation

• Research Methodology in Healthcare

• Epidemiology and Bio Statistics

• Strategic Healthcare Management

• Healthcare Organization & Management

• Healthcare Marketing

• Public Health Program Management

• Health Project Management

• Practicum

• Thesis

The curriculum gives students academic exposure to both organizational management and health-system issues. Finance, quality, research, information technology, public health, marketing, communication, strategy, and service management are studied within a healthcare context rather than as separate general-management subjects.

Practical and Additional Learning

MHCM study at NOC extends beyond the regular semester subjects. Additional activities attached to the program include:

• Workshop on Hospital Operations Management

• Short course on Safety & Disaster Management

• Short course on Environment Health

• Short course on Health System & Policy

• Computer skills during MHCM I

• Soft skills during MHCM II

• SPSS and digital marketing during MHCM III

• Guest lectures

• National seminars and conferences

• Internships at international hospitals

These activities complement subjects such as research methodology, healthcare evaluation, hospital management, health financing, and strategic management by giving students additional exposure to tools and operational issues used in healthcare organizations.

Skills Developed Through MHCM

The program is structured around management competencies relevant to healthcare organizations. Students work with areas connected to:

• Healthcare administration and organizational management

• Strategic planning and management

• Human resource management

• Healthcare economics and financing

• Health communication

• Health information and technology

• Quality management

• Research methodology and scientific writing

• Epidemiology and biostatistics

• Healthcare policy and program management

• Project management

• Analytical and administrative decision-making

The inclusion of practicum, research methodology, and thesis work also gives students experience with applied study, analysis, and academic writing.

Career Areas After MHCM

MHCM graduates may explore management, coordination, research, consulting, policy, financing, and administrative roles within the health sector. Employment level and responsibility depend on prior professional experience, individual skills, organizational requirements, and available positions.

Career areas associated with the program include:

• Hospital administration and operations

• Quality management and departmental coordination

• Healthcare consulting

• Health-sector projects in NGOs and INGOs

• Research and academic coordination

• Health policy and program management

• Monitoring and evaluation

• Health insurance and financing

• Healthcare information management

• Health-related enterprise management

Examples of roles connected with these areas include Hospital Director, Operations Manager, Quality Officer, Department Head, Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Research Associate, Health Policy Analyst, Planning and Research Officer, Health Insurance Manager, Claims Analyst, and Financial Controller.

Further Study

Graduates may continue to advanced academic study in healthcare management. A PhD in Healthcare Management is identified as one possible further-study route after MHCM.

Scholarship

National Open College has an academic-performance scholarship applicable to MHCM. A student securing the top position in the respective semester is eligible for a scholarship covering 60% of the tuition fee for the following semester. The scholarship can apply again when the required semester performance is achieved in subsequent semesters.

FAQ

How long is the MHCM program at National Open College?

The Master of Healthcare Management runs for two years and follows a four-semester structure.

Which university is the MHCM program affiliated with?

The MHCM program at National Open College is affiliated with Pokhara University.

Who is eligible for MHCM at NOC?

The admission routes include BHCM, PGDHCM, and eligible healthcare or health science qualifications. A health science degree of three years or more is identified among the eligible backgrounds.

Is there an entrance test for MHCM?

Yes. Eligible applicants apply to the college and must pass the college entrance test as part of the admission process.

How many seats are available for MHCM?

The stated intake is 30 seats.

Does the MHCM curriculum include practical study?

Yes. Practicum is included within the curriculum, along with research methodology and thesis work. The college also includes workshops, seminars, skills sessions, and internship exposure among MHCM activities.

What are the major subjects in MHCM?

Major study areas include health economics, hospital service management, healthcare financing, quality management, healthcare evaluation, research methodology, epidemiology and biostatistics, strategic healthcare management, public health program management, healthcare marketing, and health project management.

What career areas can MHCM graduates consider?

Graduates may consider healthcare administration, hospital operations, consulting, research, health projects, policy and planning, monitoring and evaluation, insurance, financing, and health-sector management roles.