Master of Public Health (MPH)

Master of Public Health (MPH) at Pokhara University

Master of Public Health (MPH) is a two-year postgraduate public health program offered by the Pokhara University School of Health and Allied Sciences under Pokhara University. The School is located at Dhungepatan, Pokhara-30, Kaski.

SHAS started the MPH program in 2016. It has two specialization tracks: Public Health Service Management and Health Promotion and Education. The program runs for four semesters and carries 75 credits. The first two semesters provide a common foundation in advanced public health, epidemiology, statistics, environmental and occupational health, research, behavioral sciences, health promotion, and health-service management. Students then move into their selected specialization before completing a seminar, practicum, research methods course, and nine-credit thesis in the fourth semester.

MPH at a Glance

The seat distribution is 10 seats in Public Health Service Management and 10 seats in Health Promotion and Education. Seat numbers remain subject to Medical Education Commission determination for the applicable admission cycle.

MPH Specializations

The program allows students to choose between two postgraduate public health directions.

Public Health Service Management

This specialization concentrates on the planning, organization, financing, human resources, and management of public health services.

Semester III includes:

• Theories of Public Health Service Management

• Health Project Management

• Health Financing and Economics

• Development and Management of Human Resource in Health

• Analysis of Health Service Management in Nepal

• Practical courses corresponding to each of these subjects

The fourth semester continues with Seminar and Practicum, Health Management Research Methods, and a thesis on Health Service Management.

Health Promotion and Education

This specialization focuses on health behavior, health promotion, education, communication, applied methods, and management of health-promotion activities.

Semester III includes:

• Theories and Principle of Health Behavior, Promotion, Education and Communication

• Applied Health Promotion

• Applied Health Education

• Applied Health Communication

• Analysis of Health Promotion, Education and Communication Management in Nepal

• Practical courses corresponding to each subject

Semester IV includes Seminar and Practicum, Health Promotion and Education Research Methods, and a thesis on Health Promotion and Education.

Eligibility for Master of Public Health

Applicants may enter the MPH program with one of the specified health-professional bachelor degrees or an equivalent qualification.

Eligible academic backgrounds include:

• MBBS

• BDS

• BPH

• BN/BNS/BSc Nursing

• B.Sc. MLT/BMLT

• BAMS

• B.Pharm

• B.Optom

• B.Sc MIT

• BASLP

• BPT

• Equivalent qualification

Applicants must also be registered with the respective professional council of their country.

In addition to meeting the academic and professional registration requirements, candidates must take the entrance examination and be successfully recommended through the Medical Education Commission admission process.

MECEE-PG Admission

Admission to MPH follows the postgraduate medical education framework of the Medical Education Commission (MEC), Nepal.

The admission process covers:

• Meeting the prescribed bachelor-degree requirement

• Holding registration with the relevant professional council

• Appearing for the applicable MECEE-PG entrance examination

• Qualifying through the MEC entrance and merit process

• Receiving recommendation through the applicable admission system

• Completing Pokhara University and SHAS admission formalities

MEC rules govern entrance procedures, merit, seat allocation, scholarship provisions, fees, and admission arrangements for the relevant cycle.

The 20-seat total should therefore be treated as the stated intake for the program rather than a permanent seat capacity.

MPH Curriculum Structure

The first and second semesters are common to both specialization groups. Students separate into Public Health Service Management or Health Promotion and Education in Semester III. Semester IV is built around specialization-specific research methods, practicum, seminar, and thesis work.

The complete program carries 75 credits.

Semester I: Advanced Public Health Foundation

The first semester gives all MPH students the same postgraduate foundation.

Students study:

• Advanced Concept of Public Health

• Advanced Concept of Epidemiology

• Advanced Public Health Statistics

• Environmental and Occupational Health

• Demography, Reproductive Health and Nutrition

Each subject carries three theory credits and is accompanied by a one-credit practical course.

Semester I totals 20 credits.

The structure brings together population health, epidemiological analysis, statistics, environmental and workplace health, population studies, reproductive health, and nutrition before students move into more specialized areas.

Semester II: Research, Behavior, and Health Services

The second semester continues as a common semester for both specialization groups.

Courses include:

• Epidemiology of Diseases and Health Problems

• Public Health and Behavioral Sciences

• Health Promotion and Education

• Advanced Public Health Research

• Public Health Service Management

Each three-credit theory course has a corresponding one-credit practical component, bringing the semester total to 20 credits.

This semester is particularly important because it introduces students to both specialization areas before they choose a more concentrated third-semester pathway.

Research also becomes a defined part of the program through Advanced Public Health Research and its practical component.

Public Health Service Management Curriculum

Students choosing Public Health Service Management devote Semester III to the management side of health systems.

The five theory courses total 15 credits, with another five credits assigned to corresponding practical work.

Health Project Management examines the project dimension of public health work, while Health Financing and Economics introduces financial and economic considerations. Development and Management of Human Resource in Health focuses on workforce-related management, and Analysis of Health Service Management in Nepal places the specialization within the national health-service context.

Semester IV then includes:

• Seminar and Practicum – 3 credits

• Health Management Research Methods – 3 credits

• Thesis on Health Service Management – 9 credits

The thesis is the largest single component of the final semester.

Health Promotion and Education Curriculum

Students choosing Health Promotion and Education also complete 20 credits in Semester III.

The specialization combines theory with practical work in health behavior, promotion, education, and communication.

Its courses move from theoretical foundations into applied areas. Applied Health Promotion, Applied Health Education, and Applied Health Communication each carry dedicated theory and practical components.

Analysis of Health Promotion, Education and Communication Management in Nepal adds a national management context to the specialization.

Semester IV consists of:

• Seminar and Practicum – 3 credits

• Health Promotion and Education Research Methods – 3 credits

• Thesis on Health Promotion and Education – 9 credits

The final research work therefore corresponds directly with the student's chosen specialization.

Research and Thesis

Research is a central academic component of the MPH structure.

All students study Advanced Public Health Research during Semester II. The final semester then introduces research methods specific to the selected specialization.

Public Health Service Management students take Health Management Research Methods, while Health Promotion and Education students take Health Promotion and Education Research Methods.

Both pathways culminate in a nine-credit thesis.

The progression from general public health research to specialization-specific research methods and thesis work gives students a structured research sequence rather than limiting research to a final independent assignment.

Practical and Field-Based Study

Practical work accompanies the main theory courses throughout the first three semesters.

In Semester I, students complete practical courses in public health, epidemiology, statistics, environmental and occupational health, and demography, reproductive health, and nutrition.

Semester II practical work covers epidemiology of diseases, behavioral sciences, health promotion, research, and health-service management.

Semester III continues practical study within the chosen specialization.

The final semester adds Seminar and Practicum, providing another applied component alongside research methods and thesis work.

This combination of practical courses, practicum, and research reflects the program's stated emphasis on field experience and evidence-oriented public health study.

MPH Fee at Pokhara University SHAS

The 2025 SHAS prospectus lists the following fee for Master in Public Health:

The security deposit and FSU fee are listed separately from the program fee.

Fees fall under a high-risk, admission-cycle-dependent area. MEC decisions and Pokhara University requirements applicable to a later intake may revise these amounts.

Career Areas After MPH

The public health program identifies several sectors where graduates may explore professional opportunities.

These include:

• Government offices and civil service

• NGOs, INGOs, and HMOs

• UN agencies

• Multilateral and bilateral organizations

• Health research organizations

• Academic institutions

• Consultancy work

The two specializations provide different academic emphasis within these broader sectors. Public Health Service Management concentrates more on health programs, systems, financing, projects, and human-resource management, while Health Promotion and Education concentrates on behavior, communication, education, and health-promotion practice.

Career outcomes depend on prior professional background, skills, experience, available positions, recruitment requirements, and the needs of the organization concerned.

Who May Consider MPH?

MPH may be relevant to health-professional graduates who want postgraduate study in population health, epidemiology, research, health systems, health promotion, or public health management.

Applicants already come from health-related academic backgrounds, including medicine, dentistry, public health, nursing, medical laboratory science, Ayurveda, pharmacy, optometry, medical imaging, speech and language pathology, and physiotherapy.

The choice of specialization should reflect the student's academic direction. Public Health Service Management is structured around health organizations and services, while Health Promotion and Education is structured around health behavior, education, communication, and promotion.

Both require sustained engagement with statistics, epidemiology, research, practical work, and a postgraduate thesis.

FAQ

How long is MPH at Pokhara University?

Master of Public Health is a two-year program organized across four semesters.

How many credits are there in MPH?

The program carries 75 credits: 20 credits in each of the first three semesters and 15 credits in Semester IV.

Which MPH specializations are available?

Students can study Public Health Service Management or Health Promotion and Education.

How many seats are available?

The listed intake is 20 seats: 10 in Public Health Service Management and 10 in Health Promotion and Education. MEC may revise the allocation for later cycles.

Which entrance examination is required for MPH?

Admission follows MECEE-PG under the prevailing Medical Education Commission framework.

Who can apply for MPH?

Eligible qualifications include MBBS, BDS, BPH, BN/BNS/BSc Nursing, B.Sc. MLT/BMLT, BAMS, B.Pharm, B.Optom, B.Sc MIT, BASLP, BPT, or equivalent. Applicants must also hold registration with the respective professional council of their country.

What is the MPH fee?

The 2025 program fee is listed as NPR 920,230, with a refundable NPR 10,000 security deposit and NPR 1,000 FSU fee listed separately.

Does MPH include a thesis?

Yes. Both specialization pathways conclude with a nine-credit thesis in Semester IV.