The MDS Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics at Universal College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital (UCMS), Rupandehi is a three-year postgraduate dental program affiliated with Tribhuvan University (TU).
The program operates under the postgraduate dental education system of the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University (TU-IOM). It is intended for dental graduates who have completed BDS or an equivalent recognized qualification and meet the professional registration, experience, entrance, and admission requirements.
The TU course information identifies the program as MDS Orthodontics and describes training in orthodontic techniques including braces, alignment of teeth, and the use of retainers. UCMS identifies the specialty as Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics within its postgraduate dental offerings.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | MDS Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics |
| College | Universal College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) |
| Location | Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal |
| Affiliation | Tribhuvan University |
| Academic Unit | Institute of Medicine |
| Degree | Master in Dental Surgery (MDS) |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Training | Full-time residential |
| Entrance | MECEE-PG |
| Admission Authority | Medical Education Commission |
| Prior Qualification | BDS or equivalent |
| Professional Registration | Nepal Medical Council |
MDS Orthodontics is specialist postgraduate dental education undertaken after BDS.
The course develops advanced study in Orthodontics and associated dentofacial treatment. The available TU course information specifically refers to orthodontic techniques involving the setting of braces, alignment of teeth, and the use of retainers.
Students therefore enter the program after completing broad undergraduate dental education and then undertake specialist study in Orthodontics.
The course should not be treated as an extension of basic dental training. Admission requires a professional dental degree, registration, experience, and successful participation in the postgraduate entrance process.
Applicants must have completed professional dental education before applying.
Eligibility:
Candidates who have not yet completed professional dental education must first obtain a qualification such as Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) before competing for MDS admission.
Meeting the eligibility requirements allows an applicant to enter the selection process. Admission also depends on entrance performance, merit, matching, and specialty allocation for the relevant intake.
Admission is conducted through the Medical Education Common Entrance Examination for Postgraduate Level (MECEE-PG).
The Medical Education Commission (MEC) manages postgraduate medical and dental entrance, merit, matching, seat allocation, fees, and admission procedures.
The admission sequence includes:
Nepalese and foreign candidates must appear in the common entrance examination. Merit lists for Nepalese and foreign applicants are prepared separately under the stated postgraduate admission rules.
The postgraduate dental entrance examination contains 200 single-best-response multiple-choice questions.
| Entrance Detail | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Question Type | Single best response MCQ |
| Options | Four: A, B, C, D |
| Number of Questions | 200 |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Cognitive Distribution | Recall : Understanding : Application = 30 : 50 : 20 |
| Merit Requirement | Minimum 50% |
The entrance examination assesses the major clinical dental specialties together with basic medical sciences and supporting dental and medical subjects.
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| Oral Medicine and Radiology | 15 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial | 15 |
| Periodontics | 15 |
| Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics | 15 |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics | 15 |
| Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry | 15 |
| Prosthodontics and Maxillofacial Prosthetics | 15 |
| Public Health Dentistry + Community Medicine and Biostatistics | 10 |
| Oral Pathology and Microbiology | 10 |
| Dental Implantology | 5 |
| Total Clinical Dental Sciences | 130 |
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics carries 15 marks in the clinical dental sciences section.
This distribution means applicants must prepare across the dental disciplines rather than focusing only on Orthodontics before entering the specialty.
Basic Medical Sciences account for 30 marks in the entrance examination:
The entrance test also includes Oral Biology, Dental Materials, Forensic Odontology, General Medicine, General Surgery, and Anaesthesia.
Another 10 marks cover professional topics including medical ethics, rational use of medicines, infection prevention, BLS/ACLS, communication skills, medical emergencies in dental practice, and practice management in dentistry.
The entrance syllabus therefore tests both dental knowledge and the supporting medical subjects expected at postgraduate level.
MDS Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics is a three-year postgraduate program.
Postgraduate residents undergo full-time residential training and must follow the academic and administrative regulations of the Institute of Medicine.
MDS programs are non-practicing during the period of study. Residents are therefore expected to concentrate on assigned academic, clinical, research, and institutional responsibilities rather than undertake private professional practice or private assignments.
For hospital-based clinical and para-clinical postgraduate programs, the stated regulations permit two weeks of leave in one year.
Clinical MDS programs include three months of community-based teaching and learning.
This requirement forms part of postgraduate clinical education and is separate from routine institution-based specialist training.
The MDS course therefore combines specialty study at the institution with the broader clinical training requirements that apply to postgraduate dental residents under TU-IOM.
The available course information identifies Orthodontics as the principal specialist area and specifically refers to orthodontic techniques involving:
These areas build on the dental knowledge acquired during BDS and are studied at postgraduate level as part of specialist orthodontic education.
The available curriculum material does not provide a complete year-wise list of specialty subjects or procedures. For publication accuracy, the course is therefore best described through the confirmed specialist focus, duration, entrance requirements, and postgraduate training rules rather than adding unverified modules.
UCMS is a Tribhuvan University-affiliated medical and health-sciences institution in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi.
Its postgraduate offerings include MDS specialties, and Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics is identified among its postgraduate dental programs.
UCMS also has an associated teaching hospital used for clinical education. Dental Surgery is among its clinical service areas.
Postgraduate activity at UCMS includes resident orientation, Tribhuvan University examinations, counseling, and thesis or synopsis-related academic work. MDS residents therefore study within an institution that combines dental education with wider medical and hospital services.
UCMS postgraduate activity includes thesis and synopsis work involving MDS residents.
Research adds a structured academic component to postgraduate dental study alongside specialty training and other assigned academic responsibilities.
Specific thesis stages, deadlines, examination arrangements, and specialty-specific requirements depend on the applicable Tribhuvan University and Institute of Medicine rules for the relevant academic batch.
Seat allocation for MDS Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics should be treated as intake-specific.
Different course materials contain seat figures associated with different admission periods. Current specialty allocation is therefore better handled through the applicable MEC admission cycle rather than presented as a permanent course characteristic.
The same principle applies to:
The stable course details are the three-year duration, BDS entry requirement, professional registration, one-year experience requirement, MECEE-PG admission, and full-time postgraduate study.
General MDS information identifies professional work in areas such as:
Postgraduate dental graduates may also become involved in dental research or teaching where they meet the requirements of the institution and position concerned.
Completion of the degree does not guarantee a specific appointment or employment outcome. Professional work depends on registration requirements, experience, employer criteria, and applicable professional rules.
The program has a duration of three years.
UCMS is affiliated with Tribhuvan University, with postgraduate dental education under the Institute of Medicine.
Applicants must hold BDS or an equivalent dental qualification recognized by the Government of Nepal.
Yes. The stated MDS eligibility includes one year of professional experience.
Yes. Nepalese applicants must be registered with the Nepal Medical Council. Foreign candidates must meet the applicable registration requirement in their own country.
Yes. Admission is conducted through the postgraduate common entrance examination administered by the Medical Education Commission.
Candidates must secure at least 50% in the entrance examination to become eligible for the merit list.
The examination consists of 200 single-best-response multiple-choice questions.
Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics carries 15 marks within the Clinical Dental Sciences section.
Yes. MDS residents undergo full-time residential postgraduate training.
No. The applicable postgraduate rules classify MDS study as non-practicing during the training period.
Yes. Clinical MDS programs include three months of community-based teaching and learning.
No. Specialty-level seats are determined for the applicable admission cycle and may vary between intakes.
