The MS in General Surgery at Universal College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital (UCMS), Rupandehi is a three-year postgraduate surgical residency affiliated with Tribhuvan University (TU).
The program follows the postgraduate medical education requirements of the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University (TU-IOM). It develops knowledge and practical skills in general surgery and related surgical specialties, with emphasis on safe management of surgical disease, trauma, clinical decision-making, research, and professional responsibility.
The TU MS General Surgery program began in 1994. Residents complete full-time training and gradually take greater responsibility for surgical patients under supervision.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | MS in General Surgery |
| College | Universal College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) |
| Location | Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal |
| Affiliation | Tribhuvan University |
| Academic Unit | Institute of Medicine |
| Degree | Master of Surgery (MS) |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Training | Full-time residential |
| Entrance | MECEE-PG |
| Admission Authority | Medical Education Commission |
| Prior Qualification | MBBS or equivalent |
| Experience Requirement | One year |
| Professional Registration | Nepal Medical Council for Nepalese candidates |
The program is designed to prepare surgeons with adequate knowledge and practical ability in General Surgery and related surgical specialties.
Residents learn to recognize and manage a wide range of surgical problems caused by trauma and surgical disease. The course also requires a strong understanding of the basic sciences that support surgical diagnosis and treatment.
Graduates are expected to develop:
Recognition of professional limitations is specifically emphasized. Surgical residents are expected to know when to seek information, assistance, or referral rather than working beyond their competence.
Applicants must already hold a recognized primary medical qualification.
Eligibility:
MS General Surgery falls within the clinical postgraduate programs for which the stated one-year professional experience requirement applies.
Meeting these conditions makes a candidate eligible to compete for admission. Placement depends on MECEE-PG performance, merit, matching, and the seats available for the applicable intake.
Admission is conducted through the Medical Education Common Entrance Examination for Postgraduate Level (MECEE-PG).
The Medical Education Commission (MEC) manages postgraduate entrance, merit, matching, seat allocation, fees, and admission procedures.
The admission process includes:
Nepalese and foreign applicants participate in the common entrance examination, with separate merit lists prepared under the postgraduate admission rules.
The postgraduate 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 includes 115 marks from clinical subjects and 60 marks from basic medical sciences.
Surgery carries 18 marks in the clinical section.
Other clinical subjects include Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Anaesthesiology, Psychiatry, Radiology, and Dermatology.
Community Medicine and Research Methodology carry 10 marks, Forensic Medicine carries 5 marks, and mandatory professional-development areas carry 10 marks.
MS General Surgery is conducted as three years of full-time residential training.
Each resident is assigned a preceptor. Self-directed learning is encouraged, while faculty members provide academic and clinical guidance.
Formal lectures are kept limited. Regular postgraduate activities include:
During the first year, residents also receive guidance in relevant basic sciences such as Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Clinical Pharmacology.
Clinical training places residents directly in surgical patient care.
The TU/IOM training pattern includes work in outpatient and inpatient services, case clerking, supervised patient management, on-call responsibilities, and maintenance of a logbook.
Residents initially work under closer supervision and receive increasing responsibility as their training progresses. Greater responsibility for patient management is introduced during the second year.
This progressive approach allows residents to connect scientific knowledge with clinical assessment, investigation, operative decision-making, and ongoing patient care.
A General Surgery resident is expected to understand the scientific basis of investigations and treatment rather than rely only on procedural skill.
The course therefore brings together:
Professional attitude is another major component. Residents are expected to communicate appropriately with patients and families and work constructively with health professionals.
The ability to recognize personal limitations and seek specialist assistance when necessary is treated as part of safe surgical practice.
Research forms a compulsory part of the residency.
During the second year, residents undertake research for their thesis under the guidance of an assigned supervisor.
The thesis is approved by the guide at the end of the second year and submitted before the final MS examination. The resident defends the thesis during the first half of the third year and must obtain approval.
This process develops skills in:
Clinical research is also one of the stated overall objectives of the MS General Surgery program.
Assessment is organized into three phases.
Phase One evaluates basic medical sciences.
Internal assessment contributes 20% of the marks.
Basic science teaching during early residency supports the scientific knowledge required for clinical surgical practice.
Phase Two centers on research and thesis work.
Residents conduct their research during the second year. The thesis must receive approval and be submitted before the final MS examination.
Thesis defense takes place during the first half of the third year.
The later examination includes theory and practical assessment.
Practical evaluation places substantial emphasis on OSCE-type assessment. The required pass mark is 50% in both theory and practical components.
At the end of the third year, the final examination includes:
Twenty percent of the marks are allocated to internal assessment.
Theory assessment includes multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and a limited number of essay-type questions. Oral and practical assessment makes greater use of OSCE-style evaluation.
UCMS operates an associated teaching hospital used for clinical education and training of doctors and other health professionals.
General Surgery is among the hospital's verified clinical service areas. Other hospital services include General Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics with Neonatology, Orthopedics, ENT Surgery, Ophthalmology, Anaesthesiology-related care, Psychiatry, Dermatology, diagnostic services, and emergency care.
This range of hospital services supports clinical education in a medical institution where surgical patients may also require diagnostic and multidisciplinary care.
UCMS postgraduate activity in 2026 confirms active MD/MS cohorts, resident orientation, Tribhuvan University final-year resident examinations, and thesis or synopsis work.
MS General Surgery is also an eligible prior qualification for several advanced surgical programs under TU/IOM requirements.
These include MCh pathways such as:
Advanced surgical admission is separate from the MS degree and requires the applicable specialty registration, entrance, merit, and admission requirements.
General Surgery seats at UCMS are determined through the applicable MEC postgraduate admission cycle.
Seat numbers should not be treated as permanently fixed because postgraduate specialty allocation can change between intakes.
The same applies to:
The three-year duration, MBBS entry requirement, one-year experience requirement, professional registration, and MECEE-PG admission route are the more stable course details.
MS General Surgery is a three-year postgraduate surgical residency.
Applicants must hold MBBS or an equivalent medical qualification recognized by the Government of Nepal.
Yes. The stated eligibility includes one year of professional experience.
Yes. Nepalese applicants must hold Nepal Medical Council registration. Foreign applicants must meet the applicable registration requirement in their own country.
Yes. Admission is conducted through MECEE-PG and the applicable MEC merit and matching process.
Candidates must secure at least 50% in the entrance examination to become eligible for the merit list.
Yes. It is conducted as a three-year full-time residential program.
Yes. Residents conduct research during the second year and complete a thesis that is defended during the third year.
Assessment includes internal evaluation, basic medical sciences, thesis work, theory examinations, oral assessment, practical examinations, and OSCE-style evaluation.
Yes. Residents manage patients under supervision, with increased responsibility introduced as they progress through the residency.
MS General Surgery can meet the prior-degree requirement for specified MCh specialties, subject to separate eligibility, registration, entrance, and admission rules.
No. Specialty seats are determined for the applicable MEC postgraduate admission cycle and may vary between intakes.
