The MBBS Curriculum

The objective of the Kathmandu University Curriculum for the MBBS degree is to groom a well-rounded medical graduate who on completion of five and half years of the undergraduate medical programme will be competent to carry out the clinical, preventive and promotive roles expected of a physician. The curriculum is student centred rather than teacher centred; Problem based rather than information gathering; Integrated rather than discipline based; Community based rather than hospital based; Elective-oriented rather than standard programme oriented; Systematic rather than apprentice based.

MBBS Degree Programme:

The four and a half years of the MBBS course has been divided into nine semesters, each of 6 months duration. The first four semesters are devoted to the basic sciences and the next five to the clinical sciences. Each semester consists of 20 weeks of 6 working days per week, 7 hours per day. On successful completion of the 4 ½ year MBBS Degree course the student is to undergo one year of compulsory residential, rotating internship.

Basic Sciences (Semesters I-IV):

Basic Sciences include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and community medicine. These subjects are taught in an integrated manner, system-wise. Some of the systems are covered in the first year, at the end of which there is a university examination in each subject. The rest of the systems are covered in the second year, at the end of which there is a university examination in all the subjects except community medicine which is continued up to the 7th semester. A student is required to pass all the basic sciences subjects before he/she is allowed to go into the Clinical Sciences (Semester V).

Clinical Sciences (Semesters V-IX):

Clinical sciences include the subjects of general medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, forensic medicine, community medicine, paediatrics, otorhinolaryngology (ENT), ophthalmology, orthopaedics, dentistry, psychiatry, dermatology, radiology, anesthesiology, emergency medicine and other allied medical and surgical specialities and subspecialties. The III MBBS university examinations in ENT, ophthalmology, community medicine and forensic medicine are held at the end of the 7th semester. A student cannot be admitted to the IX semester until he/she has passed all four subjects. At the end of nine semesters are the Final MBBS university examinations in general medicine, general surgery, OBG and paediatrics.

From the very first semester the students obtain clinical exposure through hospital visits. Clinical training is conducted at the Manipal Teaching Hospital and associated local hospitals. Endeavours are also made to reach out to people at their homes. Periodically, a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, interns, students and allied health workers holds camps in rural areas. Interaction with the community is well established through regular field trips and adoption of local families.