Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS), Dhulikhel: MBBS Fees, Admission and FMGE Review

KUSMS at a glance

Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS) is the medical school of Kathmandu University (KU), which describes itself as an "autonomous, not-for-profit, self-funding public institution" established by an Act of Parliament in December 1991. KUSMS says it launched its own constituent MBBS programme in Dhulikhel in August 2001, and its university hospital is Dhulikhel Hospital, an independent, not-for-profit, community-supported hospital.

For Indian students, KUSMS combines three things that are hard to find together: a Nepalese public-university setting, merit-only admission through the government's Medical Education Commission, and one of the best FMGE records of any Nepalese college.

Course structure

KUSMS describes the MBBS as "five and half years" in three phases:

1. Pre-clinical (2 years): the basic medical sciences, taught at the Chaukot basic-science building.
2. Clinical (2.5 years): clinical subjects with hospital postings at Dhulikhel Hospital.
3. Internship (1 year): compulsory rotating residential training.

This is the same shape as Indian MBBS and fits FMGL 2021: 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship at the same institution. Teaching is in English.

How much does KUSMS cost?

KUSMS publishes its 2025 tuition on its MBBS page:

Rupee conversions use Nepal Rastra Bank's 13 November 2026 rates (about NPR 150.5 = US$1, NPR 1.60 = ₹1) and the site-wide US$1 ≈ ₹94.

Two points to note. First, the whole tuition is front-loaded into the first three years, so plan your loan or savings accordingly (see education loans). Second, the published figures cover tuition only; hostel, food, exam and registration fees are extra and not listed online. Nepal's MEC fixes fee caps only for Nepali students, so there is no published ceiling on what foreigners pay.

Admission process for Indian students

KUSMS states that eligibility follows MEC rules and that the entrance test is conducted by MEC, with selection under MEC guidelines. In practice:

1. Qualify NEET-UG. Mandatory for Indian citizens who want to practise in India, and recognised by MEC as a route for foreign applicants. Keep your Class 12 PCB marks handy; Nepalese colleges ask for at least 50% in PCB.
2. Apply through MEC in the foreign category, either via the NEET route or by sitting MECEE-BL. For the current cycle, MEC held the MBBS entrance exam on 31 October 2026 (Kathmandu Post).
3. MEC seat allocation. Choose KUSMS in MEC's counselling; seats are allotted on merit.
4. Report to KUSMS with original documents and pay fees directly to the college.

Do not pay any intermediary to "reserve" a KUSMS seat; MEC allocates every MBBS seat in Nepal. See MBBS abroad admission process.

FMGE performance of KUSMS graduates

KUSMS graduates have done far better than Nepal's average in recent FMGE sessions:

For comparison, all Nepal graduates passed at about 30% in 2024 and 23% in 2025, and all countries at about 21.5% in 2025 (NBEMS). With only around 30 candidates a year, percentages can swing, but two consecutive years near 50% is a strong signal. Only B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan did clearly better among Nepalese colleges (about 67–71%). More in the FMGE guide.

Campus, hospital and student life

KUSMS's basic-science building sits on a hilltop at Chaukot in the Panauti area, about 3 km from Dhulikhel Hospital, which is the university hospital for all its medical programmes. Dhulikhel is a hill town east of Kathmandu: quieter and cooler than the capital, with cold winter nights. Kathmandu's airport and hospitals are within reach by road.

Teaching is in English. Nepali shares the Devanagari script with Hindi, so Hindi speakers usually pick up enough for patient interaction. Food is familiar to Indian students. As in the rest of Nepal, keep earthquake and monsoon-road safety in mind.

Checklist before you pay

1. Confirm KUSMS's foreign seats in MEC's seat matrix for your cycle and apply only through MEC.
2. Get the current fee schedule from KUSMS directly, including hostel and exam fees not shown online.
3. Confirm the internship is at Dhulikhel Hospital and ask how foreign graduates register with the Nepal Medical Council.
4. Check the latest NBEMS FMGE institute-wise report and the WDOMS listing (search.wdoms.org).

Pros and cons for Indian students

KUSMS is a strong academic choice with a transparent fee schedule and an FMGE record among the best in South Asia. Its downsides are price and scarcity: $75,000 in tuition for foreigners, only 100 seats in total, and competition through MEC's merit list. If cost is the main constraint, compare Bangladeshi private colleges such as Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College ($48,500 all-in, about 49% in FMGE 2025), or read the full Nepal country hub.

Pros and cons of KUSMS

Advantages

• One of Nepal's strongest FMGE records: about 53% in 2024 and 47% in 2025
• University hospital (Dhulikhel Hospital) on the same academic system, which fits FMGL's same-institution internship rule
• Published, transparent fee schedule for foreign and Nepali students
• Public university setting with merit-based MEC admission, not agent seats

Drawbacks

• Expensive for foreigners: $75,000 tuition, more than twice the Nepali total
• Only 100 MBBS seats in total, so foreign places are limited
• Hilltop basic-science campus at Chaukot is about 3 km from the hospital in a semi-rural area
• Hostel and living costs are not published online