If you landed here searching for what PBNS means, here is the direct answer: PBNS stands for Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science. It is a 3-year bachelor-level nursing programme designed specifically for nurses who have already completed their PCL (Proficiency Certificate Level) in Nursing and want to upgrade their qualification to a full bachelor’s degree.
Purbanchal University is one of the primary universities offering PBNS in Nepal, along with B.Sc. Nursing, B. Pharmacy, and BPH (Bachelor of Public Health). This guide covers all four programmes — full forms, eligibility, fee structure, entrance exam process, and career scope.
PBNS Full Form and Meaning
PBNS = Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science
It is also sometimes abbreviated as PBN (Post-Basic Bachelor in Nursing) or PBBN (Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing). All three refer to the same programme. The “Post-Basic” part is the key — this is not an entry-level programme. It is specifically for candidates who already hold a PCL in Nursing (the standard 3-year nursing diploma) and have some clinical working experience.
The programme upgrades a PCL-qualified staff nurse into a bachelor-level nursing professional with advanced knowledge in hospital, community, midwifery, and psychiatric nursing. Purbanchal University was historically the first university in Nepal to offer bachelor-level nursing through affiliated colleges, including cooperative and private institutions.
PBNS at Purbanchal University
- Full form: Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science
- Duration: 3 years
- Affiliation: Purbanchal University
- Type: Upgrade programme for PCL Nursing graduates
- Entrance exam: MECEE-BL (Medical Education Common Entrance Examination — Bachelor Level), conducted by the Medical Education Commission
- Number of affiliated colleges: 29 colleges under Purbanchal University offering PBN/PBNS across Nepal
- Specialisation areas: Hospital Nursing, Community Nursing, Midwifery, Psychiatric Nursing
PBNS Eligibility
- Must have passed PCL Nursing (Proficiency Certificate Level in Nursing) from a recognised institute with minimum second division (50%) or 2.4 CGPA
- Must be registered with Nepal Nursing Council (NNC)
- Minimum 1 year of clinical work experience after NNC registration (some colleges require 2 years — check the specific college’s requirement)
- Must pass the MECEE-BL entrance examination with at least 50% marks
- Medical fitness certificate required at time of admission
PBNS Fee Structure (Approximate)
- Total programme fee (3 years): Approximately NPR 2,50,000 – 4,00,000 depending on the affiliated college
- MEC-regulated fee for BNS/PBN: NPR 5,18,300 (this is the ceiling — many colleges charge within or below this)
- Fees vary significantly between colleges in Kathmandu and those outside the valley
PBNS Entrance Exam (MECEE-BL)
PBNS admission is now processed through the centralised MECEE-BL system run by the Medical Education Commission (MEC). This replaced the earlier Purbanchal University-specific entrance exam. The exam covers English (50 marks) and Nursing Science including problem-solving and major subject areas (100 marks), for a total of 150 marks over 3 hours. Candidates must score at least 50% to qualify.
PBNS Career Scope
- Senior staff nurse and charge nurse positions in hospitals
- Public health nursing roles in government health posts and primary health centres
- Nursing faculty positions at PCL nursing institutes
- Community health officer roles in NGOs and INGOs
- Midwifery specialist roles in maternal and child health programmes
- International nursing opportunities — a bachelor-level qualification opens licensing pathways in Gulf countries, Australia, UK, and Canada that PCL alone does not
B.Sc. Nursing at Purbanchal University
B.Sc. Nursing is a separate, 4-year entry-level bachelor’s programme for students coming directly from +2 Science (with Biology). Unlike PBNS, it does not require prior nursing experience — it trains students from the ground up as professional nurses.
- Full form: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Duration: 4 years
- Entry requirement: +2 Science (Biology group) with minimum 50% marks or 2.4 CGPA in PCB subjects
- Entrance exam: MECEE-BL
- Scholarship seats: Available through MEC’s national scholarship allocation
B.Sc. Nursing Fee Structure (Approximate)
- MEC regulated fee: NPR 10,36,000 for the full 4-year programme
- At Purbanchal University affiliated colleges: Approximately NPR 8,00,000 – 10,50,000 for the full programme depending on college and location
- Scholarship seats carry significantly subsidised fees
B.Sc. Nursing Eligibility
- Passed +2 Science with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with minimum 50% or 2.4 CGPA in PCB
- Minimum age: 17 years
- Must qualify MECEE-BL
- No prior nursing qualification required (this is a fresh-entry programme)
B. Pharmacy at Purbanchal University
The Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) is a 4-year undergraduate programme that trains students in pharmaceutical sciences, drug development, hospital and community pharmacy practice, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Purbanchal University offers B. Pharmacy through its constituent Purbanchal University School of Health Sciences (PUSHS) in Biratnagar and several affiliated colleges.
- Full form: Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
- Credit hours: 168
- Location of constituent school: PUSHS, Biratnagar, Morang
- Seats at PUSHS: 30 seats per year
- Entrance exam: MECEE-BL
- Scholarship seats in Nepal (all universities, 2024): 179 total, of which 99 are general merit and 80 are reserved category
B. Pharmacy Eligibility
- Passed +2 Science with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with minimum 50% or 2.4 CGPA
- Alternatively: PCL/Diploma in Pharmacy registered with Nepal Pharmacy Council
- Must qualify MECEE-BL
- Minimum age: 17 years
- Foreign board applicants must provide NEB equivalency certificate
B. Pharmacy Fee Structure at Purbanchal University
- MEC regulated fee: NPR 7,77,000 for the full programme
- At Purbanchal University affiliated colleges: Approximately NPR 7,00,000 – 10,00,000 depending on the college
- PUSHS (constituent school in Biratnagar) is generally more affordable than Kathmandu-based affiliated colleges
B. Pharmacy Career Scope
- Hospital pharmacist in government and private hospitals
- Community pharmacist / medical store operator
- Quality control officer and production officer in pharmaceutical companies
- Drug inspector under the Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Nepal
- Research and development roles in pharmaceutical industries
- Teaching faculty at pharmacy colleges
- Further study: M. Pharm, PharmD, or research programmes in Nepal or abroad
BPH at Purbanchal University
BPH stands for Bachelor of Public Health. It is a 4-year undergraduate programme focused on community and population-level health, disease prevention, health policy, and public health management — as opposed to clinical patient care. Purbanchal University offers BPH through affiliated colleges.
- Full form: Bachelor of Public Health
- Duration: 4 years
- Entry requirement: +2 Science with minimum 50% or 2.4 CGPA; some colleges also accept +2 with Health Assistant background
- Entrance exam: MECEE-BL
- MEC regulated fee: NPR 7,77,000
BPH Career Scope
- Public health officer in district health offices and municipalities
- Programme officer in NGOs, INGOs, and UN agencies working in health
- Epidemiologist and disease surveillance roles
- Health educator and community mobiliser
- Further study: MPH (Master of Public Health) in Nepal or abroad
About Purbanchal University (Health Sciences)
Purbanchal University (PU) is a government university headquartered in Gothgaun, Morang District, eastern Nepal. It was established in 1994 and has a particularly strong presence in health science education in Province 1 and Madhesh Province. The university was a pioneer in affiliating private, cooperative, and NGO-run nursing colleges in Nepal, which is why it has the largest number of affiliated nursing colleges of any university in the country.
Key health science programmes at Purbanchal University include PBNS, B.Sc. Nursing, B. Pharmacy, BPH, MBBS (through affiliated colleges), and various postgraduate medical programmes. The university’s constituent health sciences school, PUSHS, is located in Biratnagar.
MECEE-BL: The Common Entrance for All These Programmes
All four programmes — PBNS, B.Sc. Nursing, B. Pharmacy, and BPH — now use the MECEE-BL (Medical Education Common Entrance Examination, Bachelor Level) for admission. This is run by the Medical Education Commission (MEC) and is a single centralised entrance exam used by colleges affiliated to all universities in Nepal for health science bachelor programmes. Passing MECEE-BL with the required score is the gateway to applying to any affiliated college for these programmes.
The MECEE-BL is typically held once or twice a year. Students interested in any of these programmes should monitor the MEC website for the exam schedule and registration window.
Programme Comparison at a Glance
| Programme | Full Form | Duration | Entry Requirement | Approx. Fee (NPR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBNS | Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science | 3 years | PCL Nursing + NNC registration + 1 year experience | 2,50,000 – 5,18,300 |
| B.Sc. Nursing | Bachelor of Science in Nursing | 4 years | +2 Science (Biology) with 50% | 8,00,000 – 10,36,000 |
| B. Pharmacy | Bachelor of Pharmacy | 4 years | +2 Science (PCB) with 50% | 7,00,000 – 10,00,000 |
| BPH | Bachelor of Public Health | 4 years | +2 Science with 50% | 7,00,000 – 7,77,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full form of PBNS in nursing?
PBNS stands for Post-Basic Bachelor of Nursing Science. It is a 3-year bachelor-level programme for nurses who have completed PCL Nursing and want to upgrade their qualification. It is also referred to as PBN (Post-Basic Bachelor in Nursing) or PBBN.
What is the difference between PBNS and B.Sc. Nursing?
B.Sc. Nursing is an entry-level 4-year programme for students coming directly from +2 Science — no nursing background required. PBNS is a 3-year upgrade programme exclusively for candidates who already have a PCL in Nursing and clinical work experience. Both result in a bachelor-level nursing degree, but the entry point and target student are completely different.
What is the eligibility for B. Pharmacy in Nepal?
For B. Pharmacy in Nepal, candidates must have passed +2 Science with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with a minimum of 50% marks or 2.4 CGPA. Alternatively, candidates holding a PCL/Diploma in Pharmacy registered with Nepal Pharmacy Council are also eligible. All candidates must qualify the MECEE-BL entrance examination.
Does Purbanchal University offer MBBS?
Yes, Purbanchal University has affiliated colleges that offer MBBS. However, the Purbanchal University College of Medical and Allied Sciences (PUCMAS) in Gothgaun, Morang is the primary constituent institution for health sciences education under PU.
How many nursing colleges are affiliated with Purbanchal University?
As of 2024, Purbanchal University has 29 affiliated colleges offering the PBN/PBNS programme — the highest number of nursing college affiliations of any university in Nepal. Additionally, several colleges are affiliated for B.Sc. Nursing under PU.
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