MBS and MPA at Tribhuvan University: Programs, Admission, CMAT and Exam Centre Guide

This page covers two of the most popular master’s-level management programmes at Tribhuvan University (TU) – MBS (Master of Business Studies) and MPA (Master of Public Administration). It also explains how TU exam centres work and where to find the latest exam centre notices for MBS and MPA examinations.

MBS Exam Centre – How to Find It

If you are looking for the current MBS exam centre notice, TU exam centres are published semester-by-semester by the Faculty of Management (FOM) and change every examination cycle. They are not fixed – your exam centre depends on which college you are enrolled in and is assigned by the Dean’s Office.

The fastest ways to find your MBS exam centre:

• Check the official TU Faculty of Management notice board: fomecd.edu.np
• Check your enrolled college’s notice board – colleges receive and post exam centre assignments
• Contact the FOM Dean’s Office, Kirtipur: 01-4331845

Exam centres for MBS 1st semester, 2nd semester, and other semesters are published a few weeks before each examination. This page will not have current exam centre data – always refer to the official FOM notice for the most accurate, up-to-date information.

MBS – Master of Business Studies at TU

MBS is one of the most widely enrolled postgraduate programmes in Nepal. Introduced by Tribhuvan University in 1962, it is offered exclusively under TU through its constituent and affiliated colleges – currently over 200 colleges across Nepal, with 61 in Kathmandu district alone. If you completed BBS or any bachelor’s degree and want to advance in business management, MBS is the default path for most Nepali students.

MBS Programme Overview

• Full form: Master of Business Studies
• Duration: 2 years (4 semesters)
• Offered by: Faculty of Management (FOM), Tribhuvan University
• Total marks: 1,000 (14 core courses = 700 marks, 2 specialisation courses = 200 marks, thesis or seminar papers = 100 marks)
• Evaluation: 40% internal assessment + 60% external board examination
• System: Semester-based, annual examination for some components

MBS Eligibility

• Completed BBS (Bachelor of Business Studies) from TU, or
• Any bachelor’s degree from Tribhuvan University or a university recognised by TU
• No stream restriction – science, humanities, or management graduates can all apply
• Must qualify the CMAT (Central Management Admission Test) conducted by FOM

MBS Admission Process – CMAT

Admission to MBS is through the CMAT (Central Management Admission Test) conducted by the Faculty of Management under Tribhuvan University. Key details:

• Total marks: 100
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Number of questions: 100 objective/MCQ questions
• Sections (20 marks each):
  • Verbal Ability
  • Quantitative Techniques
  • Logical Reasoning
  • General Knowledge
  • Business and Economics
• FOM issues a score sheet to each candidate after the test
• Students submit the CMAT score sheet along with their application to colleges of their choice
• Colleges prepare their own merit lists based on CMAT scores – admission is strictly merit-based

MBS Syllabus – Semester-wise Subjects

Semester I

• Marketing Management
• Managerial Economics
• Statistical Methods
• Organisational Behaviour
• Managerial Communication

Semester II

• Financial Management
• Human Resource Management
• Business Environment
• Production and Operations Management
• Research Methodology

Semester III

• Entrepreneurship
• International Business
• Strategic Management
• Specialisation Course I (choose one area)

Semester IV

• Specialisation Course II
• Thesis writing or two seminar papers (100 marks)

Specialisation areas typically include: Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, Banking, Entrepreneurship, and others depending on the campus.

MBS Fee Structure

• Government/constituent TU campuses: Approximately NPR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000 total for 2 years – among the most affordable master’s programmes in Nepal
• Private affiliated colleges: Approximately NPR 2,00,000 – 3,00,000 total for 2 years
• Fees vary by campus – confirm directly with your chosen college

Career Scope After MBS

• Senior management and officer roles in private companies, banks, and corporations
• Government officer positions – Lok Sewa Aayog (Public Service Commission) management-track posts
• Finance, marketing, and HR leadership roles
• Teaching and academic roles at bachelor-level management colleges
• Entrepreneurship and business ownership
• Further study: PhD in Management, MPhil, or international MBA programmes

MPA – Master of Public Administration at TU

MPA is a less widely known but strategically valuable postgraduate programme for people targeting government service, policy work, development sector careers, or public administration roles. It is offered by the Central Department of Public Administration (CDPA) under TU’s Faculty of Management and is available at only 3 institutions under TU – making it significantly more selective than MBS.

MPA Programme Overview

• Full form: Master of Public Administration
• Duration: 2 years (annual system)
• Offered by: Faculty of Management (FOM), TU – Central Department of Public Administration (CDPA)
• Main institution: Public Administration Campus, Jamal, Kathmandu
• Number of affiliated colleges under TU offering MPA: 3 (including 1 in Pokhara)
• Programme type: Annual system (not semester-based)

MPA Eligibility

• Completed any bachelor’s degree from Tribhuvan University or a university recognised by TU
• No specific stream requirement – any discipline is accepted
• Must qualify the FOM entrance test for MPA (separate from CMAT for MBS)

MPA Admission Process

• Candidates appear in an entrance test conducted by the Faculty of Management (FOM)
• The entrance test covers: Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, Administrative and General Awareness, and Short Essays
• FOM issues a score sheet after the test
• Students submit applications to CDPA along with the score sheet and required documents
• Public Administration Campus prepares the merit list and admits students based on merit

MPA Curriculum Structure

The MPA curriculum has four components:

• Core Courses: Public Administration, Development Administration, Public Policy Analysis, Public Financial Administration, Public Personnel Administration, Organisational Behaviour
• Analytical and Professional Core Courses: Research Methods in Public Administration, Public Enterprise Management and Social Responsibility, International Administration, Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs Management
• Specialisation Courses (choose one area):
  • Development Administration
  • Human Resource Development
  • Public Finance
  • Law and Order Administration
• Thesis: Optional but encouraged – students can substitute thesis with additional specialisation courses

MPA Career Scope

• Government officer roles (Lok Sewa – administration and management track) – MPA is directly aligned with Nepal’s civil service
• Policy analyst and programme officer roles in government ministries
• Senior programme and project management roles in NGOs and INGOs
• Development sector organisations – UN agencies, World Bank, bilateral donors
• Public enterprise management and regulation roles
• Teaching public administration at bachelor level
• Further study: MPhil or PhD in Public Administration, Policy Studies, or Governance

MBS vs MPA – Which Should You Choose?

Factor	MBS	MPA
Full form	Master of Business Studies	Master of Public Administration
Focus	Business management, corporate sector	Public administration, governance, policy
Best for	Private sector, banking, corporate careers, entrepreneurship	Civil service, government roles, NGO/INGO, development sector
Colleges available	200+ across Nepal	3 under TU (very selective)
Admission test	CMAT (FOM)	Separate FOM entrance test
Duration	2 years, semester system	2 years, annual system
Fee (government campus)	NPR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000	Comparable, confirm with CDPA
Thesis	Optional (or seminar papers)	Optional (encouraged)
Lok Sewa alignment	Management track	Administration track – very directly aligned

If you are targeting Nepal’s civil service – particularly administration, planning, or policy-level positions – MPA’s curriculum aligns more directly with the Lok Sewa Aayog’s administrative officer syllabus. If you want flexibility across private sector, banking, and corporate management, MBS gives you more breadth and many more campus options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the full form of MBS in Nepal?

MBS stands for Master of Business Studies. It is a 2-year postgraduate management programme under Tribhuvan University’s Faculty of Management, offered through 200+ affiliated colleges across Nepal.

What is MPA in TU?

MPA stands for Master of Public Administration. It is a 2-year postgraduate programme under TU’s Faculty of Management offered through the Central Department of Public Administration (CDPA). It focuses on governance, public policy, and public administration and is available at only 3 institutions under TU.

What is CMAT for MBS?

CMAT (Central Management Admission Test) is the entrance examination conducted by TU’s Faculty of Management for admission to MBS and MPA programmes. It is a 100-mark, 90-minute objective test covering Verbal Ability, Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, General Knowledge, and Business and Economics. Your CMAT score sheet is submitted to your chosen campus as part of the admission process.

Where can I find MBS exam centres?

MBS exam centres are assigned per examination and vary by semester and college. They are published by the FOM Dean’s Office. Check fomecd.edu.np, your college notice board for current exam centre notices. They are not fixed addresses – they are published fresh each examination cycle.

How many colleges offer MBS in Nepal?

Over 200 colleges offer MBS under Tribhuvan University, with 61 in Kathmandu district. It is the most widely offered master’s management programme in Nepal.

Is MPA better than MBS for government jobs in Nepal?

For civil service and government administration roles specifically, MPA’s curriculum is more directly aligned – covering public policy, public finance, administrative law, and governance. MBS covers similar ground but with a private sector orientation. For Lok Sewa Aayog examination preparation, MPA subject matter overlaps significantly with the administration officer syllabus.