Microbiology course in Nepal

An overview of Microbiology course with the details about course structure, syllabus, job and career prospects of microbiology and microbiologists in Nepal and abroad.

General introduction of the Microbiology course:

Microbiology is a branch of science in which you will study microbes at a cellular level and learn in detail about their interactions with higher organisms, including the ways in which microbes cause disease, the spread of infections through a population, and strategies for preventing and treating diseases caused by microbes and by their interactions with other organisms.

Microbiology is a broad discipline that involves the study of the biology of micro-organisms like bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. The main focus of our course is the pathogenic potential of the organisms that cause disease in man; also covered are aspects of the biochemistry, physiology, and genetics of microorganisms.

Recently, the knowledge of how microbes function has expanded enormously, both in the disease process and at a molecular level. Genetic engineers are using bacteria and viruses to clone eukaryotic genes to study and treat human genetic disorders. Vaccines are being developed for diseases such as AIDS, Legionnaire’s disease, and listeriosis. In the areas of biotechnology, agriculture, and food production, microbes are continually exploited for the benefit of man.

Scope of Microbiology in Nepal and abroad:

Microbiology course is emerging as one of the top priorities in the field of science. No other area as science has drawn so much Public attention as microbiology. This is mainly due to the diverse field of application. In developing countries like Nepal, microbiology presents its higher importance in Medical Industrial, Agricultural, food and several other fields.

There are many examples of Nepali students doing very well in developed countries like US, Canada, UK, Germany and many other American, European countries after graduating in Microbiology. There is a charming career after completing masters in microbiology in such developed countries.

Salary Scale of microbiologists in Nepal

Microbiologists enjoy many perks and benefits. Salaries for pharmacy or biotech labs professionals in Nepal start at Rs.15, 000 – Rs.30, 000 per month, a figure that doubles within a few years. Government and research labs offer Rs.10,000- Rs.20,000. Junior Research fellows my get Rs.15,000. The pay scale and benefits of microbiology graduates is improving in recent years in Nepal. In developed countries like US, Canada, Australia, the pay is far better – researchers commonly earn $35,000 to $75,000 per year.

­­­BSC MICROBIOLOGY IN NEPAL

Overview of Bsc Microbiology course in Nepal:

• Course Title :Bachelor of Science in Microbiology (B. Sc. Microbiology)
• Category Bachelors
• Duration:36 Months
• Cost Range(NRs.) NA
• Academic Year: Yearly
• Evaluation Method: Percentage
• Affiliated to : Tribhuvan University
• Faculty Biological, Biomedical and Food Sciences

B.Sc Microbiology course is a Four year Bachelor course after +2 Science or I.Sc Biology. Every year around 700 students get B.Sc degree majoring in microbiology from 20 colleges of TU of which 8 are constituents and rests are TU affiliated colleges.

The Microbiology undergraduate program deals with basic knowledge of structure, function, metabolism of microbes and the area of application of microbiology is mainly concerned with Medical, Environment, Food and Agriculture field.The students will involve in project work each year for promoting their professionalism and research.

The three years course, affiliated to TU includes Microbiology as the core subject and Botany/Zoology, Chemistry as the other subjects. Upon completion of the course, the students will be equipped with the necessary credentials for monitoring public health and hygiene, quality control of food,
beverage and biotechnology-related issues.

Some of the major areas under microbiology are:

 Environmental Microbiology

Environmental microbiology, which studies the interactions of microbes with the environment and each other, has many important practical applications; for example, microbes are used to treat sewage and remediate hazardous waste. Environmental microbiologists might spend time outdoors conducting field studies, as well as in the lab performing controlled experiments.

Food, Agricultural or Industrial Microbiology

Microbiology careers in food production, agriculture, and industry abound, as microscopic organisms play a major role in all three of these areas. For instance, microbiologists in the food industry might help a company with its efforts to prevent contamination by microorganisms.

Medical Microbiology Virology or Immunology

Medical microbiologists find a place in the health care field in the areas of diagnostic, virology (the study of viruses) and immunology (the study of the mechanisms in the human body that prevent infection). They can work in laboratories conducting research in related disease areas.

Course: B.Sc. (Microbiology)

• Duration              4 Years
• Eligibility               I.Sc / +2 Science with Biology
• Entrance              Students should pass the entrance examination conducted by TU

B.Sc. in Biological Sciences holders can apply for M.Sc. Microbiology/ Applied Microbiology, for a specialization such as.

1. Medical microbiology
2. Food Microbiology
3. Industrial Microbiology
4. Bioinformatics
5. Microbial-Technology
6. Clinical Research
7. Molecular biology
8. Biochemistry
9. Forensic Science
10. Hospital Management

For admission into the M.Sc. Microbiology course, universities may conduct their own written entrance examinations.

MASTERS IN MICROBIOLOGY

M.Sc. Microbiology

The M. Sc. Microbiology program was started at Tribhuvan University in 1990 for the first time in Nepal at the Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. The MSc Microbiology course structure of the program was changed in 1999 and revised in 2008 and 2009. However, the course was based on the annual examination system. The course structure of the program was changed into semester system in 2013.Therefore, this is a revised semester system credit based course curriculum to make it more competitive and research oriented.

The present curriculum is designed to upgrade M.Sc. Microbiology degree of Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University to international level in accordance to current advances in Microbiology. The new curriculum emphasizes on research-based teaching-learning practice. The new M.Sc. Microbiology degree program will be semester system credit based as per international trend. The present curriculum aims to produce qualified microbiologists, molecular biologists, researchers and scientists as per national and international demand. The Master’s degree holders will be able to use skills of modern molecular biology techniques in basic science research or in applied research areas of Microbiology. The graduates will be able to work as a qualified scientist for investigating
the potential uses of microorganisms to produce antibiotics, antibodies, steroids, vaccines, hormones and other products of microbial origin. The Master’s degree holders will be able to work as a microbiologist and research scientist in the laboratories for monitoring, identifying and helping to control infectious diseases. They will also be able to work as qualified researchers and scientists in the institutions related to food production, crop protection, and soil fertility. The Master’s degree holders will be eligible to be the lecturers of Microbiology program offered by Institute of Science and Technology and other institutions of Tribhuvan University or other universities for teaching, mentoring and supervising bachelors and master’s level Microbiology students.

Microbiology Course Structure

The entire course is divided into four semesters within two academic years. The first-semester course covers the disciplines of General Microbiology, Immunology, Microbial Genetics, Microbial Biochemistry and practical on these courses. The second semester offers track selection among four different disciplines of Microbiology for specialization. The four disciplines from the second semester include Medical Microbiology, Public Health Microbiology, Food Microbiology and Agricultural Microbiology with their practical courses. The fourth semester is completely research oriented that includes special topics in Microbiology, Epidemiology, Research Methods and Biostatistics, and Dissertation. In the second-semester students are required to choose one of the four different disciplines offered and continue with it through the Third and Fourth semesters. Students are not allowed to change the discipline once they have chosen it. The selection of discipline of Microbiology may depend upon the facilities available at the department. To gain exposure, students are encouraged to go for an excursion after the second semester.

Course:                 M.Sc. Microbiology

• Duration:               2 Years
• Eligibility:                 B.Sc. Biotechnology, Microbiology, Zoology, Botany, Food Technology, Environment Science, Biochemistry, BMLT, B. Pharmacy, Agricultural Science and other equivalent bachelor degrees in biology.
• Entrance:               Student should pass the entrance examination conducted by TU (Central Dept) or other universities.