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Government of Nepal

Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation

Nepal Mountain Academy

NMA

The Nepal Mountain Academy aims to foster the reach of scientific study in high mountains with the aspiration of advancing the fields of adventure tourism and mountaineering. MSc in MMS program is intended to develop scholars in mountain and mountaineering science to communicate specialized mountain development research. The academy has devised a scientifically-integrated strategy for mountain research to assist the government in adopting and implementing mountain development policies. This academic programme is anticipated to expand the cooperation opportunities of research domestically and globally in the alpine region. The MMS programme is affiliated with the Institute of Science and Technology (IoST), Tribhuvan University (TU), and is exclusively available in Nepal through Nepal Mountain Academy. MMS is a two-year programme that spans four semesters and requires graduate students to complete 64 credits, including 29 credits in theoretical knowledge in mountaineering and mountain science, 6 credits in methods and tools, and 29 credits in field-based practical and research.

Scope of the MMS Program
MMS course offers all the basic mountain science and field-based practices to convey scientific research to address the opportunities and challenges in the mountain and mountaineering science. Students who complete the MMS programme will have acquired a level of understanding to demonstrate:

  • Capacity to convey scientific research to address the opportunities and challenges in mountain science,
  • Skill for serving tourism sector development focusing on trekking and mountaineering tourism,
  • Expertise in facilitating institutions in the formulation of evidence-based policy and strategy,  
  • Practical aspect of research in different fields of high mountain geomorphology, ecology, climate, hydrology, and glaciology,
  • Professional resource management skills for people's livelihood, environment conservation, and sustainable development of High Mountain.

Additional information about the course

Class Timings

Regular class time for the program is between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM on weekdays including practical classes.

Attendance and Evaluations

All students must maintain an attendance record of 80% in each subject to be eligible for the board examination. The final grade for each semester is derived using an internal evaluation of 40% and a board examination of 60%.

The MSc.MMS program grading system is based on a student performance in in-semester (40%) evaluations and end-semester examination (60%) administered by IoST, TU. Internal evaluation are made on the following basis

  • Class Assignment: 10
  • Group Discussion: 10
  • In-class Presentation: 10
  • Attendance: 10
  • Internal Examination (Mid-term & Pre-board) : 20
  • Project and Field Practical with Presentation: 40

Internal evaluation of 100 marks is converted to 40, and students must score at least 30 to be eligible for the end-semester examination.

First Semester

Course code

Subjects

Credit Hours

MMS501

Mountain Tourism and Mountaineering: Concept and Practices

3

MMS502

Mountaineering in Nepal

3

MMS503

Mountain Geography

3

MMS504

Mountain Climate and Hydrology

3

MMS505

Research Methodology

2

MMS506

Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing

2

MMS531

Practical work - I

2

MMS532

Practical Work  - II

2

Second Semester

Course code

Subjects

Credit Hours

MMS551

Mountain Safety Protocols

3

MMS552

Environmental Impact of Mountain Tourism

3

MMS553

Glacial Geomorphology

3

MMS554

Dynamics of  Snow, Ice and Glacier

3

MMS555

Mountain Ecology and Bio-diversity

3

MMS556

Statistical Methods

2

MMS581

Practical Work - III

2

MMS591

Mountain Tourism Development: Policies & Plans

Elective (one)

2

MMS592

Mountain People & Livelihood

2

MMS593

International Cooperation, Diplomacy & Mountains

2

Third Semester

Course code

Subjects

Credit Hours

MMS631

Field Work - I (Research)

2

MMS632

Field Work - II (Research)

4

MMS633

Case Study: Mountains Safety Protocols (Research)

1

MMS634

Case Study: Environmental Impact of Mountains Tourism  (Research)

1

MMS649

Dissertation Proposal Seminar (Research)

1

Fourth Semester

Course code

Subjects

Credit Hours

MMS697

Dissertation Defense (Research)

2

MMS698

Publication of Scientific Article (Research)

3

MMS699

Dissertation (Research)

9

Student intake
Student intake for the MSS program begin in January for the February to July semester capable to accommodate 30 students per intake

Academic requirement for admission to M.Sc. MMS

  • B.Sc. in General Science or equivalent
  • B.Sc. Forestry or equivalent
  • B.Sc. Agriculture or equivalent
  • B. E. in Civil Engineering or equivalent
  • Bachelor in Physical Geography or equivalent
  • Bachelor of Mountaineering Studies (BMS) with +2 in Science
  • B. Sc. CSIT (B.Sc. Computer Science and Information Technology)

Eligibility criteria for admission to M. Sc. MMS

  • Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50 percent or a CGPA of 2.00 in the aforementioned disciplines; and
  • International applicants must have completed undergraduate courses (equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree) in the above-mentioned requirements in English medium with a minimum of 50 percent marks or 2.00 CGPA in aggregate.

Documents required

  • Duly filled application form for MSc MMS
  • Certificates and testimonials of all examinations passed
  • Two recent passport-sized photographs
  • Equivalency certificate if the students have their bachelor's degree from a foreign board
  • Updated CV/biodata
  • Copy of citizenship certificate (for Nepali Nationals)
  • Migration certificate (original) other than TU
  • MMS entrance score sheet (The applicant must score a minimum of 40 marks in the entrance exam conducted by IoST TU to be eligible for the MMS program)

Admission Test
Academy shall conduct admission test for appropriate screening of the applicants through group discussion and personal interview to all the eligible candidates.

International students will be admitted in accordance with the rules outlined by the university (TU).

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Nationals/ semester

Admission and 1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Grand Total

Nepali

1,50,000

1,00,000

75,000

75,000

NRs. 4,00,000

SAARC

2,00,000

1,50,000

1,50,000

1,00,000

NRs. 6,00,000

Foreign

3,00,000

2,00,000

2,00,000

1,00,000

NRs. 8,00,000

MMS fee structure covers:

  • Tuition fees
  • Library-computer lab fees
  • Several ECAs
  • Bouldering wall fees
  • Visiting lectures by expert
  • A peak climbing of below 6,000 meters including transportation, experts, permit fees, and combined climbing gears (personal gears, food & accommodation expenses are not included).

Scholarship for MMS
There are four different academic scholarships offered to students at NMA

  1. University scholarshipis offered to three students in which students are granted a 100% tuition fee waiver under the scholarship criteria of Tribhuvan University.
  2. Performance scholarship is rewarded to the student with the highest score in the end-semester examination with NRS 20,000 (Twenty Thousand) of fee waiver in the following semester
  3. Privilege scholarship of 25% of the fee waiver is offered to eligible students (1 male & 1 female) permanently residing at Solududhkunda Municipality -7, Garma, Solukhumbu
  4. Contribution scholarship is granted to 4 students (2 males and 2 females), where each student are eligible to receive a 25% waiver in tuition fee if the student is
    • A child of a mountaineer who lost his/her life or has been physically impaired during the expedition
    • A child of a mountaineer who has successfully climbed 8000-meter peaks more than 5 times including Mount Everest (8848.86 meters).
    • A child of a certified and licensed IMFGA guide who has a minimum work experience of 7 years.

Additional opportunities:

  • Tutorial classes
  • Academic and research paper writing workshop
  • Seminar paper writing workshop
  • National and international seminar paper presentations
  • International guest lectures

Nepal mountain academy is located at the heart of the city which makes students and visitors easy access of public transportation. The academy has developed a training and academic paradigm of teaching. Under the academic format, the theoretical part is imparted in Kathmandu. Training in the high mountains and other technical features are included in the practical model, which is carried out in International Mountain Training and Research Centre (IMTRC) at GarmaSolukhumbu.

a. Classrooms
Highly furnished classrooms with digital learning appliances, stereo sound system, and comfortable seating arrangement in a peaceful environment.

b. Library
More than 3500 national and international hard-copy books, journals, and research papers are available for students. Academy library also has the provision of conveying any books upon students’ request.

c. Computer lab
Computer lab equipped with unlimited internet facility and modern computers, is available for students. Regardless of the Academy’s class timing, the lab stands open for students at any time during office hours.

d. Climbing wall
The Academy has built a bouldering wall to enhance the students’ physical abilities as well as techniques/ art of climbing.

e. Organized outdoor sports
Academy, in request of students also organizes several other communal sports such as Futsal, Badminton, Trail running, Hiking, and so on.

Academics Oriented

1. Publications
The academy regularly publish:

  • Textbook of tourism, adventure tourism, mountaineering, mountain science as well as academic requirements of BMS and MATS courses;
  • International peer-reviewed journal: Journal of Tourism and Himalayan Adventures (JTHA).
  • Annual academic magazine: Voice of Himalaya (VOH)
  • Adventure Tourism Resource Manual (Trainers Guide)

2. Counseling from experts
The academy is home to 70+ masterminds of several academic and practical disciplines. The experts from several tourism associations such as NNMGA, NMIA, TAAN, PATA, NMA, NTB, MoCTCA, and many other nationally and internationally acclaimed areas offer advice, information, guidance, and supervision to aspirants.

3. Research facilitation
The academy motivates students to conduct and take part in diverse tourism researches. In possible cases, the academy provides literary and financial help for innovative research plans as well and offers opportunities for the articles to be included in the Journal of Tourism and Himalayan Adventures.

4. Involvement in nationally recognized events and activities
The academy actively takes part in almost every national tourism happenings and celebration and encourages students to volunteer and facilitate in them. This not only helps the students to understand the Nepalese tourism scenario but also develops their ability to manage and organize nationally recognized events. The academy's organizing of discussion sessions with acclaimed national and international mountaineers on the development of peak profiles of 14 Eight-Thousanders is a model initiative of international event organization, where students get to take part.

5. Research grants and incentives
The academy on an annual basis has been opening research grants to students and experts aiming at exploring the diverse science, culture, heritage, and adventure facets of the Himalayas. The research grants have also helped students of the academy cultivate their capacity of organizing and executing primary fieldwork and compiling them into discernable academic work.

The entrance examination comprises five sections covering the specific theme relating to mountain & mountaineering science. Each section contributes 20% weightage with 20 multiple-choice questions. The entrance examination will have altogether 90 multiple choice (objective) questions and 1 subjective (10 marks) which need to be accomplished within 2 hours and should earn 40 marks at least to be eligible for MMS admission. Entrance exam is administered by Institute of Science and Technology (IoST), TU.

  • Section I: Mountain Environment (20% course coverage)
  • Section II: Mountain Geography & Geology (20% course coverage)
  • Section III: Mountain Ecology & Diversity (20% course coverage)
  • Section IV: Mountain Tourism & Mountaineering (20% course coverage)
  • Section V: Research Methods & Statistics (20% course coverage)

MMS stands for Master of Science in Mountain and Mountaineering Science.

MMS course is affiliated to the Institute of Science and Technology (IoST), Tribhuvan University (TU) and only offered by Nepal Mountain Academy in Nepal.

MMS course offers all the mountain and mountaineering science and field-based practices to convey scientific research to address the opportunities and challenges in mountain and mountaineering science.

Applicants must have the academic qualification in

  • B.Sc. in General Science or equivalent
  • B.Sc. Forestry or equivalent
  • B.Sc. Agriculture or equivalent
  • B. E. in Civil Engineering or equivalent
  • Bachelor in Physical Geography or equivalent
  • Bachelor of Mountaineering Studies (BMS) with +2 in Science
  • B. Sc. CSIT (B.Sc. Computer Science and Information Technology)

Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50 percent or a CGPA of 2.00 in the aforementioned disciplines.

The admission procedure as defined by IoST, TU.

  1. Fill up the online/in-person form from the academy for the entrance examination
  2. Participate in the entrance examination
  3. Applicant should secure at least 40 marks to be eligible for applying enrollment in MMS
  4. Submit MMS enrollment form and academic credentials with applicable charges
  5. Applicant shall participate in the group discussion and personal interview as a final selection process
  6. Successful candidates can finally enrol in the MMS program paying all applicable charges of the first instalment

To complete the admission process, each applicant must submit the following documents

  • Copies of transcripts/grade sheets of Bachelor's Degree
  • Copy of character certificate of Bachelor's Degree
  • Equivalent certificate of Bachelor's Degree (applicable to students from boards and universities outside of Nepal)
  • Migration certificate (original) other than TU
  • Updated CV
  • Copy of citizenship certificate (for Nepali Nationals)
  • Two recent passport-size photographs

After successfully completing the course, students will have earned 64 credits over two years distributed into four semesters.

  • Capacity to convey scientific research to address the opportunities, and challenges  in mountain science,
  • Skill for serving tourism sector development focusing on trekking and mountaineering tourism
  • Practical aspect of research in different fields of high mountain geomorphology, ecology, climate, hydrology, and glaciology
  • professional resource management skills for the livelihood of the people, environment conservation, and sustainable development of high mountain areas,

International students who have an undergraduate degree in any science discipline or as mentioned in the academic eligibility above can apply for the MMS program. For admission requirements, one should appear in the entrance exam conducted by IoST, TU securing a minimum 0f 40% score along with an updated CV and a statement of the proposal (SOP) and proof of taking English as a compulsory subject until a Bachelor's Degree. Students can exchange communication and documents atmms@nepalmountain.edu.np

The total cost of the MMS program is NRS 400,000.

The following facilities and services are included in the entire tuition fee paid by the students:

  • Tuition fees
  • Library- Computer Lab fees
  • Lab-based practical fees
  • Field research tools
  • Field researcher/expert & mountain guide fee
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Bouldering Wall fees
  • Additional lectures by the national and international visiting experts/faculties
  • The tuition fee does not include the end-semester exam registration fee
  • Personal gear expenses
  • Related field expenses- accommodation and food cost varies based on the nature of the field trip
  • Accidental insurance premium for field research and visit

Regular class time for the program is between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM on weekdays including practical classes.

There are four different academic scholarships offered to students at NMA

  1. University scholarshipis offered to three students in which students are granted a 100% tuition fee waiver under the scholarship criteria of Tribhuvan University.
  2. Performance scholarship is rewarded to the student with the highest score in the end-semester examination with NRS 20,000 (Twenty Thousand) of fee waiver in the following semester
  3. Privilege scholarship of 25% of the fee waiver is offered to eligible students (1 male & 1 female) permanently residing at Solududhkunda Municipality -7, Garma, Solukhumbu
  4. Contribution scholarship is granted to 4 students (2 males and 2 females), where each student are eligible to receive a 25% waiver in tuition fee if the student is
    • A child of a mountaineer who lost his/her life or has been physically impaired during the expedition
    • A child of a mountaineer who has successfully climbed 8000-meter peaks more than 5 times including Mount Everest (8848.86 meters).
    • A child of a certified and licensed IMFGA guide who has a minimum work experience of 7 years.

There are multiple research grant opportunities for MMS students provided by Nepal Mountain Academy (NMA) and other government institutions like UGC and NAST. The students who regularly secure a minimum 3.7 CGPA in the end-semester examinations are eligible to compete for NMA research grant of NPR 100,000 (Hundred Thousand). Additionally, students have opportunities to publish their articles in the Journal of Tourism and Himalayan Adventure (JTHA)- a blind peer-review journal, and Voice of Himalaya (VOH)- an academic journal published by NMA. Students are provided with remuneration as a reward for publishing their articles in JTHA & VOH.

Additionally, the students of MMS will benefit from the following opportunities:

  • Tutorial classes;
  • Academic writing workshop;
  • Research paper writing workshop;
  • Seminar paper writing and workshop;
  • National and international seminar paper presentation; and
  • Opportunity to publish an article in an international peer-reviewed journal.

Academics