Highlights
The Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Zoology program under Tribhuvan University’s (TU) Institute of Science and Technology (IoST) is a 2-year, 4-semester post-graduate degree.
Following the updated semester-system curriculum, the course spans 70 credit hours (worth 1,750 aggregate marks). The first year builds advanced foundational knowledge in animal sciences, while the second year shifts completely toward research methodology and specialized elective streams.
Focuses heavily on core molecular, structural, and behavioral aspects of animal life. Each theory course is accompanied by a mandatory 1-credit laboratory practical.
Zoo 501 / 506: Biosystematics & Evolution (Theory & Practical)
Zoo 502 / 507: Cell & Developmental Biology (Theory & Practical)
Zoo 503 / 508: Biochemistry & Immunology (Theory & Practical)
Zoo 504 / 509: Animal Anatomy & Physiology (Theory & Practical)
Zoo 505 / 510: Neuronal & Behavioral Biology (Theory & Practical)
Lays down the analytical groundwork required for field research and computational biology.
Zoo 551 / 554: Molecular Biology & Genetics (Theory & Practical)
Zoo 552 / 555: Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Theory & Practical)
Zoo 553 / 556: Fundamentals of Ecology (Theory & Practical)
Proposal Writing: Submission and defense of your preliminary research project concept.
Students choose one major specialization track to stick with for the remainder of their degree. Coursework includes advanced quantitative topics in that domain alongside applied practicals.
Specialization Streams Available (Pick One):
Ecology & Environment (e.g., Quantitative Ecology, Wetland Ecology)
Entomology (e.g., General Entomology, Pest Management)
Fish Biology & Aquaculture (e.g., Fish Anatomy, Aquaculture Systems)
Parasitology (e.g., Protozoology, Helminthology, Zoonoses)
Genomics & Molecular Biology (Advanced gene tech and molecular mapping)
Classroom lectures end so that students can dedicate their time to active scientific field collection, laboratory experiments, data compiling, and publishing.
Advanced Specialization Papers (Remaining papers from your selected stream)
Zoo 652: Dissertation Work (6 to 8 Credits): Independent research thesis submission and formal defense in front of internal and external viva examiners.
The 40/60 Split: Every course paper divides its total marks into an internal college evaluation (40%) and a final written semester board exam (60%) conducted by the IoST Dean's Office.
Strict Pass Criteria: To successfully clear a semester, you must pass the theory, laboratory practical, and dissertation portions entirely separately. The minimum pass mark for individual modules is strictly 50% (Grade B- / individual GPA of 2.7). To graduate, an overall Cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.0 (Grade B) is mandatory.
Admission Eligibility: You must hold a B.Sc. in Zoology (or an equivalent biological life science degree) with minimum 50% aggregate marks, and successfully crack the highly competitive TU IoST Centralized Entrance Exam. Merit ranking dictates seat allocation at the Kirtipur Central Department and major provincial constituent campuses.