The Tribhuvan University is preparing to launch the semester system for its Masters programmes.It says the move is meant to transform the country’s largest and oldest university into what it calls a ‘centre for excellence.’

Currently, the TU conducts annual exams for the Masters’ degrees at the end of an academic session.

Professor Gunanidhi Neupane, TU rector, said the idea is to develop the university as a centre for excellence.

He said, “We have chosen the university campus and central departments on the university premises to launch the semester system in the first phase. Later, we will introduce the new system at the Masters level across the country.”

The TU, in line with a recent decision of the TU Executive Council, will give continuity to the annual exam system for the Masters programmes. This system applies for the Masters level only.

There are 38 central departments under the TU, including Physics, Chemistry, Journalism, Law, Population and Home Science.

Thirty-one of them, save the central departments of Nepal Bhasha, Home Science, Law, Public Administration, Journalism and Mass Communications, Maithali and Food Technology, are located on the university premises.

The TU informed that curricula, admission procedures and examination systems for the semester system will be different from the annual exam-based Masters programmes. And the semester system will cost more than the annual exam system.

Professor Neupane said, “Along with the cost, the quality of education will improve.”

Aman Raj Joshi, chief of the Central Department of English, said, “We recently received

a notice from the TU regarding the semester system. We are making preparations for its launch at the Masters level.”

source:the himalayan times,3 Dec 2013

He said, “Under the annual exam system, it takes a student around Rs 20,000 to complete a two-year MA (English) programme. The semester system will be costlier.”

Joshi said they have not yet finalised the cost for the semester-based MA (English) programme.

Admission for various Masters programmes under the old system has already begun in some campuses, the TU said, adding that enrolment under the semester system will begin in a few months.

source: the himalayan times,4 Dec 2013