MBA Master in Population, Gender and Development (MPGD)(Finance)

Two-year multidisciplinary master’s program combining population studies, gender studies, and development studies, designed to produce professionals capable of analyzing and addressing development challenges with population and gender as cross-cutting themes.

The Master in Population, Gender and Development (MPGD) under Pokhara University was launched through a collaboration between UNFPA, the Government of Nepal, and the University to strengthen national capacity in teaching and research.
The program integrates theoretical understanding and practical competencies required in development practice, emphasizing demographic processes, gender relations, governance, decentralization, development policy, and applied research.
Duration: 2 years (4 semesters) with an allowed maximum of 4 years + thesis extension of 1 year under special conditions.
Total Credits: 63 across core, multidisciplinary, analytical, specialized, and research components.

Curricular Structure

Total Credits: 63 | Four Semesters | Five Academic Components

• Core Area: 15 credits
• Multidisciplinary Area: 9 credits
• Analytical Tools: 7.5 credits
• Specialized Area: 18 credits
• Research Area: 13.5 credits

Semester-Wise Course Table

Semester I

Semester II

Semester III

Semester IV

Salient Features

• Strong multidisciplinary orientation (population, gender, development)
• Integrated training in analytical tools, research, and applied methods
• UNFPA-supported conceptual foundation during program initiation
• Flexible completion window (up to 4 years + limited extension)
• Affordable tuition fee structure
• Balanced theoretical, analytical, and field-based components

Fee Structure (Pokhara University School of Development and Social Engineering):

• First Year: NPR 42,000
• Second Year: NPR 49,000
• Total: NPR 91,000

Features

• Designed to produce academically rigorous, field-ready development professionals
• Strong emphasis on gender equity and demographic analysis
• Research-intensive curriculum with internship and dissertation components
• Alignment with national and global development priorities
• Graduates can work across government, NGOs, INGOs, academia, and policy institutions

Eligibility

Entry Requirement

• Bachelor’s degree (3-year) in any discipline or
• 2-year bachelor’s degree with minimum 2 years of professional/teaching experience

Admission Procedure

• Public announcement for admissions
• Submission of application form + fee
• Scrutiny of eligibility
• Entrance exam + interview
• Merit ranking based on exam + interview + academic records
• Provisional admission allowed with required documents submitted within 1 month

Job Prospects

• Development program officer
• Gender and social inclusion specialist
• Population and demographic analyst
• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) officer
• Local governance and decentralization specialist
• Policy and planning analyst
• Researcher in population, gender, and development fields
• Program coordinator in NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies
• Community empowerment and advocacy specialist
• Academic and training facilitator