Rank 8000? Don’t Give Up Yet: The 2025/26 B.Sc Nursing Seat Breakdown That Changes Everything
B.Sc Nursing Program Category-wise Seats Distributions 2025/26:
It’s 2 PM. The winter sun is barely warming the streets of Kathmandu, but you feel cold inside. You are sitting in a café in New Baneshwor, refreshing the MEC portal on your phone for the hundredth time.
The CEE Results are out. Your rank isn’t in the top 1000. It’s not even in the top 3000. Maybe it’s 6000, or even 8000.
You can hear your relatives whispering. “Falano ko chori le MBBS payo” (So-and-so’s daughter got MBBS). You feel like you’ve failed before you even started.
You are thinking about packing your bags and going to Australia for a Diploma in Aged Care, just to escape the shame.
Stop right there.
Put down the phone and listen to me closely. You are looking at the wrong numbers. You are comparing yourself to the MBBS crowd. But the B.Sc Nursing battlefield is completely different.
Thanks to the latest data released by MEC (and visualized by Aadhar Education on Sep 24, 2025), we know that there are 2,430 seats available this year. That is a massive number.
If you think your career is over because your rank is 5000, you are wrong. In fact, you might just be in the “Safe Zone” for a scholarship.
Let’s decode the numbers that will save your academic year.
B.Sc Nursing Program Category-wise Seats Distributions 2025/26:
How many B.Sc Nursing seats are available in Nepal for 2025?
The short answer is: 2,430 Total Seats.
This is one of the highest seat counts in the medical sector. According to the MEC 2025 distribution, there are 1,059 Paying Seats for Nepali candidates and 640 Foreign Seats (which often convert to Nepali seats). Most importantly, there are 711 Full Scholarships available. If you belong to a reservation category like Khasarya (55 seats) or Janajati (49 seats), you can secure a scholarship even with a rank of 3000+.
The Core Issue: The “Rank Anxiety” Myth
Here is the thing about Nursing in Nepal—the demand is high, but the supply of seats is also huge.
In MBBS, if you are Rank 500, you are sweating. In B.Sc Nursing, if you are Rank 500, you are royalty. You are choosing between Maharajgunj (IOM) and Patan (PAHS).
The anxiety comes from not knowing the breakdown. Parents see “Rank 6000” and think “Failed.” But they don’t realize that:
- Many top rankers (1-2000) will leave Nursing to join MBBS or BDS.
- Many others will fly to the USA for the NCLEX route immediately.
- This leaves the field wide open for students with Ranks 3000 to 8000.
With 1,059 Paying Seats explicitly reserved for Nepalis, the cutoff goes deep. And that’s before we even talk about the “Foreign Seat Bonus.”
The Big Picture: The 2430 Seat Breakdown
B.Sc Nursing Program Category-wise Seats Distributions 2025/26
Let’s look at the macro data from the Aadhar Education chart. This is your battlefield.
| Seat Type | Count | Who is it for? |
| Paying Seats | 1059 | Nepali students (Approx Rs. 10-12 Lakhs). |
| Foreign Seats | 640 | International students. See the hidden reality below. |
| Scholarships | 711 | Free Education (The Golden Ticket). |
| Army Welfare | 20 | Children of Nepal Army personnel. |
| TOTAL | 2430 | All MEC Recognized Colleges. |
Why this matters:
Look at the Scholarships: 711. That is almost equal to the total number of MBBS paying seats in the entire country! The government is pouring money into Nursing.
The Scholarship “Goldmine”: 711 Free Seats
If you are aiming for a scholarship, you need to know your specific quota. MEC divides scholarships into “Open” and “Reservation.”
- Open Scholarships: 394 Seats (Pure Merit).
- Reservation Scholarships: 317 Seats (Community Based).
The Reservation Breakdown( B.Sc Nursing Program Category-wise Seats Distributions 2025/26)
I’ve grouped the data from the chart so you can easily find your category.
1. The “High Volume” Quotas
These categories have massive opportunities.
| Category | Seats Available |
| Female (General) | 89 |
| Khasarya | 55 |
| Adibasi Janajati | 49 |
| Dalit | 30 |
| Madhesi | 30 |
Journalist’s Insight: Look at Khasarya (55) and Janajati (49). These are huge numbers. In MBBS, Khasarya gets maybe 10 seats. In Nursing, you have 55 chances. If you are a Khasarya female with Rank 2500, you are likely getting a full scholarship.
2. The “Specific Community” Quotas
Lower competition, high success rate.
| Category | Seats Available |
| Tharu | 15 |
| Pichhadiyeko Chhetra | 12 |
| Dalit Female | 8 |
| Madhesi Dalit | 8 |
3. The “Niche” Quotas
Don’t ignore these. 1 seat is all you need.
| Category | Seats Available |
| Apanga (Disability) | 6 |
| Muslim | 5 |
| Muslim Female | 5 |
| Sahid Bepatta | 5 |
The “Muslim” Advantage:
Notice there are 5 seats for Muslim (General) and 5 seats for Muslim Female. That is 10 seats total. Given the lower number of Muslim applicants in the Nursing stream historically, these seats often go to candidates with much lower ranks. If you are eligible, apply!
The “Hidden” Reality: The Foreign Seat Conversion (640 Seats)
Now, let me tell you the secret that agents in Putalisadak won’t mention.
Look at the chart again. Foreign Seats: 640.
That is a massive chunk (26%) of the total capacity. But here is the reality of 2025: Foreign students (mostly Indians) are not filling these Nursing seats. They prefer MBBS.
So, what happens to these 640 seats?
MEC has a rule called “Seat Conversion.” If foreign seats remain vacant after the final foreign matching deadline, they are converted into Nepali Paying Seats.
- The Prediction: Out of 640 foreign seats, expect at least 400 to 500 to remain empty.
- The Benefit: These 500+ seats will be added to the 1059 Paying Seats pool in the “Wrap-up Matching” round.
- Real Total Paying Seats: It’s not 1059. It’s likely closer to 1500+.
What does this mean for you?
It means that even if your rank is 8000 or 9000, you have a genuine shot at a Paying Seat in a college like National Medical College or Nobel in the final round. Do not lose hope.
Step-by-Step Solution: How to Secure Your Seat
If you are holding a CEE Scorecard, here is your roadmap:
- Check Your Category Documents:
If you are a Dalit Female, you are eligible for:- Dalit Female Quota (8 seats)
- Dalit Quota (30 seats)
- Female Quota (89 seats)
- Open Quota (394 seats)
- That is 521 chances for a scholarship! Ensure your Dalit commission certificate is valid.
- The “Nepal Army” Factor:
If your father or mother is in the Nepal Army (or retired), do not forget the 20 Seats under the Nepal Army Welfare Fund. These are high-quality seats at NAIHS (Bhandarkhal). You need a recommendation letter from the Army Welfare Board. - Target the “New” Colleges for Paying:
Everyone wants IOM, KUSMS, or PAHS.- Strategy: If your rank is 6000+, list colleges in the periphery. Manmohan, Scheer Memorial, Devdaha, or Janaki. Secure the seat first.
- Wait for the Wrap-Up:
This is critical. If you don’t get a seat in the 1st or 2nd matching, do not withdraw. Wait for the foreign seat conversion. That is when the cutoff drops from Rank 5000 to Rank 9000.
Real Questions from Students:L
Q: Is Rank 4500 safe for a Paying Seat?
Yes, 100%. With 1059 initial paying seats and hundreds of foreign seats converting, Rank 4500 is very safe. You might even get a college inside Kathmandu Valley (like Kist or NMC) if you are lucky with the priority list.
Q: Can boys apply for B.Sc Nursing?
Yes, but it’s complicated. While the law allows up to 15% male enrollment in Nursing, many colleges still prefer female candidates due to hostel logistics. However, government colleges like IOM do accept male students. Check the specific college brochure.
Q: How much does a Paying Seat cost in 2025?
The MEC designated fee is approx Rs. 10-11 Lakhs. However, private colleges add Hostel (Compulsory), Mess, and “Clinical Charges.” Budget for Rs. 16-18 Lakhs total over 4 years. It is still much cheaper than Australia!
Q: What is “Pichhadiyeko Chhetra” (12 seats)?
This is for students from 9 specific backward districts (like Kalikot, Jajarkot, Bajura, etc.). You need a certificate from the CDO office proving permanent residency and schooling from there. Competition here is very low.
Q: I have Rank 2800 and I am “Open” category. Scholarship chance?
It’s tight. Open scholarships usually close around Rank 1500-1800. However, if you are willing to go to a remote government college (like Karnali Academy in Jumla or Rapti Academy in Dang), you might sneak in.
The Bottom Line
The chart from Aadhar Education is a message of hope, not despair.
With 2,430 seats, B.Sc Nursing is the most accessible medical career path in Nepal right now. The government has created a massive safety net with 711 scholarships—that is 711 families who won’t have to pay a single rupee for education.
If you are sitting there crying because you didn’t get MBBS, wipe your tears. Nursing is not a backup; it is a global profession. A Nepali B.Sc Nurse is eligible for the NCLEX in the USA, the OBA in Australia, and the OSCE in the UK.
So, here is my final advice: Don’t let the “Rank 8000” scare you. The math is in your favor. Fill out your priority list, include the foreign-heavy colleges at the bottom, and wait for the magic of the Wrap-Up round.
Do you have a specific rank and category? Drop it in the comments below (e.g., “Rank 5200, Janajati”), and I’ll tell you exactly which college you should target!
