Studying science in Kathmandu opens pathways to top engineering and medical admissions. These 10 colleges lead national entrance results year after year.
This guide covers +2 Science only: the National Examination Board (NEB) Grades 11 and 12 Science stream, taken after the Secondary Education Examination (SEE), with physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. It is a different guide from Hamro Nepal's Top 20 Bachelor Colleges in Kathmandu, which covers undergraduate bachelor degrees. Three colleges appear in both guides because they run both +2 Science and bachelor programmes, but seven of the ten colleges in this list are +2-focused institutions that do not appear in the bachelor list. One entry, Prasadi Academy, is in Manbhawan, Lalitpur, just across the Kathmandu Valley; its location is stated in its section.
Overview & Selection Criteria
Kathmandu Valley represents the cultural, academic, commercial, and administrative heart of Nepal. Beyond its rich history and vibrant daily life, it serves as the country's primary gateway for those seeking a deeper understanding of its heritage and traditions. Whether you're a researcher, a student, or a curious traveler, understanding Kathmandu Valley's multifaceted nature is essential.
For +2 Science, this guide ranks colleges on NEB affiliation, laboratory teaching in physics, chemistry and biology, preparation for medicine and engineering entrance examinations, and a sustained record in +2 science education. Facts below are taken from the colleges' official websites, named in each section, and from the National Examination Board as the board for +2 programmes. No fees, admission dates or entrance cut-offs are stated here, because those change each year; check the college's official website for the current admission notice before applying.
Curated Highlights & Key Recommendations
Below are primary highlights curated for quality, accessibility, and proven track record across the region.
- St. Xavier's College (Maitighar): The gold standard of science education with unmatched laboratory facilities and faculty expertise in the Kathmandu Valley.
- Prasadi Academy: Renowned for intense academic focus and consistently producing top scorers in national board exams and medical entrance tests.
- Kathmandu Model Secondary School (KMC): State-of-the-art physics and biotechnology labs, dedicated entrance preparation classes, and a strong focus on practical learning.
The full ranked list follows, with one section, photograph and profile link for each college.
1. St. Xavier's College — Maitighar
Photo: Yusuf Çelik
St. Xavier's College in Maitighar is the gold standard of science education in the Kathmandu Valley, with unmatched laboratory facilities and faculty expertise, as noted in the highlights above. It is a Jesuit institution, and its official website, sxc.edu.np, lists +2 Science among its programmes, affiliated to the National Examination Board.
Choose St. Xavier's if you want the strongest all-round +2 Science programme in Kathmandu: disciplined teaching, well-equipped science laboratories and a large, competitive peer group aiming for medicine and engineering entrance examinations. It also runs bachelor science programmes, which is why it appears in Hamro Nepal's bachelor colleges guide as well; this section is about its +2 Science programme.
2. Prasadi Academy — Manbhawan, Lalitpur
Photo: cottonbro studio
Prasadi Academy in Manbhawan, Lalitpur, is renowned for intense academic focus and consistently producing top scorers in national board exams and medical entrance tests. Established in 1997, according to the academy's official website, prasadi.edu.np, it offers +2 Science and Management programmes, and it lists National Academic Excellence Awards for 2062, 2064 and 2065 BS on that site.
Prasadi is in Lalitpur, not Kathmandu district, but it is included here because it is one of the Valley's leading +2 Science colleges and is a short trip from central Kathmandu. Choose it if you want a highly disciplined, examination-focused +2 Science programme and are prepared for a demanding timetable.
3. Kathmandu Model Secondary School (KMC) — Bagbazar
Photo: cottonbro studio
Kathmandu Model Secondary School (KMC) in Bagbazar has state-of-the-art physics and biotechnology labs, dedicated entrance preparation classes, and a strong focus on practical learning. Kathmandu Model Secondary School is the +2 wing of Kathmandu Model College, sharing its Bagbazar campus, as stated on the college's official website, ktmmodelcollege.edu.np, which dates the college to 2000 and lists +2 Science at the secondary school.
The college's official website also notes that it was honoured with an Educational Award in 2074 by the Ministry of Education. Choose KMC if you want practical laboratory work and structured entrance preparation in central Kathmandu, at Bagbazar.
4. Trinity International College — Dillibazar Height
Photo: cottonbro studio
Trinity International College in Dillibazar Height, Kathmandu, offers NEB Ten Plus Two (+2) Science. Established in 2008, according to the college's official website, trinity.edu.np, it is one of the Valley's larger +2 colleges, with a large science intake and a focus on entrance preparation alongside the NEB curriculum.
Choose Trinity if you want a large +2 Science programme in central Kathmandu, with a wide peer group and established +2 teaching. It also runs bachelor programmes, which is why it appears in Hamro Nepal's bachelor colleges guide as well; this section is about its +2 Science programme.
5. National School of Sciences (NIST) — Lainchour
Photo: cottonbro studio
National School of Sciences (NIST) in Lainchour, Kathmandu, is a science-focused college offering NEB +2 Science and Management. Established in 1993, according to the school's official website, nist.edu.np, it was formerly the National Institute of Science and Technology, and it remains known by the name NIST.
Choose NIST if you want a college that specialises in science rather than running science as one stream among many. Its long record in +2 science education and its Lainchour location, close to central Kathmandu, make it a practical choice for science students.
6. Xavier International College — Kalopul
Photo: cottonbro studio
Xavier International College in Kalopul, Kathmandu, offers NEB +2 Science, Management and Humanities. Established in 2001, according to the college's official website, xavier.edu.np, its +2 Science programme covers physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics.
Do not confuse Xavier International College with St. Xavier's College in Maitighar; they are separate institutions. Choose Xavier International if you want a +2 Science programme in north-east Kathmandu, at Kalopul, with a smaller, focused +2 intake.
7. Capital College and Research Centre (CCRC) — Koteshwor
Photo: cottonbro studio
Capital College and Research Centre (CCRC) in Koteshwor, near Balkumari, Kathmandu, offers NEB +2 Science, Management and Humanities. Established in 2001, according to the college's official website, ccrc.edu.np, its +2 Science programme covers English, Nepali, physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics, with computer science as an option.
Choose CCRC if you are based in south-east Kathmandu, at Koteshwor, and want a +2 Science programme with a clear, published NEB science curriculum and entrance preparation for medicine and engineering.
8. Global School of Science — Mid-Baneshwor
Photo: Yusuf Çelik
Global School of Science in Mid-Baneshwor, Kathmandu, is a dedicated centre for NEB +2 Science. Established in 2019, according to the school's official website, gss.edu.np, it offers +2 Science with physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics, for students primarily aiming for medicine and engineering entrance examinations.
Do not confuse Global School of Science with Global College International, a separate management college in the same area. Choose Global School of Science if you want a +2 Science-only institution in Mid-Baneshwor, where all teaching and preparation is focused on science.
9. Morgan International College — Basundhara
Photo: Yusuf Çelik
Morgan International College in Basundhara, Kathmandu, offers NEB +2 Science, Management and Humanities. Its +2 Science programme covers physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics, preparing students for medicine and engineering entrance examinations.
Choose Morgan if you are based in north Kathmandu, at Basundhara, and want a +2 Science programme close to home. No founding year is stated for Morgan in this guide, because secondary sources give different years for it.
10. Budhanilkantha School — Narayansthan, Budhanilkantha
Photo: RDNE Stock project
Budhanilkantha School in Narayansthan, Budhanilkantha, about 8 kilometres north of central Kathmandu, is a fully residential English-medium school offering +2 Science in Grades 11 and 12 under the National Examination Board. Established in December 1972, according to the school's official website, bnks.edu.np, it is the oldest institution in this list and the only fully residential one.
Choose Budhanilkantha School if you want a residential +2 Science education, with students living and studying on campus. Admission is selective and residential, so check the school's official website for its current admission process before applying.
How to Choose a +2 Science College
First, confirm that the college is affiliated to the National Examination Board for +2 Science, and that it offers the combination you need: physics, chemistry and biology for medicine, or physics, chemistry and mathematics for engineering, with computer science where offered. Second, visit the campus and look at the physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, not just the prospectus. Third, ask about entrance preparation for medicine and engineering, and about the college's own admission process after SEE. Fourth, consider the daily commute: a college close to home in Kathmandu traffic can save hours each week. Finally, check the college's official website for current fees and admission dates, as those change each year and are not stated in this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is +2 Science? +2 Science is the National Examination Board Grades 11 and 12 Science stream, taken after SEE, with physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. It is the usual route into medicine, engineering and other science bachelor degrees in Nepal.
How is this guide different from Hamro Nepal's Top 20 Bachelor Colleges in Kathmandu? That guide covers undergraduate bachelor degrees, awarded by universities. This guide covers +2 Science only, for students who have just finished SEE. Seven of the ten colleges here do not appear in the bachelor list.
What SEE result do I need for +2 Science? It varies by college, and colleges set their own admission process after SEE. Check each college's official website, named in its section above, for the current requirement.
Which +2 Science college is best for medicine? St. Xavier's College, Prasadi Academy and Kathmandu Model Secondary School are the strongest choices in this list for medicine entrance preparation, based on their laboratory teaching and entrance preparation. Visit all three and compare their current programmes before deciding.
Local Insights & Practical Advice
When navigating services or planning visits in Kathmandu, keep in mind local traffic patterns, seasonal weather, and the location of each venue relative to your accommodation. Planning around peak hours helps maximize your experience.
For +2 Science admissions, visit colleges in person during the admission season, talk to current +2 students about laboratory classes and entrance preparation, and allow extra time for travel between colleges: Maitighar, Bagbazar, Dillibazar, Lainchour, Kalopul, Koteshwor, Mid-Baneshwor, Basundhara and Budhanilkantha are spread across the Valley, and traffic between them can be slow at peak hours.
Continuous Editorial Fact-Checking
Hamro Nepal actively monitors and updates this directory to ensure accurate addresses, contact numbers, and service descriptions. This information is refreshed regularly to ensure accuracy and reliability for visitors.
Locations, affiliations and founding years in this guide were checked against the colleges' official websites named in each section. Fees, admission dates and entrance cut-offs are not stated, because they change each year. The founding year for Morgan International College is not stated, because secondary sources give different years for it.
