The Punjab government has approved a new admission policy making MDCAT mandatory for admission in medical colleges in Punjab for the 2025–26 session. The decision taken during a health sector reforms meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
MDCAT Requirement for MBBS and BDS
Under the new policy, candidates seeking admission to government medical and dental colleges in Punjab must pass the MDCAT 2025 exam. The rule applies to all MBBS and BDS programs managed by the University of Health Sciences (UHS) and affiliated colleges. The MDCAT test will remain the primary criterion for selection in both public and private medical institutions in the province.
MDCAT Fee Update
The policy introduces a new fee process for private colleges. Students whose names appear in the private medical merit list will deposit one-third of the fee with UHS before confirmation. After the final merit list issued, UHS will transfer the amount to the respective college, and students will pay the remaining fee directly.
MDCAT Fee for Overseas Candidates
For children of overseas Pakistanis applying for MBBS and BDS programs, the Punjab government has set an MDCAT 2025 fee of USD 10,000. This rule applies to dual-nationality students and foreign applicants who wish to secure admission in medical and dental colleges in Punjab.
The mandatory policy of MDCAT will work with the admissions starting with the 2025-26 academic session. UHS will be the body that will control the exam and all applicants have to pass the exam to qualify in MBBS and BDS admissions in the state of Punjab.
Key Points of MDCAT 2025
- MDCAT 2025 will be conducted as per Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) guidelines.
- The test covers Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, and Logical Reasoning.
- Only the MDCAT 2025 result will be valid for the upcoming MBBS/BDS session.
