The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has officially announced the schedule, registration details, fee structure and test centers for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026, which is mandatory for admission to MBBS and BDS programs across Pakistan.
According to the public notice issued by PMDC, the MDCAT 2026 examination will be held on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM (PST).
MDCAT 2026 Registration Schedule
PMDC has released the following registration timeline for candidates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Starts | June 22, 2026 |
| Online Registration Ends | July 8, 2026 |
| Late Registration Deadline | July 13, 2026 |
| MDCAT 2026 Exam Date | August 16, 2026 |
Candidates are advised to complete their registration before the deadline to avoid paying late registration charges.
MDCAT 2026 Registration Fee
PMDC has fixed separate registration fees for local and international test centers.
For Test Centers in Pakistan
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Normal Registration | Rs. 9,000 |
| Late Registration | Rs. 13,000 |
For International Test Centers
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Normal Registration | Rs. 45,000 |
| Late Registration | Rs. 55,000 |
PMDC stated that all registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Universities Conducting MDCAT 2026
The examination will be conducted through designated universities in each region:
- University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore – Punjab
- Sukkur IBA University – Sindh
- Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences (BUMHS), Quetta – Balochistan
- Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad – Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
MDCAT 2026 Test Centers
PMDC has announced that MDCAT 2026 will be conducted in multiple cities across Pakistan, depending on the number of applicants.
Islamabad, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan
Test centers will be established in:
- Islamabad
- Muzaffarabad
- Rawalakot
- Mirpur
- Gilgit
Punjab Test Centers
- Lahore
- Rawalpindi
- Multan
- Faisalabad
- Bahawalpur
- Sialkot
- Gujranwala
- Sargodha
- Gujrat
- Dera Ghazi Khan
- Sahiwal
- Layyah
- Bahawalnagar
- Mianwali
- Rahim Yar Khan
Sindh Test Centers
- Karachi
- Hyderabad
- Mirpurkhas
- Shaheed Benazirabad
- Sukkur
- Larkana
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Test Centers
- Peshawar
- Mardan
- Lower Dir
- Swat
- Malakand
- Abbottabad
- Kohat
- Dera Ismail Khan
Balochistan Test Center
- Quetta
International Test Center
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Choice of Test Center
According to PMDC, candidates must select one city or center during registration.
The council clarified that candidates will only be allowed to appear in MDCAT within their province or region of domicile. However, candidates holding Sindh domicile may also choose Islamabad as a test center through the relevant university.
PMDC has further stated that once selected, the test center cannot be changed.
MDCAT 2026 Paper Pattern
The MDCAT 2026 examination will be a paper-based, multiple-choice test conducted in English. The exam will consist of 180 MCQs with no negative marking.
Subject-Wise Distribution
| Subject | MCQs |
|---|---|
| Biology | 81 |
| Chemistry | 45 |
| Physics | 36 |
| English | 9 |
| Logical Reasoning | 9 |
| Total | 180 |
MDCAT 2026 Difficulty Level
PMDC has divided the paper into three difficulty categories:
| Difficulty Level | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Easy | 15% |
| Moderate | 70% |
| Difficult | 15% |
MDCAT 2026 Syllabus
PMDC has announced that the MDCAT 2026 syllabus is available on its official website.
Candidates are advised to review the syllabus thoroughly before starting their preparation.
How to Apply for MDCAT 2026
Students can register and obtain further information through the official MDCAT portal.
PMDC has instructed applicants to ensure that their registration forms are completed accurately, warning that incomplete applications will not be accepted. The council also reserved the right to revise the schedule if required.
With registrations opening on June 22 and the exam scheduled for August 16, thousands of aspiring medical and dental students across Pakistan are expected to begin the admission process for MBBS and BDS programs for the 2026 academic session.
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