The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has officially released the complete schedule for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026, including registration dates, fee details, test centers, and examination arrangements for aspiring MBBS and BDS students across Pakistan.
According to the announcement, MDCAT 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM (Pakistan Standard Time). The examination is mandatory for students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges nationwide.
Registration to Begin on June 22
PMDC has announced that online registration for MDCAT 2026 will open on June 22, 2026, and remain available until July 8, 2026. Candidates who miss the regular deadline will have an opportunity to apply through late registration until July 13, 2026, subject to an additional fee.
MDCAT 2026 Registration Schedule
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opens | June 22, 2026 |
| Registration Closes | July 8, 2026 |
| Late Registration Deadline | July 13, 2026 |
| MDCAT Examination | August 16, 2026 |
Students have been advised to complete the registration process within the normal registration period to avoid paying late registration charges.
Registration Fee Structure
PMDC has set separate registration fees for candidates appearing within Pakistan and those opting for international test centers.
Pakistan-Based Test Centers
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Normal Registration | Rs. 9,000 |
| Late Registration | Rs. 13,000 |
International Test Centers
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Normal Registration | Rs. 45,000 |
| Late Registration | Rs. 55,000 |
The council has clarified that all fees paid for MDCAT registration are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Universities Assigned to Conduct MDCAT
To facilitate candidates across the country, PMDC has designated specific universities to conduct the examination in their respective regions.
- 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)
Test Centers Across Pakistan
PMDC has announced a wide network of examination centers to accommodate candidates from different regions.
Islamabad, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan
- Islamabad
- Muzaffarabad
- Rawalakot
- Mirpur
- Gilgit
Punjab
- Lahore
- Rawalpindi
- Multan
- Faisalabad
- Bahawalpur
- Sialkot
- Gujranwala
- Sargodha
- Gujrat
- Dera Ghazi Khan
- Sahiwal
- Layyah
- Bahawalnagar
- Mianwali
- Rahim Yar Khan
Sindh
- Karachi
- Hyderabad
- Mirpurkhas
- Shaheed Benazirabad
- Sukkur
- Larkana
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Peshawar
- Mardan
- Lower Dir
- Swat
- Malakand
- Abbottabad
- Kohat
- Dera Ismail Khan
Balochistan
- Quetta
International Center
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Test Center Selection Rules
Candidates will be required to choose their preferred examination city during the registration process. PMDC has stated that applicants can only appear for MDCAT within their province or region of domicile.
However, students holding a Sindh domicile will also be permitted to select Islamabad as a test center through the relevant university.
The council has emphasized that test center choices cannot be changed once the registration process is completed.
MDCAT 2026 Paper Pattern
The examination will be conducted in English and will consist of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). PMDC has confirmed that there will be no negative marking.
Subject Distribution
| Subject | MCQs |
|---|---|
| Biology | 81 |
| Chemistry | 45 |
| Physics | 36 |
| English | 9 |
| Logical Reasoning | 9 |
| Total | 180 |
Difficulty Distribution
PMDC has divided the examination into three difficulty levels:
| Level | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Easy | 15% |
| Moderate | 70% |
| Difficult | 15% |
Syllabus Available Online
The MDCAT 2026 syllabus has already been uploaded to PMDC's official website. Students are encouraged to review the prescribed syllabus carefully and begin their preparation well before the examination date.
Online Application Process
Candidates will be able to submit their applications through the official MDCAT registration portal once registrations open on June 22.
PMDC has advised applicants to provide complete and accurate information while filling out the registration form, warning that incomplete applications may be rejected. The council also noted that it reserves the right to amend the schedule if necessary.
With registrations set to begin next week and the examination scheduled for August 16, thousands of aspiring medical and dental students across Pakistan are expected to start the admission process for the 2026 academic session.
