Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has released new guidelines for students planning to seek admission to foreign medical and dental colleges introducing mandatory academic requirements and registration procedures.
According to a public notice issued by the council, students wishing to study medicine or dentistry abroad must obtain at least 50 per cent marks in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) or qualify through an equivalent foreign admission test.
The PMDC has also made it compulsory for applicants to have completed FSc Pre-Medical or an equivalent qualification with a minimum of 60 per cent marks.
The council advised all students applying to overseas medical institutions to strictly follow the eligibility criteria to avoid future issues related to registration and recognition of their degrees in Pakistan.
The notice further stated that students must complete online registration with PMDC to become eligible for provisional registration and the National Registration Examination (NRE).
According to the council, online registration is essential for students intending to return and practice medicine or dentistry in Pakistan after completing their education abroad.
Students have also been encouraged to visit the official PMDC Website for additional information and to complete the required procedures.
PMDC imposes new conditions for MDCAT entry test 2026
Earlier, PMDC announced new conditions regarding the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) entry test.
According to the details, the MDCAT has made biometric verification of students mandatory in the entry test to be held this year.
In addition to this, the M&DC has instructed students below the age of 18 to make a Juvenile Registration Card or Smart Card for Minors issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) prior to the examination.
Candidates without a valid Juvenile Registration Card or a valid CNIC will not be allowed to participate in the entry test.
PMDC announces new passing criteria for MDCAT
Previously, the PMDC announced a new passing criterion for the MDCAT examinations.
According to the notification issued by the department on April 8, the medical universities are allowed for a one-time reduction of passing marks up to 3 per cent for both the MBBS and BDS admissions.
The new passing percentage for the MDCAT will be as follows:
- For the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), it is 52 per cent
- For the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), it is 47 per cent
Additionally, the PMDC has allowed all the universities to reduce the passing criteria under these three conditions:
- Filling only the vacant seats for the academic session 2025–26
- Making sure of strict merit-based transparency and institutional accountability by the admitting universities
- Monitoring the admission process by the admitting universities for the vacant seats
The criteria will be applicable only to the admissions for the 2025-26 academic year.
