The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has increased the MDCAT fee by 80% over the past two years. This rise has added financial pressure on students aiming to enter medical and dental colleges.
In 2023, the MDCAT fee was Rs 5,000. It went up to Rs 7,000 in 2024. This year, the fee has further increased to Rs 9,000. With nearly 33,000 candidates expected to register in 2025, PMDC will likely collect about Rs 2.96 billion in revenue.
The MDCAT exam is scheduled for October 5, 2025. It will be held simultaneously in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Five universities will conduct the test across the country. These include the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in Lahore, Sukkur IBA University in Sindh, Khyber Medical University (KMU) in Peshawar, Bolan Medical University in Quetta, and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) in Islamabad for federal areas and overseas candidates.
Online registration for MDCAT will open on August 8, 2025, and close on August 25. Late registration will be allowed until September 1. The fee in Pakistan is Rs 9,000 for regular registration and Rs 13,000 for late registration. Candidates registering in Riyadh must pay Rs 45,000 regularly or Rs 55,000 late. All fees are non-refundable.
The MDCAT will be held in many cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and Riyadh. Candidates must carefully choose their test center as no changes will be allowed later.
The exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions. It covers Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, and Logical Reasoning. The test has no negative marking. Question difficulty is divided as 15% easy, 70% moderate, and 15% difficult.
The increase in the MDCAT fee raises concerns about affordability for many students across Pakistan.
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