PMDC Hikes MDCAT Registration Fees: Rising Costs for Aspiring Medical Students

Sharp Increase in MDCAT Fees Over Two Years

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has announced a significant 80% hike in the registration fee for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) over the last two years. This steep increase has sparked concern among aspiring medical and dental students and their families, who now face an additional financial burden at the critical gateway to medical education.

In 2023, the MDCAT registration fee was set at Rs5,000. This figure saw a jump to Rs7,000 in 2024, and in 2025, the fee has been raised to Rs9,000. The consistent rise means that for many families, the cost of pursuing a career in medicine is becoming increasingly challenging. According to PMDC estimates, with 32,977 candidates appearing for the test in 2024, the council is projected to generate almost Rs2.96 billion in revenue from the exam in 2025.

Test Date and Simultaneous International Administration

For the year 2025, the MDCAT will be held on Sunday, October 5, simultaneously in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The move to conduct the test internationally reflects the growing number of overseas Pakistani students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges back home.

Universities Responsible for Conducting MDCAT

The administration of the MDCAT has been distributed among five reputable universities to ensure smooth conduct and standardized procedures across provinces and territories:

• Punjab: University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore
• Sindh: Sukkur IBA University
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar
• Balochistan: Bolan Medical University, Quetta
• Federal Capital, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan & Overseas (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia): Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad

Each university is responsible for organizing, invigilating, and scoring the MDCAT in their respective regions and for ensuring transparency and uniformity.

Registration Schedule and Fee Structure

Registration for the MDCAT 2025 will open online from August 8 and will close on August 25. For those unable to register during the regular period, a late registration window is available until September 1, 2025. The fee structure is as follows:

• Within Pakistan: Rs9,000 (regular), Rs13,000 (late registration)
• International Centre (Riyadh): Rs45,000 (regular), Rs55,000 (late registration)

It is important to note that all fees are strictly non-refundable and non-transferable, which means candidates must ensure their availability and eligibility before submitting their applications.

Test Centres and Selection Guidelines

MDCAT will be conducted in major cities across Pakistan and in Riyadh for overseas candidates. Test centres include Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Rawalakot, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Multan, Faisalabad, Swat, Abbottabad, Gilgit, and Riyadh. Candidates must select their test centre according to their domicile; once chosen, the centre cannot be changed under any circumstances.

Exam Format and Difficulty Breakdown

The MDCAT will be administered in English and will comprise 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) spanning five areas: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, and Logical Reasoning. The exam does not enforce negative marking, which may relieve some pressure for candidates.

The distribution of questions by difficulty is as follows:

• 15% easy
• 70% moderate
• 15% difficult

This format is intended to thoroughly assess the academic aptitude and reasoning skills of candidates, ensuring those who qualify are well-prepared for the rigors of medical education.