The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has denied rumors of an 80 percent increase in the Medical & Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) fee, clarifying that the actual fee hike for the upcoming exam is only 12.5 percent. The council has also announced that registration for MDCAT 2025 is now open, with the national exam scheduled to take place on October 5.
The council addressed recent claims circulating on social media alleging an 80 percent hike in MDCAT examination fees, stating that this information is inaccurate. PM&DC explained that the fee has increased from Rs. 8,000 in 2024 to Rs. 9,000 for 2025—a rise of only Rs. 1,000. This increment reflects a gradual adjustment in response to rising operational costs, not the steep increase some have reported. PM&DC emphasized its commitment to keeping the examination affordable and fair for all candidates despite ongoing inflation and elevated costs.
According to PM&DC, the administration of the MDCAT exam has been entrusted to universities nominated by federal and provincial authorities, while the council itself holds the role of regulator. PM&DC has implemented a uniform syllabus for the MDCAT after consulting with all stakeholders, and has developed an extensive question bank based on this standardized curriculum. The fee adjustment was made following requests from exam-conducting universities, who cited increasing costs in areas such as paper printing, security protocols, logistical arrangements, payment for exam staff, and the need to provide appropriate facilities for candidates across the country and at international venues.
PM&DC reiterated its dedication to ensuring transparent, merit-based admission processes, providing equal opportunities to aspiring students. The council assures that quality and integrity in the testing process will be upheld, and that examinations will remain accessible.
The MDCAT 2025 will be administered by specific universities in each region: University of Health Sciences, Lahore (Punjab), Sukkur IBA University (Sindh), Khyber Medical University, Peshawar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Bolan University of Medical & Health Sciences, Quetta (Balochistan), and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad (for Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and an international center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
Registration for both local and international candidates has started and will remain open until August 25. Applications submitted after this deadline will incur a late fee, with late registration closing on September 1. Candidates are required to select one test center and ensure all application details are complete, as the online system will not accept incomplete submissions.
The MDCAT will be a paper-based, multiple-choice examination in English, featuring 180 questions with no negative marking. The distribution of questions is as follows: Biology (81), Chemistry (45), Physics (36), English (9), and Logical Reasoning (9). The official curriculum is available on the PM&DC website, and all applications must be submitted online via mdcat.pmdc.pk.
