Quick answer
- Applying to a NUMS college? CMH, HITEC, Fazaia, Bahria, Foundation University, NUST School of Health Sciences, Wah, KIMS and QIMS medical and dental colleges need the NUMS MDCAT.
- Applying through UHS, KMU, the Sindh universities, BUMHS or SZABMU?: Government and private colleges admitted through these universities need the PMDC MDCAT.
- Want both kinds of college? Register for both. In 2026 the NUMS MDCAT was on 13 September 2026 and the PMDC MDCAT on 20 September 2026.
- Army Medical College: MBBS is for Army Medical Cadets only. Civilians can apply to its Dental Section for BDS, or to the other NUMS colleges.
- KMU-CAT: is only for allied health and nursing programmes. It is not a way into MBBS or BDS.
Many families hear three different answers: take MDCAT, take NUMS, or take both. The right answer depends on the colleges on your list, not on the university name. This guide shows which test each kind of college accepts, using the official 2026 notices.
MDCAT and NUMS at a glance
| PMDC MDCAT | NUMS MDCAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Set by | Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) | National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) |
| Conducted by (2026) | UHS Lahore (Punjab), Sukkur IBA University (Sindh), KMU (KP), BUMHS Quetta (Balochistan), SZABMU (Islamabad, AJK, GB, Riyadh) | NUMS |
| 2026 test date | 20 September 2026 (moved from 16 August) | 13 September 2026 (postponed) |
| Paper | 180 MCQs: Biology 81, Chemistry 45, Physics 36, English 9, Logical Reasoning 9 | Paper I: 150 MCQs (Biology 55, Chemistry 40, Physics 40, English 15). Paper II: 50-MCQ psychological test worth 5% |
| Negative marking | None | None |
| Passing marks | 55% MBBS, 50% BDS | 55% MBBS, 50% BDS |
| Registration fee (Pakistan) | PKR 9,000 (late PKR 13,000) | PKR 7,500 (late PKR 8,500) |
| Aggregate | 50% test + 40% FSc + 10% Matric | 50% test + 40% FSc + 10% Matric |
| Result accepted for | Usually 2024, 2025 or 2026 results (check your province’s policy) | Only NUMS MDCAT 2026 for 2026-27 admissions |
Which test for which college
Look at the full name of each college you want, then check this list:
- NUMS MDCAT: CMH colleges (Lahore, Kharian, Multan, Bahawalpur), HITEC Taxila, Wah Medical College, Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences, Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences, Fazaia Medical College Islamabad, Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College Karachi, Bahria University College of Medicine Islamabad, Bahria University Medical and Dental College Karachi, Foundation University Medical College and College of Dentistry, NUST School of Health Sciences, and AMC Dental Section.
- PMDC MDCAT: government and private medical and dental colleges in Punjab (through UHS), KP (through KMU), Sindh (through JSMU, LUMHS or SMBBMU), Balochistan, and the federal colleges admitted through SZABMU.
Watch out for university names. “Bahria” and “NUST” have their own tests (BUET and NET) for other degrees, but their medical colleges use the NUMS MDCAT. Use the NUST profile and Bahria profile for their other programmes.
If you are applying on a foreign or overseas seat, read the foreign-seat section of the notice. Some foreign seats accept international tests such as MCAT or UCAT.
Where you apply after the PMDC MDCAT
Taking the test and applying to colleges are separate steps. After the PMDC MDCAT, you apply through the admitting university for your province:
| Province or route | Where you apply | MDCAT results accepted | FSc minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab (2026-27) | UHS Lahore central admissions | Valid for three years from the test date | 60% |
| Sindh public colleges (2026-27) | JSMU Karachi, LUMHS Jamshoro or SMBBMU Larkana, depending on your district | 2024, 2025 or 2026 (conducted by Sukkur IBA) | 60%, with Sindh domicile |
| KP public colleges (2026) | KMU CAS portal | 2024, 2025 or 2026 | 65%, with KP or Newly Merged Districts domicile |
| KP private colleges (2026) | KMU CASPR portal | 2024, 2025 or 2026 | 60% |
| Federal colleges (2026-27) | SZABMU: Federal Medical College Islamabad, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan College Lahore, School of Dentistry Islamabad | 2024, 2025 or 2026 from any PMDC conducting university | 60% |
For Sindh private colleges, Balochistan and AJK/GB, check the admitting university’s 2026-27 notice; we will add them once their policies are published.
Colleges that use the NUMS MDCAT
Every college below is listed in the official NUMS central admissions notice for 2026-27. Open-merit seats need NUMS MDCAT 2026 with at least 55% for MBBS or 50% for BDS, plus at least 60% in FSc. Use the filters to find your college.
Army Medical College Rawalpindi MBBS is for Army Medical Cadets only (NUMS MDCAT 2026 notice), so it does not appear in the civilian list. AMC’s Dental Section admits BDS students.
Explore the college directory 21 college-programme pairs · 42 category records · expand to browse or search
21 college-programme pairs · 42 category records · session 2026-27
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
| Teaching college | City/location | Programme | Seat category | Accepted test and category note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMH Institute of Medical SciencesAffiliated Medical Colleges | Bahawalpur Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| CMH Kharian Medical CollegeAffiliated Medical Colleges | Kharian Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of DentistryAffiliated Medical Colleges | Lahore Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| CMH Multan Institute of Medical SciencesAffiliated Medical Colleges | Multan Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| HITEC Institute of Medical SciencesAffiliated Medical Colleges | Taxila Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Karachi Institute of Medical SciencesAffiliated Medical Colleges | Malir Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Quetta Institute of Medical SciencesAffiliated Medical Colleges | Quetta Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Wah Medical CollegeAffiliated Medical Colleges | Wah Cantt | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Bahria University College of MedicineArmed Forces Administered Medical Colleges | Islamabad | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Bahria University Medical and Dental CollegeArmed Forces Administered Medical Colleges | Karachi | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Fazaia Medical CollegeArmed Forces Administered Medical Colleges | Islamabad | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical CollegeArmed Forces Administered Medical Colleges | Karachi | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Foundation University Medical CollegeArmed Forces Administered Medical Colleges | Islamabad | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| NUST School of Health SciencesArmed Forces Administered Medical Colleges | Islamabad | MBBS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 55% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Dental Section Army Medical CollegeConstituent & Affiliated Dental Colleges | Rawalpindi | BDS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 50% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Dental College, HITEC Institute of Medical SciencesConstituent & Affiliated Dental Colleges | Taxila CanttLocation follows the same HITEC institution's medical entry. | BDS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 50% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| CIMS Dental CollegeConstituent & Affiliated Dental Colleges | Multan Cantt | BDS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 50% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| CMH Lahore Medical College and Institute of DentistryConstituent & Affiliated Dental Colleges | Lahore Cantt | BDS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 50% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Quetta College of DentistryConstituent & Affiliated Dental Colleges | Quetta Cantt | BDS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 50% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Bahria University Medical and Dental CollegeArmed Forces Administered Dental Colleges | Karachi | BDS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 50% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
| Foundation University College of DentistryArmed Forces Administered Dental Colleges | Islamabad | BDS | Open merit Foreign seats |
NUMS MDCAT 2026: 50% test minimum Alternatives: see foreign-seat conditions above |
How merit is calculated
Both tests use the same formula:
Aggregate = (test % × 0.50) + (FSc % × 0.40) + (Matric % × 0.10)
Example: 80% in the test, 90% in FSc and 95% in Matric gives 40 + 36 + 9.5 = 85.5%.
The formula is the same, but the tests are not interchangeable. A high aggregate also doesn’t replace the minimums: 55% (MBBS) or 50% (BDS) in the test and 60% in FSc (65% for KP public colleges).
Calculate yours: MDCAT aggregate calculator, NUMS aggregate calculator or KMU aggregate calculator (KP).
Why you enter your NUMS result percentage
The NUMS test has two papers: 150 subject MCQs and a 50-MCQ psychological test worth 5%. Because the psychological paper is weighted separately, counting correct answers doesn’t give your exact score. Use the percentage printed on your NUMS result.
Where KMU-CAT fits
KMU plays two roles in KP: it conducted the PMDC MDCAT there in 2026, and it runs the CAS (public) and CASPR (private) application portals for MBBS and BDS. These portals are where you apply, not extra tests.
KMU-CAT is a separate test for allied health, nursing and DPT programmes. It is not a way into MBBS or BDS. After the CAT you still apply to the programme separately. Minimums differ by programme: for example, Peshawar BS programmes need 50% in FSc, DPT needs 60%, and BS Nursing needs 50% with an age of 17 to 35.
See the KMU profile for details.
Checklist before you register
- Have you written down the full name of each college, not just the university?
- Do your colleges need the NUMS MDCAT, the PMDC MDCAT, or both?
- If you’re applying on a foreign, overseas or reserved seat, have you read that section of the notice?
- Is your MDCAT result from a year your province accepts?
- Do you meet the FSc minimum and domicile rules for your province?
- Have you noted both the test registration deadline and the college application deadline?
Start with the NUMS profile for NUMS colleges, or the UHS and KMU profiles for Punjab and KP.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both MDCAT and NUMS MDCAT?
Only if your list includes both kinds of college. NUMS colleges (CMH, HITEC, Fazaia, Bahria, Foundation, NUST School of Health Sciences and others) need the NUMS MDCAT. Colleges admitted through UHS, KMU, the Sindh universities, BUMHS or SZABMU need the PMDC MDCAT. One result cannot replace the other.
When were MDCAT and NUMS MDCAT held in 2026?
The NUMS MDCAT was on 13 September 2026 and the PMDC MDCAT on 20 September 2026 (moved from 16 August 2026).
Does NUST MBBS use NET or NUMS MDCAT?
NUMS MDCAT. NUST School of Health Sciences, Islamabad is listed in the NUMS 2026-27 notice for MBBS. NET is for NUST's other programmes.
Which Bahria medical colleges use NUMS MDCAT?
Bahria University College of Medicine, Islamabad (MBBS) and Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi (MBBS and BDS). The Bahria BUET test is for Bahria's other programmes.
Can civilians study MBBS at Army Medical College?
No. The NUMS MDCAT 2026 notice lists Army Medical College Rawalpindi MBBS for Army Medical Cadets only. Civilians can apply to AMC's Dental Section for BDS or to the other NUMS colleges.
Is KMU-CAT another way to enter MBBS or BDS?
No. KMU-CAT is for allied health, nursing and DPT programmes. MBBS and BDS in KP need the PMDC MDCAT.
What FSc percentage do I need?
At least 60% for most routes. KMU's public colleges in KP (CAS) require 65%, while KP private colleges (CASPR) require 60%.
Does passing the test guarantee admission?
No. Passing meets the minimum. Seats go by aggregate merit, so you compete with other applicants and must also meet the FSc, domicile and document requirements.
Read more guides
Official Sources
PMDC MDCAT 2026 notice, MDCAT date change, NUMS MDCAT 2026 notice, NUMS syllabus, NUMS 2026-27 admissions notice, UHS admission policy, and KMU’s public and private portals for the relevant routes. Always read your college’s official session and category notice before applying.
Sources checked 17 October 2026. Rules and dates change every year, so check your admitting university's notice before you apply.