PMDC Drops MDCAT Requirement for Studying MBBS Abroad
PMDC has dropped the MDCAT pass rule for Pakistani students joining foreign medical colleges. See what changed on 5 October, what still applies and the NRE.
Pakistani students no longer need to pass the MDCAT to take admission in a foreign medical or dental college. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) announced this in a public notice dated 5 October 2026. The Council decided it at its meeting on 14 September 2026.
MDCAT is the Medical and Dental College Admission Test, the entry test for MBBS and BDS. Until now, PM&DC asked students heading abroad to score at least 50 per cent in it. That rule is now gone for foreign admissions.
This is a notified decision, not just a statement. We read the signed notice, No. Exam-59/2026/350, on pmdc.pk on 6 October 2026. But it is one paragraph long, and it leaves several questions open. Here is what it changes, and what it does not.
PM&DC has dropped the MDCAT pass rule for foreign admissions
The 5 October notice says the Council "decided to exempt the mandatory requirement of having passed the MDCAT" for Pakistani students seeking admission to foreign medical and dental institutions. It is signed by PM&DC's Head of Examinations. The decision was taken on 14 September 2026.
The notice gives the Council's own meeting as the basis. It does not mention any other body or any recommendation from outside the Council.
The old rule asked for 50 per cent in MDCAT and 60 per cent in FSc
Before this change, PM&DC's criteria for students going abroad had three parts. They were set out in a public notice dated 14 May 2026, which is still on the Council's website.
| Requirement | 14 May 2026 notice | After 5 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| MDCAT | At least 50 per cent, or an equivalent test abroad | Not required for foreign admission |
| FSc Pre-Medical or equivalent | At least 60 per cent | Not mentioned in the new notice |
| Online registration at srf.pmdc.pk | Mandatory, to become eligible for provisional registration and the NRE | Not mentioned in the new notice |
The new notice only speaks about MDCAT. It does not cancel the FSc marks rule or the online registration. Until PM&DC says otherwise, we would treat those two as still in force. That is our reading, not a PM&DC statement.
Two PM&DC messages now say different things
An older public alert is still on pmdc.pk. It says students who fail MDCAT "will not be registered with PM&DC even if admitted abroad". The 5 October notice says the opposite for foreign admissions.
The alert carries no date. The notice does. As a rule, the newer signed notice is the one that counts. But if you are about to pay a foreign college, ask PM&DC to confirm in writing. Its helpline is 033-1100-6191, shown on the pmdc.pk home page.
You still need to clear the NRE to practise in Pakistan
Skipping MDCAT does not skip the licence exam. A Pakistani who studies medicine abroad must still pass the National Registration Examination (NRE) to get full registration and practise in Pakistan. That is in Section 18 of the PM&DC Act 2022.
The NRE also has a limit on which colleges count. PM&DC's notice of 31 July 2026 says only graduates of foreign institutions recognised by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) can sit the NRE. It names Afghanistan as a country whose colleges do not qualify at present.
- Pick a college that is ECFMG recognised.
- Register with PM&DC online before you leave.
- Finish the degree abroad.
- Pass both steps of the NRE.
- Get PM&DC registration and start the house job.
Checking the college comes first, because a cheap seat in an unrecognised college wastes six years. The full process is in PMDC registration before studying MBBS abroad. For colleges inside Pakistan, the PM&DC lists are explained in how to check a college is PMDC recognised.
The NRE Step-I exam has moved to 8 November 2026
PM&DC moved the NRE Step-I exam from 11 October to 8 November 2026, in a separate notice also dated 5 October. The reason given is "unavoidable circumstances". The exam is run by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi.
This matters to graduates who have already returned. It does not change anything for a student still choosing a college.
MDCAT is still required for colleges in Pakistan
The exemption is only for foreign admission. Section 17 of the PM&DC Act 2022 still says no student gets a medical or dental degree in Pakistan without passing MDCAT first.
The exceptions there are narrow. They cover seats kept for foreign students and seats for overseas Pakistanis, who sit SAT-II or a foreign MCAT or UCAT instead, according to PM&DC's FAQ. Results for this year's test are in the MDCAT 2026 result and aggregate.
One question remains open. A student who studies abroad for two years, then wants to transfer to a Pakistani college, must pass the National Equivalence Board (NEB) exam under Section 19 of the Act. The 5 October notice does not say whether such a student will also need MDCAT. Ask PM&DC before you rely on a transfer.
Common questions
Do I need MDCAT to study MBBS abroad?
No. PM&DC's notice of 5 October 2026 removed the MDCAT pass requirement for Pakistani students taking admission in foreign medical and dental colleges.
When was the MDCAT exemption decided?
At the PM&DC Council meeting on 14 September 2026. The public notice came on 5 October 2026.
Do I still need 60 per cent in FSc to study abroad?
Probably yes. The new notice does not mention the FSc rule from May 2026, so it has not been cancelled on paper.
Can I practise in Pakistan after a foreign MBBS without MDCAT?
Yes, if your college is ECFMG recognised and you pass both steps of the NRE. MDCAT is not part of that path anymore.
Is MDCAT still needed for Pakistani medical colleges?
Yes. The exemption covers foreign admission only. The PM&DC Act still requires MDCAT for a medical or dental degree in Pakistan.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 6 October 2026. We read PM&DC's public notice on the MDCAT exemption, dated 5 October 2026, and its 14 May 2026 notice on criteria for foreign admission. We also read the undated public alert on pmdc.pk, the 31 July 2026 notice on NRE eligibility, the 5 October 2026 notice moving NRE Step-I, PM&DC's FAQ page, and the PM&DC Act 2022, Sections 17 to 19. Nothing here is legal advice.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
