Web Desk: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council officially announced the comprehensive schedule and registration policy for the upcoming Medical and Dental College Admission Test 2026 for admissions into medical institutes across the country.
According to the official notification, the council will conduct the nationwide entry test on Sunday, August 16, 2026, starting precisely at 10:00 AM.
Meanwhile, the online registration portal opens on June 22 and remains active until July 8. Candidates who miss the initial deadline can still submit their applications with a late fee until July 13.
The regulatory body fixed the standard national registration fee at 9,000 rupees, while late registrants must pay 13,000 rupees.
Furthermore, international applicants attempting the exam at overseas centers will face a registration fee of 45,000 rupees.
The council emphasized that all deposited fees remain strictly non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances.
To ensure smooth execution, regional universities will manage the testing process in their respective provinces. Sukkur IBA University will oversee the exam in Sindh, while the University of Health Sciences Lahore manages the process across Punjab.
Simultaneously, Khyber Medical University Peshawar handles Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences Quetta conducts the test in Balochistan. Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University will supervise the examinations across Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and international centers.
In terms of regional testing distribution, Sindh candidates can take their exams in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Larkana.
For Punjab, authorities plan to set up centers across 14 different cities. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will host centers in eight cities, including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, and Abbottabad, whereas Balochistan will accommodate students exclusively in Quetta.
International applicants will take their assessment at a dedicated center in Riyadh.
The council declared that students cannot alter their chosen exam centers once they submit their preferences. Additionally, the paper structure comprises 180 multiple-choice questions, featuring a student-friendly policy of no negative marking for incorrect responses.
Aspiring students must finalize their submissions through the official MDCAT online portal, as the council automatically rejects incomplete applications.
Finally, the council uploaded the detailed syllabus and supplementary guidelines on its official website, noting that it retains the right to modify the schedule if unforeseen circumstances arise.
Read more: Update for medical students as MDCAT 2026 exam date
