Key Takeaways
- 138,158 candidates registered for the MDCAT 2026 exam.
- 2,063 new candidates registered after the test was postponed.
- UHS Lahore will conduct the exam for the largest number of applicants.
More than 138,000 candidates are set to appear in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026, scheduled for September 20 across Pakistan. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has compiled data from universities indicating that 138,158 candidates will take the exam.
The MDCAT is a crucial test for admission to medical and dental colleges in Pakistan. The exam was initially scheduled for August 16, 2026, but was rescheduled to September 20 following the suspension of internet services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and prevailing tensions. The decision was made on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A significant number of candidates registered after the test was postponed. According to the PMDC, 2,063 new candidates registered during the additional registration phase. Prior to this, 136,095 candidates had already registered.
The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, will conduct the exam for the largest number of applicants, with 49,198 students registered. Of these, 48,528 had registered before the additional registration phase, while 670 were added later.
The Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, has registered the second-largest number of candidates, with 38,841 students. Its initial registration stood at 38,318, while 523 candidates registered during the second phase.
The IBA University, Sukkur, will conduct the test for 34,232 candidates, including 33,683 who registered earlier and 549 additional candidates. The Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences (BUMHS), Quetta, will conduct the test for 9,923 candidates, comprising 9,777 initial registrations and 146 additional candidates.
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, has registered 5,964 candidates, including 5,789 candidates registered earlier and 175 additional candidates. SZABMU will also conduct the test abroad at a centre in Saudi Arabia.
The PMDC has directed universities and provincial authorities to ensure all arrangements are completed on time and that the test is conducted in a fair, transparent, and secure manner. The PMDC President, Prof Dr Rizwan Taj, recently reviewed preparations with the vice chancellors of the universities conducting the test and representatives of the provincial authorities.
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for examination centres, security, medical assistance, emergency response, and facilities for candidates and their accompanying parents or guardians.
