The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has once again increased the registration fee for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), raising it from Rs7,000 to Rs9,000 for the upcoming MBBS admissions.

The latest hike marks a steep 80% increase in just two years, with the fee having been Rs5,000 in 2023 before climbing to Rs7,000 in 2024.

Steady increase in test fees

The MDCAT is a mandatory entry exam for students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges across Pakistan. Over the past two years, the cost of appearing in the test has risen by Rs4,000, putting additional financial strain on thousands of candidates and their families.

PM&DC’s revenue from registration

With the latest increase, the PM&DC is expected to generate around Rs2 billion in registration fees this year, given the large number of students who sit for the MDCAT annually.

A day ago, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) announced the date for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025.

Candidates from Punjab will sit the test under the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, while candidates from Sindh will appear under the IBA University, Sukkur.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Khyber Medical University will conduct the examination. The University of Balochistan, Quetta, will oversee the test for candidates in Balochistan.

Applicants from the federal capital and Azad Jammu and Kashmir will take the exam at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, which will also administer the examination for candidates in Gilgit-Baltistan and those based in Riyadh.

Registration will open on August 8 and continue until August 25 . The last date for late registration, subject to a late fee, is September 1.