UHS to conduct centralised admissions for public and private institutions for 2026–27 academic session

By Dr Ansab Ali Lahore

LAHORE: The admission policy for MBBS and BDS programmes in public and private medical and dental colleges across Punjab for the 2026–27 academic session has been issued, with the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, designated as the admitting university to conduct the centralised admission process.

Under the policy, the admission merit will be calculated according to the prescribed weightage: 50 per cent for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT), 40 per cent for FSc Pre-Medical/Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) or equivalent qualifications, and 10 per cent for Matriculation/Secondary School Certificate (SSC) or equivalent qualifications.

Passing the MDCAT is mandatory for admission eligibility.

Candidates must have obtained an HSSC qualification or an equivalent Grade 12 qualification recognised in Pakistan, with a minimum of 60 per cent marks. Applicants holding foreign qualifications must submit an equivalence certificate issued by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC).

Candidates must have passed HSSC or an equivalent recognised Grade 12 examination with Biology and Chemistry as compulsory subjects and Physics or Mathematics as an elective subject.

In accordance with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Undergraduate Education (Admissions, Curriculum, and Conduct) Policy and Regulations 2025, and the judgment delivered by a six-member bench in the suo motu case on April 4, 2023, no additional marks will be awarded for Hifz-e-Quran for admission to medical and dental colleges.

The policy requires applicants seeking admission to public and private medical and dental colleges to submit a list of college preferences.

Candidates applying to private-sector institutions may select any number of colleges. However, applicants for public-sector institutions must list all colleges in their order of preference.

Applications may be modified before the submission deadline. Once the online application deadline has passed, candidates will not be allowed to change the number or order of their preferences. Any college not included in the preference list will not be considered for admission or subsequent upgradation.

Students admitted to private-sector institutions may choose to waive their right to upgradation when joining a college. Once exercised, this option will be final and cannot be changed or withdrawn at a later stage.

The entire admission process will be conducted through an online portal. Candidates must submit separate applications for medical and dental programmes, as failure to apply for a particular programme will render them ineligible for admission to it.

Selected candidates will be required to deposit the prescribed college fee within three working days of the display of the relevant merit list.

UHS will prepare college-wise selection lists according to candidates’ merit and stated preferences through a fair digital system developed or procured by the university.

Regarding fees, the annual tuition fee for MBBS and BDS programmes in public-sector institutions will be Rs50,000, excluding institutions and seats covered under the overseas and foreign quotas.

Overseas Pakistanis selected against open-merit seats will pay the same tuition fee as Pakistani students.