Overview
NUMS is the National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan. It runs its own entry test, the NUMS MDCAT, for MBBS and BDS admission to its constituent, affiliated and armed-forces-administered medical and dental colleges. This page describes the 2026 cycle, for the 2026-27 session. The university's advertisement for that cycle states that this test is mandatory for admission to all of those colleges.
The colleges listed in the 2026 advertisement include Army Medical College, Rawalpindi (for medical cadets only), the CMH medical and dental colleges, HITEC, Wah Medical College, Karachi and Quetta Institutes of Medical Sciences, Bahria University, Fazaia, Foundation University and the NUST School of Health Sciences.
Who can apply
For NUMS MDCAT-2026:
Citizens of Pakistan, overseas Pakistanis, dual nationals and foreign nationals may appear.
Candidates under 18 need a valid juvenile card issued by NADRA.
Candidates who have taken FSc, HSSC, A-Levels or 12th grade and are awaiting results may also apply.
A 2026 test result is valid for the 2026-27 MBBS/BDS session only.
Exam pattern
The 2026-cycle test had two parts. All questions are one-best-option multiple choice, and there is no negative marking.
| Part | Content | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English | 150 | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Part B | Psychological test | 50 | 15 minutes |
Syllabus
The advertisement says the syllabus is published on the NUMS website and advises candidates to study broadly rather than only a narrow set of topics.
Important dates
These are the dates printed in the advertisement for the 2026 cycle (session 2026-27). All of them have passed, and they do not apply to later cycles.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online registration opens | 18 May 2026 |
| Registration closes with regular fee | 8 June 2026, 16:00 |
| Registration closes with late fee | 15 June 2026, 16:00 |
| NUMS MDCAT-2026 | Sunday, 23 August 2026, 10:00 AM PST (2026 cycle, now past) |
The advertisement says only that the dates are as printed there; check the NUMS website for the schedule of any later cycle.
Fees
For 2026, all fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
| Centre | Regular fee | Late fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Rs. 7,500 | Rs. 8,500 |
| International centre | Rs. 40,000 | Rs. 50,000 |
How to apply
Registration is online through the NUMS website. Each candidate chooses two cities in order of preference. The university may move a candidate to the nearest other city if a centre is full. Test cities in 2026 were Islamabad, several cities in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and Saudi Arabia for international candidates. The local test starts at the same time at all Pakistani centres; international centre timing is printed on the admit card.
FAQs
Is the NUMS MDCAT the same as the PMDC MDCAT?
The advertisement describes the NUMS MDCAT as NUMS's own entry test for the colleges it lists, and states that it is mandatory for admission to them. Check each college's notice for how it treats other tests.
Is there negative marking?
No. The 2026 advertisement states there is no negative marking.