Introduction
A lot of confusion arises for international students when they find themselves applying to Pakistani Medical and Dental Universities for MBBS and BDS on international seats. Here through this blog, we try to answer some of the frequently asked questions from candidates and students about the admission process. If you have any further questions, you can always reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram and we will be more than happy to help you out!

International students, similar to local applicants, may choose between applying to a private or a public medical university, but the process differs for the category chosen. We shall discuss admission procedures for both types of universities, starting from Private Universities.

1. Private Universities
The processes vary from university to university hence, we shall start with AKU’s requirements and move on to other universities.

Aga Khan University
AKU has no special requirements, in terms of nationality or domicile however, a prerequisite, established by the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) is that the MDCAT must be cleared by the candidate. Before 2022, international students could give the SAT or the American/Canadian MCAT as an alternative to the AKU test but that policy is no longer valid and every student has to appear for the AKU Test. AKU also has a number of centres across the globe hence, international students do not have to come to Pakistan to give the AKU Test and can give it in the nearest possible city.

After passing the AKU Test, an interview is scheduled but international students can wish to give this interview online as well. International students are required to pay international fees which can be checked using the link mentioned below. The rest of the requirements are the same as what would be implemented on a local student. The link to AKU’s page, concerning the requirements, is attached: (https://www.aku.edu/admissions/Documents/admission-information-MBBS.pdf).

Ziauddin University
For Ziauddin University (ZU), to apply as an overseas student, you are only required to meet the criteria set by the PMC, that is to clear the MDCAT, and also Zaiuddin’s internal test. Most importantly, as a foreign applicant, a Pakistani Passport or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) is not a necessity.

Once all the conditions have been met and the candidate has cleared Zaiuddin’s written test with significant merit, she/he would be called for an interview, the interview being not as robust as AKU’s.
You may check more about the conditions and requirements on Zaiuddin University’s website, along side the fee structure, on the link provided below;
(https://zmc.zu.edu.pk/undergraduate/bachelor-of-medicine-bachelor-of-surgery-mbbs/introduction/)

Liaquat National Medical College
LMNC also facilitates foreign students and overseas Pakistani applicants though the overseas Pakistanis, having a Pakistani nationality, are treated as local applicants, in terms of the fee structure.

The requirements are clearance of the MDCAT and the interview stage, conducted by the college. Facilitations can be provided by the university, such as arranging a virtual interview however, this varies from case to case basis. A merit list is prepared on the basis of the MDCAT score, the Board Examinations (Equivalency), and the internal interview.
https://lnmc.lnh.edu.pk/admission.html
https://lnmc.lnh.edu.pk/Admission/2022MBBS%20Fee%20Structure.pdf
[These two links may be used to get more information on the eligibility criteria and fee structure.]

2. Public Universities
To apply to public universities, students have the option of multiple approaches.

PTAP
One approach would be to apply via the Pakistan Technical Assistance Program (PTAP). This program is a direct initiative from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, that offers 20 seats to applicants carrying a dual nationality with one of them being Pakistan’s. The program comes with a cost benefit.

The website for this organization and process can be checked for the fees structure of reach university, but for Dow Medical College, the applicant would only be required to pay 50,000 PKR approximately (essentially the merit fee).

Moreover, qualifying candidates may choose between the prestigious public medical colleges of Pakistan, to enroll in. Some of the options available are: DUHS, KEMU, AIMC, RMU, FJMC, SIMS, AMC, NMC, and more.

Furthermore, the applicant’s domicile won’t be considered, given the/she has completed his/her grade 11 and 12 from aboard. This would imply that the applicant would be able to apply to King Edward’s College, in Lahore, and Dow University, in Karachi, something that isn’t possible for local applicants.

To apply, the form on the website, (https://ead.gov.pk/Detail/NDczNzA5ZGUtMTc2Zi00ZjVlLWI5OWUtNWZiMTlmMmFhZWRi),

Released in August, must be filled. Alongside the filled form, MDCAT scores, attested copies of educational transcripts, attested copies of NICOP or Passport of the applicant and a parent, passport size photographs, and Equivalency from IBCC, must be sent via mail. Attestation can be done by the local consulate or the ambassy.

A merit list would be prepared and released in November. An interview, as a formality, would be set up in Islamabad, though one may be accommodated with online interviews.

You can check out this video from Random and More to get to know more about this topic:
How can international students get into medical colleges of Pakistan I Dow Medical College (PTAP):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVXLmKdbyI

Overseas Pakistanis
Pakistanis, carrying a dual nationality, must fill out the form on DOW’s official website (https://www.duhs.edu.pk/new/). This would be needed for them to apply to DOW Medical College or any other public university of Sindh. Equivalency and clearing the MDCAT is a cruciality. Depending upon the results of the merit list, the applicant would be given the option of the medical college. The attached website link carries the requirements and the fee structure for different public institutions.
https://www.duhs.edu.pk/new/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210106-Notice-for-overseas-2020-21.pdf

Unlike the PTAP program, this approach lacks the cost benefit and fees is unreasonably high also because it is in US dollars. You may use the link, provided above, to go through the fee structure.

Foreign Students
Students, not having a Pakistani Passport or NICOP, can apply to Dow International Medical College (DIMC). The form would be made available on Dow’s official website (https://www.duhs.edu.pk/new/). Clearance of MDCAT and Equivalency is a necessity and the admission process would be similar to the one, mentioned prior for Overseas Pakistanis, the only difference being applicants, in this category, would be lacking a Pakistan nationality.

https://www.duhs.edu.pk/new/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210106-Notice-for-overseas-2020-21.pdf
[The link mentioned above may be used to check for the remaining requirements.]

Other Helpful Resources
At the end of this blog, we are adding the links of a few YouTube videos by some very resourceful channels which you can also skim through to get a further idea about the entire process:

Should international students apply to medical school in Pakistan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bSSbFWC9Ws

A day in the life of an international medical student | Dow International Medical College:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy7YbsquC6U

How can overseas Pakistanis apply to open merit seats? | Dow Medical College
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaCNkeaKv_4

How can international students get into medical universities of Pakistan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CyAr1bgEik

We hope that, through this guide, your questions and confusions were answered, but if you have any further questions, you can always reach out to PreMed.PK’s social media platforms (Facebook & Instagram) for further guidance. If you feel any of the information stated here is not up to date or accurate, please feel free to email us at [email protected] and we will solve the problem immediately.

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