Medical Colleges of Punjab

Many dreams of getting into medical college in Pakistan, but chasing that dream is unarguably challenging. If you’re worried about the admission process to medical colleges, then no worries, this guide will cover the entire details for applying to both government and private medical colleges in Punjab, Pakistan.

Overview:

Medical Universities are found in the major cities of Punjab. Before you apply to any of the universities, do make sure it’s PMC recognized. Hence, we have provided you with the List of recognized colleges for your ease.

List of PMC recognized Public Colleges:

Medical Colleges:

https://www.pmc.gov.pk/Colleges/PublicMedicalColleges

Public Dental Colleges:

https://www.pmc.gov.pk/Colleges/PublicDentalColleges

List of PMC Recognized Private Colleges:

Medical Colleges:

https://www.pmc.gov.pk/Colleges/PrivateDentalColleges

Dental Colleges:

https://www.pmc.gov.pk/Colleges/PrivateDentalColleges

Before applying to private colleges, remember to have a look at the Grading sheet which you can find on the homepage of https://www.pmc.gov.pk/  and check the grading system for each med college because it does matter when it comes to getting a professional degree. (Prefer those which fall under the category of A*, A and B, not below than that) Never make the mistake of applying to those who have an F grade or no score.

Application Windows:

MDCAT is the required entry test.

You can only give it once a year.

The application process varies from year to year but presently the application portal is open and you can apply till 15th July’22 on https://pmcexams.pmc.gov.pk/

The exam usually takes place between September and November.

Fo PMC updates follow their Twitter account & keep visiting their website.

Eligibility Criteria:

i. The applicant has passed HSSC or F.Sc. (Pre-Medical) or equivalent examination with a minimum of 65 per cent (715/1100) marks. Examination results can also apply provided they fulfil other eligibility requirements as laid down below:

ii. domicile certificate of any district of Punjab. Candidates having domicile of Islamabad (ICT) can apply for open merit seats only; 

iii. passed the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) with a minimum of 65 per cent (137/210) marks. The repeating candidates can use their MDCAT-2021 scores subject to the equivalence of the same by the PMC. 

iv. All students of foreign examination boards must produce Equivalence certificates issued by IBCC. 

For Foreign/Overseas Pakistanis seats, the eligible candidate must have obtained his/her HSSC or equivalent 12th Grade qualification from outside Pakistan (abroad). 

v. Candidates shall be required to fulfil additional eligibility requirements for various categories of seats as given in the Prospectus.

Aggregate Formula:

For Public Colleges:

  • MDCAT: 50%
  • FSC Pre-Medical/Equivalent: 40%
  • Matriculation/SSC: 10%

For Private:

The aggregate Formula for it varies. 

You can check the eligibility criteria for every private medical college on their respective websites as it is different for every university but mostly:

FSC always has the greatest weightage i.e., 50%, then MDCAT (percentage varies), then Matric. Interviews are usually taken by almost all the private institutions and their weightage is usually 10% or 20%.

Fee Structure:

It varies from one medical college to the other but yes there’s a huge difference between the fee structure of Public and Private colleges. 

Public College:

Here’s the fee Structure of King Edward Medical University:

For Private Punjab College:

The fee ranges between 13 Lacs to 20 Lacs per annum.

Fee structure of Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Lahore is as follows:

https://amdc.edu.pk/fee-structure/

Fee Structure of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU):

For MBBS:

For BDS(STMU)

https://stmu.edu.pk/admissions/fee-structure/

Pathway to Punjab Medical Colleges:

  • Through MDCAT

To be eligible to get into medical college, passing the MDCAT is necessary. 

Applying as a regular Candidate through MDCAT:

First, you must register for the MDCAT exam,

  • Log on to pmcexams.gov.pk.
  • Create a User Account
  • Fill out the Profile Information
  • Pay the Exam Fee
  • From 20th July to 25th July 2022, the PMC website will be available for scheduling your examination.
  • Roll No Slips will be issued from 1st August 2022.
For Public Medical Colleges:

As soon as you get your MDCAT result, you will be then required to register on the UHS website, which is the application portal for Punjab province Public medical Colleges only.

HOW TO APPLY:

 Step 1: Go to the link: https://www.bop.com.pk/UHS-2021/Login.aspx 

Step 2: Sign-up for an account using your E-mail ID and a password; 

Step 3: Enter your particulars on the application form. You should also give your preference for the colleges. A candidate can select all or as many colleges he/she wishes to enter (depending upon the category of seats) while giving his/her Order of Preference. The “Order of Preference” once given shall be final and cannot be changed later. An applicant shall not be considered for a college he/she has not listed in his/her Order of Preference.

Step 4: ‘Hafiz-e-Quran’ and ‘Candidates with Disabilities’ must tick the relevant box in the application and upload the required documents. They will be informed about the venue, date and time of the Hafiz-e-Quran Test/Medical Board by E-mail. 

Step 5: Upload scanned document (Max. Size: 2 MB/each document) as stipulated in the Prospectus. Step 6: Verify the filled information and attachments. Once the application is submitted, you will not be able to edit it.

Step 7: Submit the online application. A confirmation notification will be received at your E-mail address. Take a print-out of the submitted application marked as the ‘Final Copy’ on top of it. 

Step 8: Visit any branch of The Bank of Punjab, with the ‘Final Copy’ of the submitted application and fee challan, to deposit the Admission Processing Fee of Rs. 1,000/- (non-refundable). The application process is complete now.

So, you do not need to apply to every university individually.

The merit list will then be announced in January and February.

For Private Medical Colleges:

In this case, you are required to register individually for the respective college where you wish to apply.

The application portal usually opens by July so you can put in the Matric/SSC and/or FSC/HSSC details in their online portal and later submit your MDCAT result when you get the result.

One Last Step: Once MDCAT results are announced, you must then send your score to the medical colleges whether it be Public or Private through the PMC website.

Preparing for MDCAT:

The duration of MDCAT, a computer-based test, is 3.5hrs, with 210 Multiple choice questions without negative marking. The minimum passing marks are 137.

Students wishing to apply for MBBS or BDS, for both MDCAT is required.

The Paper pattern is mentioned below:

How to prepare?

Although Biology has the most weightage, still it’s easy to learn as it does not have any conceptual information so try to memorize the important terms in Biology and prefer learning from your respective board Books. If you’re an A-level student then go for the Federal book of Biology.

Chemistry and Physics have an equal weightage so work on both subjects equally. You must have a clear concept of everything you study because of questions about Physics as mostly conceptual. For chemistry, chemical equations and reactions must be at your fingertips, especially the reactions in Organic Chemistry.

The questions in the English section are typically easy, you just need to know its basic grammar, rest you can do it. 

For Logical reasoning, you can consult the preparation books of KIPS, STARS or STEPS, IQ-based questions come under this section.

Acing the test:

The registration starts in June so you get ample time for your preparation as the test takes place in September. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you must never waste your time as that’s the only time you have! Stay dedicated, use your time wisely for the preparation and start its preparation as soon as you are done with your FSC or A-level exams.

Here are a few tips which you can follow:

  • Have a firm belief in yourself that you can do it.
  • It depends on you whether you prefer academy or self-study. If you don’t get distracted and grab the concepts easily then self-study might suit you the best. Otherwise, go for academies, as they take regular test sessions and you can clear your ambiguities directly by teacher’s consultation. A level students might face a problem as the syllabus is according to FSC and way too much that of Cambridge syllabus so you can go for academies, otherwise, MDCAT lectures are also available online at YouTube or www.saeedmdcat.com. It’s all up to you.
  • Practice makes a man perfect! Practice as much MCQS of past papers as you can. You can find the past MCQs online, or you can use the practice books of KIPS, STARS or STEPS. Before the final exam, try to at least give 2 practice exams yourself so that you may be able to manage your time during the day of the exam.
  • Make sure that you have revised the entire syllabus at least thrice and have made all your concepts clear before your exam day!
Exam Day Tips:
  • Try to be fully relaxed at the time of the test and have confidence in your knowledge.
  • Get 6-8 hours of good sleep the night before the test.
  • Do the easy questions first; in this way, you’ll have the confidence to solve more questions ahead.
  • Don’t panic if you don’t know the answer to any MCQ, just leave it. Try to do the lengthy or tricky question in the end.
  • Before choosing the answer, read all the options, cross out the incorrect ones and select the most suitable option.

 Acing the Multiple Mini Interview (for Private medical colleges):

The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is an interview process where applicants rotate through a series of short, timed and structured mini-interviews or “stations” and meet individually with the interview interviewer/assessor

 The MMI was created in response to concerns that medical students may not have the social and communication competence needed for success in medicine. The MMI aims to assess candidates’ ability to think, critically appraise information, communicate their ideas, and prove that they can think about some important issues. The MMI allows the College to assess applicant characteristics and attributes we believe are important components in becoming a competent and caring doctor.

The MMI is designed to assess the following qualities in an individual:

  1. Knowledge of healthcare systems 
  2. Empathy
  3. Critical reasoning
  4. Punctuality
  5. Ethical dilemma
  6. Moral entity 
  7. Socio-cultural issue 
  8. Communication skills 
  9. Problem-solving

The panel of interviewers can ask a wide range of questions that may be about you, your education, and your interests/hobbies. These are the most asked questions:

  1. Why do you want to become a doctor?
  2. How will you see yourself in 5 years?
  3. What’s your preference for the medical colleges you choose to go to?
  4. Do you have any backup plan in case you don’t get admission?
  5. What are your hobbies?
  6. Any extra-curricular activities you took part in?
  7. Why only us, why not any other medical college?
  8. What will you do after becoming a doctor?

Make sure to be well-dressed. Never lie and try to be honest. Stay confident because the first thing which the interviewer notices is your confidence and your way of speaking.

Do check out these useful college guides:

Guide to King Edward Medical University

Guide to Allama Iqbal Medical College 

Give your best and I am sure you’ll do it. Best of Luck!

Compiled by Novaira Batool, Founder of Enlightism