PMDC’s MDCAT requirements for students going abroad are regulatory and have changed multiple times since 2022. The position stated in this article reflects MTZ’s understanding as of May 2026 based on the latest available PMDC notification. ALWAYS verify the current position directly at pmdc.pk before submitting any application. If PMDC has updated its policy after this article was published, the PMDC website takes precedence.

Yes — MDCAT is required for Pakistani students applying to MBBS at foreign medical universities, including those in China. PMDC’s current position requires students to have sat and passed MDCAT before they can be eligible for NLE registration on return from a foreign MBBS programme. This requirement applies to all foreign MBBS destinations — China, UK, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and all others. Confirm the exact current threshold and any exemptions directly at pmdc.pk before applying.

MDCAT — the Medical and Dental College Admission Test — is the national entrance examination administered by PMDC for admission to medical and dental colleges in Pakistan. It tests Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and Logical Reasoning.

Its relevance to MBBS in China is indirect but critical: PMDC has linked MDCAT performance not just to local admissions but to the eligibility of foreign MBBS graduates to sit the NLE (National Licensing Examination) on return. In simple terms — if you did not sit MDCAT, PMDC may not allow you to sit NLE, which means you cannot register as a doctor in Pakistan regardless of where you did your MBBS.

MDCAT → PMDC-recognised foreign university → 5+1 year MBBS → NLE → PMDC registration → practise medicine in Pakistan. A gap anywhere in this chain — including not having sat MDCAT — can block the entire pathway. This is why MTZ asks every student about MDCAT status in the very first eligibility check.

Current PMDC Position on MDCAT for Students Going Abroad (2026)

Based on PMDC’s most recent notifications available to MTZ as of May 2026:

Requirement	Current Position (May 2026)	Verify at
Must Pakistani students sit MDCAT?	Yes — PMDC requires students to have sat MDCAT	pmdc.pk
Minimum MDCAT score required	PMDC sets a minimum passing threshold — confirm the exact current score at pmdc.pk	pmdc.pk
Does this apply to China-bound students?	Yes — applies to ALL foreign MBBS destinations equally	pmdc.pk
What if a student did MDCAT but did not pass?	Students who sat but did not meet the threshold should confirm re-sit options with PMDC before applying abroad	pmdc.pk
Are there any exemptions?	Confirm any current exemption categories directly with PMDC — policy on exemptions has changed previously	pmdc.pk
When is MDCAT held?	Typically once per year — dates announced by PMDC. Check pmdc.pk for current schedule	pmdc.pk

The confusion among Pakistani families comes from several sources:

• PMDC changed its MDCAT policy for foreign students multiple times between 2021 and 2024 — some years it was mandatory, some years the threshold was lowered, some years court orders temporarily suspended enforcement. This created genuine uncertainty.
• Some agents and consultants told families that MDCAT ‘is not required for China’ — this was either based on outdated information or was deliberately misleading. As of the current PMDC position, this is incorrect.
• Universities in China do not require MDCAT for admission — the MDCAT requirement is a PMDC rule for NLE eligibility on return, not a Chinese university admission requirement. A student CAN be admitted to a Chinese medical university without MDCAT — but they may not be able to sit NLE in Pakistan when they return.
• The pillar page on our website previously showed ‘[VERIFY]’ next to the MDCAT line — that placeholder has now been removed. The current confirmed position is: MDCAT is required.

If you are planning MBBS in China and have not yet sat MDCAT, here is the honest guidance:

1. Do NOT apply to any university abroad — Chinese or otherwise — until you have confirmed your MDCAT status with PMDC.
2. Check the current PMDC notification at pmdc.pk to confirm the exact requirements for your situation.
3. If MDCAT applications are still open for the current year, register and sit the exam.
4. If you missed this year’s MDCAT, plan for the next sitting — do not enrol abroad in the meantime based on any agent’s assurance that MDCAT is not needed.
5. WhatsApp MTZ with your situation. We will tell you honestly whether you are ready to apply or whether you need to resolve MDCAT first. We will not take a fee from a student who is not eligible to complete the full pathway.

Many families confuse these two exams. They are completely different:

Exam	What it is	When you sit it	Administered by	Purpose
MDCAT	Medical and Dental College Admission Test	Before starting MBBS — while still in Pakistan (typically after FSc)	PMDC	Required for admission to medical colleges in Pakistan AND (per current PMDC policy) for NLE eligibility after foreign MBBS
NLE	National Licensing Examination	After completing 5+1 year MBBS abroad — on return to Pakistan	PMDC	Required to register with PMDC and practise medicine in Pakistan

You need BOTH. MDCAT comes first — before you leave for China. NLE comes last — after you return from China with your degree. Missing either one blocks your path to practising in Pakistan.

MDCAT does not directly affect which Chinese university you apply to — Chinese universities set their own admission requirements (FSc percentage, age, medical fitness) and none of them require MDCAT as an admission condition.

However, MDCAT affects your entire Pakistan pathway:

• If you have MDCAT — you are eligible for all 29 PMDC-recognised universities MTZ works with, and you can sit NLE on return.
• If you do not have MDCAT — you may be admitted to a Chinese university but face potential NLE ineligibility on return. This means a degree that cannot be used in Pakistan.

MTZ will not place a student without MDCAT MTZ Global Visa Consultants does not place students at any university — Chinese or otherwise — if the student does not meet the current PMDC eligibility requirements. We will not take a placement fee from a student who cannot complete the full pathway. If you do not have MDCAT, we will tell you clearly and help you plan to sit it before applying.

Do this yourself before trusting any agent’s word — including MTZ:

1. Go to: www.pmdc.pk
2. Navigate to Notifications, Circulars or Downloads — look for the most recent MDCAT notification for foreign medical students
3. Download the latest notification (PDF)
4. Look for the section on ‘students going abroad’ or ‘foreign medical institutions’
5. Note the minimum MDCAT score or passing threshold stated
6. Note the date of the notification — confirm it is the most current version
7. If unclear, call or email PMDC directly — their contact details are on pmdc.pk

Direct link: https://www.pmdc.pk  — always use this URL. Do not rely on third-party summaries of PMDC rules, including this article, as the sole source of truth.

Q: Is MDCAT compulsory for MBBS in China?

For admission to Chinese universities — no. Chinese universities do not require MDCAT. However, for NLE eligibility and PMDC registration on return to Pakistan — yes, per PMDC’s current policy. The practical effect is that MDCAT is compulsory if you want your Chinese MBBS to be usable in Pakistan.

Q: What happens if I go to China without MDCAT?

You may be admitted and complete your MBBS in China. However, on return, you may not be eligible to sit the NLE under current PMDC rules. Without NLE, you cannot register with PMDC. Without PMDC registration, you cannot practise medicine in Pakistan. MTZ will not place students in this situation.

Q: I sat MDCAT but did not pass. Can I still apply for MBBS in China?

This depends on current PMDC policy at the time of application. PMDC sets specific score thresholds and re-sit policies. Confirm your specific situation directly at pmdc.pk. Do not apply abroad until this is resolved.

Q: Does MDCAT affect USMLE eligibility?

No. MDCAT is a Pakistani examination with no relevance to USMLE, PLAB, AMC or any international licensing exam. Those pathways have their own separate requirements entirely independent of PMDC and MDCAT.

Q: My friend went to China 3 years ago without MDCAT. Why could he do it?

PMDC’s MDCAT policy has changed multiple times. Requirements in 2021, 2022 or 2023 may have been different from those in 2026. A student who enrolled 3 years ago under old rules may be in a different position from someone applying today. Always check the current policy — not what applied in a previous year.

Q: Is MDCAT required for MOE-listed and non-MOE listed universities equally?

Yes. PMDC’s MDCAT requirement applies to all foreign MBBS programmes — it does not distinguish between MOE-listed and non-MOE listed Chinese universities. Both groups require students to meet the PMDC MDCAT condition for NLE eligibility.

Q: If PMDC changes its MDCAT rules again, will MTZ tell me?

Yes. MTZ monitors PMDC notifications continuously. Any enrolled family or family in the application process is notified within 24 hours of any PMDC policy change that affects their situation. This is one of the reasons MTZ operates from physical offices in Islamabad and Lahore — not just online.