FMDC vs MDCAT 2026
FMDC accepts MDCAT — so the comparison is really about merit formula, federal seats, reciprocal quotas and how FMDC differs from provincial medical colleges that also use MDCAT.
FMDC (Federal Medical & Dental College, Islamabad) uses the PMDC MDCAT — it does not have a separate entrance test. FMDC merit follows the standard 10% Matric + 40% FSc + 50% MDCAT formula, with closing merit at 89–91% for open federal seats. FMDC offers ~100 MBBS seats with reciprocal quotas for AJK, GB, FATA, Balochistan, and overseas Pakistanis (Source: FMDC 2024; PMDC 2024).
- FMDC is federal — open to candidates across all provinces (no domicile restriction on open seats).
- Annual fee ~PKR 90K–110K (open) vs ~PKR 1.2M (self-finance) (Source: FMDC 2024).
- Reciprocal seats reduce closing merit by 6–10% in eligible regions (Source: FMDC merit lists).
- FMDC application opens after MDCAT results — typically late September.
- No interview — pure merit aggregate decides admission.
FMDC — Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2010
- Location
- Islamabad (G-8/3)
- Affiliated to
- SZABMU
- Teaching hospital
- PIMS, Islamabad
- MBBS seats / year
- ~100
- Closing merit (open)
- 89–91%
- Annual fee (open)
- PKR 90K–110K
- Sector
- Public (Federal)
FMDC vs MDCAT — Side-by-Side
| Dimension | FMDC (Federal) | MDCAT (national) |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting body | FMDC, Islamabad (Federal Govt.) | PMDC (regional admin) |
| Entrance test used | PMDC MDCAT (no separate test) | MDCAT |
| Merit formula | 10% Matric + 40% FSc + 50% MDCAT | Same formula, applied per province |
| Total MBBS seats | ~100/year | ~11,000/year (Pakistan-wide) |
| Reserved quotas | AJK, GB, FATA, Balochistan, overseas | Provincial domicile-based |
| Closing merit (open) | 89–91% aggregate | Varies — 84–93% by college |
| Annual fee (public seat) | ~PKR 90K–110K | PKR 50K–80K (provincial public) |
| Self-finance fee | ~PKR 1.2M | Capped at PKR 1.8M (private) |
| Hostel facility | Yes (federal hostel) | Varies by college |
| Application window | Aug–Sept (post-MDCAT result) | Test in Sept; college apps Oct–Nov |
| Interview | No — merit-only | No — merit-only (most colleges) |
| Best for | Federal candidates, AJK/GB students | All Pakistani candidates |
Sources: FMDC 2024 prospectus; PMDC MDCAT 2024 syllabus notification.
Which Should You Take?
This isn't a test choice — every FMDC candidate takes MDCAT. The real question is whether to apply to FMDC or stick with provincial colleges. Use this framework:
- If you're from AJK, GB, FATA, or Balochistan: FMDC reciprocal seats are an excellent route — closing merit is 6–10% lower than open seats.
- If your aggregate is 89%+ and you want federal placement in Islamabad: FMDC is a strong choice with PIMS as the teaching hospital.
- If your aggregate is 92%+: You qualify for KEMU, AIMC, Nishtar; FMDC becomes one of several options.
- If you're an overseas Pakistani: FMDC has dedicated overseas quota seats — a rare offering.
- If you cannot afford private fees but missed top public colleges: FMDC self-finance seats (~PKR 1.2M) are cheaper than private colleges (PKR 1.8M cap).
- If you want hostel + federal teaching environment: FMDC offers both as standard.
Estimate your FMDC merit: FMDC merit calculator and the broader PMDC aggregate calculator. Compare colleges at all medical colleges in Pakistan.
FMDC vs MDCAT — FAQs
Does FMDC use MDCAT or its own test?▼
FMDC (Federal Medical & Dental College, Islamabad) uses the PMDC MDCAT — it does not run a separate entrance test. FMDC merit is calculated from MDCAT score plus FSc and Matric using the federal formula, similar to PMDC's standard 10/40/50 (Source: FMDC admission policy 2024; PMDC 2024).
What is the FMDC merit formula 2026?▼
FMDC follows PMDC's standard formula: 10% Matric + 40% FSc + 50% MDCAT. Reciprocal-quota seats are reserved for federal areas (Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA, Balochistan) under separate sub-merit lists, not a different formula (Source: FMDC 2024 prospectus).
How many MBBS seats does FMDC offer?▼
FMDC offers approximately 100 MBBS seats per year split across federal, reciprocal, and self-finance quotas. Around 80% are open-merit federal seats, with ~20% reserved for AJK, GB, FATA, Balochistan and overseas Pakistanis (Source: FMDC 2024).
What is FMDC's closing merit?▼
FMDC's closing merit for the open federal quota typically sits at 89–91% aggregate — slightly lower than KEMU/AIMC but higher than most provincial public colleges. Reciprocal-quota cutoffs are 6–10% lower depending on the region (Source: FMDC merit lists 2022–2024).
How much does FMDC cost vs other public medical colleges?▼
FMDC is a federal public college with annual fees of approximately PKR 90,000–110,000 for open-merit seats. Self-finance seats cost significantly more (~PKR 1.2 million/year). This is in line with other public medical colleges and far below private fees (Source: FMDC 2024 fee schedule).
Can I apply to FMDC and other medical colleges in the same cycle?▼
Yes. FMDC admission runs in parallel with provincial UHS Punjab, KMU, DUHS Sindh and NUMS cycles. Most candidates apply everywhere they qualify and pick based on which offer arrives first or which college they prefer (Source: FMDC 2024; UHS 2024).
More tools: MDCAT 2026 hub, FMDC calculator, MBBS predictor.