Hamdard University is one of Karachi's oldest private universities, founded in 1991 by the Hamdard Foundation — the organisation behind Hamdard Laboratories and the Tibb tradition in Pakistan. It runs two campuses (Karachi and Islamabad) and is best known for medicine, pharmacy and Eastern medicine, alongside engineering, computer science, business and law. For a Karachi student who missed a public-sector medical seat, Hamdard's MBBS and BDS programmes are a realistic private-sector route — at private-sector fees.
At a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Karachi (main campus, Madinat al-Hikmah); Islamabad campus |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Type | Private sector university |
| Best known for | MBBS, BDS, Pharm-D, Eastern Medicine (BEMS) |
| Other faculties | Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Law, Social Sciences |
| Fees and 2027 dates | To be confirmed on the university's website |
Programmes
- MBBS and BDS — admission through MDCAT, as required by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for all medical and dental colleges. The 2027 MDCAT is expected in August 2027; the exact date is announced by PMDC and is to be confirmed.
- Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) — 5 years, one of the university's oldest programmes.
- BEMS (Bachelor of Eastern Medicine and Surgery) — Hamdard's signature programme, rooted in the Tibb tradition.
- BS Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering — 4-year programmes at the Karachi campus.
- BBA, MBA, LLB — business and law programmes, with the Islamabad campus offering a selection of the same degrees.
- MS/MPhil and PhD — in pharmacy, Eastern medicine, computer science and management sciences.
Admission and merit
MBBS and BDS admission follows the PMDC rules: MDCAT is mandatory, with a pass mark of 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS, and the aggregate is calculated as 10% Matric + 40% FSc + 50% MDCAT. For other programmes, admission is on Intermediate merit, with an entry test for selected degrees. As a private university, Hamdard's fees are substantially higher than public-sector medical colleges — the current MBBS/BDS fee schedule, the 2027 admission dates and the programme-wise closing merits are to be confirmed on the university's official website (hamdard.edu.pk) before you apply. Do not budget on a figure from an aggregator site: private medical fees change every year and are published in the university's own prospectus.
FAQ
Is Hamdard University private? Yes — it is a private-sector university founded in 1991 by the Hamdard Foundation, with campuses in Karachi and Islamabad.
Do I need MDCAT for MBBS at Hamdard? Yes. MDCAT is mandatory for MBBS and BDS admission at every medical and dental college in Pakistan, public or private, under PMDC rules.
What is BEMS? The Bachelor of Eastern Medicine and Surgery — Hamdard's signature degree in the Tibb (Eastern medicine) tradition, one of the few such programmes in Pakistan.
What are the fees? Private-sector fees, substantially higher than public medical colleges. The current schedule is to be confirmed on hamdard.edu.pk before applying.
Figures checked 2026-11-06: founded 1991, Karachi main campus (Madinat al-Hikmah) and Islamabad campus, private university — as published by the university. MDCAT pass marks (55% MBBS / 50% BDS) and aggregate 10/40/50 per PMDC. Fees, 2027 admission dates and closing merits are to be confirmed on hamdard.edu.pk before applying.
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Sources and verification: Hamdard University (hamdard.edu.pk); PMDC MDCAT rules.