The National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), based in Rawalpindi, is the admitting university for the Armed Forces-administered medical and dental colleges of Pakistan. It conducts its own entry test — the NUMS MDCAT — and runs the centralised admission process for Army Medical College, the CMH colleges and other NUMS-affiliated institutions. If you want to study at AMC or a CMH college, NUMS is the university you apply to, and the PMDC MDCAT does not substitute for its test.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Rawalpindi, Punjab |
| Type | Public sector medical university (Armed Forces-administered colleges) |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Role | Admitting university for AMC, CMH colleges and NUMS-affiliated institutions |
| Website | numspak.edu.pk |
The NUMS MDCAT
The NUMS MDCAT is a separate test from the national PMDC MDCAT. For session 2026-27 it was held on Sunday, 13 September 2026. The test has two parts: Part A — a 150-MCQ subject test and Part B — a 50-MCQ psychological test. Passing it is mandatory for open-merit seats: minimum 55% for MBBS and 50% for BDS. Alternatives accepted for foreign seats: SAT-II with a minimum of 550 in each subject, or MCAT (USA) / UCAT (UK) with 50% in the prescribed subjects, under PMDC Admission Regulations.
The NUMS MDCAT 2027 date has not been announced yet. For reference, 2026 registration opened on 18 May, with a regular-fee deadline of 22 June and late registration until 19 August 2026. Expect a similar late-summer window for 2027 and monitor numspak.edu.pk from spring 2027.
The merit formula
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Entrance test (NUMS MDCAT / valid MCAT / valid UCAT) | 50% |
| HSSC / FSc Pre-Medical (or equivalent) | 40% |
| SSC / Matric (or equivalent) | 10% |
The same 50/40/10 split is used by UHS for Punjab admissions, but the tests are different: a Punjab MDCAT score does not count for NUMS, and a NUMS MDCAT score does not count for UHS. If you are applying to both systems, you must sit both tests.
Key dates (session 2026-27)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NUMS MDCAT 2026 | 13 September 2026 |
| Online registration for admissions opens | 13 October 2026 |
| Regular-fee registration ends | 11 November 2026, 4:00 pm |
| Registration fee | Rs 8,500 (open merit) / Rs 50,000 (foreign seat) |
| Provisional merit list | 30 November 2026 (reported; some notices say 10 December) |
| First selection list (MBBS) | 17 December 2026 |
| First selection list (BDS) | 21 January 2027 |
| Classes begin (tentative) | 15 February 2027 (MBBS) / 15 March 2027 (BDS) |
Colleges under NUMS
NUMS-affiliated institutions include Army Medical College Rawalpindi (Medical Cadets only, plus the Dental Section), CMH Lahore Medical College, CMH Multan, CMH Bahawalpur, CMH Kharian, HITEC Taxila and the Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences, among others. Admission is centralised: you apply once through the NUMS portal and list your college preferences.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to NUMS with the PMDC MDCAT? No. The NUMS MDCAT (or SAT-II/MCAT/UCAT for foreign seats) is mandatory. The PMDC MDCAT does not substitute for it.
When is the NUMS MDCAT 2027? To be confirmed — NUMS has not announced the 2027 date yet. The 2026 test was on 13 September 2026; expect a similar late-summer window and check numspak.edu.pk from spring 2027.
What is the closing merit for Army Medical College? To be confirmed — NUMS publishes merit lists each cycle; closing merits vary by college and category and are not announced in advance.
What are the fees? To be confirmed — the registration fee for 2026-27 was Rs 8,500 (open merit). College tuition fees are published in the NUMS prospectus and vary by college; check the official notice before applying.
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PIEAS Admission Test 2027 Guide · NED Entry Test 2027 Guide · Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · IELTS Academic Guide
Sources and verification: NUMS official admissions notice, session 2026-27 (numspak.edu.pk): NUMS MDCAT 13 September 2026, 150-MCQ Part A + 50-MCQ Part B, pass 55% MBBS / 50% BDS, merit 50/40/10, registration 13 October–11 November 2026, fee Rs 8,500 open merit / Rs 50,000 foreign seat. NUMS MDCAT 2027 date not announced yet. Confirm current figures on numspak.edu.pk.