Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, established in Islamabad and built around the Shifa International Hospital, is a private university with a strong reputation in medical and health-sciences education. Its best-known institution is Shifa College of Medicine, one of the well-regarded private medical colleges in Pakistan, and the university also runs colleges of dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, rehabilitation sciences and biotechnology. The link with a major teaching hospital is Shifa's main advantage: medical students train in a busy, modern hospital environment from their clinical years onwards.
Programmes offered
Shifa offers MBBS and BDS programmes, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Pharmacy, BS Nursing, BS programmes in medical laboratory technology, radiology and biotechnology, and postgraduate programmes including MS, MPhil, FCPS-linked training and PhD in selected health-sciences fields. The university also offers programmes in management and social sciences, but its identity is firmly medical. Clinical training takes place primarily at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, with additional affiliated facilities, giving students exposure to a wide range of specialties and a large patient volume.
Fees and funding
As a private medical university, Shifa's fees are at the higher end of Pakistan's medical-education range, with MBBS and BDS fees substantially above public-sector medical colleges — confirm the exact current fee on Shifa's official website or in the current prospectus, because private medical college fees are regulated and revised annually. Students should also budget for hostel charges, examination fees, books, instruments and clinical costs. Shifa offers a limited number of merit scholarships, and students should check the current scholarship and fee policy before applying, as well as the refund policy in case of withdrawal.
Admissions and merit guidance
MBBS and BDS admissions at Shifa follow the national regulations for private medical colleges, including the MDCAT requirement and the centralised admission process where applicable — confirm the current year's rules on the PMDC and university websites. Closing merit for MBBS at Shifa is typically high among private medical colleges, reflecting the college's reputation and hospital link, but it varies each year with the applicant pool and the MDCAT result distribution. Other programmes admit on academic merit, with merit lists published by the university, and some programmes conduct interviews. Apply early, keep all documents attested, and never pay any fee to an agent claiming to guarantee admission.
Campus life and careers
Shifa's campus in Islamabad's H-8 sector is close to its teaching hospital, with hostels, libraries, sports facilities and student societies, including medical student associations that run health camps and research activities. Graduates of Shifa College of Medicine work in hospitals across Pakistan and many go abroad for postgraduate training, particularly to the UK, US and Gulf countries, subject to the licensing examinations of those countries. Students considering Shifa should verify the current PMDC recognition status of the MBBS and BDS programmes and the university's HEC status before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shifa a private medical university? Yes, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University is a private university in Islamabad, built around Shifa International Hospital.
Does MBBS admission require MDCAT? Yes, medical admissions follow the national regulations including MDCAT; confirm the current year's rules before applying.
Where do Shifa medical students train? Primarily at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, with affiliated facilities for additional exposure.
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Sources and verification: Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University official website and prospectus (current fees, merit and admission rules to be confirmed on stmu.edu.pk).