If you are from Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North or South Waziristan, or one of the former Frontier Regions, you can compete for seats reserved only for the Merged Districts in medical and dental colleges, and not just in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Many students miss these seats every year, either because they don't know how many exist or because they skip one small step in the application.
This guide covers everything in KMU's latest admission policy for the Merged Districts (MDs), the former FATA. It explains how many seats each district has and in which colleges, who counts as an "inside" candidate, which documents you need, and how to apply. It also covers the separate HEC project seats, which many students confuse with the regular MDs seats.
The short answer: the latest policy reserves 333 MBBS and BDS seats for students domiciled in the Merged Districts: 290 in KP's public colleges and 43 in colleges of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and AJK. Each district competes for its own seats, about 41 to 42 per district. You apply on KMU's admission portal and submit a photocopy of your form with documents to the Home & Tribal Affairs Department in Peshawar. 90% of the seats are open to all MDs candidates, and 10% go only to students who did all their schooling inside the Merged Districts. A separate set of 99 MDs/Balochistan project seats is applied for through HEC, not KMU.
What are the Merged Districts seats?
The Merged Districts are the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For admissions, KMU's policy divides them into eight units: Bajaur, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Khyber, Orakzai, Mohmand, Kurram and the Ex-FRs (former Frontier Regions).
Reserved seats for most groups were struck down by the Supreme Court in the Attiya Inayat case. The policy lists the exceptions that remain, and "students domiciled in Merged Districts" is one of them. These seats are therefore a lawful, protected category, not a temporary concession.
In the policy's words, "MDs seats include all seats reserved in Medical and Dental Colleges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, other Provinces and AJK." KMU runs the application for all of them, including the seats outside KP.
How many seats are there?
| Where | MBBS | BDS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa public colleges | 254 | 36 | 290 |
| Punjab colleges | 21 | 6 | 27 |
| Balochistan (Bolan Medical College) | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| AJK colleges | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Sindh colleges | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 290 | 43 | 333 |
One number can confuse readers: 290 appears twice. It is the number of MDs seats in KP colleges (MBBS and BDS together) and, by coincidence, also the number of MDs MBBS seats across Pakistan. They are two different counts.
Seats for each Merged District
Seats are divided by district, and you compete only with candidates of your own district. A student from Kurram is ranked against other Kurram candidates, not against students from Bajaur.
| District | In KP colleges | Outside KP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bajaur | 38 (33 MBBS, 5 BDS) | 4 MBBS | 42 |
| South Waziristan | 38 (32 MBBS, 6 BDS) | 4 MBBS | 42 |
| North Waziristan | 37 (32 MBBS, 5 BDS) | 4 MBBS, 1 BDS | 42 |
| Khyber | 37 (32 MBBS, 5 BDS) | 5 MBBS | 42 |
| Orakzai | 35 (31 MBBS, 4 BDS) | 5 MBBS, 1 BDS | 41 |
| Mohmand | 36 (32 MBBS, 4 BDS) | 4 MBBS, 1 BDS | 41 |
| Kurram | 35 (31 MBBS, 4 BDS) | 5 MBBS, 1 BDS | 41 |
| Ex-FRs | 34 (31 MBBS, 3 BDS) | 5 MBBS, 3 BDS | 42 |
| Total | 290 | 43 | 333 |
One mismatch inside the policy: this summary table gives South Waziristan 32 and Ex-FRs 31 MBBS seats in KP colleges, but the policy's college-by-college table (below) adds up to 31 for South Waziristan and 32 for Ex-FRs. The overall total of 254 does not change. If you are from either area, confirm the final split in KMU's merit list notice.
Merged Districts seats in each KP college
The 290 seats in KP are spread over all nine public medical colleges and all four public dental colleges. Khyber Medical College and Khyber Girls Medical College have the most. Khyber Girls Medical College admits only female students, so its 38 MDs seats are for girls.
| College | Seats by district | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Khyber Medical College, Peshawar (KMC) | Bajaur 5, S. Waziristan 5, N. Waziristan 5, Khyber 5, Orakzai 5, Mohmand 5, Kurram 5, Ex-FRs 6 | 41 |
| Khyber Girls Medical College, Peshawar (KGMC) | Bajaur 5, S. Waziristan 5, N. Waziristan 5, Khyber 5, Orakzai 5, Mohmand 5, Kurram 5, Ex-FRs 3 | 38 |
| Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan (BKMC) | Bajaur 4, S. Waziristan 4, N. Waziristan 4, Khyber 4, Orakzai 4, Mohmand 4, Kurram 4, Ex-FRs 3 | 31 |
| Bannu Medical College (BMC) | Bajaur 4, S. Waziristan 3, N. Waziristan 4, Khyber 3, Orakzai 4, Mohmand 4, Kurram 4, Ex-FRs 4 | 30 |
| Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad (AMC) | Bajaur 4, S. Waziristan 4, N. Waziristan 4, Khyber 4, Orakzai 3, Mohmand 3, Kurram 3, Ex-FRs 3 | 28 |
| Saidu Medical College, Swat (SMC) | 3 for each district, Ex-FRs 4 | 25 |
| Gomal Medical College, D.I. Khan (GMC) | 3 for each district, Ex-FRs 4 | 25 |
| Nowshera Medical College (NMC) | Bajaur 3, S. Waziristan 2, N. Waziristan 2, Khyber 3, Orakzai 3, Mohmand 3, Kurram 2, Ex-FRs 4 | 22 |
| Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi (GKMC) | Bajaur 2, S. Waziristan 2, N. Waziristan 2, Khyber 2, Orakzai 1, Mohmand 2, Kurram 2, Ex-FRs 1 | 14 |
| Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar (KCD) | Bajaur 2, S. Waziristan 2, N. Waziristan 2, Khyber 1, Orakzai 1, Mohmand 1, Kurram 2, Ex-FRs 1 | 12 |
| Ayub Dental Section, Abbottabad (ADS) | Bajaur 2, S. Waziristan 2, N. Waziristan 2, Khyber 2, Orakzai 1, Mohmand 1, Kurram 1, Ex-FRs 1 | 12 |
| Bacha Khan Dental Section, Mardan (BKDS) | Bajaur 1, S. Waziristan 1, N. Waziristan 1, Khyber 2, Orakzai 2, Mohmand 2, Kurram 1, Ex-FRs 1 | 11 |
| Saidu College of Dentistry, Swat (SCD) | South Waziristan 1 | 1 |
| Total | MBBS 254, BDS 36 | 290 |
Merged Districts seats outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Forty-three seats are in other provinces and AJK. They are small in number but often less crowded, so list them if you are willing to study away from home. The policy notes these seats remain subject to changes the Federal Government and the provincial governments may make with PM&DC's approval.
| College | Seats by district | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad (MBBS) | Khyber 1, Orakzai 1, Mohmand 1, Kurram 1 | 4 |
| Rawalpindi Medical College (MBBS) | Bajaur 1, S. Waziristan 1, N. Waziristan 1, Khyber 1 | 4 |
| Sahiwal Medical College (MBBS) | N. Waziristan 1, Orakzai 1, Mohmand 1, Kurram 1 | 4 |
| Gujranwala Medical College (MBBS) | Bajaur 1, S. Waziristan 1, N. Waziristan 1, Khyber 1 | 4 |
| D.G. Khan Medical College (MBBS) | Bajaur 1, S. Waziristan 1, Orakzai 1, Mohmand 1, Kurram 1 | 5 |
| Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan (BDS) | Orakzai 1, Kurram 1, Ex-FRs 2 | 4 |
| Dental Section, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad (BDS) | N. Waziristan 1, Mohmand 1 | 2 |
| Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana (MBBS) | Ex-FRs 2 | 2 |
| Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro (BDS) | Ex-FRs 1 | 1 |
| Bolan Medical College, Quetta (MBBS) | Bajaur 1, Khyber 1, Orakzai 1, Mohmand 1, Kurram 1, Ex-FRs 2 | 7 |
| Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College, Mirpur (MBBS) | S. Waziristan 1, N. Waziristan 1 | 2 |
| AJK Medical College, Muzaffarabad (MBBS) | Khyber 1, Orakzai 1 | 2 |
| Poonch Medical College, Rawalakot (MBBS) | Kurram 1, Ex-FRs 1 | 2 |
| Total | MBBS 36, BDS 7 | 43 |
Looking for seats in Punjab under Punjab's own quotas? Our guide to UHS quota seats for students of other provinces covers that separately.
The 90% and 10% rule: who is an "inside" candidate?
This rule decides which part of your district's seats you can compete for. Here it is word for word from the policy:
"i. The top ninety percent seats will be shared between the candidates who have passed SSC (Science), HSSC (Pre-medical) from institutions located both inside and outside MDs, including Domicile, location certificate and educational testimonials.
ii. The remaining ten percent seats are reserved only for those candidates who have obtained their Primary, Middle, SSC (Science) & HSSC (Pre-medical Part-I & Part-II) education from institutions within MDs while,
iii. Any candidate, who has obtained any part of his /her education outside MDs, will not be considered as inside candidate."
In plain words:
- Studied in Peshawar, Islamabad or anywhere outside the MDs? You still qualify for the Merged Districts seats if you hold an MDs domicile. You compete for the 90% shared seats on merit.
- Did every class, from primary to FSc Part II, in schools and colleges inside the MDs? You compete for the 90% shared seats and are also eligible for the 10% inside seats, where only fully inside candidates compete.
- Even one year outside (for example, Class 9 in Peshawar) means you are not an inside candidate.
Your schooling history is proved through the location certificate, explained in the documents section below.
Who is eligible?
The policy sets these conditions for the Merged Districts reserved seats:
- Your domicile: "Possess valid Merged Districts (MDs) domicile certificate showing clearly date of issue and serial number."
- Your father's domicile: "His/her father must possess a valid domicile of Merged Districts (MD). In case father of the candidate is not alive then the mother's valid domicile of Merged Districts (MDs) along with death certificate will be considered."
- MDCAT: "Must have valid MDCAT result (55% for admission into MBBS and 50% for admission into BDS)." An MDCAT result stays valid for three years. See MDCAT passing marks for what this means out of 180.
- Attempt certificate(s) for your exams.
- Every other KMU condition, including at least 60% marks in HSSC (FSc Pre-medical or equivalent).
Your merit is calculated the same way as everyone else's: 10% Matric, 40% FSc and 50% MDCAT. You can work out yours with the aggregate calculator, and read how it works in our aggregate formula guide. Selection is on "inter se merit", meaning you are ranked only against other eligible candidates of the same category and district.
Documents you need
Along with the documents every KMU applicant needs, MDs candidates must prepare these. Read our full KMU admission documents checklist too.
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Your MDs domicile | Must clearly show the date of issue and serial number |
| Father's MDs domicile | Or mother's domicile plus father's death certificate if he is not alive |
| CNIC or Form B | Yours, plus your father's CNIC (or mother's or guardian's if he is not alive) |
| Detailed marks certificates | SSC and HSSC; IBCC equivalence if you studied in a foreign system |
| Location certificate | The policy's form lists every class from 1 to 12 with school name, location, inside or outside, years and board. Signed by the District Education Officer (DEO) and verified by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the district |
| Attempt certificate(s) | Required for MDs reserved seats |
| Certificate from the last institution | With your duration of stay; and a certificate showing where you did FSc Part I and Part II if they were at different institutions |
The policy's specimen location certificate is headed for "Backward Areas and Merged Districts inner seats", and the 90% rule also mentions the location certificate. Our advice: get it made either way, and start early, because it needs signatures from both the DEO and the DC.
How to apply for Merged Districts seats, step by step
- Apply online on cas.kmu.edu.pk. Select the Merged Districts seats, plus every other category you are eligible for, such as general self-finance. Upload clear scans of all documents. Only online applications are accepted; forms sent by post or courier are not.
- List all your preferred colleges in order. You will not be offered a college you did not list, and that includes the colleges outside KP.
- Submit a photocopy to the Home & Tribal Affairs Department. The policy says MDs candidates "shall apply to the Chairman KMU-AC on prescribed online forms as well as submit a photocopy of admission form along with attached documents in the Home & Tribal Affairs Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar". That department verifies your documents, "especially the domicile". This is the step students most often miss.
- Check the merit list. KMU's Admission Committee (KMU-AC) finalises the MDs merit list using criteria set jointly with the Home & Tribal Affairs Department. A Joint Admission Committee for ex-FATA seats, chaired by the convener of KMU-AC with an Additional Secretary of Home & Tribal Affairs or his nominee, takes part when the list is finalised.
- Watch for the final selection notice. Final selections against MDs seats, in KP and in other provinces, are notified by the Home & Tribal Affairs Department/MDs.
- Deposit the fee on time. Pay within three working days of your offer, or the seat goes to the next candidate. Learn how lists move in how KMU merit lists and upgrades work.
- Get upgraded. The policy states: "Up-graduation on vacant seats shall be made on merit cum choice basis." You can move up to a college higher in your preference list when a seat falls vacant.
If you do not want the seat you are offered
This rule catches students every year. If you are nominated against an MDs reserved seat and don't take it up, the policy says you must inform the nominating agency immediately, "failing which a penalty of debarring for one/two years will be imposed on the defaulter candidate(s) for his/her future selection/ nomination against reserved seats." If you change your mind, tell them in writing straight away.
Appeals
Appeals against KMU's decisions on MDs reserved seats go to the appellate committee. The policy adds that the right of appeal against KMU-AC or its sub-committees, on MDs seat admissions, "shall vest in the MDs Secretariat".
MDs reserved seats vs MDs/Balochistan project seats
These are two different things, and confusing them can cost you a seat.
| Point | MDs reserved seats | MDs/Balochistan project seats |
|---|---|---|
| Number | 333 (290 in KP, 43 elsewhere) | 99, all in KP colleges |
| Who they are for | Students domiciled in the Merged Districts | Students of the Merged Districts and Balochistan, under a federal project |
| Where you apply | KMU portal, plus a photocopy to Home & Tribal Affairs | Directly to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), on its form |
| Who selects | KMU-AC with the Joint Admission Committee | HEC, under its project policy; nominations sent to KMU through the Secretary Health, KP |
| Fee | Open merit fee | Open merit fee |
The project seats come from a federal scheme called "Provision of Higher Education Opportunities for Balochistan & Merged Districts". The policy's written rules call them over and above the allocated seats, although its seat table counts them within the 1,580 sanctioned seats. Either way, you apply through HEC. The policy also says HEC will invite the MDs Secretariat when awarding them, to avoid one student taking two seats. They are spread across KP colleges as follows: AMC 24, BMC 15, GKMC 15, SMC 10, GMC 10, ADS 6, NMC 5, BKDS 5, KMC 4, KGMC 3 and KCD 2.
Our advice: if you are from the Merged Districts, apply for both. Apply to KMU for the MDs reserved seats, and apply separately to HEC for the project seats when HEC advertises them. Applying to one does not count for the other.
Can MDs students apply for other seats too?
- General self-finance (GSF): yes. The policy explicitly opens GSF seats to candidates with a domicile of "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including the backward areas and Merged Area Districts (MDs)". Read self-finance vs open merit at KMU before you decide.
- Open merit: the policy's open merit wording names "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including the backward areas" and does not separately mention the Merged Districts. The Merged Districts are now part of KP, so tick open merit on the form and confirm with KMU if you are unsure.
- Special ability, minority and overseas Pakistani seats: these categories accept KP/MDs domicile holders. See every KMU reserved and quota seat explained.
Fee for Merged Districts seats
MDs seats in KP colleges pay the normal open merit fee, not the self-finance fee. In the first year that is Rs 102,000 at KMC, KGMC and AMC, and Rs 87,000 at other public colleges. The full year-by-year table is in our guide to the KMU MBBS and BDS fee structure. Hostel and living costs are extra.
Deadlines
MDs seats are a special category. The policy says admissions to special category seats in public medical colleges must be completed by 10 January, and in public dental colleges by 28 February. The exact application dates are announced by KMU in newspapers, on its website and on its Facebook page. See our KMU admission schedule for the full sequence.
Frequently asked questions
How many MBBS seats are reserved for the Merged Districts?
There are 290 MBBS seats across Pakistan: 254 in KP's public medical colleges and 36 in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and AJK. With 43 BDS seats, the total is 333.
I studied in Peshawar but have an MDs domicile. Can I apply?
Yes. With a valid MDs domicile (and your father's), you compete for the 90% of your district's seats that are shared between inside and outside students. Only the remaining 10% are kept for students educated entirely inside the Merged Districts.
What happens if my father is not alive?
Your mother's valid Merged Districts domicile is accepted instead, along with your father's death certificate.
Do I compete with students from all the Merged Districts?
No. Seats are divided by district, and you compete with candidates of your own district (Bajaur, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Khyber, Orakzai, Mohmand, Kurram or Ex-FRs).
Is applying on the KMU portal enough?
No. For MDs reserved seats, you must also submit a photocopy of your admission form with all attached documents to the Home & Tribal Affairs Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar. For the 99 MDs/Balochistan project seats, you must apply separately to HEC.
Is the fee for MDs seats the same as self-finance?
No. MDs seats in KP colleges pay the normal open merit fee, which is far lower than the self-finance fee.
What if I am selected but don't join?
Inform the nominating agency immediately. Otherwise, the policy allows a debarment of one or two years from future selection against reserved seats.
Can I be upgraded to a better college on an MDs seat?
Yes. Upgrades on vacant seats are made on merit-cum-choice, so you can move to a college higher in your preference list if a seat opens up.
A reserved seat still needs a strong MDCAT score, because you compete hard within your own district. If you are preparing for the MDCAT, our ePrepare courses give you chapter-wise practice from the KPK textbooks and full-length tests. You can also check your chances with the college predictor.
Sources: Khyber Medical University, latest Admission Policy for Public Sector Medical and Dental Colleges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Merged Districts seats table, college-wise break-up, seats in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and AJK colleges, section on Merged Districts reserved seats, MDs/Balochistan project seats, admission procedure and fee schedule). Seats and procedures can change by notification; always check the current notice on cas.kmu.edu.pk.
