The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, has opened admissions to MBBS and BDS on quota seats reserved in Punjab's public sector medical and dental colleges for students from other provinces and regions. For session 2026-27 there are 214 MBBS seats and 38 BDS seats for students from Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and the former FATA districts.
If you have a domicile from one of these regions, these seats are a real second route into a government college in Punjab, competing only against students from your own category. This guide explains the seats, who can apply, the documents, how merit is worked out, the dates, and every step of the online application.
Key dates: MBBS applications run from 26 October to 9 November 2026. BDS applications run from 14 December to 28 December 2026. Apply on quotambbs.uhs.edu.pk (MBBS) or quotabds.uhs.edu.pk (BDS).
What are these quota seats?
Punjab reserves a number of seats in its public sector medical and dental colleges for candidates from other provinces and regions. The admission policy for these seats was notified by the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department, Government of the Punjab, on 14 October 2026, and UHS runs the admissions. Students apply within their own category, so you compete only with applicants who hold the same domicile and seat type.
Seats for session 2026-27
| Category | MBBS | BDS |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) | 26 | 4 |
| Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) | 36 | 3 |
| Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) | 55 | 5 |
| Balochistan (goodwill seats) | 20 | None |
| Ex-FATA | 21 | 6 |
| Balochistan (HEC scholarship) | 28 | 10 |
| Ex-FATA (HEC scholarship) | 28 | 10 |
| Total | 214 | 38 |
For students from the former FATA districts (now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), that is 49 MBBS and 16 BDS seats across the two ex-FATA categories. Balochistan students have 48 MBBS and 10 BDS seats across its two categories. The HEC scholarship seats are a separate category; read the prospectus for their terms before you choose them.
Who can apply? Eligibility
1. MDCAT
You must have passed MDCAT 2026, 2025 or 2024 of your own province or region, with at least:
- 55% for MBBS, which is 99 out of 180 on the current paper
- 50% for BDS, which is 90 out of 180
For ex-FATA students, that will normally be the MDCAT taken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Confirm the details in the UHS prospectus. Read more in MDCAT passing marks.
2. Academic qualification
HSSC (Pre-Medical), or an equivalent 12-year qualification recognised by IBCC, with at least 60% marks and Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics as subjects.
3. Domicile
- A domicile certificate from the relevant province or region is mandatory.
- AJ&K candidates may instead provide a State Subject Certificate (1st Class only), a Permanent Resident Certificate, or a Refugee Card issued by the relevant authority of the State.
- Balochistan candidates may submit a Local Certificate issued by the relevant district authority.
Note for KPK students: these seats are only for the categories listed above. A domicile from a settled district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa does not qualify, unless you belong to one of the ex-FATA categories. Students from the rest of KPK apply through KMU at cas.kmu.edu.pk and caspr.kmu.edu.pk.
How merit is calculated
UHS uses the same weighting KMU uses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
| Matric / SSC | FSc / HSSC Pre-Medical | MDCAT |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | 40% | 50% |
Example: a student with Matric 1000/1100, FSc 950/1100 and MDCAT 150/180 gets:
- Matric: 1000 ÷ 1100 × 100 × 0.10 = 9.09
- FSc: 950 ÷ 1100 × 100 × 0.40 = 34.55
- MDCAT: 150 ÷ 180 × 100 × 0.50 = 41.67
- Aggregate = 85.30%
Work out your own with the free aggregate calculator: enter your marks and your board's totals. The step-by-step method is in the MDCAT aggregate formula. Because you compete only within your category, the closing merit for each quota is different and changes every year.
How to apply, step by step
- Read the prospectus and admission policy for session 2026-27 on the UHS website, uhs.edu.pk.
- Open the right portal. MBBS and BDS have separate portals, which open and close on different dates.
- Register with your name, email address, CNIC, Passport or CRC number, mobile number and a password.
- Complete your profile: name, domicile, contact details, address, nationality, gender and date of birth.
- Select the seat category or categories you are eligible for.
- Enter your academic details: SSC and HSSC marks, year of passing and subjects.
- Enter your MDCAT score.
- Upload scanned documents in PNG or JPG format. Each file must be clear, legible and no larger than 500 KB.
- Choose your colleges in order of preference. UHS requires you to select all the options available for your seat category.
- Review and accept the undertaking.
- Pay the Rs 2,000 processing fee. Generate the challan and pay at Bank of Punjab or National Bank of Pakistan through branch banking, or through the 1Bill Invoice facility. Do not use the 1Bill top-up option. Upload the paid challan or receipt on the portal within the given time. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Download, print and check your application, then submit it once everything is correct.
Before the deadline you can still edit your application, but the number and order of your college preferences become final once the deadline passes. Decide your order carefully: put the colleges you want most at the top.
Documents to keep ready
Scan these clearly in advance, as PNG or JPG files under 500 KB each, and check the prospectus for the complete list:
- Domicile certificate (or the AJ&K or Balochistan alternatives above)
- CNIC, B-Form, Passport or CRC
- Matric (SSC) and FSc (HSSC) certificates or result cards, and IBCC equivalence if you have a foreign or other qualification
- MDCAT result
- A recent photograph, if the portal asks for one
- The paid fee challan or receipt
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the 1Bill top-up option instead of the 1Bill Invoice facility for the fee.
- Uploading blurry or oversized scans. Keep every file under 500 KB and readable.
- Not selecting all colleges available for your category.
- Getting the preference order wrong. It cannot be changed after the deadline.
- Waiting until the last day. Portals get slow near deadlines, and the fee payment and challan upload take time.
- Entering marks that do not match your certificates. Copy them exactly from your result cards.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last date to apply for UHS quota seats?
For MBBS, 9 November 2026 (applications open 26 October). For BDS, 28 December 2026 (applications open 14 December).
How many quota seats are there for other provinces in Punjab?
214 MBBS and 38 BDS seats in session 2026-27, across seven categories.
Can ex-FATA students apply for UHS quota seats?
Yes. There are 21 MBBS and 6 BDS Ex-FATA seats, plus 28 MBBS and 10 BDS Ex-FATA HEC scholarship seats.
What is the minimum FSc percentage for UHS quota seats?
At least 60% in HSSC (Pre-Medical) or an IBCC-recognised equivalent.
Which MDCAT result is accepted?
MDCAT 2026, 2025 or 2024 of your own province or region, with at least 55% for MBBS or 50% for BDS.
What is the application fee?
Rs 2,000, paid at Bank of Punjab or National Bank of Pakistan through branch banking or the 1Bill Invoice facility. The 1Bill top-up option must not be used.
Can I change my college preferences after applying?
You can edit your application until the deadline. After the deadline, the number and order of your college preferences are final.
Can students from Peshawar, Mardan or other settled KPK districts apply?
No, unless they hold a domicile for one of the listed categories, such as ex-FATA. KPK admissions are through KMU.
Where to check official updates
This guide is based on UHS's advertisement for session 2026-27. Always read the official prospectus and admission policy on uhs.edu.pk before applying, and follow UHS for merit lists and any changes to dates. We will update this page when UHS announces new information.
Preparing for next year's MDCAT?
Quota seats still come down to aggregate, and MDCAT is half of it. Every extra MCQ adds about 0.28 to your aggregate. Register on ePrepare for lectures, Bookline MCQs, past papers and full-length papers, and read how to prepare for MDCAT at home.
