If you’re aiming to pursue medicine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, it’s crucial to know the best medical colleges in KPK and the latest updates for 2025. KPK boasts several reputable public (government) and private medical colleges. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll highlight top medical institutions (both public and private), updated seat allocations, fee structures, merit requirements, and admission procedures for the 2024-2025 session.

Related: Best Medical Universities in Pakistan

Overview of Medical Colleges in KPK (2025)

KPK has a robust mix of government and private medical colleges. As of 2025, there are 10 government medical colleges in KPK (public sector) spread across the province, and around 7–8 private sector medical colleges. All medical colleges in KPK require students to clear the national MDCAT (Medical and Dental College Admission Test) for admission.

Total MBBS Seats: The total number of MBBS seats in KPK public medical colleges is now around 888 open merit seats (approx.), with additional reserved and self-finance seats bringing the total to over 1,100.  With all categories included, KPK’s public medical colleges now offer roughly 1,303 seats for MBBS/BDS combined.

Public vs Private Admissions: Government colleges have high merit criteria but nominal fees, while private colleges have more flexible merit (any student meeting minimum eligibility can apply) but charge much higher fees.

All colleges follow PMDC rules: Candidates must have ≥60% marks in F.Sc (pre-medical) and at least 55% marks in MDCAT for MBBS eligibility.

We’ll delve into details of seat distribution, reciprocal seats of MBBS for KPK students, fees, and the admission process in sections below.

Government Medical Colleges in KPK

KPK’s public medical colleges are highly sought after due to their affordable education and strong reputations. Here are the government medical colleges in KPK (all offer MBBS programs):

• Khyber Medical College (KMC), Peshawar: KMC is often ranked the top in KPK with the highest merit. In 2024, KMC had the highest closing merit ~92.38% for MBBS. It offers ~275 MBBS seats (including open merit and reserved categories) and charges a nominal annual tuition (around Rs. 102,000 for open-merit students).

• Khyber Girls Medical College (KGMC), Peshawar: KGMC is among the top in merit (closing merit around 91.3% last year) and has about 150 MBBS seats. Its fee structure is the same as KMC (approx. Rs 102k/year on open merit).
• Ayub Medical College (AMC), Abbottabad: AMC had a closing merit of ~91.7% in 2024, nearly as competitive as KMC. It has around 270 MBBS seats. Tuition is also ~Rs 102k/year (open merit). AMC consistently ranks as one of the best medical colleges in KPK outside Peshawar.
• Bacha Khan Medical College (BKMC), Mardan: BKMC offers about 100 MBBS seats. The closing merit in 2023 was around 88–89% (open merit). Like other public colleges, its annual fee is low (roughly Rs 87,000 for most colleges, though for BKMC specifically it may be around that range).‍

Other public medical colleges include Gomal Medical College, D.I. Khan, Bannu Medical College, Bannu, Saidu Medical College, Swat, Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, KMU Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Kohat, and Nowshera Medical College, Nowshera.

Private Medical Colleges in KPK

The top private medical colleges in KPK (recognized by PMDC) include:

• Rehman Medical College (RMC), Peshawar: It has ~100 MBBS seats and is considered one of the best private medical colleges in KPK. There is no set “merit” percentage beyond meeting the eligibility (MDCAT 55% & F.Sc 60%). The annual fee is about Rs 1.8 million (18 lakhs) for local students, with a 7-10% increase each year (total ~PKR 10–11 million for the 5-year MBBS).
• Peshawar Medical College (PMC), Peshawar: PMC also offers ~100 MBBS seats. Like RMC, any student with ≥55% MDCAT can apply; selection is based on an internal merit formula (MDCAT + FSc). The fee is roughly Rs 1.9 million per year (one of the highest in KPK).
• Jinnah Medical College, Peshawar: Jinnah Medical College (JMCP) has ~100 seats. Its fee structure for the 2024-25 batch is about PKR 1,897,500 tuition per year (for local students) with a one-time admission fee of Rs 35,000. Jinnah’s admissions require the standard 55% MDCAT pass; students with higher aggregates are given preference.

• Frontier Medical College, Abbottabad: Frontier has about 100 MBBS seats. The merit criteria is the same (MDCAT pass required), and annual fees are also in the ballpark of 1.5–1.8 million PKR.‍

Other notable private colleges include Northwest School of Medicine (NWSM), Peshawar, Kabir Medical College, Peshawar, Pak International Medical College, Peshawar and Women Medical & Dental College, Abbottabad.

MBBS Seats, Merit, and Admission Process in 2025

‍Admission Test (MDCAT): All MBBS admissions in KPK (and Pakistan generally) are contingent on the MDCAT. Khyber Medical University (KMU) is the admitting university for KPK and coordinates the MDCAT in the province on behalf of PMDC.

The KMU admission 2025 cycle for MBBS typically opens after MDCAT results, with an online application portal for preferences. In 2024, provisional merit lists were released in October and final admissions were completed by December-end, so we can expect similar timelines in 2025.

Merit and Closing Aggregates: Admissions to government medical colleges in KPK are purely merit-based. In the 2024–25 cycle, the expected closing merit for MBBS in KPK public colleges was around 91% aggregate.

Seat Allocation: Each public college’s seats are divided into categories: open merit (majority), self-finance, provincial quotas, disabled, minority, etc. For example, KMC’s 275 seats include 181 open merit, 17 general self-finance, 8 foreign self-finance, 1 reciprocal, 2 disabled, 41 from merged districts, etc., adding up to the total. Similarly, every college has a breakdown.

Reciprocal seats of MBBS for KPK students refer to an inter-provincial exchange program – KPK reserves a small number of seats for students from other regions (e.g., 1 seat for a Punjab domiciled student at KMC) and in return KPK students get a few seats in other provinces. However, reciprocal slots are very limited (only a couple of seats) so they are a small bonus, not a primary route.

Application and Selection: For public colleges, KMU’s online portal handles applications. Students list their college preferences (from KMC down to lesser preferred colleges). KMU then generates merit lists and allocates seats on a merit-cum-choice basis – top rankers get their top choice colleges. Admissions are completed in multiple rounds to fill any vacant seats by upgrading waitlisted candidates.

Private colleges, on the other hand, start admissions soon after MDCAT results. In private admissions, meeting the minimum criteria (55% MDCAT) is key; after that, admission may be offered on a first-come-first-served basis or by the college’s own merit ranking. It’s advisable to apply early to private colleges if you qualify.

Choosing the Right College: When deciding on a medical college in KPK, consider factors like merit (your aggregate vs last year’s closing merit), location, campus/hospital facilities, and cost. Public colleges are the top choice for most due to prestige and low cost. Among them, Khyber Medical College is generally regarded as #1 in KPK (and one of the top MBBS colleges in Pakistan), followed closely by Ayub Medical College and KGMC. For those who can’t secure a public seat, private colleges like RMC or PMC are popular options.

On the bright side, all accredited colleges follow the PMDC curriculum and standards, so an MBBS degree from any recognized institution in KPK will enable you to become a licensed doctor. You should aim for the best college your merit and resources can get you into.

Comparison of Top Medical Colleges in KPK

To summarize the key information, here is a comparison of some of the top medical colleges in KPK (including both public and private sector), highlighting their type, location, number of MBBS seats, last year’s merit, fee structure, and required admission test:

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FAQs

What is the fee for MBBS in KPK?

In public medical colleges (government sector), the tuition fee is very low – roughly Rs 50,000 to 100,000 per year for open-merit students. In contrast, private medical colleges in KPK charge anywhere from Rs 1.3 million to 2.0 million per year for MBBS tuition.

Which is the No. 1 medical college for MBBS?

The No. 1 medical college for MBBS is often considered to be King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Lahore, especially in terms of merit and historical prestige. Other top-tier medical colleges nationally include Aga Khan University (Karachi), Allama Iqbal Medical College (Lahore), and Dow Medical College (Karachi).

Which medical college is best in KPK?

Khyber Medical College (KMC), Peshawar is widely regarded as the best medical college in KPK. KMC has the highest merit requirement in KPK, indicating the top students go there.

How many seats are in Ayub Medical College?

Ayub Medical College (AMC) Abbottabad has approximately 270 MBBS seats in total for each admission year.

How many seats of MBBS are in KMU Peshawar?

Khyber Medical College (KMC) Peshawar (the main constituent medical college in Peshawar) offers 275 MBBS seats in total (as of 2024). This includes 181 open merit seats and the rest in quotas/self-finance, etc.

What is the fees of Jinnah Medical College?

Jinnah Medical College Peshawar is a private college, and its fees are quite high. For the 2024-2025 session (Batch 14), the annual tuition fee for MBBS at Jinnah Medical College is PKR 1,897,500 (approximately 19 lakhs) for local Pakistani students. Additionally, there’s a one-time admission fee of Rs 35,000 and an application fee of Rs 1,500. In the first year, a student at Jinnah pays about Rs 1.934 million including those charges.

Which MBBS is the best?

In Pakistan, some of the best MBBS programs are offered by top-ranked colleges like King Edward Medical University (Lahore), Aga Khan University (Karachi), Dow University of Health Sciences (Karachi), and Army Medical College (Rawalpindi), among others.

Which medical college has the highest merit in Pakistan?

In Pakistan’s public sector, King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Lahore historically has the highest merit for MBBS admissions. Following KEMU, other colleges with very high closing merits are Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore (around 92.9%), Rawalpindi Medical University (~92.4%), Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore (~92.3%), etc., all in Punjab.

If we consider private colleges, Aga Khan University (AKU) has its own test and criteria, selecting only a small fraction of applicants, making it extremely competitive.

What is the fee of Khyber Medical College?

Khyber Medical College (KMC), Peshawar is a public sector college, so its fee is very affordable compared to private colleges. For open merit students, the annual fee at KMC is around PKR 100,000. Specifically, recent fee structures show it about Rs 102,000 per year for MBBS (this includes tuition and some charges) for regular students. Over the five-year MBBS, this would total roughly Rs 500,000 to 600,000 (around 5-6 lakhs in total).