Situated in South Asia, Pakistan is a country to consider if you are planning to study medicine abroad. This country offers opportunities for both professional and personal growth. By studying here, you can explore medicine and healthcare in a country that had 1,696 hospitals and 5,434 Basic Health Units in 2024, according to provisional figures in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25.
Pakistan also has a broad higher education system. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25 reported 269 universities and an estimated 2,516 degree colleges for FY2024. Moreover, this country is known for comparatively affordable tuition fees, so it is no wonder that it serves as an educational destination for aspiring doctors from around the world.
In this article, let’s talk about the top Pakistani medical schools. We have listed the medical schools here together with their official website and admission links. As you choose your next school, make sure to check each university’s background and see what fits your needs.
How long do you have to study Medicine in Pakistan?
You need to complete a 5-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from a Pakistani medical school. After completing the MBBS, graduates must also complete a required 1-year house job/internship before they can receive permanent registration from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
Which is the top medical school in Pakistan for international students?
Aga Khan University Medical College is one of the strongest choices in Pakistan for international students. It is highly recognized locally and internationally and is listed in the global 201-250 band for Medicine in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. More than that, students have access to technology-supported teaching, early clinical contact, and evidence-based medical training.
Top Medical Schools in Pakistan
1. Aga Khan University Medical College
Aga Khan University is an international institution with campuses and programs in multiple countries. Its Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan, was established in 1983 as part of the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences. Aga Khan University Medical College is considered one of the leading medical schools in Pakistan.
Its 5-year MBBS program was created to equip aspiring doctors with the skills, values, knowledge, and attitudes they need to serve in the medical system. The curriculum uses problem-based learning, early clinical contact, patient-centered learning, and evidence-based practice.
Students learn through multiple teaching methods, including large-group teaching, flipped classrooms, team-based learning, problem-based learning, simulation, laboratory work, and clinical learning. The program also includes exposure to community health in urban and rural settings.
As students progress through the program, they build their clinical, communication, research, and professional skills through hospital- and community-based learning, including opportunities at Aga Khan University Hospital and related health facilities.
2. University of Health Sciences Lahore
Located in Punjab, the University of Health Sciences Lahore is a public institution that specializes in health sciences education. Established in 2002, it was the first dedicated health sciences university in Punjab and serves as an affiliating university for many public and private medical and dental colleges in the province.
Through its affiliated medical colleges, UHS oversees MBBS education and curriculum standards. The MBBS framework is designed to improve medical practice, research, and professional competence. Through this degree, students are expected to develop the knowledge and skills needed to serve as doctors.
At the end of training, future physicians are expected to develop practical clinical skills, including injections, venous cutdown, catheterization, normal delivery, episiotomy, and lumbar puncture, among others.
Apart from developing clinical competencies, students are also expected to engage with research and evidence-based medical practice.
3. Dow University of Health Sciences Medical College
Dow Medical College was founded in 1945 and traces its origins to the medical school established in Hyderabad in 1881. The college later moved to Karachi and became part of Dow University of Health Sciences in 2003. With decades of medical education behind it, the school is recognized as one of Pakistan’s prominent public medical colleges.
Its MBBS program follows an integrated modular curriculum that is organized into three spirals. The first spiral focuses on the basic sciences, the second focuses on clinical sciences, and the final phase emphasizes supervised practical training.
In the early years, students study the fundamentals of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and community medicine through integrated and case-based learning.
In the later years, students move toward clinical sciences, scenario-based learning, research, and clinical rotations. The final year emphasizes practical clinical training in hospital settings.
4. Khyber Medical University Institute of Medical Sciences
Khyber Medical University is a public medical university based in Peshawar, Pakistan. It was established in 2007, and one of its constituent institutions is the KMU Institute of Medical Sciences, Kohat.
The institute, which was inaugurated in 2006, offers a 5-year MBBS program. Admission is merit-based and depends on the current admissions policy, entry test requirements, and seat allocations set by the relevant authorities.
The curriculum is grounded in medical education principles and introduces basic science in a clinical context. Students progress from foundational medical sciences to modules, rotations, and clerkships.
After completing the MBBS program, graduates must complete the required house job/internship period before permanent registration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
By the end of the program, aspiring doctors are expected to develop critical thinking, clinical skills, and ideal professional conduct.
5. Riphah International University – Islamic International Medical College
Established in 2002, Riphah International University is a private university chartered by the federal government of Pakistan. Under its wing is the Islamic International Medical College (IIMC), which was established in 1996 to train medical professionals with Islamic ethical values.
The college is recognized by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. It is also listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
This medical university in Pakistan offers an MBBS program through IIMC at Riphah’s Al-Mizan Campus in Rawalpindi. The program follows a medical curriculum designed to develop students’ clinical knowledge, professional values, and patient-centered practice.
Admission is competitive, and the current MBBS page lists 100 seats for the program. Applicants should always confirm the latest eligibility criteria, MDCAT requirements, and fee schedule on the official admissions page before applying.
6. Isra University Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences
Isra University is a private, nonprofit university located in Hyderabad. It is owned by the Isra Islamic Foundation and offers an MBBS degree through the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences.
The faculty includes divisions in basic medical sciences and clinical sciences, which support undergraduate medical education. The MBBS program has a 5-year duration and is designed to move students from foundational and pre-clinical studies into clinical training.
Isra University requires most applicants to take the Isra University Admission Test. However, overseas Pakistani and foreign students are exempt from this test, and their selection is based on academic record and interview.
During the clinical phase, students are deployed to hospitals for familiarization with treatments, procedures, services, and patient care.
7. King Edward Medical University
King Edward Medical University (KEMU) is one of the oldest medical institutions in Pakistan. It was established as Lahore Medical School in 1860 and was later named after King Edward VII.
The university continues its long medical education tradition through its MBBS program. Admission is selective and merit-based, while foreign applicants are directed to apply through the relevant government channels listed by the university.
The MBBS degree in Pakistan is a 5-year program. After graduation, KEMU graduates, like other MBBS graduates in Pakistan, must complete a 1-year house job/internship before becoming eligible for permanent registration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
8. Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences
Located in Jamshoro, Sindh, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences is one of the oldest medical education institutions in Pakistan. Its history traces back to Sindh Medical School, founded in 1881, while the institution became a public university in 2001.
As one of the country’s long-established medical institutions, it aims to train aspiring physicians according to high professional standards. At the same time, students are encouraged to develop ethical values that help them meet the healthcare needs of patients and communities.
The MBBS program begins with foundational subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, and then progresses toward para-clinical, clinical, and hospital-based learning.
In the final phase of training, students complete clinical rotations in hospital departments to develop practical skills and patient-care experience.
9. Ziauddin University Medical College
Ziauddin Medical College, part of Ziauddin University, is a private medical college in Karachi. It was established in 1996 and is named after Sir Dr. Ziauddin Ahmad.
Its MBBS program is governed by the medical college, which aims to develop students into skilled doctors, teachers, and researchers. Through early clinical experience, problem-based learning, and multiple teaching and assessment strategies, students learn the fundamentals needed to address the healthcare needs of individuals and communities.
Clinical training is conducted through Ziauddin University’s hospital network, including its hospitals in North Nazimabad, Clifton, and Kemari.
10. Gandhara University – Kabir Medical College
The final university in our list of top medical schools in Pakistan is Gandhara University, a private educational institution based in Peshawar, Pakistan. Founded by Prof. Surgeon Muhammad Kabir, it is known for its health sciences programs.
Its MBBS program is delivered through Kabir Medical College. The program follows Pakistan Medical and Dental Council requirements and covers five years of medical education. The current PMDC private medical colleges list shows 100 MBBS seats for Kabir Medical College.
The early years of the program include foundational medical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, community medicine, and behavioral sciences. The later years move into clinical subjects such as pathology, forensic medicine, surgery, medicine, pediatrics, and ophthalmology.
The final phase of the MBBS program includes clinical training in affiliated teaching hospitals. After graduation, students must complete the required house job/internship before permanent registration in Pakistan.
Graduates who plan to take international licensing examinations, such as the PLAB or USMLE, should check the latest eligibility rules directly with the relevant exam bodies and medical school directories, as these policies can change.
We hope that this article helped you in choosing your medical school. We know that studying abroad can be expensive because you need to cover tuition fees, accommodation, and other expenses. To help you out, we have listed some university and government scholarships. Make sure to visit the scholarship page to see the different awards that can support your studies. If you are unsure on where to study, visit the Open Courses Page for International Students.
