Big policy news first: the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has removed the MDCAT prerequisite for Pakistani students heading abroad for MBBS/BDS. Right behind it, four of the world’s biggest fully funded government scholarships have application windows open or opening within weeks. Here is the policy explainer and the roundup, in one place.
The PMDC decision, explained
At its council meeting on September 14, 2026, the PMDC decided to exempt the mandatory MDCAT requirement as a prerequisite for Pakistani students seeking admission into foreign medical and dental institutions. The formal public notice followed on October 5, 2026.
This reverses the rule in place since the 2024-25 session, under which students needed at least 50% in MDCAT before PMDC would keep them in its registration and licensing pathway for foreign study. PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj said the change followed a parliamentary committee recommendation that students intending to study abroad should not be compelled to clear MDCAT; the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services had questioned the legality of the requirement earlier this year.
Who it helps: any Pakistani student planning MBBS/BDS at a foreign institution no longer needs to wait for or clear MDCAT to satisfy the PMDC side.
What did NOT change
Three honest caveats, stated plainly:
- MDCAT stays mandatory for admission inside Pakistan. Public and private medical/dental colleges at home are untouched by this notice.
- Mid-course transfers need the NEB assessment. Students who start abroad and later transfer to a Pakistani institution must pass the National Examination Board assessment, which PMDC conducts twice a year.
- Foreign graduates must pass a registration exam to practise in Pakistan. Completing your degree abroad does not by itself license you for house job or practice at home.
Also note: the foreign university’s own admission requirements still apply. This change removes only the PMDC-side MDCAT gate. Keep watching PMDC’s official communications rather than forwarded screenshots.
Sources: Dawn | The Express Tribune
4 flagship scholarships with windows open now
None of these were covered in our recent Top 10 fully funded scholarships guide, and each is a national-scale, fully funded government award.
1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (European Union)
The EU’s flagship: a joint or double Master’s delivered by a consortium of at least three institutions across three or more countries. Study in two or three European countries in 1-2 years.
Coverage: EUR 1,400/month living allowance (about Rs 4.3 lakh at current rates), covering travel, visa, installation and subsistence; participation costs (tuition) covered; health insurance.
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (or final year of bachelor’s). No age limit. Pakistanis are fully eligible.
Deadlines: Applications for the September 2027 intake run October 2026 to January 2027, but each programme sets its own closing date. You apply directly to the consortium, to a maximum of three programmes.
Watch out: this is among the most competitive awards in the world (single-digit acceptance on popular programmes). A sharp, programme-specific motivation letter matters more than anything else.
Official page: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
2. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
Hungary’s state scholarship, run by the Tempus Public Foundation: around 900 English-taught programmes at 30+ Hungarian universities, at bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s and PhD levels.
Coverage: full tuition waiver; HUF 43,700/month stipend (about Rs 37,000); free dormitory place or HUF 40,000/month housing contribution (about Rs 34,000); medical insurance.
Honest note: the stipend is modest and will not cover everything in cities like Budapest. Budget a top-up or part-time plan before you commit.
Deadlines: the 2027/28 call opens mid-November 2026; the deadline is expected around mid-January 2027 (last cycle closed January 15, 2026, 2 pm CET).
How to apply: Pakistan is a partner country and HEC is the sending partner, so you must apply on two portals – the Tempus online system and the HEC portal. Missing either voids the application. Most programmes ask for IELTS around 5.5-6.5.
Official page: Stipendium Hungaricum
3. MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
The Japanese government’s Monbukagakusho scholarship, running since 1954: research students (Master’s/PhD), undergraduates and other tracks, via embassy recommendation or university recommendation.
Coverage: tuition exempted; monthly stipend of JPY 143,000-145,000 for research students (about Rs 2.5 lakh) and JPY 117,000 for undergraduates (about Rs 2.05 lakh); round-trip airfare.
Eligibility: under 35 for research students; under 25 for undergraduates. Many English-taught graduate programmes mean Japanese is not always required.
Deadlines: the embassy-recommendation round for the 2027 intake has closed. The university-recommendation window runs roughly November 2026 to January 2027 (October 2027 enrolment), and the next embassy round opens around April 2027. If Japan is your target, start document preparation now.
Official page: Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship
4. Global Korea Scholarship – GKS (South Korea)
NIIED’s fully funded award for undergraduate, Master’s and PhD study, including a full year of Korean language training.
Coverage: full tuition; monthly stipend of KRW 1,000,000 for graduate scholars (about Rs 2.07 lakh); research allowance of KRW 210,000-240,000 for graduates; KRW 200,000 settlement allowance; round-trip airfare; national health insurance; KRW 100,000/month bonus for TOPIK levels 5-6.
Eligibility: applicant and both parents must hold non-Korean citizenship; 80%+ academics or top 20% of class; under 25 (undergraduate) or under 40 (graduate); good health.
Deadlines: the 2027 undergraduate embassy track closed September 30, 2026. The university track runs September-November 2026 (each university sets its own dates – check now). The graduate 2027 round opens around February 2027.
Official portal: Study in Korea
The IELTS factor: prepare while windows are open
Every scholarship above needs English proof of some kind: Erasmus programmes typically want IELTS 6.0-6.5, Hungarian universities 5.5-6.5, MEXT research tracks ask for English proficiency evidence, and GKS rewards it in scoring. A band 7+ also future-proofs you for the Chevening and Commonwealth cycles. Start with our IELTS Preparation practice tests and the Band 7+ preparation guide.
Sources
- PMDC decision: Dawn, Oct 6, 2026 | Express Tribune, Oct 6, 2026
- Scholarship portals: Erasmus+ | Stipendium Hungaricum | Study in Japan (MEXT) | Study in Korea (GKS)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MDCAT still required for MBBS/BDS admission in Pakistan?
Yes. The October 5, 2026 exemption applies only to students seeking admission in foreign medical or dental institutions. MDCAT remains mandatory for all public and private medical and dental colleges inside Pakistan.
Can I go abroad for MBBS now without passing MDCAT?
PMDC no longer requires MDCAT as a prerequisite on its side, but your chosen foreign university’s own entry requirements still apply. Confirm both the university criteria and PMDC’s current licensing rules for practising in Pakistan after you return.
What happens if I transfer back to a Pakistani medical college mid-course?
You must clear the National Examination Board (NEB) assessment conducted by PMDC, which is held twice a year for students who partially completed medical or dental education abroad.
Which of these four scholarships has the nearest deadline?
Erasmus Mundus consortium deadlines fall between October 2026 and January 2027, with some closing as early as January. The GKS university track runs September to November 2026, so check your chosen universities now. Stipendium Hungaricum opens mid-November 2026 with a deadline expected around mid-January 2027, and MEXT university recommendation runs roughly November 2026 to January 2027.
Do these scholarships require IELTS?
Requirements vary by programme: Erasmus Mundus programmes typically ask for IELTS 6.0 to 6.5, Hungarian universities 5.5 to 6.5, MEXT research tracks ask for English proficiency evidence, and GKS rewards it in scoring. Preparing for IELTS band 7+ keeps every option open.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship at the same time?
Yes, you can apply to several, but you may only accept one award. Note that HEC-administered programmes bar applicants who already hold another scholarship.