Three ways into Army Medical College. Only one comes with a 13-year bond.

Army Medical College (AMC) Rawalpindi is one of Pakistan's most prestigious medical institutions. Founded in 1977, it's affiliated with the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) and consistently ranks as the country's highest-rated public sector medical college, having scored 99.41% in PMDC's evaluation[reference:0]. Its degrees are accredited by PMDC[reference:1].

Around 204 MBBS and 54 BDS seats are available annually[reference:2]. But here's the part that confuses most applicants: there are three separate entry routes, and they're not interchangeable[reference:3][reference:4].

The Three AMC Admission Routes

* Some sources mention a 3-year service obligation for Paying Cadets; verify current policy directly with AMC/NUMS.

1. Medical Cadet (MC) — The Fully Funded Route with a 13-Year Bond

The Medical Cadet route is the most competitive — and the most consequential. It's for male students only who want to join the Pakistan Army as commissioned doctors[reference:5].

Eligibility at a Glance

• Gender: Male only[reference:6]
• Age: 17–21 years[reference:7][reference:8]
• Education: FSc Pre-Medical with minimum 70% marks[reference:9][reference:10]; A-Level candidates need Grade C in Biology, Physics, Chemistry[reference:11]
• Marital Status: Unmarried[reference:12]
• Nationality: Pakistani citizen[reference:13]

The Selection Process

Becoming a Medical Cadet involves a multi-stage process that's closer to military selection than a standard university application[reference:14]:

1. Online Registration — through the official Pakistan Army recruitment portal: www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk. The registration window for 2026 is June 15 – July 14, 2026[reference:15][reference:16].
2. Initial Tests — conducted at Army Selection and Recruitment Centres (ASRCs) across major cities[reference:17]. Includes a written intelligence test, physical test, and medical test[reference:18].
3. ISSB-Like Assessment — personality and psychological evaluation, group tasks, and interviews[reference:19]. This is similar in nature to the Inter-Services Selection Board (ISSB) process.
4. NUMS MDCAT — Medical Cadet applicants must also appear in the NUMS MDCAT and secure a good score[reference:20][reference:21]. You must submit your NUMS MDCAT score online within one week of the result announcement[reference:22].
5. Final Selection by GHQ — the final merit list is prepared by GHQ based on overall performance[reference:23].

What You Get — and What You Owe

• Zero tuition fees — your entire education is fully funded by the Pakistan Army[reference:26][reference:27].
• Monthly stipend — approximately PKR 50,000–55,000 per month during your degree[reference:28][reference:29].
• Free uniform and accommodation — hostel fees are around PKR 3,000/month[reference:30].
• Direct commission — upon graduation, you're directly commissioned as a Captain Doctor in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps[reference:31].
• 13-year service bond — you must sign a bond to serve the army for a minimum of 13 years after completing your degree[reference:32][reference:33][reference:34]. The bond period begins after graduation, not during your studies[reference:35].

2. Paying Cadet (PC) — The Army Brat Quota

The Paying Cadet route is often misunderstood. Here's the straightforward version: Paying Cadet seats are strictly reserved for children of serving or retired Pakistan Army personnel — commonly referred to as "army brats"[reference:36][reference:37].

Eligibility and Process

• Who can apply: Children (male and female) of serving or retired Pakistan Army personnel[reference:40][reference:41]. Martyred children are given priority quota[reference:42].
• Education: FSc Pre-Medical with minimum 60–70% marks (confirm current threshold)[reference:43].
• NUMS MDCAT: Paying Cadets must appear in the NUMS MDCAT[reference:44].
• Application: Apply through the NUMS portal, selecting the Paying Cadet category[reference:45].
• Important note: If you qualify for a NUMS open merit seat, you become ineligible for the Paying Cadet category — you can't hold both[reference:46].

Fee Structure and Obligations

• Tuition: Approximately PKR 1,000,000 per year (total ~PKR 5,000,000 for the 5-year MBBS program)[reference:47].
• No stipend — you pay for your education[reference:48].
• No military commission — Paying Cadets do not become army officers[reference:49].
• Service obligation: Most sources state there's no mandatory service[reference:50], though some mention a 3-year service requirement or a financial penalty if leaving early[reference:51]. Verify this directly with AMC/NUMS before applying.

3. NUMS Open Merit — The Civilian Route

This is the standard route for any Pakistani citizen (male or female, including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan residents) who wants to study at AMC without a military commitment[reference:52].

How It Works

• Eligibility: Open to all civilians[reference:53]. Minimum FSc marks: 60% (though competition typically requires much higher)[reference:54].
• NUMS MDCAT: Mandatory for all applicants[reference:55].
• Merit formula: 50% NUMS MDCAT + 40% FSc + 10% Matric[reference:56].
• Closing merit: AMC's open merit MBBS closing aggregate has historically been very high — around 94.26% in recent cycles[reference:57].
• Application: Through the NUMS official portal (www.numspak.edu.pk)[reference:58].

Side-by-Side Comparison

* Some sources mention a 3-year service obligation for Paying Cadets; verify directly.

Physical and Medical Requirements for Medical Cadets

Medical Cadet applicants face physical and medical standards that civilian applicants don't. These are similar to ISSB requirements[reference:59]:

• Running: 1.6 km in under 8 minutes[reference:60]
• Push-ups: 15 in 2 minutes[reference:61]
• Height: Minimum 5 feet 4 inches (162.5 cm) for males[reference:62]
• Vision: Normal eyesight, 6/6 vision preferred[reference:63]
• General fitness: Healthy heart and lungs, no major physical disability[reference:64]

Medical Cadet applicants also undergo a final medical examination by a GHQ board[reference:65]. Civilians applying through NUMS Open Merit or Paying Cadet routes do not face these physical tests — only standard medical fitness certification is required[reference:66].

Frequently Asked Questions