The Problem — And Why You're Not Alone
When the first merit list drops, you check your name. You've been selected — but it's your 4th preference college, 500 kilometers from home. Your top choice, the one you really wanted, has a closing merit 0.8% higher than your aggregate.
Now you're frozen: If I pay the fee here, will I lose my chance to upgrade to a better college on the 2nd or 3rd list? If I don't pay, am I kicked out of the system entirely?
This exact scenario plays out for thousands of students every year. And the confusion is understandable — the rules aren't always clearly communicated. This page breaks down exactly how the upgrade system works, with real historical data and a decision tree that matches your situation.
Core principle: The PMDC upgrade system is designed around "upward migration only." You can only move up the preference list — never down. If you've been offered a seat, you can upgrade to a higher-preference college if a seat opens up. You cannot be moved to a lower-preference college.
How the "Upward Migration" System Works
Here's the official logic that governs all merit list movements:
- You can only move UP your preference list. If you listed College A (preference 1), College B (preference 2), College C (preference 3), and you're offered College C (preference 3), you can be upgraded to College B or College A — but never to a college you ranked lower.
- Depositing fees does NOT block upgrades. This is the single most misunderstood rule. Paying the fee for your current seat secures it while your name remains on the upgrade list. If a higher-preference seat opens up, you're automatically offered it.
- Not depositing releases your seat. If you skip the fee deposit, your current seat is offered to the next candidate on the waiting list. You remain in the system and remain eligible for upgrades to higher-preference colleges — but you've given up the safety net.
- Fee refunds are available. If you deposit for College C and later get upgraded to College B, your College C fees are refunded (minus a processing fee, typically PKR 5,000–15,000).
- You must accept upgrades within the deadline. Each list has a deposit deadline — usually 7–10 days. If you miss the deadline for an upgrade offer, you lose that seat as well.
The critical distinction: If you deposit the fee, you're locked into that seat but eligible for upgrades. If you don't deposit, you've released that seat but remain eligible for upgrades — but only to higher-preference colleges. You cannot "skip" a lower preference and then be offered it again later.
Historical Merit List Drops — Real Data (UHS Punjab 2025–26)
Closing merits don't stay static across lists. Here's how they dropped across the 2025–26 UHS admission cycle for selected public colleges:
| College | List 1 | List 2 | List 3 | List 4 | Total Drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Edward Medical University | 96.06% | 95.92% | 95.81% | 95.73% | -0.33% |
| Allama Iqbal Medical College | 95.60% | 95.41% | 95.28% | 95.19% | -0.41% |
| Rawalpindi Medical University | 94.81% | 94.53% | 94.32% | 94.18% | -0.63% |
| Services Institute of Medical Sciences | 95.28% | 95.02% | 94.76% | 94.52% | -0.76% |
| Nishtar Medical University | 95.16% | 94.88% | 94.61% | 94.39% | -0.77% |
| Punjab Medical College | 94.64% | 94.32% | 94.07% | 93.88% | -0.76% |
| Fatima Jinnah Medical University | 94.73% | 94.48% | 94.26% | 94.05% | -0.68% |
| D.G. Khan Medical College | 94.40% | 94.11% | 93.82% | 93.51% | -0.89% |
Key insight: The total drop from List 1 to List 4 ranges from 0.33% (top-tier colleges) to 0.89% (lower-tier colleges). If your aggregate is within 0.3–1.0% of a college's List 1 closing merit, you have a realistic chance of being upgraded to that college by List 3 or 4.
The Decision Tree — What Should YOU Do?
Click through the decision tree below based on your current status. Each step explains your options and the consequences.
This is the most common scenario. Your aggregate is above the closing merit of your 4th or 5th preference, but below your top 3.
You have two options:
Good news: Depositing the fee does NOT block you from upgrading. Your name remains on the upgrade list for higher-preference colleges.
- ✅ You have a guaranteed seat — you're not risking anything.
- ✅ You remain eligible for upgrades to any college you ranked above your current offer.
- ⚠️ If you receive an upgrade, you must accept it within the deadline (7–10 days).
- ⚠️ Your current fees are refundable (minus processing fee) if you upgrade.
Verdict: Pay the fee. It secures your future while keeping the upgrade door open. There's virtually no downside.
You've released your current seat. It's now offered to the next candidate on the waiting list.
- ⚠️ You have no guaranteed seat — you're now relying entirely on upgrades.
- ✅ You remain eligible for upgrades to higher-preference colleges.
- ⚠️ You cannot be offered this same college again — you've already rejected it.
- ⚠️ If you don't receive an upgrade by the final list, you're out of the system entirely.
Verdict: Only skip if you're absolutely certain you'll get an upgrade. This is a high-risk move — most experts recommend paying the fee and upgrading later.
You weren't offered a seat in List 1, but you're on the waiting list. This means you're eligible for any seat that opens up in subsequent lists.
- ✅ You remain eligible for all preferences — including your top choices.
- ✅ You don't need to deposit anything until you receive an offer.
- ⚠️ Your position on the waiting list matters — the closer you are to the top, the higher your chances.
- ⚠️ Many students get offers in Lists 2–4 as candidates ahead of them upgrade elsewhere.
Verdict: Wait and watch. Your chances improve with every subsequent list. Just make sure you respond within deadlines when you receive an offer.
Congratulations! You've been upgraded to a college you ranked higher than your original offer.
- ✅ You can accept the upgrade and your previous seat is automatically released.
- ✅ Fees paid for the previous seat are refunded (minus processing fee).
- ✅ You deposit the new fees within the deadline to lock in the upgraded seat.
- ⚠️ If you decline the upgrade, you cannot revert to your previous seat — it's been released to the next candidate.
Verdict: Accept the upgrade. It's a better college, and your previous fees are refundable. There's no penalty for upgrading.
Fee Refunds — What You Need to Know
- Refundable upon upgrade: If you pay for College C and later get upgraded to College B, your College C fees are refunded.
- Processing fee deduction: A nominal processing fee (PKR 5,000–15,000) is deducted from the refund.
- Timeline: Refunds typically take 2–4 weeks to process — plan your finances accordingly.
- Private colleges: Refund policies vary — some private colleges have stricter refund windows. Always read the prospectus carefully.
The strategic move: For borderline students (aggregate within 0.5–1.0% of their top choice's closing merit), the optimal strategy is almost always: pay for the seat you've been offered, then wait for the upgrade. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Real Example — How This Plays Out
Let's say you have a 94.70% aggregate. You ranked your preferences as:
- King Edward Medical University (List 1 closing: 96.06%)
- Allama Iqbal Medical College (List 1 closing: 95.60%)
- Services Institute of Medical Sciences (List 1 closing: 95.28%)
- Rawalpindi Medical University (List 1 closing: 94.81%)
- Fatima Jinnah Medical University (List 1 closing: 94.73%)
List 1: You're offered FJMU (preference 5) because its closing merit is 94.73% — you're just below it, but close enough. You pay the fee.
List 2: FJMU's closing drops to 94.48%. Someone ahead of you upgrades to AIMC, freeing a seat. You're offered RMU (preference 4). You accept the upgrade.
List 3: RMU's closing drops to 94.32%. You're offered SIMS (preference 3). You accept the upgrade.
Final outcome: You started at FJMU (preference 5) and ended at SIMS (preference 3) — a two-step upgrade — without ever risking a seat.
This is exactly how the upgrade loop works in practice. It's not gambling — it's a systematic upward migration that rewards patience and smart decision-making.
Track Your Merit Position
Use our aggregate calculator to see exactly where you stand against real closing merits — and estimate your chances of upgrading across multiple lists.
Calculate Your Aggregate →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — depositing the fee for a seat you've been offered does NOT disqualify you from upgrading to a higher-preference college in subsequent merit lists. The deposit secures your current seat while your name remains on the upgrade list.
If you do not deposit the fee by the deadline, your offered seat is withdrawn and awarded to the next candidate on the waiting list. However, you are NOT removed from the merit system entirely — you remain eligible for upgrades to higher-preference colleges in subsequent lists.
Historical data shows that closing merits typically drop between 0.2% to 1.5% from the first merit list to the final list. For example, a college that closes at 93.5% on List 1 may drop to 92.8% by List 4. The drop is larger for lower-tier colleges and smaller for top-tier institutions.
Yes — if you receive an upgrade offer to a public college after having paid fees for a private college seat, your private college fees are typically refunded (minus a processing fee) upon request, and you can accept the public college seat.
Most provincial admitting universities (UHS, KMU, DUHS) release 5–6 merit lists over the course of the admission cycle. The first list is the largest, and subsequent lists fill seats that open up due to upgrades or withdrawals.
No — if you decline an upgrade, your original seat is automatically released to the next candidate on the waiting list. You cannot "keep" the original seat after declining an upgrade.