Short answer: the UHS merit list ranks every applicant to Punjab's public medical and dental colleges by aggregate: 10% Matric, 40% FSc and 50% MDCAT. UHS first shows a provisional order of merit, then a final one, then college-wise selection lists. Later lists fill seats that were not taken, moving students up to colleges higher on their own preference list.
This guide explains each list, what you need to do at each step, and what the lists do not tell you. It follows UHS's advertisement for session 2025-26, the latest UHS has published. To work out your own aggregate, use the MDCAT Aggregate Calculator.
Session 2026-27: what is out so far
On 6 November 2026 the 2026-27 section of the UHS admission news page listed only MDCAT-2026 items, the admit cards and the identity card rule for the exam centre. No 2026-27 admission policy, schedule or merit list was on it yet. Dates you see elsewhere are not from UHS, so GradeCat does not repeat them. When UHS publishes its 2026-27 advertisement, check whether the weights, eligibility or steps have changed.
Step 1: the aggregate
UHS's 2025-26 advertisement sets the merit weights on page 2: Matric (SSC) 10%, FSc (HSSC) Pre-Medical 40% and MDCAT 50%. The advertisement gives only the weights, so GradeCat uses your percentage in each exam. To be eligible you needed MDCAT at least 55% for MBBS or 50% for BDS, and HSSC at least 60%, plus a Punjab domicile.
Made-up example from GradeCat's research. SSC 1020 of 1100 is 92.73%, HSSC 980 of 1100 is 89.09%, and MDCAT 160 of 180 is 88.89%. The aggregate is 9.27 + 35.64 + 44.44 = 89.35%.
Step 2: the provisional and final order of merit
After applications close, UHS ranks every eligible applicant by aggregate. It first shows a provisional order of merit and then a final order of merit a few days later. In 2025-26 the dates were:
| List | MBBS | BDS |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional order of merit | 26 Nov 2025 | 26 Dec 2025 |
| Final order of merit | 28 Nov 2025 | 29 Dec 2025 |
| First college-wise selection list | 1 Dec 2025 | 2 Jan 2026 |
| Second selection/up-gradation list | 5 Dec 2025 | 8 Jan 2026 |
| Third selection/up-gradation list | 11 Dec 2025 | 14 Jan 2026 |
UHS added that the schedule, including the number of lists, could change on directions from PM&DC or the Government of Punjab. All merit and selection lists are published on the UHS website.
Step 3: college-wise selection lists
When you apply, you choose all the colleges in order of preference, and every option for your seat category must be picked. After the deadline the number and order of your preferences can no longer be changed. The college-wise selection lists show which college each selected student has been given, and UHS fills the seats left empty in later lists on merit and preferences. That is why the order of your preferences matters.
Seats are split into open merit and reserved seats: for disabled students, Cholistan, under-developed districts, Punjab candidates on reciprocal seats in other provinces, and Overseas Pakistanis. Quota seats have extra eligibility rules and documents in the prospectus, and quota seats for students of other provinces are advertised separately.
Step 4: fee, joining and up-gradation
If your name is on a selection list, two things must happen by the due date:
- you pay the college fee from the challan on the admission portal, and
- you join that college in writing, as UHS sets out.
Miss either one and the admission is cancelled. Missing the fee also loses you the chance of up-gradation. Seats left empty by students who do not join are filled in the next selection lists, by merit and preferences. UHS calls up-gradation mandatory: if you are moved up to a college higher on your list, you must report there in time, and UHS moves your fee to the new college.
Made-up example. A student lists College A first, College B second and College C third, and the first list places them at College C. They pay the fee and join. In the second list a seat at College B opens because a student above them did not join, so they are upgraded to B and must report there. Had they not paid at C, they would have lost both the seat and the up-gradation.
Worked example: why MDCAT carries the most weight
Made-up example. Two students apply for MBBS:
| Student | SSC | HSSC | MDCAT | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student 1 | 1050 / 1100 | 1000 / 1100 | 150 / 180 | 87.58% |
| Student 2 | 980 / 1100 | 950 / 1100 | 165 / 180 | 89.29% |
Student 1 has higher Matric and FSc marks, but Student 2's MDCAT is 15 marks higher, and MDCAT is half the aggregate. Student 2 is placed above Student 1 in the order of merit. GradeCat shows aggregates to 2 decimals; how many decimals UHS uses, and how it breaks a tie between equal aggregates, are not stated in the advertisement.
What the merit list does not tell you
- Closing merit. The last aggregate admitted at each college changes every year with the applicants and seats. GradeCat gives no closing merit, because none is in the sources we read.
- Your rank before the list. Your aggregate alone does not give your place; that depends on everyone else who applied.
- Other provinces. Sindh, KP, Balochistan and NUMS use their own rules, which GradeCat has not verified.
UHS merit list FAQ
What is the difference between the provisional and final order of merit?
The provisional order of merit comes first. The final order of merit follows a few days later, and the college-wise selection lists come after it.
How many selection lists does UHS display?
For 2025-26 UHS scheduled three selection or up-gradation lists for MBBS and three for BDS, and said the number could change.
Can I change my college preferences after applying?
Only until the application deadline. After that, the number and order of preferences are final.
What happens if I do not pay the fee after selection?
The admission is cancelled, and you lose the chance of up-gradation to a college higher on your list.
When will the UHS merit list 2026 come out?
UHS had not published a 2026-27 schedule on 6 November 2026. Check the UHS website, where all merit and selection lists are posted.
Related tools and guides
- MDCAT Aggregate Calculator: your UHS aggregate from Matric, FSc and MDCAT marks.
- HEC Grading Scale: grades and grade points once you are at university.
- All tools for Pakistan
- GradeCat home: grade and GPA tools for other countries.
Sources
- UHS: MBBS & BDS Admissions, Public Sector Medical & Dental Colleges of Punjab, Session 2025-2026, page 1 (eligibility) and page 2 (merit formula) (opened 4 November 2026)
- PM&DC: Public Notice: MDCAT-2026 for Admissions in MBBS/BDS Programs, pages 1 and 2 (opened 4 November 2026)
An aggregate worked out here is an estimate, not an official result. UHS's own merit lists come first. Found a mistake? Tell us.