BDS in China for Pakistani Students: Fees, Universities, PMDC

BDS in China for Pakistani students costs roughly 3,000 to 8,500 USD a year from Year 2 at the 14 universities in our directory that list the programme, and the course runs five or six years. Nine of the 14 are MOE-listed. All 14 are listed as PMDC-approved in our directory, but nobody should treat that flag as final: confirm each university on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org before you pay a deposit.

Dentistry is the harder of the two medical courses to plan, because the rules are less clear. This guide gives you the shortlist, the fees, what is known about PMDC recognition and the NOC, and what we could not confirm.

Which Chinese universities offer BDS in English?

Our directory lists 14 universities with a BDS programme. The tables below split them into MOE-listed and non-MOE, with the yearly cost from Year 2, the course length and a short note. Fees are per our directory and the detail page of each university. They cover tuition, hostel, visa extension and insurance. Year 1 costs more because of one-time charges, so confirm the current fee with the university.

MOE-listed universities with BDS (9)

Non-MOE universities with BDS (5)

The MOE list is the Chinese Ministry of Education list of about 45 universities approved to teach English-medium medicine to international students. Our MOE-listed universities guide explains it. The 45-university list is old and the Ministry has not published a replacement that we could find, so ask each university how its BDS is authorised. You can see all 95 universities in the China directory and the BDS programme page at BDS in China.

How much is BDS in China?

From Year 2, the cheapest BDS in our data is Jiujiang University at 3,025 USD a year (21,480 RMB) and the most expensive is Xi'an Jiaotong University at 8,535 USD (60,600 RMB). Between them, most MOE-listed universities sit between 5,000 and 6,300 USD. Xuzhou Medical University is the exception at 3,380 USD, because its BDS tuition is 18,000 RMB a year.

Year 1 is higher. Several universities charge a package that includes liaison and management fees. At Shandong First Medical University, our detail page shows a BDS Year 1 total of 39,400 RMB against 25,000 RMB later. At Henan University the BDS Year 1 package is 45,000 RMB against 26,200 RMB after that. Application fees of 1,000 to 2,000 RMB are usually paid separately.

Fees do not tell you the full budget. Add flights, pocket money, food and the cost of any Chinese language classes. Our total cost guide shows how to build the full number for MBBS, and the same method works for BDS.

Why do BDS fees differ from MBBS fees at the same university?

Some universities charge the same for both. Wenzhou and Zhengzhou are examples. Others charge more for BDS, such as Xi'an Jiaotong, where BDS tuition is 10,000 RMB above MBBS. Xuzhou charges less for BDS than for MBBS. Do not assume the MBBS fee on a university page applies to dentistry.

How long is BDS in China?

Most listed programmes run five years: four years of study and one year of internship. Zhengzhou University and Henan University list six years, with the same structure as MBBS. Jiujiang University counts one Chinese language year, three years of dentistry and one year of internship. Shenyang Medical College launched BDS admissions in 2026 and our data does not state the length.

Check the internship rules on each university site. Some programmes allow the internship in China, at home or in a third country, with the university approving the hospital. Others require HSK-4 before an internship in China. The HSK guide covers the language levels.

BDS in China vs Pakistan: how long is the course?

This is where the story is confusing, so read it slowly. In November 2024, PMDC announced that BDS in Pakistan would become a five-year degree from the 2024-25 session, mainly so graduates would have a five-year transcript for training abroad. Reports in January 2025 said the start was pushed back after private dental colleges raised concerns about resources.

In July 2026, Dental Tribune reported a PMDC notification dated 8 July that approved a five-year framework, with a two-year transition for institutions that need time. Then in September 2026, ARY News reported that PMDC told a Senate committee it had withdrawn the five-year notification, and the committee asked PMDC to publish a public notice confirming four years plus a one-year house job.

We could not find that public notice. So the honest answer is that the Pakistani BDS length is unsettled in the sources we can see. Check pmdc.pk before you compare. Either way, a Chinese BDS of five or six years is not shorter than the Pakistani course in practice, because you also need to pass the registration exam when you return.

Is a BDS degree from China valid in Pakistan?

A Chinese BDS can lead to registration in Pakistan, but only through PM&DC rules, and those rules are strict. In our research we found no PMDC statement that names Chinese BDS programmes as recognised. Our directory flags all 14 universities as PMDC-approved. Treat that as a starting point, not as proof.

Three checks matter:

• The university and the dental programme appear as recognised on pmdc.pk.
• The school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools at search.wdoms.org. WDOMS is built around medical schools, so ask PMDC how a dental programme is treated.
• The graduate can sit the National Registration Examination (NRE) on return.

Our guides on how to verify PMDC recognition and on PMDC licensing after a foreign degree show the steps. The licensing guide is written for MBBS, but the registration route for foreign dental graduates follows the same council.

What do the NRE numbers say about dental graduates?

Foreign dental graduates sit the same NRE Step I as medical graduates. In its press release for the 14 December 2025 sitting, PM&DC said 7,076 graduates had registered: 6,989 medical and 87 dental. It also said no foreign graduate can get provisional or permanent registration or practise independently until they pass the examination.

Press coverage of the results reported that 1,473 candidates qualified, of whom 1,467 were medical and six were dental, a dental pass rate of 7.23 percent. We have not seen the official result sheet, so treat the dental figures as reported, not confirmed. The June 2025 sitting was reported to have produced no dental passes.

The sample is small, and it covers graduates from every country, just China. But it is a warning: do not pick a dental degree abroad as a shortcut. Prepare for the NRE from the first year, and read the syllabus.

Do you need a PMDC NOC for dentistry abroad?

In May 2024, PMDC announced that Pakistani students would need a no-objection certificate (NOC) before studying medicine or dentistry abroad, starting with the 2024 session. Coverage of the announcement, including ProPakistani, said the aim was to stop students enrolling in institutions that are not recognised.

The rules have moved since then. Under PM&DC public notice No. Exam-59/2026/350 of 5 October 2026, MDCAT is not required for Pakistani students seeking admission to foreign medical institutions. Our notice explainer has the detail. We have not seen what the notice says about the NOC for dental students, and the other 2024 and 2026 conditions, such as FSc marks and registration, are unconfirmed after the notice. Ask PMDC, and read pmdc.pk, before you assume anything.

MDCAT is still required to enter a dental college inside Pakistan. It is also the route if you want to transfer into a Pakistani institution after studying abroad, together with the NEB assessment.

BDS in China or MBBS: which one should you choose?

Choose by career, not by fee. MBBS gives you a general medical degree and many more seats. BDS is a specialist degree with a narrower job market and, as the NRE numbers show, a thinner track record for returning graduates. If you want to work in Pakistan as a dentist, the recognition check matters even more than it does for MBBS.

A few practical points:

• BDS is a hands-on course. Ask how many clinical hours you get and where the dental hospital is.
• Several universities say left-handed students are not eligible for BDS. Check this before you apply.
• Seats are small. Ningxia lists 20 BDS seats per intake, against 100 for MBBS.
• Entry rules, including the CSCA exam, are changing. See our CSCA guide and the eligibility guide.

If you are comparing the two degrees on value, Is MBBS in China worth it? covers the MBBS side.

Is BDS in China cheaper than a private dental college in Pakistan?

On tuition, usually yes. Eduvision reported that PMDC capped private MBBS and BDS tuition at Rs 1.8 million a year from the 2025 session. Other coverage mentions a 5 percent increase and higher fees with approval, and individual colleges publish different schedules. Check the prospectus of the college you are looking at.

Convert the Chinese yearly fees in the tables to rupees at the current rate and compare them with that cap. The gap is largest at the cheaper universities, such as Jiujiang, Xuzhou and Shandong First. It is smaller at Xi'an Jiaotong or Dalian once you add Year 1 charges, flights and living costs. The real saving also depends on what happens at the end, so weigh the NRE risk in the comparison.

How to shortlist BDS universities, step by step

1. Start with the nine MOE-listed universities. Drop any you cannot afford once Year 1 charges are added.
2. Read the BDS page of each shortlisted university, not the MBBS page. Note length, fee, intake month and language rules.
3. Ask the admissions office in writing whether the BDS is authorised for international students in English, and what the clinical training involves.
4. Search the university on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org. Keep a screenshot with the date.
5. Ask PMDC, or a graduate who has registered, what the route back to practice looks like for dental graduates.
6. Only then pay the application fee. Never pay a deposit before the offer letter and the written fee schedule.

Non-MOE universities cost less, but the extra checks above matter more for them. Our directory flags them as PMDC-approved, and the same warning applies.

Titans Abroad does not charge a consultation fee, and it will tell you if a programme is not right for you. If you want a shortlist built around your budget, you can apply through the site.

Frequently asked questions

Which Chinese universities offer BDS in English?

Our directory lists 14: Dalian Medical, Ningxia Medical, Jiangsu, Jinzhou Medical, Sichuan, Wenzhou Medical, Xi'an Jiaotong, Xuzhou Medical and Zhengzhou are MOE-listed. Shandong First Medical, Jiujiang, Henan, Shenyang Medical College and Changsha Medical are not. Some have a Chinese language foundation year, so confirm the teaching language and intake with each university.

How much is BDS in China?

From Year 2, our directory shows about 3,025 to 8,535 USD a year across the 14 universities, covering tuition, hostel, visa extension and insurance. Year 1 is higher because of one-time charges. Application fees are usually paid separately. These are figures per our directory, so confirm the current fee with the university before you pay.

Is a BDS degree from China valid in Pakistan?

It can be, but only if the university is recognised by PM&DC and the graduate passes the NRE. We found no PMDC statement naming Chinese BDS programmes as recognised. Our directory flags all 14 as PMDC-approved, which is not official proof. Verify on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org, and keep dated screenshots.

How long is BDS in China?

Most programmes run five years, usually four years of study plus a one-year internship. Zhengzhou University and Henan University list six years. Jiujiang University includes a Chinese language year within its five. Shenyang Medical College did not have a length in our data. Confirm the length and the internship rules on each university's own site.

Do I need an NOC from PMDC for dentistry abroad?

PMDC announced an NOC requirement for foreign medical and dental study in May 2024. The 5 October 2026 notice removed MDCAT for foreign admission, but we have not seen whether the NOC still applies to dental students. Check pmdc.pk or ask PMDC directly before you apply, and keep the reply.

BDS in China or MBBS?

Pick the career you want. MBBS is a general medical degree with more seats and more universities. BDS is narrower, and reported NRE results for foreign dental graduates have been weak. Fees are similar at many universities. If you are unsure, shortlist both and compare the recognition checks for each.

Is BDS in China cheaper than a private dental college in Pakistan?

Tuition is usually lower in China, especially at the cheaper universities. PMDC capped private BDS tuition at Rs 1.8 million a year from 2025, though colleges publish different schedules. Convert the Chinese fees at today's rate and add Year 1 charges, flights and living costs. Then weigh the registration risk, not just the price.

Next steps

If you still want BDS in China for Pakistani students, shortlist from the nine MOE-listed universities first, confirm the programme length and fee with each one, and verify recognition yourself on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org. Do that before any payment.