Every year the Government of Bangladesh sets aside seats in its government medical and dental colleges for students from SAARC countries. For the 2025-2026 session, Pakistan's share was 23 seats: 21 for MBBS and 2 for BDS. That is a small number, and the scheme has rules that knock out a lot of applicants before anyone even looks at their marks. If you are a pre-medical student with a very strong Biology score and you want a government college seat abroad at a lower cost than a private college at home, this is worth your time. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing.
One thing to get straight at the start: this is a seat allocation, not a free ride. You still pay tuition. The appeal is that the fees are discounted for SAARC students and are described as significantly more affordable than private medical colleges in Pakistan or other countries.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Government of Bangladesh, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) |
| Funding | Partial. Tuition is paid by the student at discounted SAARC rates, with no tuition waiver |
| Level | Bachelor's (MBBS and BDS) |
| Seats for Pakistan (2025-2026) | 21 MBBS, 2 BDS |
| Last deadline | December 22, 2025 (window typically opens in November) |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Official notice | DGHS Bangladesh SAARC notice |
Who this quota suits, and who should skip it
The scheme is built for a narrow group. The eligibility rules for the 2025-2026 session asked for FSC passed in 2024 or 2025 and Matric passed in 2022 or 2023. Other combinations were not eligible, and the notice specifically ruled out FSC 2023 with Matric 2021. So a student who has taken a gap of a few years, or who did Matric earlier than usual, is likely out regardless of marks. Because these year windows are tied to each session, check the new notice each cycle to see which years it accepts.
The second filter is Biology. You need at least 190 out of 200 in FSC Biology. That is a hard cutoff, not a guideline. If you scored below it, do not spend money on attestation for this scheme. Put that effort into other options.
If you clear both filters, the quota is a good fit for a student who wants a government medical college, English-medium teaching, and a degree that can lead back to practice in Pakistan, but whose family cannot carry private college fees. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs full funding, because there is no tuition waiver.
The scheme runs under the SAARC framework, which covers Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan. Pakistani students are clearly included, and the 23 seats above are allocated specifically to Pakistan.
What you actually get from a SAARC seat
What you get is a place in a government medical or dental college under the SAARC quota, with tuition discounted for SAARC students. Teaching is in English throughout the degree. There is no application fee. Your main upfront costs are the attestation charges on your documents.
The degree is described as recognized by WHO, MCI and PMDC/PMC. Government medical colleges under this scheme are mainly in Dhaka and Chittagong. Bangladesh is also culturally close to Pakistan, with familiar food, some language familiarity and easy travel, which helps when you are studying far from home for years.
What you still have to pay for
Plan for tuition fees (per semester or annual), a registration fee, and living costs in Dhaka or Chittagong. Exact fees vary by college and are updated every year, so there is no single number to quote. For the current fee schedule, contact DGHS Bangladesh or the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. Do this before you commit, not after you get a seat.
The FSC and Matric year rule that rejects most people
Most applicants who fail this scheme fail on paper, not on merit. The year combination rule is unforgiving. Read it like this for the 2025-2026 session:
- FSC 2024 or 2025, together with Matric 2022 or 2023: eligible.
- Any other combination: not eligible.
- FSC 2023 with Matric 2021: named in the notice as not eligible.
Alongside that, you need at least 190/200 in FSC Biology, a valid passport, and all educational documents attested by your board, then IBCC, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Three layers of attestation, and why to start early
Every educational document has to pass through three offices in order: your Matric or FSC board first, then IBCC (Inter Board Committee of Chairmen), then MoFA Pakistan. Skipping or reversing a step does not work. Partially attested documents are not accepted, and incomplete or incorrect attestation leads to rejection.
Timing is where students get caught. IBCC attestation alone typically takes 2-4 weeks, and board attestation comes before that. The advice is to start at least 6-8 weeks before the submission deadline. Since the window typically opens in November and closed on December 22 in the last cycle, a student who waits for the official announcement before starting attestation is already late. If you think you will apply, begin board attestation as soon as your results are final. Our IBCC and MoFA attestation guide walks through each office.
The paperwork in your envelope
The document set is short, which makes mistakes harder to forgive:
- Completed application form, downloaded from the official DGHS website
- Passport-size photographs
- Matric mark sheet and certificate (board, IBCC and MoFA attested)
- FSC mark sheet and certificate (board, IBCC and MoFA attested)
- Valid passport (compulsory)
Make a full set of photocopies of everything before you hand it over. Once the package is with MoFA, you will not have the originals of your submission in front of you if a question comes up.
Applying through MoFA Islamabad, not the colleges
This is the part that confuses people. You do not apply to Bangladeshi universities directly. The route goes through Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- Download the application form from the DGHS Bangladesh notice page (a backup Drive link is also provided there).
- Get every educational document attested: board, then IBCC, then MoFA Pakistan.
- Put the form and attested documents together into one package.
- Submit the package in person, by hand, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad before the deadline.
- MoFA Pakistan evaluates and verifies applications and prepares a list of eligible candidates.
- MoFA Pakistan forwards the approved list to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.
- Wait for notification from MoFA Pakistan or Bangladesh on final seat allocation.
Hand submission matters. Courier or postal submissions may not be accepted, so a student outside Islamabad needs to plan a trip, or have a reliable person deliver it. Some guidance also mentions HEC Pakistan for this scheme, so watch the HEC scholarship portal for announcements too, but follow whatever submission method the current official notice states.
How the last cycle ran, month by month
The 2025-2026 session gives a good picture of the pace:
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| November 11, 2025 | Application window opened |
| December 22, 2025 | Application submission deadline |
| January 8, 2026 | MoFA Pakistan verification deadline |
| January 15, 2026 | Final submission to Bangladesh MoFA |
The next cycle typically opens around November as well, but the dates change each year. Confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official portal rather than assuming last year's dates.
Mistakes I would warn any applicant about
The biggest one is applying with the wrong year combination and hoping nobody checks. They do check, and the scheme names an ineligible combination outright. The second is starting attestation in December. With IBCC alone taking weeks, that leaves no room for a single delay.
Third, students treat this as a scholarship and plan no budget. You will pay tuition, registration and living costs. Get the current fee schedule from DGHS or the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, and have your family look at it honestly before you submit. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds is useful when you reach the visa stage.
Finally, think beyond admission. After graduating in Bangladesh you must return to Pakistan and pass the PMDC/PMC Licensing Examination (PMLE) before you can practice. This applies to all foreign MBBS graduates. A Bangladesh MBBS is a route into Pakistani practice, not a shortcut around the licensing exam.
For visa questions, the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad (islamabad.mofa.gov.bd) handles Bangladeshi student visas and bilateral coordination for SAARC recipients. Once you are in Bangladesh, the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka (mofa.gov.pk/bangladesh) provides consular services. You can compare this scheme with other options in our list of all Bangladesh scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SAARC Bangladesh MBBS scheme fully funded?
No. It is a government seat allocation under the SAARC quota. You pay tuition fees at discounted SAARC rates, and there is no tuition waiver.
Can I apply with FSC 2023 and Matric 2021?
No. That combination was explicitly excluded. For the 2025-2026 session only FSC 2024 or 2025 combined with Matric 2022 or 2023 qualified. Check the new notice for each session's accepted years.
Can I post my application to MoFA?
Do not count on it. Applications are submitted by hand at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, and courier or postal submissions may not be accepted.
Is there an application fee?
No. Your costs at the application stage are the attestation charges for your documents.
Can I practice in Pakistan with a Bangladesh MBBS?
The degree from government medical colleges is recognized by PMDC/PMC. You must still return and pass the PMDC/PMC Licensing Examination (PMLE) before practicing, as every foreign MBBS graduate must.
How many seats are there for Pakistani students?
For the 2025-2026 session there were 23: 21 MBBS and 2 BDS. Seat numbers are set each session, so confirm them in the current notice.
Before you start attestation, read the latest notice on the official DGHS Bangladesh website and check the full scholarship page for updates on the next cycle.