PMDC makes final year of BDS free

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has modified the implementation of the five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme, allowing students to complete the full five-year degree while paying fees for only four years. Under the revised arrangement, BDS students will receive free education during the final year of the programme, according to a new notification issued by the PM&DC. The council has withdrawn its previous notification regarding the duration and fee structure of the BDS programme and issued a new notification outlining the revised implementation. The new notification makes clear that the BDS programme will continue to have a duration of five years, while students will only be required to pay tuition fees for the first four years. As a result, the final year of the five-year dental programme will be provided without tuition fees, offering financial relief to students enrolled in BDS programmes. Why BDS programme remains five years The PM&DC said various countries, including the United States, require a five-year BDS degree. The council therefore maintained the five-year duration of the dental education programme while modifying the way its fees are charged. The revised implementation comes after the Senate Standing Committee also issued directives concerning the duration and fee structure of the BDS programme. The PM&DC's latest notification follows those directives and provides a revised framework under which students can complete the five-year BDS programme while paying fees for four years only. What new BDS fee structure means Under the revised policy, the academic duration of the BDS programme has not been reduced. Students will still remain enrolled for five years, but the final year will be tuition-free. The change effectively separates the duration of the degree from the period for which students are required to pay fees, according to the new PM&DC notification.