Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has officially decided to extend the duration of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from four to five years.
The decision aimed at aligning the program with global standards has been communicated to all universities across Pakistan.
As per the new regulation, the fifth year of the BDS program will be dedicated to clerkship, followed by a mandatory one-year house job. This move brings Pakistan's dental education in line with international norms, where the BDS degree is typically five years long.
The new curriculum will be implemented starting from the 2024-25 academic session.
The University of Health Sciences (UHS) in Lahore had already adopted the five-year BDS program, and now all universities in Pakistan are required to follow suit.
