Funding for Medical School
Find out about the funding available to study medicine.
About funding
Funding entitlement to study medicine varies depending on your personal circumstances. This includes where you live in the UK and if you have already have a degree.
Students on General Medical Council approved courses may be eligible for financial help from the NHS. Eligibility criteria applies. Contact the institution to find out if the course you are applying to is an approved course.
Several universities also offer an alumni discount. Check with your institution.
The NHS provide the following information on funding for medical school.
Funding for undergraduate students on five-year courses
Undergraduate students on standard five-year courses can apply for student loans from Student Finance England. This is for maintenance and tuition fees in the first four years.
From year five onwards, NHS Student Bursary Scheme pays tuition fees.
Undergraduate students can apply for a means-tested NHS bursary, and a reduced maintenance loan from Student Finance England.
Undergraduate students will also have access to a non-means tested grant as part of their NHS Bursary award.
Funding for graduates on five-year courses
Funding for graduate medical students on a five-year undergraduate/standard course is different. For the first four years of the course, they are not eligible for a loan for tuition fees or a maintenance grant. This is regardless of whether they have received funding before.
Graduate students may be able to apply for a full, income based, maintenance loan from Student Finance England.
From year five onwards, NHS Student Bursary Scheme pays tuition fees.
Other sources of support are available, including professional and career development loans.
Funding for the graduate/accelerated courses
Graduate students on a graduate/accelerated course will have to self-fund part of their tuition fees in the first year. After that the NHS bursary will pay part of their fees.
A partial Student Finance England loan is available in year one of the graduate programme. A tuition fee loan is also available for years two to four.
You may also be able to take out a living cost loan from Student Finance England.
For more details see Financial support for medical and dental students | Health Careers
Other sources of support are available, including professional and career development loans.