How Much Does It Cost To Study Medicine In The UK?



If you are looking to study medicine in the UK, then you may ask – how much does it cost to study medicine in UK? It’s a valid question, as studying abroad involves costs that you need to plan for.

If the UK is your choice to study medicine, then this article will break it down for you. While there are many great colleges in the world where one can study medicine, including MBBS colleges in Germany and also in Canada, to name a few, today we are looking at the cost of studying medicine in the UK for international students including Indian students.



What are the eligibility criteria required to secure an MBBS admission in the UK?


When it comes to international students’ entry to medical schools in the United Kingdom, the eligibility criteria and rules can vary from school to school. This information will be available on the website of each university. These are the basic admission criteria for international students.

Age:

Students who wish to pursue a medical degree in the UK should ideally be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission. Or, you may check with the university if they are interested in considering an applicant below 18 years.

Higher Secondary Marks:

For Indian students, Year XII qualification from recognised boards such as CBSE and CISCE (ISC) are only accepted. For CBSE students, you should secure an A1 in all science-related subjects, especially Chemistry, Biology and at least one in Physics or Mathematics.

On the other hand, CISCE student aspirants should achieve an overall score of at least 90% with 95% or above on all relevant subjects and 85% or above on the fifth subject. Some universities may also consider NEET scores for your UK MBBS degree, however, all students must complete the mandatory UK entrance exam.

The qualifications required for other international students from Australia, the USA or other countries will be different.

Entrance Exam:

Most top medical universities in the UK would require to take either University Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT or UCAT) or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) entrance tests. It will depend on the university as to which entrance exam they prefer.

The UCAT applications must be registered between May to late September. The scores of the test will be directly sent to the university you have opted for. BMAT tests occur twice a year. The first one happens in early September and the applications for the same must be registered before the end of August.

The second test will take place either in late October or early November, and students should register before the end of September. The cut-off marks for international students will vary depending on the university and will be listed on their website.

Language requirements:

Aspiring medical students may be required to present proof of English Language Proficiency. Many medical schools prefer the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Students may also submit TOEFL or PTE scores. As a student, you must choose the Academic test. The minimum score for eligibility will be listed on the university website.

Cost of studying medicine in UK

The UK is a popular destination for medical education across the globe. The medical universities in the UK claim the 2nd highest Nobel prize in medicine.

The tuition fees to study MBBS in the top colleges and universities in the UK range from £39,000 to £70,000 every year. It is important to note that the fee structure may be different in various universities.

When you look for a university in England, along with the cost of MBBS associated with the course, you will also have to think of the living costs, which are for mainly accommodation, food, and travel.

One of the important factors that make the UK an ideal destination for studying medicine is the average remuneration of a doctor/physician.

According to the NHS, the average salaries for MBBS graduates are as follows:

  • As a doctor in training, you will receive a basic average salary, along with additional pay for any hours worked beyond 40 per week, a 37% enhancement for night shifts, a weekend allowance for weekend work, and an availability allowance if you are required to be available on-call.
  • During Foundation training, the basic salary ranges from £32,398 to £37,303, effective from 1 April 2023.
  • If you commence specialist training in 2023 as a doctor, your basic salary will be in the range of £43,923 to £63,152.
  • For speciality doctors, the basic salary ranges from £52,530 to £82,400, while specialist grade doctors earn a basic salary between £83,945 and £92,275.
  • As a consultant starting from 1 April 2023, you will earn a basic salary of £93,666 to £126,281 per year, with variations based on the length of your service.

Cost of Living and Working in the UK for International Students

Medicine is amongst the most competitive and in-demand courses in the UK, and every year the universities in the UK attract thousands of international students for the MBBS programme. Along with your MBBS tuition fee, it is important to keep in mind the cost of living and working in the UK.

Living Expenses

  • As an international student without dependents in the UK, monthly living expenses are estimated at around £1300-£1400 in London or £900-£1300 in the rest of the UK.
  • This budget is intended to cover accommodation, bills, groceries, and various other living expenses throughout your studies.

Part-Time Work Opportunities for International Students

  • Many international students in the UK opt for part-time jobs, work placements, or internships alongside their studies.
  • Most courses allow students to work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and this is not limited to on-campus employment.

Student Visa Costs

  • The UK student visa, allowing you to live and study throughout your course, incurs a one-time charge of £490.
  • For stays longer than six months, an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is required, costing £470 per year for each full year in the UK.
  • Partial-year charges are £235 for 1-6 months and £470 for 6-12 months.
  • For instance, a 12-month master’s course would result in a £705 IHS charge, covering a visa period of 16-17 months, including one month before the course starts and four months after it ends.
  • The IHS provides access to the UK’s National Health Service as part of the student visa application process.

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Work Visa Costs

  • There are multiple visa options for international students to stay and work in the UK after graduation.
  • The Graduate visa is a popular choice, offering a two-year stay in the UK after successfully completing a course.
  • Graduates need to apply for this visa while residing in the UK, with an application fee of £822 and an additional £624 for the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year spent in the UK.

cost of studying medicine in uk for international students

Top Universities in the UK to Pursue MBBS


According to QS Rankings, most of the UK universities are among the high-ranking universities worldwide. For instance, the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford which rank second and third respectively in the QS World University Rankings are situated in the UK and offer medical degrees. Additionally, the top 10 medical colleges in the UK are ranked within the top 100 of the prestigious QS World University Rankings, reflecting their global excellence in medical education.Here is a list of the top universities to study medicine in the UK

QS World University Rankings 2024 Name of the University Fee
2 University of Cambridge £67,194
3 University of Oxford £48,620
6 Imperial College London £46,800
9 UCL £47,000
22 University of Edinburgh £51,000
32 University of Manchester £58,000
40 King’s College London £48,600
55 University of Bristol £39,700
76 University of Glasgow £56,520
84 University of Birmingham £48,660

Now let us look at a few universities where the tuition fee will be much lesser than the one listed above.


  • Staffordshire University.
  • Dundee University
  • Queen Mary, University of London
  • Imperial College London
  • The University of Aberdeen.
  • The University of Birmingham.
  • The University of Bristol.
  • The University of Manchester.
  • King’s College London.
  • The University of Dundee.
  • Swansea University Medical School.
  • Teesside University.
  • The University of Edinburgh.
  • The University of Cumbria.
  • Buckinghamshire New University.
  • Coventry University.
  • York St John University.

What is the admission process for pursuing medicine in the UK?


The admission process in the UK is handled through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service or the UCAS. Generally, you are allowed to apply to four colleges. Since the number of applications for medicine each year is very high, you must submit your application just under one year in advance.
The admission process is as follows:

UCAS Application:

Fill out the UCAS application form by listing your details, qualifications and employment history (including part-time jobs). Please note that you are supposed to send your CV to the college after your application gets acknowledged and not to UCAS.

Work on Statement of Purpose or SOP:

Make sure that you don’t lie, exaggerate or plagiarise because there are high risks of getting caught. Be honest and double-check the spelling, grammar and punctuation. You should be prepared to answer any question relating to anything you have written in the personal statement. Along with the SOP, it is important all the other standard documents eg: marksheets, extracurricular activities, work experience or internship letters, LOR and other test scores etc are ready.

Confirmation Email:

You will receive the confirmed receipt of the application through UCAS and each of the medical schools you have applied to will receive copies of your application. You can follow the progress of the application with the help of UCAS Track.

Shortlisting and Next Steps:

After going through the application, universities will inform you if you have been shortlisted for the interview. There are different types of interviews and they are:

  • Panel interviews- Panel interviews usually consist of a panel of two or three interviewers. It can be either structured (specific questions are followed) or semi-structured (questions will be influenced by interviewees’ responses)
  • Multiple-mini interviews- Often known as MMI, these kinds of interviews involve seven to eight small interview scenarios.
  • Assessment centres- Here, the interview will involve a variety of tasks such as completing written work, individual panel interviews and group interviews.

MBBS in the UK: Scholarships available for International Students

The UK Council for International Student Affairs and the British Council will help you figure out your funding while studying bachelor of medicine or bachelor of surgery in the UK. Information regarding general scholarships will be available at the nearest British Council Office. Many medical schools have also made several scholarships and bursaries available for international students, and these are based on academics and other criteria which will be shared on the university website. The British Council will aid you in finding funding for your course through its scholarship schemes and links with other websites.
Here are scholarship options available at some of the top medical universities in the UK:

  • Cambridge International Scholarship
  • Cambridge Opportunity Studentships and Get In Cambridge Studentships
  • Cambridge Trust Scholarship (postgraduate)
  • Cambridge Trust Scholarship (undergraduate)
  • Wellcome Cambridge Trust Scholarship
  • Williams Papworth Studentship
  • The Dean’s Master’s Scholarship
  • The Dr Jean Alero Thomas Scholarship
  • UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship
  • UCL Global Masters Scholarship
  • King’s International Foundation Programme
  • Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarships
  • College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine PhD Funding Opportunities
  • Colt Foundation Fellowships
  • Polish School of Medicine Memorial Fund Scholarships
  • The Glenmore Postgraduate Scholarship
  • Medical Research Council (MRC) DTP in Precision Medicine
  • Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship
  • Bicentenary Global Futures Scholarships
  • Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence (Rajasthan-based students)
  • Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Scholarship (Maharashtra-based students)
  • National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
  • Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship (Jharkhand-based students)
  • Think Big international scholarships
  • India Birmingham Chancellor’s Scholarships
  • India Birmingham, School of Geography, Earth,
  • and Environmental Sciences Scholarships
  • India Birmingham Outstanding Achievement Scholarships
  • India JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarships
  • India Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarships (for Indian women seeking master’s studies)
  • GREAT Scholarships
  • Indian Department of Higher Education (offer funding opportunities for Oxford international students)

Note: Chevening scholarships are for master’s programmes with a one-year duration.

How TC Global Can Help You Apply for MBBS in the UK


TC Global is your trusted partner in realizing your dream of pursuing an MBBS degree in the United Kingdom. With a proven track record in assisting students in their educational journeys, TC Global offers comprehensive services that can guide you through the entire process.

First and foremost, TC Global provides expert counselling services to help you choose the right university and MBBS programme that aligns with your academic and career goals.

Our experienced counsellors are well-versed in the admission requirements, application procedures, and necessary documentation for pursuing a medical degree in the UK. Once you’ve identified your preferred university, we can assist you with the application process, ensuring that all the required documents are submitted accurately and on time. Our support extends to visa applications, helping you navigate the intricacies of obtaining a student visa for the UK.

Financial concerns are also addressed by TC Global, as we guide you through the available scholarship options and provide information on affordable accommodation and living expenses in the UK. Hope this gives you a good idea of how much does it cost to study medicine in UK.

Throughout your academic journey, TC Global will remain a reliable support system, offering assistance with academic and personal challenges. We are your dedicated partner, equipped with the expertise and resources to make your dream of pursuing an MBBS degree in the UK a reality.

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Date added
15.02.2024

Filed under:

Global Ed

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