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.
Medical school funding is changing in England (from 2027):
- the is a new student finance system being introduced in England. It is designed to give eligible learners access to tuition fee funding throughout their lifetime.
- the biggest change is for graduates studying medicine as a second degree. From 2027, eligible students are expected to be able to access a full tuition fee loan in Year 1 of a Graduate Entry Medicine course.
- NHS funding arrangements for the later years of medical study are expected to remain largely unchanged. The NHS provide information on
Several universities also offer an alumni discount. Check with your institution.
See below for more details on funding.
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, the 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
is a government student finance scheme in England. It is expected to provide learners with access to tuition fee funding for higher education over their lifetime.
Under the LLE, graduates starting a medical degree as a second degree from January 2027 are expected to be eligible for the following support:
- for the full course, through a combination of standard LLE entitlement and Priority Additional Entitlement for medicine.
- from Student Finance England to help with living costs, subject to eligibility.
- in the later years of the course, where applicable under current NHS funding arrangements.
Additional financial support may also be available, including professional and career development loans.
Funding for the graduate/accelerated courses
The is a new government funding system that aims to make higher education more accessible by providing eligible learners with tuition fee funding throughout their lives.
For eligible graduates beginning a graduate/accelerated medical degree from January 2027, this is the funding proposed:
Year 1
- eligible students are expected to be able to apply for a full tuition fee loan through the new
- this means you should not need to pay part of your tuition fees upfront, unlike the previous system
- you may also be eligible for a maintenance loan from Student Finance England to help with living costs.
Years 2 to 4
From Year 2 onwards, funding is expected to continue through a combination of NHS funding and Student Finance England support.
Eligible students may receive:
- an , paid directly to the university
- an additional , depending on household income
- other , where applicable
- continued Student Finance England maintenance support for living costs