A Guide to Scholarships for MBBS in UK

The most practical programme for students from India and other countries is to study medicine in the UK. In the UK some schools provide exceptional education encompassing both theoretical knowledge and practical training. There are many medical schools in the UK, including renowned institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Oxford University and others that offer top-quality education that focuses on understanding as well as practical skills development.

About MBBS in UK

In the UK, MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery, often referred to as MB ChB or MB BCh at some universities. The MBBS program typically spans 5 to 6 years. One distinctive feature of most British medicine courses is a 6 to 12-week elective period. During this time, students have the unique opportunity to study outside their home medical university. Many students seize this chance to explore different cultures and gain insights into how medicine is practiced globally. Regardless of whether you choose to work in the UK or any other country after completing the course, holding a prestigious British medical degree opens doors to lucrative career opportunities.

Why Study MBBS in UK

The UK is renowned for its excellence in education, making it an excellent choice for students aspiring to study MBBS. There are compelling reasons for medical students to consider pursuing their degree in the UK:

1. The UK boasts over 45 universities ranked among the top 600 medical institutions worldwide, ensuring a high-quality education.
2. A medical profession in the UK offers not prestige but financial rewards as doctors earn an average salary that is 67% higher than other health and medical professionals.
3. The increasing need for doctors and physicians along with rising pay scales presents a range of career prospects for students to discover and thrive in the field of medicine.

Top Colleges of MBBS in UK 

Surely, the UK has some of the world's best universities for further education; talking about the top colleges for MBBS in UK, here is a list of these medical schools in UK below:

Cost of Studying MBBS in the UK

An MBBS degree in the UK typically costs between £30,000 and £50,000 a year. Compared to other universities, the tuition fees for MBBS programmes can be pretty high given their lengthy 5–6 year duration. While living in the UK, students will also need to cover the basic cost of living such as rent, food, utilities, personal expenses, travel expenses, and many other things. Thus, it follows that the costs will be higher. Students can use supported scholarships for medicine in UK to assist in paying for their education and living costs.

Top 10 Scholarships for MBBS in the UK

Given that studying medicine in the United States can be a little expensive, there are many ways students can take advantage of financial aid, such as student loans or scholarships. We have listed 10 MBBS scholarships for international students in UK, along with their eligibility criteria.

1. Hull York International Medical College Scholarship

Deadline: 31 May 2024

Type of Scholarship: Partially Funded Scholarship for MBBS in UK

Scholarship Award: £2400

The Hull York International Medical College Scholarship provides funding to students and is one of the most sought-after scholarship for MBBS in UK. The scholarship for MBBS in UK, valued at £2400, will pay for roughly one-fourth of the first two years of international medical students' tuition costs in the UK.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Students must come from one of the EU or UK member nations.
2. Students must be enrolled at the University of Hull.
3. The student's family should make less than £25,000 per year.

2. Global Health Future Leaders Scholarship

Deadline: Not Specified Yet (Open for 2024 Intakes)

Type of Scholarship: Fully Funded Medical Scholarships for International Students in UK

Scholarship Award: Full Tuition Fees

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine offers the Global Health Future Leaders Scholarship to study medicine in the UK for international students. The grant is intended especially for students enrolled in medical courses like Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. Two postgraduate medical courses are offered through this scholarship for MBBS in UK, both completely financed.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The student must be a national of a nation other than the UK. 
2. IELTS minimum score of 6.5 and TOEFL minimum score of 80
3. Students must get a minimum grade point average of 60% in their corresponding 10+2 examination. 
4. The student must have at least one year of professional experience in a related field of medicine.

3. Faculty of Medicine Scholarship

Deadline: Not Specified Yet

Type of Scholarship: Fully Funded Medical Scholarships for International Students in UK

Scholarship Award: £10,000

The Faculty of Medicine Scholarship, established by Imperial College London, provides a complete scholarship for MBBS in UK. Additionally, overseas students majoring in STEM are considered eligible to apply for a scholarship for MBBS in UK. Since it is a merit-based award, applicants must have strong academic performance. The Faculty of Medicine offers two scholarships, the Dean's Master’s Scholarship covers £10,000 towards tuition fees and the Dr. Jean Alero Thomas Scholarship covers the full tuition fee (at the Home fee rate).

Eligibility Criteria

1. Students cannot be UK citizens.
2. Must be a graduate student enrolled full-time in a master's programme at the Faculty of Medicine.
3. An individual working in health care who has not enrolled in any other undergraduate courses will be qualified.
4. Students who opt to have a significant background in medicine and the health sciences are given special consideration.

4. Rhodes Scholarship

Deadline: Closed for 2024 Intakes (Apply for Next Year in Mid of October)

Type of Scholarship: Fully Funded Medical Scholarships for International Students in UK

Scholarship Award: £15,144

This scholarship for MBBS in UK is regarded as the second-best award available to medical students. To qualify for this prize, applicants must have a remarkable intellect, a dedication to science, and leadership abilities. This scholarship for MBBS in UK for international students pays all student tuition fees, stipend payments, and airfare. The scholarship covers all fees and a stipend for two to three years, with over 300 Scholars in Residence in Oxford at one time. The scholarship is available for postgraduate studies and provides a living stipend of £15,144 per annum which includes each type of university fee.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The age range for students is 19 to 25.
2. Citizens of Australia, India, Singapore, Germany, etc., are required to enrol. 
3. The student must have completed at least four years of home country schooling.
4. Students must have earned a GPA of at least 3.5 while completing their undergraduate degree. 

5. The John Abernethy (Barts) Scholarships

Deadline: No need to apply (Offered by University)

Type of Scholarship: Partially Funded Scholarship for MBBS in UK

Scholarship Award: £5,000

The John Abernethy Scholarships are available to the Queen Mary University of London undergraduate MBBS/BDS students. The scholarship for MBBS in UK is given based on the student's academic records and home income, evaluated annually. Another crucial factor is how well the medical students perform in their Fundamentals of Medicine/Dentistry programme. The undergraduate scholarships offered are worth £5,000 for each of the five years of the course.

Eligibility Criteria

1. International students who are not British citizens. 
2. The student must be enrolled in an MBBS or BDS programme at the Queen Mary University of London. 
3. At least three grade A A-levels must be completed in one sitting by the student.
4. The student must perform remarkably well in the Fundamentals of Medicine module.

6. King’s College London Scholarship

Deadline: 8 April 2024

Type of Scholarship: Partially Funded Scholarship for MBBS in UK

Scholarship Award: £4000

The King’s College scholarship is the ideal choice for students looking for a study of medicine in the UK grant that offers adequate financial help and assistance. Students in the UK seeking a bachelor's degree in human medicine are eligible for this award. Students earning a bachelor's degree in social medicine or global health are also eligible to apply. Students are given this need- and merit-based scholarship for MBBS in UK depending on their academic performance and financial situation. The King’s College London Scholarship for MBBS in UK offers an award fee in two phases. The first phase is a £2,000 reduction in the tuition fee of the International Foundation. The second phase is a £2,000 reduction in the first-year tuition fee for undergraduate study

Eligibility Criteria

1. An international student is required. 
2. The student must have exceptional grades in school and have promising performance throughout the programme. 
3. Students must enrol in programmes in the life sciences, including medicine, dentistry, and neuroscience.
4. During the university's June 2022 intake, you must enrol. 

7. British Chevening Scholarship 

Deadline: Closed for 2024 intakes (Apply for Next Year at the Start of November)

Type of Scholarship: Fully Funded Medical Scholarships for International Students in UK

Scholarship Award: Total Expenses + £75 for TB Testing

International students who have shown a level of leadership potential and who also have good academic backgrounds are eligible for the Chevening Scholarship, which is offered by the UK government. You can live in the UK for a year, which is fully supported. The scholarship for MBBS in UK will often pay for the student's tuition, living expenses, travel expenses, visa costs, and part of any mandatory health exams. It also offers contributions of up to £75 for TB testing.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The student must possess a minimum of two years' worth (2,800 hours) of work experience. 
2. Apply to three distinct suitable UK university programmes by mid-September 2024, and you must have received an unconditional offer from one of them in a 3-4 months period.

8. Birmingham Global Scholarship of Excellence

Deadline: 31 May 2024

Type of Scholarship: Partially Funded Scholarship for MBBS in UK

Scholarship Award: £2000

The College of Medical Sciences and Dentistry awards several scholarships for medicine in UK under the Global Scholarships of Excellence programme. The fact that international scholarships for medicine in UK are awarded based on high standards gives them the term "Global." This scholarship for MBBS in UK may be right for you if you are an international student and have excelled in your field. Students from Great Britain may apply for this award. Graduate students, postgraduate master's programmes, and dentistry sciences are all eligible to apply for this scholarship for MBBS in UK. The University of Birmingham Global Masters offers this Scholarship of Excellence which provides a £2,000 tuition fee discount for eligible students.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have an undergraduate degree with a First-class or Upper Second-class (2:1) Honours grade (or the equivalent) and submit a compelling personal statement to prove their accomplishments.

9. The International Pharmacy Scholarship

Deadline: Not Specified Yet (Somewhere in Mid of July)

Type of Scholarship: Partially Funded Scholarship for MBBS in UK

Scholarship Award: £3000

The University of Birmingham's Pharmacy College awards the International Pharmacy Scholarship. This scholarship for MBBS in UK is awarded for a five-year pharmacy diploma. Every year, the college offers this chance to five deserving international students. Each one is worth £3,000 and will pay for the student's education for five years at the University of Birmingham. 

Eligibility Criteria

1. Possess a minimum of two years' worth (2,800 hours) of work experience. 
2. Apply to three distinct suitable UK university programmes, and by July 13, 2023, you must have received an unconditional offer from one of them.

10. Commonwealth Scholarship for Distance Learning 

Deadline: Around the End of March 2024

Type of Scholarship: Fully Funded Medical Scholarships for International Students in UK

Scholarship Award: Total Expenses + £1084 per month

Choose this scholarship if you wish to pursue a master's degree in the UK. In actuality, you can do this while residing and working in your nation. Citizens of underdeveloped nations may apply for this scholarship for MBBS in UK on their behalf as students. This is an excellent scholarship for MBBS in UK for international students that has many wonderful features, including payment of tuition costs, visa fees, travel expenses, a maintenance allowance of £1,084 per month, and other benefits. 

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a citizen or legal resident of a Commonwealth nation to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship. You will still be eligible if you are a refugee or a British-protected person. 

In the UK if you don't have a scholarship it might be challenging to afford the costs of attending school. You might find many scholarships for MBBS in UK that provide information about its coverage and eligibility criteria. Once you have applied for a scholarship for MBBS in the UK, it is important to use the information provided carefully to make an informed decision. After that, you can start looking for student accommodation in the UK, which is the next step in your academic journey.