Financial support for medical students in England

If you live in England, you might be eligible for the following financial assistance. 

Fees

  • You won’t have to pay any tuition fees before you start your course or while you are studying.
  • Fees have remained at £9,250 (£9,000 if studying in Wales) for students who normally live in England.
  • You may apply for a student loan for fees which is non income-assessed for the first four years of your course.
  • In your fifth and later years your fees will be paid in full by NHSBSA on behalf of the Department of Health. This applies to new starters as well as continuing students.

Living costs

For new students during the first four years, depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for:

  • Student Loan for maintenance
  • Extra weeks loan for maintenance
  • Childcare Grant
  • Travel Grant
  • Disabled Students’ Allowances
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance

The Student loan is worth up to £9,978 for most students for 2023-2024. If you are a student in London it is £13,022.  If you live at home it is £8,400.

You can get an estimate of the amounts to which you may be entitled via the GOV.UK student finance calculator.

In the fifth and later years of your course, depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible to apply to NHS Student Bursaries for living cost support:

  • NHS Maintenance Bursary
  • Extra Weeks Allowance
  • Reduced Rate Student Loan for Maintenance (apply to Student Finance England)
  • Childcare Allowances
  • Dependants’ Allowance
  • Disabled Students’ Allowances
  • Hardship Grant
  • Practice Placement Expenses
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance

Many of these grants are similar to those you may have received during the first four years of your course.

The reduced loan is worth £2,605 for most students for 2023-2024. If you are a student in London it is £3,685. If you live at home it is £1,955. 

Visit the relevant pages on GOV.UK and NHSBA for more information.

Other financial help

  • Access agreement bursaries. See GOV.UK for information on English universities.
  • Access to Learning Fund
  • University Funds – some universities have their own Hardship Funds and bursaries. Check your university’s website to see what is available
  • Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits

Studying Outside England

If you study in Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland the living cost and tuition fee support you receive from Student Finance England and NHS Student Bursaries will be exactly the same as if you studied in England.

In Northern Ireland and Wales you will be charged up to £9,000 per year. Check with your university what bursaries may be available to you in addition to your government funding.

In Scotland you will be charged up to £9,250 per year. Check with your university what bursaries may be available to you in addition to your government funding.

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