MBBS Scholarships in UK

Securing a fully funded scholarship for an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) in UK is very rare, as most undergraduate medical awards offer partial tuition waivers or selective financial aid. MBBS scholarships in UK can help Indian students bring down the cost of medical education through tuition fee discounts and university-specific financial awards. 

For September 2026 entry, St Mary’s University offered a scholarship worth £3,000 (INR 3.80 lakh) per year, and the University of Hertfordshire offers a one-time £2,000 (INR 2.53 lakh) tuition fee reduction to eligible international students. Nothing here is the same across the board. Availability, award values, and eligibility change with the university and the intake. Some awards look at academic merit. 

This article covers the top MBBS scholarships in UK for Indian students, with award amounts, eligibility criteria, application processes, and deadlines. It also explains how to apply, how to estimate what you’ll still have to pay, and how to find funding that suits your intended intake.

Types of MBBS Scholarships in UK

MBBS scholarship in UK for Indian students aren’t one-size-fits-all. They depend on the university, your results, and the intake you’re aiming for. Some go to students with top grades. Others recognise community healthcare work. A few simply cut your tuition fees if you’re an eligible international student.

1. Merit-Based Scholarships

Strong academic results and achievements earn these awards, and at some universities in UK  a good interview counts too. Every university sets its own criteria, and meeting the minimum admission grades doesn’t mean you’ll get one.

2. Community Healthcare Scholarships

If you’ve put time into public health, volunteering, or helping underserved communities, these awards are for you. St Mary’s University, for example, has offered its Medical Student Community Health Champion Scholarship to eligible international MBBS applicants.

3. Tuition Fee Discounts

Here, the university takes a fixed amount or a percentage off your fees. The University of Hertfordshire, for example, announced a £2,000 (INR 2.53 lakh) one-time tuition fee reduction for eligible international MBBS students entering in September 2026.

4. University-Specific Medical Scholarships

A handful of universities set money aside for medical students only. Each one has its own rules on who can apply, how winners are chosen, and when to send in your application. Grades can count, and so can how you do at an interview, what you do outside class, and how much you care about healthcare. UCLan’s MBBS Excellence Scholarship at the University of Central Lancashire is one example.

Important for Indian students: 

There aren’t many MBBS scholarships in UK compared with other courses. Few are meant for international medical students, and the competition is stiff.

If you’re hoping for a fully funded medical scholarships for international students in UK, one that pays tuition fees and living expenses for the entire undergraduate medical degree, be realistic. Those are very hard to find for international students. Before you apply to study in UK, look closely at the total award value, whether it renews each year, and how much of your living costs it actually covers.

If you’re worried about the cost to study MBBS in UK, then read: Fully Funded Scholarships in UK

Top MBBS Scholarships for International Students in UK

Quite a few universities in UK offer scholarships to international students studying undergraduate medicine, and they can take a real chunk off the tuition bill. The options below cover award amounts, eligibility and selection criteria, so Indian students have a place to start when comparing funding for their intended intake.

1. St Mary's University - Medical Student Community Health Champion Scholarship

St Mary's University in London offers this scholarship to international applicants joining its MBBS program. It recognises candidates who demonstrate a commitment to community healthcare, public health campaigns, and improving access to medical services.

The scholarship details are listed below:

Scholarship detail	Information
Annual award	£3,000 (INR 3.80 lakh)
Potential five-year value	£15,000 (INR 19.01 lakh)
Number of awards	10 for September 2026 entry
Eligible course	MBBS
Eligibility	International applicants assessed as overseas fee-payers
Selection criteria	Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) performance and commitment to community healthcare
Application process	Automatic consideration after the MMI
Important condition	Cannot be combined with another St Mary's scholarship

Key points:

• Relevant experience could include volunteering with vulnerable groups, supporting public health campaigns, or helping more people get access to healthcare.
• The award comes off your tuition fees. You won’t receive it as cash.

It’s worth up to £15,000 (INR 19.01 lakh) over five years, and that doesn’t include intercalation years or repeated years of study.

2. University of Hertfordshire - MBBS International Scholarship

The University of Hertfordshire introduced this scholarship for international students with its new MBBS program in September 2026. If you’re eligible, the tuition fee reduction is applied automatically. You don’t need to send in a separate scholarship application.

The award details are summarised below:

Scholarship detail	Information
Award value	£2,000 (INR 2.53 lakh)
Eligible course	MBBS
Eligibility	Applicants classified as international for tuition fee purposes
Application process	Automatic assessment
Award type	One-time tuition fee reduction
Renewal	Not available for subsequent years
Important condition	Cannot be assumed to apply to 2027 entry

Key points:

• You must receive and accept an eligible MBBS offer.
• You also need to meet the academic and English language entry requirements.
• The full tuition fee deposit has to be paid by the university’s deadline.
• The £2,000 (INR 2.53 lakh) scholarship applies once, not every year.

3. Hull York Medical School - International Excellence Scholarship

Hull York Medical School has previously offered an International Excellence Scholarship for its five-year MBBS Medicine program. The award has considered academic merit, commitment to the school's values and extracurricular activities.

The previous award details are shown below.

Scholarship detail	Information
Previous award	5% of overseas tuition fees per successful year
Previous intake	2025 entry
Eligible course	Five-year MBBS Medicine
Number of awards	Up to four
Selection criteria	Academic merit, school values and extracurricular activities

Key points:

• The earlier 5% discount is from a past intake, so don’t treat it as a confirmed award for 2026 or 2027.
• If you’re an Indian applicant, check your international fee status and whether you personally qualify.
• What you actually save depends on that year’s overseas tuition fee.

4. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) - MBBS Excellence Scholarship

The University of Lancashire, formerly the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), runs an MBBS Excellence Scholarship for high-achieving international students applying to its Medicine and Surgery program. There’s no separate form to fill in. The university looks at your academic results and how you perform in the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).

The scholarship details are summarised below:

Scholarship detail	Information
Total award value	£10,000 (INR 12.67 lakh)
Annual fee reduction	£2,000 (INR 2.53 lakh) per year, for up to five years
Eligible course	MBBS Medicine and Surgery
Eligibility	International students with academic results equivalent to AAA* at A-level
Selection criteria	High academic achievement and a place among the top 10 MMI performers
Number of awards	Top 10 eligible candidates
Application process	Automatic consideration; no separate application
Important condition	Cannot be combined with another scholarship

Key points:

• Get the grades first, then make your mark at the MMI.
• Everyone who’s eligible is considered automatically, and the university contacts those who succeed.
• The scholarship eases the cost of medical education, but competition is tough, and it won’t cover the full tuition fee.

Eligibility Criteria for MBBS Scholarship in UK for Indian Students

Before you can qualify for a scholarship, you have to meet the medical school’s admission requirements. That comes first. After that, it depends on the award. Some look at your overseas fee status, academic results, English proficiency, UCAT performance, or interview results. Others also want community healthcare experience.

Academic Qualifications

Each UK medical school sets its own academic bar for Indian applicants. That usually means minimum Class 12 marks and set grades in the science subjects.

• Complete Class 12 or an equivalent qualification that the university accepts.
• St Mary’s MBBS, CBSE, CISCE and West Bengal State Board applicants: you must generally score 85% overall. That includes 85% in Chemistry, 85% in Biology or Physics, and 85% in one additional subject. English and Mathematics need 80%.
• Other Indian state boards: the bar is higher. Applicants generally need 90% overall, with 90% in Chemistry, 90% in Biology or Physics, and 90% in one additional subject. English and Mathematics need 85%.
• Check whether your examination board and subject combination meet the requirements before applying.

These requirements apply to admission to the relevant medical course. A university may use different criteria to select scholarship recipients. 

Medical Admission Requirements

A scholarship doesn’t skip the admissions process. You still have to complete the application, sit the admissions test, and do the interview, and only then can you receive an offer.

• Apply through UCAS or the university’s specified application route.
• Find out if the course requires the UCAT. Hertfordshire does, and it ranks eligible candidates by their scores.
• Get ready for the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), or whatever other interview format the university uses.
• St Mary’s Medical Student Community Health Champion Scholarship has a clear condition: you must pass the MMI and receive a conditional or unconditional offer to be eligible.
• Hold on to your offer letter and all your admissions communications, in case you need them later.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants have to meet the English language requirements of the medical school they pick. For medicine, the required scores can be higher than they do for other undergraduate courses.

• Find out whether IELTS Academic or another approved English test is accepted.
• Hertfordshire’s MBBS asks for IELTS 7.0 overall, with 7.0 in each component, or an accepted equivalent.
• Check if your Class 12 English result gets you an exemption. Hertfordshire lists specific English marks it accepts from certain Indian qualifications, subject to its conditions.
• Send in the required evidence before the university’s deadline.

Don’t assume the standard IELTS score for a university’s general undergraduate courses also applies to its MBBS program. It may not.

Documents Required

Most MBBS scholarships for international students in UK​ assess candidates on academic strength and profile quality, and therefore require a standard set of documents. 

Here are commonly required documents: 

• Completed scholarship application form 
• Academic transcripts (Class 10 & 12 or equivalent) 
• Predicted or final A‑level / IB / equivalent scores 
• UCAS offer letter or proof of admission 
• Personal statement or scholarship motivation essay (check the correct SOP format)
• Letters of recommendation (check the correct LOR format)
• UCAT/BMAT scores, where applicable 
• English language proficiency proof (IELTS/TOEFL)

Deadlines for MBBS Scholarships in UK

Applying for a medical course and applying for its scholarship are not always the same thing, and the dates rarely match. A few universities look at eligible students on their own. Others expect you to send a separate application. So check each one. This is where the MBBS scholarships for international students in UK​ stand for 2027 entry:

Scholarship	Tentative Deadline for 2027 entry
St Mary's University - Medical Student Community Health Champion Scholarship	December 2026-June 2027 (estimated): Finish the MMI and get an eligible offer. The university hasn’t announced a 2027 scholarship deadline yet.
University of Hertfordshire - MBBS International Scholarship	June-September 2027 (estimated): Keep an eye on scholarship announcements, and make sure you meet the tuition deposit deadline in case a similar award is offered.
Hull York Medical School - International Excellence Scholarship	Early to mid-2027 (estimated): Check the updated award terms before you enrol. The university hasn’t confirmed its 2027 scholarship details.
University of Lancashire - MBBS Excellence Scholarship	Spring-September 2027 (estimated): Watch for the revised scholarship terms as they’re published. The 2027/28 award details are still under review.

Some schools may still take late applications if seats are left, but nothing is promised. Don’t guess. Get in touch with the medical school directly and confirm that the course still has places and that you’d be eligible for the scholarship.

You can explore more medicine courses in UK,

How to Apply for Scholarships in UK?

Scholarships here don’t all work the same way. Some are automatic. Others want a separate form or extra documents. So don’t assume anything. Go through the steps below and read what your university says about the intake you’re aiming for.

• Step 1: Shortlist universities

First of all, make a list of MBBS programs that you're interested in. 

• Step 2: Check eligibility

Before moving on, browse some educational courses, grades, English language requirements, fee conditions, and interview requirements.

• Step 3: Submit your course application

Make an application through UCAS or the proposed pathway. Don’t leave any required section blank.

• Step 4: Prepare documents

Gather academic transcripts and offer letters. Keep records of volunteer activities or previous healthcare activities.

• Step 5: Agree on the process for the scholarship

Don't ask for instructions. Check if automatic or not and provide separate application with supporting documents.

• Step 6: Put in the resources to get written confirmation

This includes the amount of the award, the duration, the award renewal requirements, and any rules regarding combining scholarships. 

Cost of Studying MBBS in UK After Scholarship

Most people look at the tuition fee first and stop there. That’s a mistake. An MBBS degree also means paying for accommodation, food, transport, and study materials. A scholarship can cut the tuition bill, but it won’t touch the rest, so those costs need their own line in your budget.

Here’s an illustrative annual budget, before and after a £3,000 (INR 3.80 lakh) tuition discount:

Expense	Approximate Cost of Studying Before Scholarship (GBP/INR)	Approximate Cost of Studying After Scholarship (GBP/INR)
Tuition fees	£48,000 (INR 60.80 lakh)	£45,000 (INR 57.00 lakh)
Living expenses	£14,052 (INR 17.81 lakh)	£14,052 (INR 17.81 lakh)
Books and study materials	£500 (INR 63,355)	£500 (INR 63,355)
Total annual cost	£62,552 (INR 79.24 lakh)	£59,552 (INR 75.44 lakh)

Note: Actual costs vary by university, city, and lifestyle.

Students planning to study MBBS in UK with scholarship: don’t just calculate year one. Work out the tuition you’ll still owe in every year of the course. After that, add deposits, visa-related costs, accommodation, and everyday expenses on top.

To know about expenses in detail, check out Cost of MBBS in UK.

Tips to Secure MBBS Scholarships in UK

Not everyone who applies gets an award, and honestly, that’s what makes these scholarships tough. Plenty of students want the same few places. The ones who get chosen tend to tick every eligibility box, have real experience to show for it, and have double-checked the funding details themselves rather than going on what someone told them.

• Start early: Don’t leave it until your university list is final. While you’re shortlisting and going through course requirements, look at the awards too.
• Show community involvement: Volunteering, public health campaigns, anything linked to healthcare. If you did it, keep proof.
• Prepare for the MMI: Say your answers out loud on ethical issues, teamwork, and communication. Be clear about why you want medicine before someone asks.
• Organise documents: Transcripts, English test results, offer letters, activity records. Put them all in one place so you can send them quickly.
• Check the intake: Just because an award ran for September 2026 doesn’t mean it’ll be there in 2027. Don’t assume.
• Plan your finances: Work out what tuition looks like after the discount. Add living costs. Then leave room for anything the award doesn’t pay for.

Conclusion

For Indian students, MBBS scholarships in UK can take some of the weight off the cost of medical education, through tuition fee discounts and university-specific awards. St Mary’s University offers £3,000 (INR 3.80 lakh) a year to eligible entrants, which could add up to £15,000 (INR 19.01 lakh) over five years. The University of Hertfordshire gives eligible entrants a one-time discount of £2,000 (INR 2.53 lakh). Hull York Medical School’s previous scholarship was 5% off tuition fees.

Check the official university websites before you do anything else. Terms, eligibility rules, and deadlines all change, and last year’s page won’t tell you what applies now. Some awards shift from one intake to the next. Many don’t cover living expenses, and some don’t cover the full tuition fee either. If you're planning to study MBBS in UK with scholarship, confirm that the funding applies to your entry year. 

If you need help comparing costs, finding suitable funding, or planning your study abroad journey, you can book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad's study abroad experts today!