Fees, funding and finances

At Birmingham, we provide a range of payment options to suit everyone. Tuition fees can either be paid in full or spread over manageable instalments by direct debit. More information can be found on page for paying tuition fees.

Student loans and funding

A Tuition Fee Loan is available from the government via the Student Loans Company (SLC) to all UK and EU undergraduate students.

Admission on to the standard five-year MBChB course means that you are eligible to apply for a student loan to cover your tuition fees and maintenance for the first four years. From year five, tuition fees will be paid by the NHS Student Bursary Scheme. You will be able to apply for a means-tested NHS bursary to cover maintenance costs and a reduced maintenance loan from Student Finance England.

Admission on to the four-year MBChB course means that you are eligible for the means-tested NHS Student Bursary Scheme from year two of the course. It does not cover the full tuition fee but you can apply for a student loan to cover the rest.  

The University does not currently administer loans from countries other than those listed on our loans for international students’ page. 

Scholarships, bursaries or grants may be available to support you through your course. Funding opportunities available are linked to your subject area and/or your country of origin. These can be from the University or other sources. The MBChB course does not offer any additional scholarships.

For further information on tuition fees, living costs and available financial support, please see our pages on undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional course costs

When you apply for the course, it is important that you also take into account living costs and that you will have sufficient funds to finance the full duration of your studies. Please also note that during the last three years of the course you will be required to be in attendance for most of each year and the costs of subsistence and travel will accordingly be much greater.

Average additional course costs (travel costs are approximate costs by car): 

• Travel for Years 1 & 2: £50 per year
• Travel for Year 3: £352
• Travel for Year 4: £621
• Travel for Year 5: £550
• Text books and equipment: £510
• Average total cost of an overseas elective (not including cost of living): £1,590 (UK placement costs will be lower)

Non-academic offer requirements – before commencing on the programme

A number of vaccinations are advised prior to admission. You are required to complete an immunisation form prior to admission indicating what screening/vaccinations have been completed.  Your GP is best placed to advise on the cost of the vaccinations.

All accepted candidates will be required to complete a health declaration form, and some will be contacted by an Occupational Health Physician where appropriate.

The UK Government Health Authorities require that all medical students must be screened to identify carriers of the hepatitis B virus. All applicants who accept an offer are advised to:

• undertake a screening blood test for Hepatitis B
• if negative, start a course of immunisation
• thereafter provide certified evidence of these

If positive they will need to be reviewed by an Occupational Health Physician before undertaking clinical work.

Prospective students are advised to take the blood test in good time. The blood tests and screening costs are approximately £120.

The College of Medical and Dental Sciences will reimburse students with financial hardship for the cost of their vaccinations. If you meet the eligibility criteria for a Chamberlain Award from the University of Birmingham, you are advised to obtain receipts for any health checks that you have had to pay for. Once you commence the MBChB programme at the University of Birmingham, you may then apply for reimbursement from the College.

A successful Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required prior to admission to the programme. The cost of the check is £40.

Living costs are the main areas to consider when allocating your finances and accommodation will take up a large proportion of your budget. It is important to choose a residence carefully which fits with your financial circumstances. If you are an international student, you should ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees and living costs before applying for a visa.

Information on the cost of university-owned accommodation can be found on the Living website.

Costs to consider when budgeting your finances (please note that these are approximate costs only): 

One-off payments

• University-owned halls pre-payment: £550
• Private shared house deposit: Usually a month’s rent in advance
• Insurance: £80 – basic possessions insurance is included in all University-owned accommodation
• Police Registration: £34 – for international students, this might be a condition of your visa 
• TV Licence: £150.50

Weekly costs

• Rent: £100-175
• Food: £60-100
• Gas, electric and water: included in university-owned accommodation – £22 in private housing
• Toiletries: £7
• Laundry: £7
• Internet: £5 – Wi-Fi is included in university-owned accommodation
• Social/Memberships: £50
• Mobile phone: £5 credit or £7 mobile contract

When applying for medicine, it is important that you have sufficient funds to finance the full duration of your studies and living costs. 

Our current students have provided a guide of additional costs that you will need to consider.

We advise applicants on the vaccinations that a student is required to have completed. If these are administered pre-admission they will incur a cost that will be reimbursed only if you are the recipient of a Chamberlain Award from the University of Birmingham. After admission, the Occupational Health provider will administer any vaccinations to complete the full requirements free of charge. 

A DBS check is also required prior to admission the cost of this is currently £48. Other essential purchases are listed below (approximate costs): 

To support out students’ learning and reduce costs where possible we have invested in a wide range of journals and electronic text books that students have access to. These include essential information sources such as the British Medical Journal (BMJ), The Lancet and Gray’s Anatomy, all available to our students for no additional cost.

Some students buy additional medical equipment, however this is not mandatory. 

Community Based Medicine placements start in year 1 and continue throughout the five years of the course. Full time clinical placements are from year 3 onwards and as you will be required to be in attendance most days, the travel cost will be higher.  Average additional course costs (approximate):

The average cost to travel Community Based Medicine placements by car is: 

Average cost to travel to hospital placements by car per week is:  

*Accommodation available 

Examples of approximate annual travel costs using a mixture of near, middle and distant placements: 

Students are required to undertake an elective in year 4, the average cost of an elective abroad is (not including the cost of living) is £1,590 dependent upon destination. The cost of an elective undertaken in the UK will be very much less.