Cost of Studying Medicine Abroad for UK Students
Tuition fees for the full medical degree in English from 21,000 €, living costs, funding without Student Finance and the comparison with a UK medical school.
The first question parents ask us is never about anatomy. It is about money. What does it cost to study medicine abroad, who pays for it when Student Finance does not, and how does the total compare with five years at a UK medical school? This page gives you the numbers: tuition for the full degree at our partner universities, living costs, and the items that families tend to forget.
The range in one sentence: tuition for a full six-year medical degree in English runs from 21,000 € at the Medical Faculty Foča to 90,000 € at Masaryk University in Brno, with Bulgaria in between at 54,000 € to 60,000 €.
Tuition fees to study medicine abroad: full degree compared
| Medical university | Country | Tuition per year | Tuition for 6 years | Route to GMC registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of East Sarajevo, Medical Faculty Foča | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3,500 € | 21,000 € | PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 |
| University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine | Serbia | 6,000 € | 36,000 € | PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 |
| Medical University of Pleven | Bulgaria | 9,000 € | 54,000 € | Relevant European qualification, no PLAB |
| Medical University of Sofia | Bulgaria | 10,000 € | 60,000 € | Relevant European qualification, no PLAB |
| Medical University of Plovdiv | Bulgaria | 10,000 € | 60,000 € | Relevant European qualification, no PLAB |
| Medical University of Varna | Bulgaria | 10,000 € | 60,000 € | Relevant European qualification, no PLAB |
| Masaryk University, Brno | Czech Republic | 15,000 € | 90,000 € | Relevant European qualification, no PLAB |
Dentistry in English costs 10,000 € a year in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna and 16,000 € a year at Masaryk University in Brno, where the programme takes five years. More on that in our guide to studying dentistry abroad for UK students.
Cost of studying medicine abroad compared with the UK
A UK medical school in England charges home students up to 9,790 £ a year. Over five years that is close to 49,000 £, and most students cover it with a tuition fee loan that they repay from their salary. Abroad the picture turns around. The fee is often lower, in Foča and Niš by a wide margin, but there is no loan from Student Finance. The family pays year by year. For many parents that is the harder part at the start and the easier part at the end: their son or daughter qualifies as a doctor without a tuition fee debt.
- UK, England: up to 9,790 £ a year, usually financed by a tuition fee loan
- Foča: 3,500 € a year, paid directly to the university
- Niš: 6,000 € a year
- Bulgaria: 9,000 € to 10,000 € a year
- Brno: 15,000 € a year for Medicine
Living costs for UK students abroad
Rent is where the difference to a UK university city shows first. In the smaller university towns of the Balkans, students get by on about 350 € a month for a room, food and transport. In the Bulgarian cities and in Brno the monthly budget is higher, but still well under what a student pays in Manchester, Bristol or London. We give you a realistic monthly figure for each city in the consultation, based on what our current students spend.
Costs families forget
- Certified copies and translations of your school certificates for the application
- Student visa and residence permit, since UK citizens need one in every country on this page
- Health insurance for the country of study
- Flights home, usually two to four return trips a year
- After graduation: GMC registration and, with a degree from outside the EEA, PLAB 1 at 273 £ and PLAB 2 at 998 £
How UK families fund a medical degree abroad
Student Finance does not fund a full degree at a university outside the UK. Families pay from savings and income, grandparents contribute, and some students take a private loan. Tuition is paid to the university by year or by semester, never for six years in advance. If the budget is fixed, start with the fee and choose the university to match. That is exactly what we do with you in the first call.
More than 500 students have started their studies with us. Book your free consultation.
More guides for UK students
FAQ: cost of studying medicine abroad
How much does it cost to study medicine abroad?
Tuition at our partner universities runs from 3,500 € a year in Foča to 15,000 € a year in Brno. For the full six-year degree that is 21,000 € to 90,000 €.
What is the cheapest country to study medicine in English?
On our list, Bosnia and Herzegovina: the Medical Faculty Foča charges 3,500 € a year. Serbia follows with 6,000 € a year in Niš.
Is it cheaper to study medicine abroad than in the UK?
In tuition, often yes. Six years in Foča or Niš cost less than five years of UK fees. The difference is that abroad you pay as you go, without a tuition fee loan.
Can I get Student Finance to study medicine abroad?
No. Student Finance does not fund a full degree at a university outside the UK.
Do I pay the tuition for all six years at once?
No. Tuition is paid to the university by year or by semester.
How much does PLAB cost?
PLAB 1 costs 273 £ and PLAB 2 costs 998 £. Graduates with a degree from an EEA country do not sit PLAB.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Ahmad
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