Funding

How do you pay for medical school?

In Scotland, medical school tuition costs £1,820 per year. All Scottish applicants can apply to have this covered by SAAS. You can additionally apply for a living cost loan, which you will need to pay back gradually when you are working. You must apply for SAAS every year, as your circumstances may change (the amount of money you receive is dependent on such circumstances). You must also ensure that you matriculate on time, as SAAS are informed if you are still studying or not. You usually receive SAAS as monthly payments during the months that you study (e.g., September → May), with a double payment coming in at the start of the academic year.

You may be entitled to an extra bursary, which you will not need to pay back. If you need to repeat a year, or you do an intercalated year, SAAS will still cover this 1 additional year. SAAS only fund first degree tuition, meaning if you are applying to medicine as a second degree, you will need to pay the £1,820 per year. However, you can still apply for a living cost loan, which can go towards this tuition. Tuition for your final year of medicine is usually covered by the NHS, as you will be doing so much clinical placement. If your previous degree was only 4 years, you may be entitled to an additional year of tuition cover. You should contact SAAS directly regarding this, and for more information on payment plans.

Each University advertise their own scholarships and funding options - please refer to the links below and ensure you do your own reading, as information is updated year on year. There are also external sources you can apply for.

We have focused on funding at the point of entry, but do remember that you can continue to apply for support throughout medical school!

Can I work at medical school?

It's not uncommon to have a part time job while you're at medical school but it can be difficult. You'll need to balance your studies with your income. Working can be a great way to build skills working with the public or even in healthcare. A lot of people work as clinical support workers during medical school to get more used to the ward environment and learn how to communicate better with nurses and patients.

Scholarship options

External:

Stapley Trust - for those applying to medicine as as second degree
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust - for students in financial need who have a parent or spouse, or who themselves work:
- In the Grocery Industry
- In a Community Pharmacy or as a registered Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician
- As a Commercial Traveller
Helena Kennedy Foundation

Aberdeen:

Entrance Scholarship Scheme

Robertson Trust Scholarship - for those facing financial and social barriers, you can be nominated for this by your school or by the widening participation department
Cormack Family Foundation Gateway 2 Medicine Scholarship
Aberdeen Medics Scholarship Fund Gateway 2 Medicine

- please note that more information for these scholarships has yet to be uploaded on the website

Dundee:

Dow Memorial Trust Scholarship - automatically assessed for those in financial need

Edinburgh:

Every student is awarded a travel bursary throughout clinical years (4-6)
Access Edinburgh Scholarship - automatically assessed when you apply, if you apply for SAAS
Robertson Trust Scholarship - for those facing financial and social barriers, you can be nominated for this by your school or by the widening participation department
The Andrea Levy Scholarship - for Black African and Caribbean heritage applicants from socio-economically challenged backgrounds
Cowrie Foundation Scholarship - to support disadvantaged Black British students,
Unite Foundation Scholarship - an accommodation award for care experienced or estranged students

Glasgow:

Undergraduate Talent Scholarship
Travel Bursaries - up to £50 per month
James McCune Smith Scholarship - for students of African/African-Caribbean backgrounds
Sanctuary Scholarship - for those who have been forced to travel to the UK on humanitarian grounds

St. Andrews:

There are a lot of scholarships listed, so we encourage you to have a good look through the list on their website.