100 Most Affordable Medical Schools Worldwide [2025 Edition]

Studying medicine is a dream for many, but the cost can be a major barrier — especially in countries like the U.S. where tuition alone can exceed $60,000 per year. Fortunately, there are many high-quality, affordable medical schools around the world where students can earn an internationally recognized degree at a fraction of the cost.

This comprehensive list covers 100 of the most affordable medical schools globally, spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We highlight tuition costs (in USD), program duration, and basic admission details to help you compare options and make a smart, cost-effective decision for your future.

NOTE:

Tuition fees are approximate and based on publicly available 2024/2025 data. Always confirm with the official university websites for the most accurate figures.

Affordable Medical Schools in Europe

University	Country	Annual Tuition (USD)	Language
University of Sofia	Bulgaria	$4,000 – $8,000	English
Medical University of Plovdiv	Bulgaria	$8,200	English
University of Nis	Serbia	$5,500	English
University of Belgrade	Serbia	$6,000	English
Carol Davila University of Medicine	Romania	$6,000	English
Grigore T. Popa University	Romania	$5,800	English
Semmelweis University	Hungary	$16,000	English
University of Zagreb	Croatia	$12,000	English
Charles University	Czech Republic	$14,000	English
Comenius University	Slovakia	$11,000	English
University of Latvia	Latvia	$7,500	English
University of Pécs	Hungary	$15,000	English
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences	Lithuania	$13,000	English
University of Debrecen	Hungary	$16,000	English
University of Novi Sad	Serbia	$5,000	English
University of Sarajevo	Bosnia & Herzegovina	$3,000 – $6,000	Bosnian/English
University of Tartu	Estonia	$14,000	English
Medical University of Lublin	Poland	$13,000	English
Jagiellonian University	Poland	$15,000	English

Affordable Medical Schools in Asia

University	Country	Annual Tuition (USD)	Language
University of the Philippines	Philippines	$2,000 – $3,000	English
AMA School of Medicine	Philippines	$4,000	English
Dhaka Medical College	Bangladesh	$5,000	English
University of Dhaka	Bangladesh	$4,000	English
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences	Nepal	$5,500	English
Manipal College of Medical Sciences	Nepal	$7,500	English
Hanoi Medical University	Vietnam	$3,000	Vietnamese
Mahidol University	Thailand	$8,500	English
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)	India	<$1,000	English
Christian Medical College	India	$1,500	English
Rajiv Gandhi University	India	$2,500	English
University of Health Sciences Lahore	Pakistan	$2,000 – $3,000	English
Aga Khan University	Pakistan	$15,000	English
Tashkent Medical Academy	Uzbekistan	$3,000	English
Kazakh National Medical University	Kazakhstan	$4,500	English
Chulalongkorn University	Thailand	$9,000	English
Fujian Medical University	China	$4,000	English
Jiangsu University	China	$4,000	English

Affordable Medical Schools in Africa

University	Country	Annual Tuition (USD)	Language
University of Nairobi	Kenya	$5,000	English
Makerere University	Uganda	$3,000 – $4,000	English
Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences	Tanzania	$2,500 – $4,000	English
University of Zambia	Zambia	$3,500	English
University of Ibadan	Nigeria	$1,200 – $3,000	English
University of Lagos	Nigeria	$2,500	English
University of Ghana	Ghana	$4,000 – $6,000	English
University of Malawi	Malawi	$3,500	English
University of Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe	$1,500	English
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)	Ghana	$3,000	English
Addis Ababa University	Ethiopia	$2,000 – $3,000	English
University of Khartoum	Sudan	$1,500	English/Arabic
University of Rwanda	Rwanda	$3,000	English

Affordable Medical Schools in Latin America

University	Country	Annual Tuition (USD)	Language
University of Buenos Aires	Argentina	Free (small admin fees)	Spanish
National University of Córdoba	Argentina	Free	Spanish
Federal University of São Paulo	Brazil	Free	Portuguese
University of São Paulo	Brazil	Free	Portuguese
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)	Mexico	<$1,000	Spanish
Universidad de Guadalajara	Mexico	<$1,000	Spanish
Universidad de Antioquia	Colombia	$1,000	Spanish
Universidad de la República	Uruguay	Free	Spanish
Universidad de Chile	Chile	$3,000 – $5,000	Spanish
Universidad Central de Venezuela	Venezuela	<$500	Spanish
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala	Guatemala	<$2,000	Spanish
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana	Colombia	$4,000 – $6,000	Spanish

Tuition-Free or Nearly Free Medical Programs (Selective Entry)

Some countries offer free or very low-cost tuition for international students, but admission is extremely competitive and often requires language proficiency:

Germany

Public universities offer nearly free medical education; taught in German

Norway

Free tuition even for international students, but programs are taught in Norwegian

France

Low-cost tuition (~$300/year), mostly in French

Cuba

Offers scholarships through ELAM for students from low-income countries

Turkey

Some English programs under $5,000/year

What to Consider Besides Cost

While affordability is important, don’t forget to factor in:

Language of instruction (English vs native language)
Living expenses in the host country
Recognition of the degree (check with your home country's licensing board)
Quality of facilities and clinical exposure
Visa regulations and length of stay
Pathways to return and practice in your home country

Affordable Internships vs Full Medical School

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