Top 25 Medical Schools Offering Free or Fully Funded Tuition in 2025

Dreaming of Becoming a Doctor Without the Debt?

Medical school is famously expensive, but for some students, the dream of becoming a doctor doesn’t have to come with a six-figure price tag. Around the world, there are select medical schools that offer free or fully funded tuition. Some cover housing and living costs too.

In this guide, we highlight 25 institutions that either waive tuition entirely or offer full financial aid to eligible students, including both domestic and international applicants.

Tip: Whether you're saving on tuition or not, building your clinical skills early is key. Programs like Go-Elective’s medical internships abroad offer low-cost, high-impact hands-on experience that strengthens any application.

What Does “Free Medical School” Really Mean?

Free or fully funded medical education typically falls into three categories:

1. Publicly funded institutions where domestic students pay nothing (e.g., Germany, Norway)
2. Private or elite universities that cover tuition via need-based aid or service-linked scholarships
3. Programs with stipends or housing allowances in addition to tuition waivers

Let’s explore the top options in each category.

Europe

1. University of Bergen (Norway)

• Tuition: Free for all students (including internationals)
• Notes: Only a small semester fee (~$80). Taught in Norwegian after the first year.
  
  

2. LMU Munich (Germany)

• Tuition: Free for all students
• Notes: Nominal semester fee; German language proficiency required
  
  

3. University of Helsinki (Finland)

• Tuition: Free for EU/EEA; scholarships for non-EU students
• Highlights: Competitive English-taught programs
  
  

4. Charles University (Czech Republic)

• Tuition: Paid for English-taught programs, but full-ride scholarships available
• Special Note: Ideal for EU students looking for subsidized tuition
  
  

5. University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)

• Tuition: Free or low-cost for EU students; scholarships available for others

United States

6. NYU Grossman School of Medicine (New York)

• Tuition: 100% covered for all accepted students
• Eligibility: U.S. citizens and international students
• Extras: No tuition regardless of need or merit
  
  

7. Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

• Tuition: Fully funded 5-year MD program
• Bonus: Includes a research year
  
  

8. Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (California)

• Tuition: Free for the first five cohorts (including 2025 entrants)
• Plus: Additional subsidies for housing
  
  

9. Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL)

• Financial Aid: Half of incoming students receive full tuition scholarships
• Merit-Based Aid: Generous packages available
  
  

10. UCLA/Drew Medical Education Program

• Funding: Full scholarships for students committed to serving underserved populations

Canada

11. Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM)

• Funding: Full scholarships for rural/Indigenous students
• Notes: Focus on community-based training
  
  

12. Université de Montréal

• Funding: Full scholarships for select international Francophone students
• Language: French proficiency required
  
  

13. University of Toronto

• Aid: Need-based aid packages covering full cost for low-income Canadian students

United Kingdom

14. University of St Andrews

• Aid: St Andrews Access Scholarship for full tuition/living costs
• Eligible Applicants: Domestic students from disadvantaged backgrounds
  
  

15. Imperial College London

• Funding: President's Scholarships, government-funded bursaries
• Notes: Partial aid for international students available

Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

16. Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar

• Tuition: Full scholarships available to Qatari and select international students
• Extras: Includes housing, travel, and living stipends
  
  

17. Aga Khan University (Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania)

• Aid: Need-sensitive full funding packages
• Preferred Candidates: Students from underserved communities
  
  

18. University of the Philippines College of Medicine

• Cost: Tuition-free for Filipino students
• Mandate: Graduates must serve in the public health system
  
  

19. King Saud University (Saudi Arabia)

• Funding: Fully funded for local and international students
• Extras: Includes housing and monthly stipends

Australia and New Zealand

20. University of Melbourne (Australia)

• Aid: Melbourne Chancellor’s Scholarship covers full tuition for top domestic and international students
  
  

21. University of Otago (New Zealand)

• Scholarships: Maori, Pacific Islander, and rural students may qualify for full funding

Global Scholarships Supporting Free Medical Education

22. The World Health Organization (WHO) TDR Scholarship

• Who It’s For: Students from low- and middle-income countries
• Covers: Tuition, housing, travel, stipend for Master of Public Health or Tropical Medicine
  
  

23. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program

• Where: Partner universities in Africa, Europe, and North America
• Covers: Full tuition, travel, accommodation, stipends
  
  

24. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)

• Includes: Full scholarships for healthcare programs including global health and medicine
  
  

25. Erasmus+ Joint Master Degrees (EU)

• What’s Covered: Tuition, travel, and stipend for European medical master’s programs
• Open to: International students worldwide

Pro Tip: Free Tuition ≠ Free Living

Even if your tuition is covered, you’ll still need to pay for:

• Housing and meals
• Transport and travel (especially for international students)
• Licensing exams like the MCAT, UKCAT, or CASPer
• Clinical experience or internships, which may or may not be covered

This is where smart planning — and affordable global clinical exposure — can help you stand out.

> See how Go Elective offers competitive clinical internship programs abroad starting at $2,300. Including housing, meals, mentorship, and hospital placement in Africa.

Final Thoughts: Free Isn’t Always Easy, But It’s Possible

Medical school doesn’t have to mean crushing debt. With the right strategy, financial aid research, and global mindset, it’s possible to attend a top institution without paying full price — or even for free.

Whether you're applying to NYU, exploring Germany, or considering a clinical internship abroad, know that your options are broader than ever.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: Jun 29, 2025