Uk | Est. 1973Uk | General Medical Council (GMC), United Kingdom | English medium
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University of Buckingham Medical School is not one of the country's long-established medical schools either; the first group of students enrolled in 2015, and the programme got GMC accreditation only in May 2019, when Edinburgh Medical School, which is the oldest in Great Britain, was founded in 1726. Still, there is one point in which it stands out and catches attention — it is the first independent not-for-profit medical school in the country, established by a private university not limited by NHS-set numerus clausus quota for its programmes.
Agencies that assist Indian families in choosing the education of their choice usually put 'MBBS in the UK' in the same category as the programmes in Georgia, Uzbekistan, or the Caribbean as an alternative option when there is no way of getting a place in India. While Buckingham's MB ChB is a legitimate UK medical degree offered in accordance with GMC standards, delivered in a university whose students are sent to further study at Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in other subjects. It entitles the holders of this diploma to start the UK Foundation Programme just like any other UK medical graduate can do. In addition, the Indian regulator requires Indian graduates of any UK programme to take the National Exit Test that is mandatory for those who plan to return to India after graduation.
Another aspect that needs explanation is the 4.5-year period of study required to obtain the qualification. It is important to understand that medical education in the UK is normally provided over five-six years. University of Buckingham organises the academic year so that it spans more terms than it is possible for a traditional university programme and thus manages to compress teaching periods while keeping all the material of the curriculum; the curriculum of the programme used to be borrowed from Leicester Medical School during the initial stages of establishment of the school with Professor Stewart Petersen, the former Director of Medical Education at University of Leicester, developing it.
The first two years of the programme, Phase 1, are focused on studying various body systems within a clinical context and the presence of simulated and real patients right from the beginning of the course. The second phase of the programme is devoted to hospital placements in Milton Keynes University Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital that will include rotations in various specialties, including medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics, and general practice. Because of the small size of the school cohorts, the ratio of students to clinical tutors and patients remains relatively small during both phases. Such approach was commended by the GMC during the review of the programme due to pastoral and academic support offered to students from lectures through practical sessions.
None of this comes free. The annual fee for international students will be in the range of £45,000-47,000. It is significantly higher than any subsidised NHS place would cost the student in the UK, and higher than many Eastern European and Central Asian medical programmes that are often compared with the UK option. What distinguishes the programme in question from others is not prestige but security: merit-based admission without any competition for the limited number of places, two intakes per year instead of one, absence of UCAT test, the degree that enables the graduate to continue postgraduate training in the UK right away and not to obtain additional recognition, like EU-trained doctors had to do after Brexit. Adding the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 per year) and the cost of meals (£3,000-4,500 per year), the total cost of four-and-a-half-year programme will be £260,000-270,000.
Buckingham is not the big city but a small market town and, of course, does not have the underground or the night life; however, it provides a great opportunity to study in a quiet place, being quite close to London, Oxford, and Milton Keynes (by train or car). Student accommodation costs £99-249 per week depending on the type of a room. Since the town is not a big metropolitan area, the cost of living there is significantly lower than in London. Thus, it is the actual compromise offered by the programme in question.
No hidden charges, no donation. The full picture of costs at MBBS in University of Buckingham Medical School.
Tuition Fee
Approximately GBP 44,000–47,000 (Approx. Rs. 57.20 lakh–61.10 lakh)
GBP 44,000–47,000 Approx. Rs. 57.20 lakh–61.10 lakh
Hostel Fee
GBP 6,500–10,000 Approx. Rs. 8.45 lakh–13.00 lakh
GBP 6,500–10,000 Approx. Rs. 8.45 lakh–13.00 lakh
Food & Meals
GBP 3,000–4,500 Approx. Rs. 3.90 lakh–5.85 lakh
per year
Insurance
GBP 776 Approx. Rs. 1.01 lakh
per year
Donation
no donation
no hidden fee
Total Estimated Cost
Approx. GBP 260,000–270,000 / ₹3.37 crore – ₹3.50 crore
4.5 Year
25–35%
Average FMGE first-attempt pass rates for students from many overseas medical universities. Students from structured programs consistently score higher.
Students returning to India need to clear the FMGE/NExT exam. MBBS in University of Buckingham Medical School integrates exam-oriented coaching into the regular curriculum so students are prepared from day one.
A structured program that takes you from foundational sciences to clinical mastery.
• Early clinical and communication skills training, including simulated patient consultations and introductory ethics
• Body systems-based teaching integrating anatomy, physiology and biochemistry within a clinical context, alongside prosection-based anatomy
• Structured clinical and professional skills assessments and applied knowledge tests at the end of each term
• Continued systems-based blocks covering pathology, pharmacology, microbiology and immunology, building toward independent clinical reasoning
• Continued teaching in professionalism, ethics and research skills alongside clinical placements
• Full-time hospital rotations in internal medicine, surgery and general practice at Milton Keynes University Hospital and partner sites
• Applied knowledge tests and clinical and professional skills assessments at the end of each rotation block
• Rotations through paediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, and further surgical and medical specialties
• Preparation for provisional GMC registration and entry into UK Foundation Programme training
• Consolidation placements across major specialties and elective clinical experience ahead of qualification
Furnished hostel rooms with Wi-Fi, laundry, 24/7 security, and Indian mess on or near campus.
Indian restaurants and mess facilities serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian home-style food daily.
Strong Indian community with cultural events, festival celebrations, and peer support groups.
Students get hands-on clinical training in government and private hospitals affiliated with the university.
Practical information for students planning to study at MBBS in University of Buckingham Medical School.
Prepare for all seasons. Thermal wear for winters, light clothing for summers. University provides heating in hostels.
Student visa processed with university invitation letter. Direct and connecting flights from major Indian cities.
Health insurance included in fees. Medical facility on campus plus city hospitals easily accessible.
Local SIM cards available. WhatsApp and video calls keep you connected with family back home.
Average monthly expenses of $150–$250 covering food, transport, and personal needs.
University library, online databases, and study groups. Seniors mentor juniors through academic challenges.
Our team guides you through every step — from application to arriving on campus.
Compare universities based on fees, city, UCAT requirements, and clinical exposure, starting 12–18 months before your intended entry, not the cycle you’re applying in.
Registration opens in May; the testing window runs July–September. Most successful applicants begin focused preparation 3–4 months ahead, alongside board exam preparation.
Book and complete IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL well ahead of the UCAS deadline, allowing time for a retake if needed.
Submit your application, including personal statement and up to 4 medicine choices, before the 15 October deadline.
Prepare for and attend interviews (MMI or Panel format) typically scheduled November through February.
Offers (conditional or unconditional) typically arrive through winter and spring; conditional offers require meeting stated academic and English-score conditions.
Once Class 12 results and any other conditions are confirmed, your university issues the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which is required for your visa application.
Apply using your CAS reference number; arrange maintenance funds according to the 28-day rule well in advance rather than at the last minute.
Book flights, confirm accommodation, complete any on-arrival formalities during orientation week, open a local bank account, and begin building connections with your university’s Indian/South Asian student community.
Admission Helpline — Contact our counsellors for step-by-step assistance.
“The faculty here is incredibly supportive. The clinical training during hospital rotations has given me real confidence in patient care.”
“Affordable fees without compromising on quality. The campus facilities and hostel life made my transition abroad very smooth.”
“English medium instruction and WHO-recognized curriculum were the deciding factors for me. No regrets so far — excellent experience overall.”
“The university helped with everything from visa to accommodation. Hospital exposure from year three has been invaluable for my FMGE prep.”
“Just cleared my licensing exam on the first attempt. The structured coaching and mock exams during final year were a game-changer.”
“Safe campus, good food options, and a strong Indian student community. The teaching methodology is very practical and hands-on.”
It is the UK's first independent, not-for-profit medical school, with no government-imposed cap on student places. Its MB ChB is delivered over an accelerated 4.5 years rather than the usual five or six.
Yes. The programme received General Medical Council accreditation in May 2019 and leads to provisional GMC registration on graduation.
No. Buckingham does not require the UCAT at any stage; admission is based on academic grades, a personal statement and an interview.
Buckingham's own admission process does not require NEET, but Indian students should hold a valid NEET UG score for future recognition of the qualification in India.
Graduates must clear India's National Exit Test (NExT), the mandatory screening exam for all foreign medical graduates, regardless of the country they trained in.
The MB ChB has two intakes each year, typically in January and September.
Clinical placements run mainly through Milton Keynes University Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, along with other NHS partner sites.
Buckingham is a small, quiet market town rather than a city, with London, Oxford and Milton Keynes reachable within a short train or road journey.
Yes. University-managed halls and private housing are both available, with weekly rents ranging from roughly £99 to £249 depending on room type.
Applicants typically need academic transcripts, English proficiency scores, a passport copy, a personal statement, and any additional documents the university specifies.
Our expert counsellors will guide you through the complete admission process — from documents to airport pickup.
