In 2026, fully funded scholarships for medicine will be very competitive and usually fall into two categories: clinical degrees (MBBS/MD) and postgraduate specialisations (public health, global health, and research).
The best way to study medicine abroad for free is through government-sponsored “Global Excellence” programmes. This is because clinical medical degrees are expensive and usually only available to students from the same country.
1. The best government scholarships for medical school
These awards pay for health insurance, airfare, tuition, and monthly stipends.
Chevening Scholarships in the UK
- Master’s degrees in public health, health policy, or medical science are the main focus.
- The good thing is that you get full funding for one year. It doesn’t usually pay for a full, five-year MBBS, but it’s the best option for doctors who want to specialise.
- Applications usually open in August 2026 for the 2027 intake.
EPOS Programme (Germany) DAAD Scholarships
- Master’s and PhD programs in international and public health are the main focus.
- Eligible institutions include top medical schools like Charité Berlin and Heidelberg University.
- Requirement: At least two years of experience working in the healthcare field.
- Monthly Stipend: In 2026, it went up to €934 for master’s degrees and €1,200 to €1,300 for PhDs.
Turkey Scholarships
- Focus: Full MBBS (MD), dental, and pharmacy degrees.
- The Benefit: This scholarship is one of the few programmes that pays for the whole time it takes to get a clinical medical degree, including a year of Turkish language classes.
- No IELTS: You don’t need IELTS to apply; after a year of required language study, you will study in Turkish.
GKS: Global Korea Scholarship
- Focus: medical programmes for graduate and undergraduate students.
- The Benefit: pays for all of your tuition, gives you a monthly stipend, and teaches you Korean. This programme is a wonderful way for people who want to work in high-tech medicine in South Korea to get there.
2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (in Europe)
Erasmus Mundus offers specialised master’s degrees in medicine and health that let you study in at least three different European countries.
- Europubhealth+: A well-known master’s degree in public health. Typically, we review applications for the 2026 intake in January and February, followed by interviews in February 2026.
- The Allowance: For the 24-month program, students receive a €1,400 monthly living allowance.
- Important: Some Erasmus consortia are paying for themselves while they wait to be re-selected for the 2026–2027 cycle. Always check the “Funding” tab for the 2027 update to the specific program.
3. Learn about medicine without taking the IELTS in 2026
You can still get medical scholarships without an IELTS score by following these other paths:
Waiver of the Medium of Instruction (MOI) Many universities in Japan (MEXT) and South Korea (GKS) will accept a certificate from your last school saying that your degree was taught entirely in English.
Language Preparatory Year Scholarships in Romania, Turkey, and Russia often don’t require IELTS because you have to take a year-long, intensive course in the local language (Romanian, Turkish, or Russian) before you start your medical studies.
The Other Duolingo: Many medical schools in the US and Canada accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a faster and cheaper alternative to IELTS/TOEFL for 2026.
4. Fellowships for Professionals and Researchers
In 2026, there will be specialised fellowships for people who already have a medical degree to move to another country and do research.
Fulbright Programme for Foreign Students in the US
- Limitation: Does not pay for clinical medicine (patient contact).
- Good chance for medical doctors who want to get a master’s or PhD in health research, virology, or epidemiology.
- Deadline for 2027: Depending on where you live, applications for the 2027–2028 cycle will be accepted from May to October 2026.
Commonwealth Medical Fellowships in the UK
- Focus: For medical staff in the middle of their careers from Commonwealth countries with low and middle incomes.
- The Benefit: You can spend 3 to 6 months at a UK hospital learning a specific clinical skill.
5. Deadlines that are important for 2026 and 2027
- Chevening (UK): August to November 2026.
- Japan’s MEXT: April to June 2026 for the 2027 intake.
- Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum runs from November 2026 to January 2027.
- DAAD (Germany): September to November 2026 (different for each university).
Final Thoughts
Turkey and South Korea offer the most complete fully funded paths for undergraduates who want to become doctors. If you are already a medical professional, the best places to specialise and grow your career internationally are Germany’s DAAD and the UK’s Chevening.
