The report highlighted that two thirds of students are now relying on parental support while they study, with the average family being forced to find an average of £3,123 a year.

This could see lower and middle income households being priced out of sending their children to medical school, the BMA said.

It also suggested students in their final year of study had an average debt of £22,821, a 20% increase since 2007/8. 

Louise McMenemy, student finance lead at the BMA, suggested the UK is facing a ‘growing crisis' in medical student finance, but many policy makers are ‘unwilling' to address the issue.

She said: ‘The expense of studying medicine now means that many families are facing what is effectively a hidden, unadvertised tax of around £3,000 per year. 

‘It is vital that these huge financial burdens are tackled, especially by the current higher education funding review, and not exacerbated by any further rise in tuition fees.'