The University of Worcester has been given the highest allocation of additional medical student places in the Midlands in the latest announcement of newly funded places for next year.
The Three Counties Medical School will now have 62 fully funded places for UK students to begin their studies in the academic year 2025/26.
The 12 new places are in addition to the 50 announced in October 2023, which were for students to begin in September 2024.
University of Worcester Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE DL, said: “Every extra place is precious as each student will have the opportunity to earn their medical degree and become a doctor by 2030. While we are delighted to have been awarded the most additional places for any university in the whole of the Midlands, we are very disappointed that the overall allocations for 2025 are so small.”
He continued: “The competition for places was based on a university’s ability to grow, and of all of the universities in the region, including long established and large medical schools, we’ve been assessed as having the most potential to grow, and that’s a good sign for the future.”
He added: “We bid for 54 additional places, but the Government allocated just 350 places nationally. At this rate it is going to take 18 years not 5 to double the number of medical students in training in England. We are ready and waiting to make a full contribution to the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan – we just need authorisation to fill the places.”
The University’s medical school opened to its first cohort of students last year. 20 of them are UK students who are being funded currently through donations from the Kildare Trust and local NHS trusts. These 20 have been joined by 23 self-funded international students.
The University’s medical students are based at the new Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building on its Severn Campus which was formally opened last month by the University’s Chancellor, HRH The Duke of Gloucester and features a state-of-the-art anatomy suite along with clinical skills and medical simulation facilities.
Professor Sandra Nicholson, Founding Dean of the Three Counties Medical School said: “We are delighted to accept these additional places for 2025 entry.” She added: “This means we can contribute further to the NHS Workforce Plan and help attract doctors to the local area.”
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk