UK government vow to double medical school places available across the UK in coming years

The UK government has vowed to double medical school places available across the UK as part of a new pledge to increase NHS staffing levels.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a Long-Term Workforce Plan for the NHS that will see places on medical degrees at universities doubled to 15,000 by 2031/32. UK universities will now welcome more medical students, with the previously enforced cap of 7,500 places to be abolished.

Head of the School of Medicine at Newcastle University, Professor Steve Jones, said: “Many of us in the Medical School work within the NHS, alongside our roles in educating the doctors of the future.

“All Medical Schools have a government-set cap on the number of students they can take. Newcastle University has many more applicants than we are able to accommodate and, therefore, we have to decline applications from many who have the ability to succeed on our course.

“Further expansion will be through some existing Medical Schools taking more students and new schools being created - Newcastle University will play its part in supporting this process."

If you are interested in studying medicine in the UK, contact SI-UK today for a free consultation.

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