A game-changer for the region, the School of Medicine will attract graduates to study, work and live in the North West. It will train new doctors and help to address the ongoing medical work-force shortage across the medical profession in Northern Ireland. The School of Medicine will have a far-reaching impact contributing to the future of our health system and the well-being of the people of the region.
The Department of Health commissioned Review of Medical School Places (2018) recommended Northern Ireland needs 100 more medical students a year to meet the increasing demand for doctors. It also said the attractiveness of Northern Ireland as a destination of choice for medical training and careers, needs to be increased. As it is, 40% of medical students in Northern Ireland tend to stay and live within 10 miles of Belfast after graduation, according to the General Medical Council (GMC).
The School of Medicine will be situated right in the heart of Derry~Londonderry City in a flagship location on the riverfront. It will be a catalyst in the innovation corridor that will be established with the industry and community focused centres of excellence which form part of the City Deal. This innovative environment, twinned with Ulster University’s strategic focus on health education and research, will make Northern Ireland a leading player in the UK’s productive Life Sciences sector.
The School of Medicine is funded by the Inclusive Future Fund (IFF) which is an exclusive fund for the City and region. It recognises the unique circumstances facing the region and will help create new opportunities for the whole community.
The School of Medicine will select students who have already completed an undergraduate degree and provide them with four years of intensive, practical medical education. The School will offer a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) medical degree programme that is unique in Northern Ireland.
Students will benefit from access to practice learning placements across the full range of medical and surgical specialties, and significant opportunities for primary care-based experience from week one of training. This will enable students to develop knowledge and appreciation of the inter-connectivity between primary, secondary, social and community-based healthcare.
The School of Medicine will operate under the current funding model for Higher Education, with Government funding for NI and EU student places. The new School will admit 70 students in its first year of operation, with a phased increase, over a five-year period, to an annual intake of 120 students. A limited number of places will be available for overseas entrants.
The School of Medicine will enhance Ulster University’s global reputation in the health and well-being space. Our Magee-based School of Nursing is ranked 5th in the UK and 37th in the world. Ulster University’s Personalised Medicine research is globally renowned for pioneering treatments for chronic health conditions and our Institute of Mental Health Sciences (IMHS) is an exciting new multidisciplinary institute studying mental health in a holistic manner, from gene to gym.
Students will gain an unrivalled preparation for the multi-disciplinary environment they will work in with access to a diverse network of staff, researchers and students across the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences. The Faculty’s disciplines include biomedical science, pharmacy, psychology, nursing and health sciences, geography and environmental sciences and sport sciences.
The School of Medicine will provide access for a diverse range of people wishing to pursue a career in medicine. It will position Derry~Londonderry as a place to study and work, tackling the consequences of long-term social deprivation. It will further build on Ulster University’s capacity to contribute life-changing education and research to the local society. Above all, it will support the health and well-being agenda in Northern Ireland.
Position: Foundation Dean of the School of Medicine
T: +44 28 7167 5112