New schools and programmes
Information on how to set up a new medical school or programme and checks
The GMC has a legal obligation to quality assure all programmes leading to the award of a UK primary medical qualification.
This includes:
- setting up a new medical school in the UK, both public and private
- a University wishing to separate from another University with which it has been jointly providing a medical programme
- any programmes delivered in part or in full outside the UK under the auspices of a UK University that leads to the award of a UK primary medical qualification
To allow adequate time for us to consider applications we would normally expect universities to make an application 18 months before the first cohort of students is expected to begin.
Proposing a new medical school or programme
We need to ensure that all the standards in Tomorrow's Doctors can be met by any new school or programme.
Institutions proposing a new school or programme must complete an application form (pdf) to provide information about the viability of its proposals, the expertise of its staff and its ability to provide adequate clinical experience for students.
How we quality assure new schools and programmes
GMC staff and associates will consider the application and, depending on the viability of proposals, they may:
- Reject the application
- Ask the medical school to delay the selection of its first cohort to undertake further preparatory work.
- Appoint a full visit team to create an action plan and programme of quality assurance activities. These can include meetings with the school, students and local education providers, observation of teaching and assessment, and review of assessment papers.
We will normally follow the first cohort of students to graduation. Decisions will be made on a case by case basis depending on a school's readiness.
Current new schools and programmes under review
Current schools and programmes we are quality assuring:
- Swansea
- Keele
- Lancaster
- NUMed
- St George's INTO and University of Nicosia programmes
See also: Approval of new institutions.
Checks
Checks are either targeted short visits where we have identified a risk or a gap in our evidence base, or random short visits to test the accuracy of the evidence we hold. Checks can be to medical schools, postgraduate deaneries, local education providers or specialties.
A check normally last between half a day and two days and explore issues against the relevant standards and outcomes.
Teams normally include a team leader, student or trainee and a lay member, additional expertise may be drafted in depending on the focus of the check.
We will always give a minimum of six weeks notice before undertaking a check.