PREPARATIONS are well underway for the first intake of students who will study at the new, independent North Wales Medical School at Bangor University.

In January, the First Minister confirmed that Welsh Government would fund up to 140 students a year at the facility, and the first 80 are due to start in September next year. 

The medical school will admit and train hundreds of medical students in its first decade through both five-year school and four-year graduate entry routes, and will help ensure increased training opportunities for qualified doctors to stay and work within NHS Wales.

They will carry out their studies at the university’s Brigantia Building and its Fron Heulog Medical and Healthcare simulation suite, including the use of leading-edge electronic dissection tables to study anatomy.

Lesley Griffiths, Minister for North Wales, said: “The North Wales Medical School will train the expansion of medical staff required for the future, and it’s been great to see the facilities here today and to hear about the experiences of the students who are already studying at Bangor University.

“I hope the students who will pass through these doors and train in the region will also choose North Wales as their place of work once they have qualified.

“The facilities here are excellent and there is real enthusiasm and commitment from all involved.

“This is good news for the students, the people of North Wales and the health board, and demonstrates our commitment to a health service that delivers care as close to people’s homes as possible.”

Professor Edmund Burke, vice chancellor of Bangor University, said: “The North Wales Medical School represents a real step forward for the university, adding to our existing portfolio of education and research across healthcare disciplines.

“It emphasises our close relationship and support for health services across the region.

“Our new medical students will benefit from an extensive investment in modern training facilities, our experienced teaching staff and great support from health service staff across North Wales.”

Direct intake to Bangor University will begin in autumn 2024 with student numbers gradually increasing until reaching optimum capacity from the 29-30 academic year (140 students entering each year).