Swansea University to train even more medical students

Swansea University has secured more places on its successful Graduate Entry Medicine programme as part of a government investment to increase the number of Welsh-trained doctors for Wales.

The additional 25 places will bring the number of home students on the course up to 142.

Swansea’s GEM programme provides the quickest route for training doctors in Wales, with students graduating in four years after following a curriculum designed to reflect the way in which clinicians approach patients and how patients present to doctors. Students learn in the clinical environment from the very first few weeks of the programme.

This innovative programme has led to the Medical School being ranked in the top five for medicine in the Guardian University Guide 2022.

Head of Graduate Entry Medicine at Swansea, Professor Kamila Hawthorne MBE, said she was delighted that the numbers had been increased yet again this year.

She said: “This decision is a real testimony to the success of our GEM programme and the high quality of teaching we are providing, alongside our NHS colleagues. We know Wales remains very short of doctors and securing more places means we will provide a welcome boost to the medical workforce over the next few years.

“Our figures show 68 per cent of our intake this year are from Wales, and we hope they will both enjoy their medical studies with us and decide to remain in Wales for their professional lives.”

Swansea’s additional intake was announced by Health Minister Eluned Morgan. She said: “We are delighted to award Swansea University a further 25 places for their ground-breaking GEM programme, following on from the 25 places granted in 2021.

“The programme helps to accelerate the training of doctors in Wales and will help us in achieving our wider goal of ensuring that our healthcare system continues to deliver what we need.”

GEM Student Ross Davey, from Newport, said it was easy to see why the programme’s success had been recognised: “The course structure helps students process and recall core clinical concepts while retaining the humanity of medicine gained through exceptionally early patient interactions.

“Plus, the student-staff ratio is phenomenal – we essentially get one-on-one teaching for our clinical skills development and students can easily organise bespoke tutorials to reinforce taught content.”

Now in his final year, Ross began his medical studies after completing a BSc in Medical Biochemistry at Swansea. He added: “The extra-curricular learning opportunities I have had during my studies have been vast and all have enhanced my clinical theory and understanding. I really commend the faculty staff for their efforts in creating such a great course.”