North Wales Medical School officially opens its doors at Bangor University

The 80 new medical students will be the first to complete all of their medical training in North Wales

1 month ago | UPDATED 4 weeks ago

The North Wales Medical School has officially opened its doors at Bangor University, welcoming its first cohort of students.

The first group of 80 medical students, a mix of college-leavers and graduate entrants, have started their course at Bangor University and will be the first to complete all of their medical training in North Wales.

By 2029/30, the estimated intake of the school is expected to reach around 140 students annually.

Speaking with The Leader, Professor Edmund Burke, Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University, said: “The launch of the North Wales Medical School marks a key milestone for the university and the region.

“It reflects our commitment to outstanding education, cutting-edge research and addressing local healthcare needs.

“Together with our partners, we are shaping a healthier future by training the next generation of healthcare professionals within our communities.”

Planning for the new medical school first began in 2020 when Bangor University, Cardiff University, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and the Welsh Government formed a partnership to set up the new medical school in North Wales.

The opening was attended by the First Minister, Eluned Morgan and Health Secretary, Jeremy Miles.

On the opening of the new school, the First Minister said: “Recruiting skilled doctors is a major challenge across the UK and Europe.

“The medical school will be a game-changer for doctor recruitment in Wales, enabling more medical students to train in the region, which is good for our NHS, especially in North Wales.

“The school will soon be providing the NHS with doctors with world-class, modern training to deliver excellent and compassionate care in our NHS for the future.”

Jeremy Miles added: “The medical school’s opening marks our continued commitment to a health service that delivers care as close to people’s homes as possible.”

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Dyfed Edwards, chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, also spoke to The Leader, saying: “The new medical school will be key to helping address the challenges of training and retaining doctors while strengthening bilingual healthcare delivery across the region.

“It is widely recognised that doctors tend to practice close to where they train, so the aim is to encourage students to develop lifelong careers within North Wales, benefiting the local population and its communities.”