DH has asked HEFCE to allocate around 500 additional places in 2018-19 (Note 2). This will enable new graduates to enter the NHS as quickly as possible through existing providers and allow the planned expansion of medical schools. In making this allocation, we are taking account of capacity, sustainability and placement quality to ensure a fair distribution that keeps the student interest centre stage and meets the needs of the NHS.

DH has also asked us to work with Health Education England to allocate a further 1,000 places through a competitive process. In so doing, we will listen carefully to the views of respondents to the DH’s consultation. The overarching aim is to develop an approach which ensures patient safety and service quality, offers opportunities to widen participation, and addresses issues around hard-to-fill geographical locations and priority specialties such as general practice and psychiatry.

Notes

1. Read the Department of Health consultation 'Expanding undergraduate medical education'. The deadline for response is 1145 on Friday 2 June 2017. 

2. We will shortly be announcing the outcome of the first stage of the allocation process. This will involve an initial increase of approximately 500 places in 2018-19 allocated to HEFCE-fundable medical schools currently providing education to students as at 1 March 2017 that are either on the General Medical Council (GMC) list of awarding bodies entitled to award a primary medical qualification or have had a decision taken by the GMC to commit resources to their school for a rolling programme of quality assurance to become an awarding body.

3. Read more about HEFCE’s role in healthcare, medical and dental education and research.