The University of Cumbria and Imperial College London are working together to launch a new graduate entry medical school in Carlisle.
The new school, which aims to enrol its first students in autumn 2025, will train new doctors for Cumbria and North West England to transform healthcare in local communities.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "This partnership between Imperial College London and University of Cumbria will help level up opportunity and train more doctors in the North West.
"The new medical school supports our ambition to grow the workforce and already there are 1,500 more medical school places – a 25 per cent increase – and five new medical schools across the country since 2017.
"Our doctors have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to care for us and our loved ones, and it is this dedication that is inspiring the next generation."
Imperial’s medical school is one of the best in the world. This partnership aims to unite that strength with the University of Cumbria’s expertise in the education of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to improve the region’s access to world-class clinical care.
University of Cumbria Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell said: "The University of Cumbria was established to play a significant role in increasing higher education participation and addressing the higher-level education and skills needs of Cumbria and the region.
"This continues to drive us, and we look forward to working with colleagues at Imperial College London to realise a new medical school in North Cumbria."
The school will train forward-thinking doctors, through a specifically tailored course, delivered by a multi-professional team.
Its graduates will be respectful and flexible doctors, able to apply scientific principles and clinical reasoning to Cumbria’s complex healthcare needs.
It will enhance clinical care in a range of healthcare settings in Cumbria and the North West of England by increasing the numbers of medical students, their educators, scientists, and new doctors in the region.
John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle commented on the plans for the new medical school hailing the wide ranging benefit to the region.
He added: "I think that this is fantastic news and it's really exciting for the university, it's exciting for Carlisle and for Cumbria and for health provision in the area. I think is many respects it's a game changer for us in this region.
"I think it raises the profile of the university both locally and nationally and it means we've now got a University delivering many different facets of health professions.
"I think it means that at its peak it will have nearly 200 medical students, some of whom will stay and have their careers in the area."
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