A medical school for graduates based at the University of Cumbria is set to launch with a special event this Thursday (October 17), while applications for its Graduate Entry Programme close tomorrow.

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, based at the university's Fusehill Street campus in Carlisle, will be officially opened at the Halston venue in the city in an event that will gather stakeholders from healthcare, education, and local government.

The launch event will also recognise special guest Sir Trevor Pears, of the Pears Foundation, which contributed £5 million in support of the school's development back in November 2023.

Professor Brian Webster Henderson OBE, deputy vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria, said: "The launch event is a wonderful opportunity to reflect and celebrate such a significant milestone for the University of Cumbria, Imperial College London, the Pears Foundation, and our key stakeholders.

"From an initial conversation in 2018, to where we are today and looking ahead to 10 to 15 years time, the impact that the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine will have on the region, for people’s lives, health, and wellbeing is phenomenal."

The school will offer a four-year programme, open to health and bioscience graduates, that blends the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programme at Imperial College London with the University of Cumbria's own expertise.

Successful students will graduate with an MBBS from Imperial College London.

A number of scholarships worth £5,000 each are now available, designed to help students who are in the most need of financial support.

Further information can be found on the website: www.cumbriamed.ac.uk

Applications for the Graduate Entry Programme in Medicine will close on October 15 at 6pm.