Swansea University has been able to offer additional places on its graduate entry medicine programme as part of a government investment to increase the number of doctors being trained in Wales.
The additional 25 places have already been filled, bringing the new first year cohort up to 125 students.
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.
This innovative programme has led to the Medical School being named first for medicine in the Complete University Guide 2022 while gaining UK top ten rankings in a range of other independent guides.
Head of Graduate Entry Medicine at Swansea, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, said she was delighted at the uplift in numbers.
She said: “Wales remains very short of doctors, and this will provide a welcome boost to the medical workforce over the next few years.
“Our figures show 69 per cent of our intake this year are from Wales, and we hope they will both enjoy their medical studies and decide to remain in Wales for their professional lives.”
Swansea’s additional intake was revealed by Health Minister Eluned Morgan as she also announced moves towards establishing a medical school in north Wales.
The C21 North Wales programme, which is delivered in partnership by Bangor and Cardiff Universities, allows students to study for all of their medical degree in north Wales, with a greater focus on community medicine and a wide range of placements including a full year at a GP surgery.
Professor Keith Lloyd, Executive Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, welcomed the investment in the future of the Welsh heath workforce.
He said: “It is very gratifying to see the emphasis that is being put on training our future doctors here in Wales. We hope that by offering world-class teaching and unique training experiences they will be encouraged to stay in Wales when they start their careers.
“We’re delighted the additional GEM students have been able to join us in Swansea and see this uplift in numbers as a real testimony to the strength of our programme.”