2020 COVID19 update
The number of places available to study medicine and dentistry is regulated by the government and controlled through intake targets operated by the OfS.
Results Day U-turn causes uncertainty
Four days after A-level results were issued, ministers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales all decided to revert to teacher assessed grades rather than the algorithm. Scotland reverted to teacher assessed grades earlier after facing a similar backlash.
The move prompted a scramble for university places as students tried to reclaim places at universities which they had last week been rejected from.
However, the top universities warned that students who now have higher grades could still be asked to defer if there is no space left on their chosen course.
Has the cap on medical students been lifted for 2020?
Yes – you can find out more by clicking the button below 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾
What happened before the cap on medical students was lifted for 2020?
When asked about lifting the cap on medical school places Mr Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care replied, “I am absolutely looking at this issue, yes.”
Later he told BBC Radio 4: “But of course there’s now a huge number of pupils who have the grades, and so we’re working very much immediately on how we can go further than we already are.”
Universities minister Michelle Donelan said No 10 was working with universities to help “boost the capacity available” in order to “minimise the amount of students that will be looking to defer.”
What if I have accepted another choice because I thought I had missed out on Medicine?
On Tues 18th Aug 2020 Universities minister Michelle Donelan said she wanted to ensure any students who had accepted a “different course” than planned, as a result of being downgraded on A-level results day 2020, should be able to “change their mind and to reverse that decision”.
Background to this 2020 situation 
UK Medical Schools can take on more students than ever before!
In 2016 the government committed to a 25% increase in undergraduate medical places at new and existing medical schools in the UK.
“Setting up five new medical schools is part of the biggest ever expansion of our medical and nursing workforce; which will help us deal with the challenges of having around one million more over 75s in 10 years’ time”
Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (2012-18)
2019 update
In this blog we’re talking you through everything you need to know about the new medical schools and new places at medical school in the UK. Just keep reading!
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We’ve previously told you about the 5 new Medical Schools which have been announced, but if you’ve missed that blog check it out here:
The 5 new Medical Schools weren’t the only institutions allocated the new places, existing Medical Schools applied for more places and some got them!
Now we can tell you how many spaces each Medical School is growing by AND when the places will be available! Just keep on reading >>>>
In total there will be 630 extra places available from 2019!
The total potential intake for 2018/19 was 6,701 this figure includes the new places made available.
How many new places are there for students starting medical school in 2019 and beyond?
Why does this matter?
These places will continue to be available for years to come so there will be more places at medical school thanks to these changes!
Which universities were allocated the new medical school places?
Here’s a list of the UK medical schools that we know are increasing their intake for Medicine!
Aston University 
Total new places: 100
2018/19: 20 new places available
2020/21: 80 new places available
Anglia Ruskin University
Total new places: 100
2018/19: 100 new places available
University of Birmingham
Total new places: 26
2018/19: 26 more places available
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Total new places: 65
2018/19: 15 more places available
2019/20: 50 more places available
University of Bristol
Total new places: 19
2018/19: 19 more places available
University of Cambridge 
Total new places: 21
2018/19: 21 more places available
University of Central Lancashire 
Total new places: 15
2018/19: 15 more places available
University College London (UCL) 
Total new places: 12
2018/19: 12 more places available
University of East Anglia 
Total new places: 41
2018/19: 16 more places available
2020/21: 25 more places available
Edge Hill University Medical School 
Total new places: 30 new places available
2020/21: 30 more places available
University of Exeter 
Total new places: 88
2018/19: 15 more places available
2020/21: 73 more places available
Hull York Medical School 
Total new places: 90
2018/19: 25 more places available
2020/21: 65 more places available
Imperial College, London 
Total new places: 23
2018/19: 23 more places available
Keele University 
Total new places: 35
2018/19: 15 more places available
2020/21: 20 more places available
Kent and Medway Medical School
Total new places: 100 new places available
Kings College London (KCL) 
Total new places: 27
2018/19: 27 more places available
Lancaster University 
Total new places: 75
2018/19: 15 more places available
2020/21: 60 more places available
University of Leeds
Total new places: 20
2018/19: 20 more places available
University of Leicester 
Total new places: 49
2018/19: 19 more places available
2020/21: 30 more places available
University of Liverpool 
Total new places: 25
2018/19: 25 more places available
University of Manchester 
Total new places: 26
2018/19: 26 more places available
University of Newcastle 
Total new places: 24
2018/19: 24 more places available
University of Nottingham 
Total new places: 44
2018/19: 24 more places available
2020/21: 20 more places available
University of Nottingham and Lincoln Medical School
Total new places: 80
2019: 80 new places available
University of Oxford 
Total new places: 16
2018/19: 16 more places available
University of Plymouth 
Total new places: 70
2018/19: 15 more places available
2020/21: 55 more places available
Queen Mary University London (QMUL) 
Total new places: 55
2018/19: 23 more places available
2020/21: 32 more places available
St George’s Hospital Medical School 
Total new places: 20
2018/19: 20 more places available
University of Sheffield 
Total new places: 69
2018/19: 19 more places available
2020/21: 50 more places available
University of Southampton
Total new places: 19
2018/19: 19 more places available
University of Sunderland
Total new places: 100
2020/21: 50 new places available
University of Warwick 
Total new places: 16
2018/19: 16 more places available
As you can see, some universities haven’t yet confirmed with us when the Medicine places will be available – as soon as we know we will update this blog!
Not all universities made the final cut
There were far more applications from universities for Medical School spaces than were announced – many existing universities missed out on additional spaces and others missed out on establishing a Medical School at all.
One University has been very open in its disappointment of the recent new medical school spaces announcement. Which university you ask? None other than the University of Bradford
Commiserations guys – we know that the application process took a lot of work and there will be some seriously disappointed people, but we are sure the future’s bright for you in other areas! 🙂
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