General Medical Council Approval and contingency medical schools

The General Medical Council (GMC) ensures that medical education and training in the UK is of a high standard and that all medical schools meet the requirements set out in Promoting excellence: standards for medical education and training. 

Why does the Medical School need GMC approval?

All new medical schools must successfully progress through a number of rigorous quality assurance stages before they are finally approved to award a Primary Medical Qualification such as the MBChB.

‘A UK medical degree is recognised throughout the world because of its high standards of education and training. The GMC play a vital role in ensuring that all medical schools continuously meet these excellent standards.’

Professor Clare Austin, Director of Medical Education, Edge Hill University

What is a contingency medical school for?

A contingency medical school supports a new medical school until it has successfully progressed through all the stages of GMC approval. It acts to both to support the new medical school and to protect its students so that, in the extremely unlikely event that the new medical school cannot deliver the programme appropriately, they can complete their undergraduate training at the contingency school.

Do all new medical schools require a contingency school?

Yes, the GMC require all new medical schools to have a contingency school until its first cohort of students successfully complete the programme when it can approve them to award a Primary Medical Qualification.

Does the GMC continue to monitor medical schools?

Yes, the GMC has an ongoing programme of quality assurance to ensure that all medical schools meet, and continue to meet, the required standards of medical education.