Leicester-Aston partnership strengthens Aston Medical School plans
Our President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Boyle has signed a new partnership agreement supporting Aston University’s initiative for a medical school in the heart of Birmingham.
Aston Medical School is planned to open to 60 undergraduate medical students in autumn 2017, growing to around 100 new medical students each year. It includes a research institute focused on cardiovascular diseases, maternity and child health. Aston Medical Research Institute is addressing the challenge of high perinatal mortality and also pre-eclampsia, a dangerous hypertensive complication of pregnancy.
The University will adopt Leicester Medical School’s new five year curriculum plan and we are acting as guarantor to the new Aston Medical School and its curriculum to support the process of General Medical Council approval.
The School will have a strong emphasis on individual scholarships and financial assistance programmes to encourage social mobility in medicine for students in the West Midlands. A total of 20 medical scholarships will be specifically earmarked for students within Birmingham and the Black Country from ‘hard to reach communities’. The remainder will be open to international-fee paying students, which will in-turn help to fund the scholarship programme and bring new employment opportunities and funds into the City.
The official partnership was signed by Professor Dame Julia King, Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, and Professor Paul Boyle, our President and Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Paul Boyle, said: “Improving access to higher education in general and medical training in particular is a key priority for our University. Leicester is among the UK’s leading universities with a strong record for social inclusivity and this partnership strengthens our mission to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in higher education provision.”