Medical schools recognise the value that students with diverse life experiences bring to both education and the medical profession.
Our work in widening participation focuses on identifying where young people have been excluded or disadvantaged by existing structures and policies. We work with medical schools on measures that help combat these exclusions.
Fostering potential – a decade of widening access to medicine
In 2014, we published Fostering Potential, a comprehensive report detailing a decade of work to widen access to medicine. The report highlights the significant impact of initiatives led by medical schools and sets out new objectives to guide continued progress over the next ten years.
By 2032, medical schools aim for 33 per cent of students to come from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is equivalent to nearly 6,000 students each year.
Priorities for the next 10 years
- Expand medical school places alongside growth in outreach efforts and allow more flexible entry routes, especially in under-served areas.
- Shift the approach to widening participation by valuing students’ unique experiences and fix systemic barriers, not students themselves.
- Demystify admissions and make contextual admissions more transparent to help applicants understand their options.
- Promote collaboration and encourage joint outreach between medical schools.
- Strengthen the evidence base by tracking the long-term impact of outreach to guide future improvements.
- Support students beyond admission by providing more help for widening participation students at medical school.
- Ensure fair career progression and work with partners to help all students prepare for specialty training and ensure the process supports those facing additional barriers.
