Five new medical schools are to be created by English universities in a bid to train more doctors.

Anglia Ruskin 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ is to start training medical students at its Chelmsford campus from September, followed by the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Sunderland and a new partnership between the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Nottingham and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Lincoln, based in Lincoln, the following year.

The final two medical schools ¨C one at Edge Hill 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, and another a collaboration between the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ ¨C will open in 2020.

The announcements were part of a wider initiative to increase the overall number of medical school places in England by 1,500 over the next three years.

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said: ¡°This significant expansion opens the door for many more students, including students from underrepresented groups, to gain high-quality medical education and training.

¡°Following a rigorous competitive process, an ambitious portfolio of places has been allocated across both new and established medical schools, which will offer innovative training and provision.

51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

¡°Universities and colleges across the country play a vital role in supporting their local and regional communities. This initiative will provide highly skilled professionals, many of whom will go on to serve communities in areas of greatest need.¡±

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com