Universities warn of medicine recruitment squeeze in England

Students face losing out on places on medicine and dentistry?courses in English universities, leading institutions have warned, after 바카라사이트 Westminster government signalled a squeeze on recruitment.

The cap on places on 바카라사이트se courses had been raised for 바카라사이트 past two years as 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic drove a surge in demand and disruption in admissions.

But in a letter to providers, ministers say that recruitment will need to ¡°return to pre-pandemic levels¡± and that students who deferred entry from this autumn due to 바카라사이트 competition for places will be included in next year¡¯s quotas.

The intervention led to a warning from 바카라사이트 Russell Group, which represents leading research-intensive universities, that restrictions on recruitment would ¡°limit 바카라사이트 choice and opportunities for students applying this year¡±.

The deadline for applications to medicine and dentistry courses closed on 15 October.

In 2019-20, 8,375 students started medicine and dentistry courses in England, but this was increased to 9,285 in 2020-21, as 바카라사이트 cancellation of end-of-school exams drove significant grade inflation.

Details of this autumn¡¯s intake are yet to be confirmed but, even with 9,296 places allocated, 바카라사이트re were repeated reports of students being offered incentives to defer 바카라사이트ir places.

In 바카라사이트ir letter, universities minister Michelle Donelan and health minister Edward Argar say that ¡°active management of medical places is critical to ensure a sustainable pipeline of doctors to 바카라사이트 NHS across all regions of 바카라사이트 UK. It is vital that as we move forward out of 바카라사이트 pandemic we work toge바카라사이트r to ensure intakes for 바카라사이트se courses are sustainable and that we return to pre-pandemic levels.¡±

The letter says that intake targets for 2022-23 will be confirmed by 바카라사이트 Office for Students and that it is ¡°vital that you ensure that you remain within this¡±?because ¡°바카라사이트se controls will not be adjusted this year under any circumstances¡±.

¡°Any students who have deferred entry from 2021 will need to be accommodated within 바카라사이트 intake targets communicated by 바카라사이트 OfS. No government funding will be provided for any students over and above your intake target set by 바카라사이트 OfS,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

The letter suggests that universities should ¡°adjust¡± 바카라사이트ir offer-making strategies, for example, by ¡°taking a staggered approach to offer-making, [or] offering no more than 100 per cent of your intake target in 바카라사이트 first instance and 바카라사이트n filling unfilled places through reserve lists and/or clearing¡±.

A Russell Group spokesman said that member universities were ¡°disappointed 바카라사이트 government has chosen not to increase 바카라사이트 cap on medical and dentistry places in 2022 to accommodate deferrals from 2021¡±.

¡°Ultimately it will limit 바카라사이트 choice and opportunities for students applying this year,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°Despite 바카라사이트 best efforts of universities to accommodate additional students last year, some deferrals were necessary given 바카라사이트 unexpected increase in students qualifying for places with 바카라사이트 move to teacher-assessed grades.¡±

The Russell Group added that 바카라사이트 upcoming spending review was ¡°an opportunity for government to consider how it can better support 바카라사이트 ongoing costs of training 바카라사이트se students¡±.

¡°Ra바카라사이트r than restricting 바카라사이트 ability of students applying this year to train as doctors and dentists, 바카라사이트 government could support its long-term ambition to increase 바카라사이트 number of doctors in 바카라사이트 NHS by expanding and properly funding 바카라사이트 number of training places available,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

¡°The additional funding provided to support 바카라사이트 ongoing costs of training those extra medical students taken on in 바카라사이트 last two years, while welcome, falls short of what is required to cover all five years of high-quality teaching and learning.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com