Medical Apprenticeships: A new route into medicine?

You may have seen that soon, there will be a select few NHS doctor apprenticeships available. The NHS recruitment and training body, Health Education England (HEE), confirmed funding for a new Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship in January 2023.

These doctor apprenticeships will provide opportunities for many different people, who may have otherwise not been able to study medicine. One of the main issues that deters people from going to university is the cost. Although student loans are available, these often aren’t enough to cover living costs. With the doctor apprenticeship, individuals will earn an apprentice salary, whilst learning on the job. There is also no student loan to pay back. Widening the access to medicine will help with the ever-growing demand of doctors in the UK.

Apprentices will complete training at the same quality standard as those taking the traditional route, with any medical school offering the Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship being approved by the General Medical Council.  However, a key difference between these apprenticeships, and the traditional route is that within these apprenticeships, apprentices will work as a trainee medical practitioner while studying towards their medical degree.

One of the first places to offer a doctor degree apprenticeship is Peninsula Medical School, at the University of Plymouth. It is primarily aimed at graduates currently employed as healthcare professionals. Professor Laura Bowater MBE said “ We are one of the first universities to pilot the Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship (MDDA) , starting in September 2024. Our programme takes a blended learning approach; apprentices will undertake academic studies in their own geographical environment and will undertake placement in their own Trusts and placement collaboratives.”