Written question WQ83391

Applicants who are living in Wales but have arrived from other countries are encouraged to apply to medicine. Both Cardiff and Swansea University make considerable efforts to understand the educational backgrounds of such applicants to ensure that they are treated fairly and equitably in competition with all other applicants. Cardiff University also supports several medical students from such backgrounds who have obtained a place on the course but face financial hardship in terms of paying fees.

Discussions continue within Cardiff University to extend the Tuition Fee Waiver to applicants wishing to study on full-time undergraduate Medical, Dentistry and NHS-funded courses, although these discussions are at an early stage.

Swansea has a number of foreign citizens living in the UK legally, studying medicine at Swansea University. They apply through the normal UCAS channels as 'International students' and go through the same application stages as public-funded UK students. Swansea’s graduate entry programme is very popular, with over 130 international applicants submitted last year for only eight places.

The medical schools in Wales are experienced in working with International applicants, providing support through the application process, facilitating virtual Open Days.

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) works in partnership with Displaced People in Action (DPIA) to support doctors seeking sanctuary in Wales through the Wales Asylum Seeking and Refugee Doctors (WARD) project. WARD provides an opportunity for the members to gain GMC registration, thereby enabling integration and inclusion in the society whilst contributing to workforce for NHS Wales.

The WARD teaching programme delivers education, training needs and pastoral support for refugee/asylum seeker doctors in Wales and helps the members to meet the standards required to pass the required tests.

Following GMC registration, any WARD member, who qualifies to work in the UK, has the opportunity to work in a supernumerary post. These posts have been designed to empower refugee doctors in Wales, to help fulfil the current and future workforce needs of NHS Wales and to work towards the Welsh Government strategic workforce planning.