The next generation of South of Scotland doctors will be able to learn closer to home following a signing between University of the West of Scotland (UWS), University of Dundee and University of St Andrews at UWS’s Dumfries campus on Friday 31 October 2025.

The agreement will see students on the ScotGEM designated as the ‘Crichton Cohort’ as they are provided with a base and access to UWS’s clinical skills facilities in Dumfries. The partnership will explore further opportunities for collaboration including broader access for UWS students to participate in ScotGEM through the development of new articulation pathways.

ScotGEM is Scotland’s first graduate entry medical programme, with the programme working in partnership with four NHS boards. Designed to develop doctors interested in a career as a generalist practitioner within NHS Scotland, with an emphasis on rural needs. The first Crichton Cohort will see 17 students being taught at UWS’s Dumfries campus.

Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “Today’s signing in the latest example of UWS being rooted in our communities and helping, in partnership, to address local problems with local solutions. Bringing a scheme like this to Dumfries and Galloway is only possible due to the investment we have made into our state-of-the-art clinical skills facilities. We are excited for the new Crichton Cohort and all that they will contribute as well as the possibilities of future collaboration between all three universities that can produce innovative new pathways into medicine.”

Today’s signing in the latest example of UWS being rooted in our communities and helping, in partnership, to address local problems with local solutions.

Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at University of St Andrews said: “ScotGEM is a great asset to patients and healthcare partners in Scotland, including in the vital role of delivering medicine in rural settings to challenge and improve healthcare practice. The opportunity to partner with UWS is greatly welcomed by the University of St Andrews and we see this collaboration as a really good example of how Scottish universities can work so well together.”

ScotGEM is a great asset to patients and healthcare partners in Scotland, including in the vital role of delivering medicine in rural settings to challenge and improve healthcare practice.

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at University of St Andrews

Professor Nigel Seaton, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor at University of Dundee said: “We are delighted to commit to this partnership and to bring Dundee expertise to bear on efforts to allow graduates to train as doctors and to address the particular need for GPs in rural areas.

“ScotGEM has proved immensely successful in doing just that since it was launched and I look forward to seeing this partnership develop in future years.”

We are delighted to commit to this partnership and to bring Dundee expertise to bear on efforts to allow graduates to train as doctors and to address the particular need for GPs in rural areas.

Professor Nigel Seaton, Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor at University of Dundee

Dr Sara Proudfoot, Associate Director of Medical Education ScotGEM for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: “We are delighted to see this partnership develop and to be in a position to make use of the excellent training facilities at the UWS Dumfries campus.

“This collaboration strengthens local opportunities for healthcare education and opens up exciting possibilities for more people to enter the ScotGEM programme, which trains doctors with a focus on general practice and meeting the needs of rural communities.

“It’s a positive step towards growing our own future workforce and ensuring that communities across Dumfries and Galloway continue to benefit from dedicated, locally trained professionals.”

This collaboration strengthens local opportunities for healthcare education and opens up exciting possibilities for more people to enter the ScotGEM programme, which trains doctors with a focus on general practice and meeting the needs of rural communities.

Dr Sara Proudfoot, Associate Director of Medical Education ScotGEM for NHS Dumfries and Galloway