Following over 15 years of collaboration, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK, and St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada, in the Caribbean, have announced a renewed commitment aimed at delivering an international medical education to students worldwide.

The SGU pathway with Northumbria University was established in 2007 to create a route for  international students to pursue medical education. The pathway was designed to develop knowledge, clinical skills, and research interests while giving students the opportunity to experience two different healthcare systems and enable them to pursue practicing medicine with a global perspective.

Under the new 10-year agreement, students can join a four-year Medical Degree program with a relevant bachelor’s degree. Students with high school-level qualifications can also join an MD pathway with one or two years of additional study.

Students will begin their studies at Northumbria and complete one, two, or three years of study, dependent upon their enrolment in either the four-year Doctor of Medicine or the five- or six-year Medical Degree Pathway. They then travel to Grenada to complete one year of study in Principles of Clinical Medicine at SGU’s main campus in Grenada before undertaking two years of clinical rotations in the US or UK.

Dr. James Coey, SGU Assistant Dean of Basic Sciences, said “Northumbria University and SGU share a similar vision of producing healthcare professionals who are equipped to tackle real-world challenges in a diverse range of settings. This relationship will enable us to continue combining our expertise, knowledge, and resources to produce the doctors of tomorrow who will go on to make a positive impact on global health.”

Another key feature of the new relationship is the ‘dual degree’ opportunity. Students studying in Newcastle may achieve both a Doctor of Medicine Degree from SGU as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Sciences (BMedSci) from Northumbria University.

Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with SGU, and we are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with them”. Together, we have created a unique educational experience that takes advantage of our collective strengths in a way that ensures our students are equipped with the tools they need to provide outstanding care to patients around the world.”

This year the two institutions celebrated the 2000th student joining Northumbria as part of the SGU pathways and the new agreement will help the next 2000 students benefit from this unique study option over the next 10 years.

Dr. Richard Liebowitz, Vice Chancellor of St. George’s University, said: “The relationship between SGU and Northumbria University is now in its 16th year. The new agreement provides the platform for the next 10 years of our relationship and reflects the commitment of both universities to delivering an education that is truly global in nature and provides future doctors with a comprehensive education that prepares them for successful careers in medicine.”