The University of Chester has welcomed its first-ever cohort of graduate entry medicine students.

The new students were greeted at the university's Wheeler building by Vice-Chancellor Professor Eunice Simmons, Dean of Chester Medical School Professor Arpan Guha, and their lecturers.

This comes after the university received funding for 50 places for home students and 25 international student places, as announced by former health secretary Steve Barclay in October 2023.

Chester Medical School is set to welcome 55 home and 25 international students for the 2025 intake.

The MBChB graduate entry medicine programme is a four-year degree open to applicants with a previous degree in any discipline.

This structure allows mature students to consider becoming doctors after completing a previous course of study towards a graduate degree.

The programme is open to people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just those with a background in science or allied health care disciplines.

Students will learn in clinical settings from an early stage, with placements in the community, general practices, and NHS hospitals throughout Cheshire, Shropshire, and North Wales.

Ms Simmons welcomed the students by saying: "Welcome to Chester and welcome to the world of medicine.

"It’s so exciting to meet the first intake of students for the graduate entry medicine course here at the University of Chester.

"We are thrilled to play our role in supporting the next generation of doctors into the healthcare workforce."

The dean of Chester Medical School said: "With our fantastic skills and simulation facilities, Chester Medical School is a great place for students to learn.

"We are pleased to welcome our new students and look forward to watching them progress."

The university said this marks a "significant milestone" in its "ongoing commitment to excellence in medical education".