Last September, the first MDDA (medical doctor degree apprenticeship) programme was launched at Anglia Ruskin University.

The first pilot programme follows the same structure and duration as the standard ARU medical degree course but includes work in non-patient-facing hospital roles during non-term time, no tuitions fees, subsided accommodation, and a salary of between £14,606 and £22,038.

The BMA has raised significant concerns about MDDA programmes. 

The BMA medical students committee recently asked medical students at ARU and the two other proposed pilot sites (Plymouth and UCLAN) for their views on the MDDA programmes. The results were:

– Almost 7 in 10 students across the three medical schools disagreed or strongly disagreed MDDAs were a positive development for medical education (1)

– Just over 7 in 10 students disagreed or strongly disagreed that it was a good idea for their university to run an apprenticeship programme (2)

– Just over 5 in 10 students disagreed or strongly disagreed that the non-medical NHS roles apprentices would perform had educational value (3)

– Three quarters of students disagreed or strongly disagreed that they were consulted prior to the introduction of these programmes at their university (4)

There has been little consultation with medical students on the introduction of MDDA programmes.

These results, although only a small snapshot of student views (5), indicate current medical students have concerns about this development in medical education. We are pleased the Government has taken the sensible decision to pause these programmes.

Given the significant issues facing medical students, this funding could and indeed should be used to support proven widening participation initiatives and to fix medical student funding in line with our BMA campaign. 

Callum Williams and Elgan Manton-Roseblade are deputy co-chairs (education) – BMA medical students committee