​The NIMSC represents all medical students in Northern Ireland. It considers and acts on matters affecting those studying medicine.

The committee also works closely with the NIRDC (resident doctors committee) to advise on issues of concern to medical students and to update the committee on the work of NIMSC.

Our priorities

NI Medical students career intentions survey

Final and penultimate year medical students at Northern Ireland’s two medical schools were asked to complete an online survey to better understand their career intentions once they graduate, including whether they plan to stay and work here and what factors are influencing their decisions.

The overarching theme from survey responses is that medical students do not see Northern Ireland as an attractive place to work as a doctor.

• Over half of respondents (54%) are either planning to leave Northern Ireland or are currently undecided once they finish their foundation training.
• Over 66% of those who do plan to leave say they are heading to Australia to work.
• Of those who reported planning to leave either Northern Ireland or medicine entirely after foundation training, over 81% of respondents said their decision was because of pay and conditions, followed by the poor state of the health service, and over 51% citing poor experiences of training or medical education here.
• Only 3.92% of respondents consider that doctors’ pay, and reward is fair in Northern Ireland.
• Over 83% of respondents said that “Improved pay” would encourage them to remain in Northern Ireland to continue training, with almost 77% citing “improved working conditions”.
• Those choosing to stay in NI cite family and support networks as the overwhelming reason.

NIMSC will use the results of the survey to support its ongoing work to improve the experience of medical students in Northern Ireland throughout their medical education.

Read the statement

WATCH: NI med students talk about their career intentions

Finance

NIMSC has produced their latest finance guide which has been put together to provide you with the information you need to navigate the world of medical student finance, and to point you in the direction of the help and support that is available. If you have any queries please email Hilary Nesbitt at [email protected]

Racial harassment charter

NIMSC is delighted that both QUB and UU medical schools have signed up to the BMA Racial Harassment Charter. The Charter focusses on four mains areas: Supporting individuals to speak out; ensuring robust processes for reporting and handling complaints; mainstreaming equality, diversity and inclusion across the learning environment, and; addressing racial harassment on work placements. A review was carried out last year to establish medical schools’ progress to implement the charter. Read the summary report.

#ThinkAheadMed

A guidance resource aimed at highlighting the huge number of opportunities available to students both inside and outside of medical school that can help enhance their CV ahead of applying for FY1. The resource covers everything from extra-curricular roles and responsibilities to involvement in societies, quality improvement, research, teaching and demonstrating leadership etc. 

Download your copy of the #ThinkAheadMed booklet.

Widening participation

Post primary pupils from across Northern Ireland attended our latest Widening participation in medicine event in Belfast. The event is part of a UK-wide initiative by the BMA to encourage pupils from all socio-economic backgrounds to consider a career as a doctor. Check out our new booklet, Why haven’t you thought about studying medicine yet? – a guide for school pupils who would like to study medicine.

Medical workforce planning

Along with the other Northern Ireland branches of practice, NIMSC will continue to influence the Department of Health and Social Care to produce a comprehensive and effective medical workforce place.

Medical Education

Representing students at the DoH Medical Student Management Group which oversees the provision of medical education through the sub deanery mechanism.  The group makes recommendations that will provide an equitable student clinical experience within HSC in Northern Ireland.

Remaining in close dialogue with the GMC and ensuring students' interests are central to the implementation of the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA).

Working with the UK Foundation Programme office to introduce a new Preference Informed Allocation process for medical graduates in which applicants will be given a computer-generated rank and will no longer be required to sit the Situational Judgement Test (SJT). The Educational Performance Measure (EPM) score will also no longer be used. 

Our people

Chair: Milan Kapoor

Our meetings

We meet four times a year to discuss the latest issues affecting medical students in Northern Ireland.

Only members of the NIMSC may participate in votes; however, medical students who are BMA members are welcome to attend in a non-voting capacity as part of the BMA committee visitor scheme.

Meeting dates:

• Wednesday 18 October 2023 (hybrid)
• Wednesday 10 January 2024 (online)
• Wednesday 27 March 2024 (hybrid)
• Wednesday 22 May 2024 (online)

All meetings start at 2pm.

How to join

There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills. 

Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of NIMSC, this is: 

The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.  

Elections

We are always looking for new committee members with fresh ideas and voices to help represent the interests of med students.

If you are interested in representing the year group you will be starting in 2025/26 academic year and you are a BMA member, please consider standing for election by going to our online elections webpage and completing a nomination form.

In return you will get access to a range of training, the opportunity to attend meetings and conferences on behalf of the BMA, networking opportunities and meeting other medical students with a range of interests.

• There are 2 seats available for representatives from each year group at QUB medical school.
• There is 1 seat available for a representative from each year group at UU medical school.

If you are interested in representing your year group (the year groups you will be starting in August/September 2025) and medical school on NIMSC, please consider standing for election by going to our online elections webpage and completing the relevant online nomination form. 

Please note that you must have a Northern Ireland address to be eligible to nominate in this election.  If you would like to amend your current contact address, please email Heather Cassell on [email protected]

If you have any questions or queries in relation to this, please feel free to contact Hilary Nesbitt at the BMA on [email protected]

Please note, the first meeting of the new session will take place on Wednesday 22 October 2025 at 1pm (to include lunch). This will be a hybrid meeting, venue tbc.

Get in touch

If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the NIMSC, email us or call 028 9026 9666.

The NIMSC is always keen to hear the views of medical students on the work that the committee is doing and what its priorities should be. You can email the chair via our secretariat.