​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 continues to proactively lobby Department of Health (DoH), Department for the Economy and the country’s elected representatives to remove any financial barriers to studying medicine. Find out more about our campaign.

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

The BMA UK-wide initiative encourages pupils from all socio-economic backgrounds to consider a career as a doctor. As part of this initiative, NIMSC has developed 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.

Working with the the other MSCs and the UK Foundation Programme office to monitor and review the application of the new Preference Informed Allocation process for medical graduates to ensure it is a system which values and supports graduates in this vital stage of their career as they transition from student to doctor.

Our people

Chair: Milan Kapoor

Deputy chair: Tess Whitworth

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 22 October 2025 (Hybrid)
• Wednesday 14 January 2026 (online)
• Wednesday 18 March 2026 (Hybrid)
• Wednesday 3 June 2026 (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

BMA Northern Ireland medical students committee elections 2026-27

Nominations are now being sought for the election of 10* voting members from Queen’s University Belfast and 4* voting members from Ulster University to serve on the BMA Northern Ireland medical students committee (NIMSC). Members will be elected to serve for one year for the session 2026-27.

Deadline for nominations: 12noon Tuesday 23 June 2026

How to nominate

Nominations can be made from Tuesday 26 May on the BMA's online elections portal.

You will need to have already registered with the BMA website to access the online elections website. Please make sure we have the right details for you. 

*Separate nomination and election rounds will be held for the 1st year representatives from QUB & UU once the 2026 term commences.

Who can nominate?

Medical students who are:

• Studying at Queen’s University, Belfast or Ulster University
• Committed to the requirements of your course and your medical school during the year you hold office

What does NIMSC do?

• Represents med students studying Northern Ireland.
• Works on issues that directly impact on medical students, particularly those relating to education, welfare and finance.
• Lobbies the Northern Ireland Assembly, both medical schools, the Department of Health and HSC trusts.
• Represents Northern Ireland’s voice on BMA’s UK Medical Students Committee and works with BMA’s other Northern Ireland branch of practice committees.

Role of NIMSC members

To represent the views of medical students in year group by being an active member of NIMSC. You will be the first point of contact between the committee and your year colleagues and will have an important role ensuring that excellent communication is maintained between the two.

You will be expected to:

• Seek students’ views on issues that affect them so that the NIMSC is fully representative of the student body
• Report issues of concern, brought to your attention by fellow students, to the NIMSC
• Within existing structures, identify and act on local issues on behalf of medical students
• Report back to fellow students on the work being undertaken by the NIMSC
• Work with fellow committee members to achieve the objectives identified in the NIMSCs yearly work plan
• Where appropriate, work with BMA members of staff to organise and publicise local activities

Election schedule

The schedule for election is expected to be as follows.

• From 26 May – 23 June 2026 nominations are open online.
• Once nominations are closed, all nominations are reviewed for eligibility before the voting stage begins.
• All medical students will be emailed notifying them of the opening of online voting.
• Voting will run from 23 June – 7 July 2026.
• As soon as possible after the results have been calculated, the Northern Ireland medical students committee secretariat will contact all candidates to let them know the outcome of the elections.
• Election results are then posted on the BMA website.

The first meeting of the NI medical students committee will take place on Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 2.00pm.

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.