The University of Bolton’s Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) is now open for applications, with prospective students set to commence their studies from September 2024.

Based in the grounds of the Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth, the £40m facility will increase the university’s capacity to train clinical skills professionals, delivering training to approximately 3,000 learners per year, with the building itself housing 950 students at any one time.

Courses now open for applications include nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy in addition to a wealth of further options.

The university will be offering postgraduate medicine programmes from 2024 and aims to be offering undergraduate degrees in medicine from September 2025.

Courses from September 2024 will range from entry to higher level apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and continuing professional development opportunities.

The development will mark a new beginning for the future of healthcare training in Bolton and the North West.

Boasting state of the art facilities and equipment, IMS includes six simulation suites that will provide unrivalled training opportunities. Designed to recreate various healthcare delivery scenarios – from hospital wards to at-home help to emergency responding - the suites can replicate an incredibly precise clinical environment within a controlled and simulated setting.

In addition, IMS will include a state-of-the-art 4D room to take the interactive learning experience further, using projectors, sounds, lighting and smells to generate realistic scenarios in a controlled manner.

IMS’ curriculum will benefit from its close partnership with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor George Holmes DL, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton said: “We should not underestimate the importance of this development.

“It aligns the University with key partners and addresses directly national priorities for more staff in the NHS.

“The opening of this facility represents real tangible investment by the University in the future of Bolton and the way we serve the people of the region.”

He added: “As simply the best University in the North West for teaching (National Student Survey 2023), learners joining courses at the new Institute of Medical Sciences can be assured of a gold standard student experience.

The Bolton News: University of Bolton’s new £40m Institute of Medical Sciences

“We’re truly excited to welcome applications for the first cohort of learners into the Institute of Medical Sciences.

“As we welcome applications to join IMS, the university’s medical school is progressing well. We are not yet in a position to ask for applications to the Medical School at this time to study undergraduate medicine. We look forward to satisfying the General Medical Council that we will be ready next year.

“I am delighted to say that our health programmes are growing and the future is very exciting.

“Seeing learners in classrooms at IMS will be the culmination of years of hard work to deliver a UK-leading training facility here in Bolton. I encourage everyone to see what we’ve got on offer and how they can be a part of what’s happening here.”