Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS), a partnership between Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent, has been granted full accreditation by the General Medical Council (GMC). As of 9 April 2025, KMMS joins the list of institutions authorised to award UK primary medical qualifications—marking a major milestone ahead of the School’s first graduating cohort this summer.
KMMS is the first medical school in Kent and Medway. It opened in September 2020, to support the healthcare needs of the region with highly qualified doctors. It now boasts over 500 medical students, with the original 2020 cohort due to enter the healthcare workforce later this year.
Like all new UK medical schools, KMMS has undergone rigorous evaluation by the GMC to ensure it meets the high standards set out in Promoting excellence: standards for medical education and training.
Since the GMC’s first visit in 2019, the school has been subject to a series of thorough inspections—both in-person and virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic—culminating in this landmark decision.
Professor Chris Holland, Founding Dean of KMMS, said: “Opening a new medical school has been a tremendous privilege. This announcement marks a day I’ve long awaited, and it reflects the extraordinary dedication, hard work and belief of so many. From our staff and colleagues at Kent and CCCU, to our NHS partners, benefactors, local community stakeholders, and of course, our remarkable students, this is a shared achievement.”
He continued: “Our founding students joined us during the global pandemic and put their faith in KMMS and our vision, and they have worked so hard to complete their course and to support and work with all of us as we shaped the school together”
Professor Rama Thirunamachandran OBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Principal of Canterbury Christ Church University, said: “We are delighted that KMMS has been awarded full accreditation by the General Medical Council. It has taken a lot of hard work, dedication, and vision from many colleagues across the two universities, the medical school, and partners to achieve this milestone.
“When we started our work, many years ago, to bring to life the concept of Kent and Medway’s very first medical school, little did we think that it would be opening its doors in the middle of a global pandemic. It is a testament not only to the staff but also to our students that KMMS grows from strength to strength. Later this year, we will be celebrating the graduation of our first cohort, and the first KMMS doctors to join our local hospitals and healthcare settings, supporting the health and wellbeing of our local communities, delivering high quality care across our region.”
Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Kent, said: “This is great news for everyone who has worked to ensure that the Kent and Medway Medical School is delivering for our students, the medical profession across the UK and our region, where hospitals, local practices and patients will benefit from a new generation of highly skilled doctors.
“It is also testament to the hard work of colleagues here at the University of Kent and our partners at Canterbury Christ Church University, the NHS, and beyond, to ensure that we have a world-class medical school right here on our doorstep – one that we should all be proud of and continue to expect great things from.“