About us
We have taught medicine in Newcastle since 1834. We are proud of our rich and vibrant history, which provides a strong foundation for innovation and growth.
The Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) is home to over 1800 academics, technical and professional staff. These staff drive forward world-leading advances in pioneering research and education.
Our academics are world-leading, taking huge strides forward in finding solutions to some of the world’s biggest health challenges. These academics are teaching the doctors, dentists and medical scientists of tomorrow.
We aim to be the best medical sciences faculty in the UK, based on our:
- education
- research
- impact
- global reach
Pioneering research
Within the Faculty of Medical Sciences, we strive to make evidence-led contributions to science. Our research underpins:
- clinical and professional practice
- undergraduate and postgraduate education
- policy and impact
- health and wellbeing
- legitimising medical research through the highest quality publications
We cover a broad range of disciplines. Research scientists, engineers, clinicians, and teaching professionals lead these disciplines. Our goal is to transform innovative medical research into novel treatments that improve health for all. Some of our many achievements include:
- lifestyle intervention to reverse Type 2 Diabetes
- an IVF technique to prevent mitochondrial disease transmission from parent to child
- novel drug treatment for ovarian cancer
- a single cell atlas of prenatal human skin to understand how skin forms, and what goes wrong with disease
We benefit from world-class facilities and equipment. Our faculty recognises the expert contribution made by our technical community. We are a founding signatory of the Technician Commitment. We ensure the development of this core staff grouping and the technical career pathway.
We arrange our research into themes, uniting teams across disciplines to tackle the most pressing challenges in health and healthcare. Three research institutes support these themes and provide strategic guidance.
World-class teaching
We have a long-standing reputation for being one of the best places to study medicine, dentistry and health sciences in the world. Our subjects regularly feature in the top percentiles of major international rankings.
Our teaching will give you an engaging and diverse experience, brought to you by world-leading:
- researchers
- clinicians
- technicians
- other professionals
We utilise the latest in technology across all our subject areas. We make sure students have access to the best resources and learning environments.
Students are central to what we do here at FMS and their voice is key to designing and reviewing our teaching.
Faculty Research-led Education Federation
We commit to providing the best education possible to our students. We also aim to provide academic colleagues with opportunities to contribute to those students and develop their own well-rounded careers.
Our Faculty Research-led Education Federation (FREF) was formed in 2019. It helps us to lead in delivering high quality research informed teaching. It facilitates discussions between units and the integration of research with teaching. FREF provides an interface for our research institute colleagues and teaching developments. This all helps to encourage a generation of innovation in education and the sharing of best practices.
Clinicians and healthcare professionals
We are national leaders in clinical academic career development. We developed the UK model for Academic Clinical Fellows and lecturers. This led to the first UK Academic Foundation Programme.
Our Clinical Academic Office provides interdisciplinary and cross-professional integration of training support. We also host the Newcastle Health Innovation Partners Academy. This provides bespoke training and support for health and care researchers looking to advance their academic careers.
Together with our NHS partners, we lead on career development for:
- nurses
- midwives
- allied health professionals
We have excellent relationships with our local NHS Trusts and together we oversee clinical research facilities and clinical trials, in state-of-the-art facilities.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) at Newcastle University is committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Aligned with the University’s EDI strategy, the Faculty promotes a respectful, inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Its dedicated EDI team works closely with colleagues and students to support initiatives that enhance belonging and fairness. Recognised with the Athena Swan Silver Award, FMS is making tangible progress in gender equality and institutional change. With values rooted in kindness, integrity and collaboration, EDI is central to the Faculty’s mission of creating a more inclusive future in medical education and research.
Learn more about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Newcastle University.