Cover image via @numedmalaysia (Instagram)
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Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) has issued an official response to the UK's Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026
In a statement shared by NUMed with SAYS earlier today, 6 May, the Johor-based university has outlined the steps it says it is taking to support its MBBS students and graduates after the law effectively deprioritised them from NHS foundation training.
NUMed confirmed in its statement that in the 2026 UK Foundation Programme (UKFP) cycle, all 103 of its graduates who applied were placed on the reserve list, despite holding a GMC-accredited UK qualification and meeting all academic and regulatory standards.
Under the Act, UKFP places must be offered to UK-based graduates and defined priority groups first, before reserve list applicants are considered.
| Priority Level | Included Student Groups |
|---|---|
| Top Priority |
UK Medical Graduates Graduates from Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland |
| Non-Priority (Reserve List) |
NUMed (Malaysia) QMUL (Malta) All other international medical graduates (IMGs) |
Source: Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 / UKFPO Eligibility Guidelines
To be clear, being on the reserve list does not mean automatic exclusion. But in a system where UK-based graduates fill available slots first, the practical odds of reserve list allocation are significantly lower.
What NUMed says it's doing
According to the university, it has been engaging with the British High Commission in Malaysia, the British Council, the UK Department for Business and Trade, and the Medical Schools Council since January 2026, before the Act received Royal Assent in March.
NUMed says it is also collaborating with other affected transnational education institutions to present a coordinated position, and has engaged directly with UK Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords.
Whether any of that engagement has produced concrete commitments or policy changes was not stated in the statement.
On the student support side, NUMed says the Vice-Chancellor held a town hall with all MBBS students in March, and that regular communication has continued through email briefings and individual academic mentoring.
Additional wellbeing support has also been introduced in response to what the university describes as "heightened anxiety among the student community".
A dedicated Careers Day is scheduled on Friday, 8 May, featuring speakers on the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Australian medical licensing, career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector, and the Malaysian Armed Forces Medical Corps, among others.
What the university is saying publicly
"NUMed is actively supporting students to explore all available options, including alternative pathways to General Medical Council (GMC) registration, as well as providing information on international medical careers and dedicated careers events," said Professor Dennis Wong, Regional Provost and Group CEO (East and Southeast Asia).
"Our priority is, and always will be, our students. We understand the uncertainty this development creates, and we are fully mobilised to support every student through it," he added.
NUMed also reiterated that its MBBS degree remains identical to the degree awarded by its UK counterpart, and that NUMed graduates are not excluded from applying for the UKFP, only deprioritised under the new framework.
Regional Provost and Group CEO (East & South East Asia), Professor Dennis Wong, welcoming delegates from the Cardiff University Kazakhstan campus to NUMed.
Image via @numedmalaysia (Instagram)The disclaimer
NUMed stated that published information for applicants has always included the disclaimer that access to UK postgraduate training "cannot be guaranteed" and "may change before you graduate".
The disclaimer is technically accurate. But as it has been reported, the consistent progression of NUMed graduates into the UKFP in recent years has understandably shaped what students and families expected when they enrolled and paid up to RM700,000 in fees.
NUMed acknowledged this directly, saying, "The university acknowledges that the progression of many graduates into the UK Foundation Programme in recent years has understandably shaped student expectations."
