New guidelines are to be brought in to ensure equal opportunities in UK medical schools, following a study by the Council of Heads of Medical Schools that found that students from different ethnic backgrounds were at a disadvantage.
Working with the Commission for Racial Equality, the council has drawn up an eight point list of guiding principles for the selection of students to be adopted by all 24 medical schools.
Queen's University of Belfast was quick to claim it was one of only nine British medical schools where applicants from ethnic minorities were not disadvantaged.
Stephen Tomlinson, executive secretary of CHMS and dean of the medical school at the University of Manchester, said: "All applicants to medical school must be treated equally and fairly and we are very concerned about any indications this is not happening. We are examining the data further through closer research."
The eight-point list includes requirements for all medical schools to publish and monitor opportunities' action plans and a clear commitment to monitor and publish application figures.