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* A first assessment of the 21 bids from universities keen to expand or start new medical schools is underway. The joint implementation group - which will decide how to distribute the 1,000 extra medical places agreed by government - met earlier this week.

Three new medical schools have been proposed: one is a joint bid between the Open University, Exeter and Plymouth in the Southwest; another is at Hull University; and the third is at the University of East Anglia.

Other universities putting in joint bids with existing providers include Keele, Warwick and Durham. Many of the bids are for shortened four-year courses for graduates.