St Mary’s University College has successfully delivered the first Queen’s University Belfast School of Medicine Year 4 Pillar Week, welcoming approximately 320 medical students each day to the College campus from 24-28 August 2026.

The week marked an important new development in the partnership between St Mary’s and Queen’s, bringing the two institutions together to support a substantial programme of medical education. It is the first of four Pillar Weeks being hosted at St Mary’s during 2026-27, with further weeks scheduled for October 2026, January 2027 and March 2027.

Throughout the week, students participated in a structured programme of plenary and smaller group teaching across key areas of the Year 4 medical curriculum, including General Practice, Mental Health, Ageing and Health, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence, Reproductive Health and Oncology.

A particular feature of the opening day was the contribution of healthcare professionals from across Northern Ireland. Representatives from the Belfast, Northern, Western, Southern and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trusts engaged with student groups, bringing valuable clinical and professional perspectives to their learning.

The programme therefore provided an important opportunity to bring together medical students, university colleagues and practising healthcare professionals within a focused learning environment.

For St Mary’s, the initiative represents considerably more than hosting a programme on campus. It demonstrates the College’s capacity to support significant educational activity in collaboration with another higher education institution and to welcome students, academics and healthcare professionals from across Northern Ireland.

It also aligns closely with the College’s mission and its commitment to education, partnership, professional learning and wider engagement. By supporting the education of future healthcare professionals, the initiative extends the reach and impact of the College beyond its own academic programmes while further strengthening its relationship with Queen’s University Belfast.

Professor Peter Finn, Principal of St Mary’s University College, said:

“We were delighted to welcome Queen’s Year 4 medical students and colleagues to St Mary’s for the first Pillar Week. The scale and success of the programme reflect the strength of our partnership with Queen’s and a tremendous level of cooperation between colleagues across both institutions.

“Partnership is central to the mission of St Mary’s, and this initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when institutions work together with a shared commitment to education and professional learning.

“I am particularly grateful to Queen’s, the Health Trusts and St Mary’s colleagues who contributed to the success of the week. We look forward to building on this very positive start during the remainder of the academic year.”

Professor Alan Smyth, Head of the School of Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, said:

“We are delighted with the successful delivery of our first Year 4 Pillar Week at St Mary’s and greatly appreciate the welcome and support provided by colleagues across the College.

“The week brought together our students, academic colleagues and healthcare professionals from across Northern Ireland at an important stage in the students’ medical education. We look forward to continuing to build on this partnership through the remaining Pillar Weeks.”

Following the success of the opening week, Year 4 medical students will return to St Mary’s for three further Pillar Weeks in October 2026, January and March 2027, providing further opportunities to build upon the experience of the first programme and strengthen collaboration between the two institutions.