Queen's University Belfast Year 4 medical students have completed the first of four Pillar Weeks hosted by St Mary's University College in Belfast. The week brought together students, academic colleagues, and healthcare professionals from across Northern Ireland.

Sessions covered areas of the Year 4 curriculum including General Practice, Mental Health, Ageing and Health, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence, Reproductive Health, and Oncology. Teaching involved plenary sessions and small group work.

Representatives from the Belfast, Northern, Western, Southern, and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trusts engaged with student groups during the opening day.

St Mary's described the initiative as an important development in its partnership with Queen's, demonstrating the college's capacity to support significant educational activity in collaboration with another higher education institution.

Professor Alan Smyth, Head of the School of Medicine at Queen's, said the week brought together students, academic colleagues, and healthcare professionals at an important stage in the students' medical education. He thanked St Mary's for the welcome and support.

Three further Pillar Weeks are scheduled for October 2026, January 2027, and March 2027.

In a separate development, three St Mary's students have begun Study USA programmes at Misericordia University, Albright College, and Wilson College. The students received scholarships managed by British Council Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department for the Economy.