University and Educational Intelligence

Abstract

CAMBRIDGE.—A matter about which there is considerable divergence of opinion will come up for settlement this term. The Special Board for Medicine wishes to apply to the Board of Agriculture for a grant towards the medical department. Such grants are now commonly being made to the various medical schools in other parts of England, but Government grants mean Government control, and certain members of the Senate are apprehensive that Government control would mean an undue interference with the liberty of the University. On the other hand, similar grants, with the implied control, have already been accepted by the Cambridge School of Agriculture and by the department of astrophysics. The returns from the various colleges show that there are 330 medical students now in residence in the University. An examination of the figures relating to the grant made to three of the London medical schools for their full-time students affords evidence that the grant is about 14l., per annum a student. Taking these two figures, it may be calculated that the Cambridge Medical School would receive a sum of at least 4600l. per annum, which might be applied to the relief of its. most urgent requirements. The heads of the various departments connected with the medical school have recently asked for a sum of 7000l. per annum to bring the manning and equipment of their departments up to date. It is obvious that no such sum could be expected, but a sum of 4600l. per annum would relieve the most urgent needs of the school, would render the teaching more efficient, and would enable research to be carried out in the medical school on a scale commensurate with the importance of the University.