Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD) was a medical and dental school in England, run in partnership with the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth, and the NHS in Devon and Cornwall. In January 2013, the school began to disaggregate into Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Exeter Medical School. The school had campuses at the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter, the John Bull Building (Derriford Hospital and Plymouth Science Park), the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, and the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Teaching of medical students also took place at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, South Devon Healthcare Trust in Torbay, general practices across the region, and a number of community-orientated healthcare settings.

History: The Peninsula Medical School was established on 1 August 2000, preceding the dental school by six years, following a successful bid to the government as part of a national expansion of medical student numbers in the UK. The bid was creatively led by Professor Sir John Tooke, who was then in a joint appointment between the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Professor Tooke was appointed the school's first dean, a post he held until autumn 2009. His vision and drive were recognised nationally when he was appointed chair of the UK Committee of Heads of Medical Schools and was awarded a knighthood in the 2007 New Year Honours.

The school was opened as part of the British government's efforts to train more doctors; other new schools included Brighton and Sussex Medical School, the University of East Anglia Medical School, Hull York Medical School and Keele University School of Medicine. According to league tables in the media, the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD) consistently outperformed other new institutions and proved highly competitive with established medical schools.

In 2012 the two founding universities of PCMD announced plans to expand independently and build on the provider's national reputation. With an equitable split of student numbers, the University of Exeter created the University of Exeter Medical School (UEMS), while Plymouth University created the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD). The inaugural deans of the new Exeter and Plymouth medical schools were Professor Steve Thornton and Professor Rob Sneyd respectively. Students who had already started their studies at Peninsula Medical School continued and graduated with joint degrees from the two universities, as previous graduates had. Students entering either UEMS or PUPSMD pursued independent degrees from the University of Exeter or Plymouth University. The first intake of 130 undergraduate students commenced on 30 September 2002; from September 2003 the annual intake rose to 167. In January 2006 Peninsula Medical School was awarded funding for further expansion and the UK and overseas places increased, raising the intake to 214 from September 2006 and to 230 from September 2010.

For the first two years of the undergraduate programme, students were based at either the University of Exeter or the University of Plymouth, with an emphasis on biomedical sciences taught in the context of relevant clinical problems. From the first week, students learned in various community-based clinical environments. In years three and four, students spent the majority of their time in acute and community-based clinical placements based at one of the school's three main localities: Exeter, Truro, or Plymouth. In the original vision for the Peninsula Medical School, an innovative medical humanities focus was established that included a Special Studies unit in which a wine expert and a perfumer developed students' sensory awareness. During year five, students were attached to clinical apprenticeships with general practitioners and consultants throughout Devon and Cornwall.

Research within the college focused on four main themes: Diabetes; Cardiovascular Risk and Ageing; Neuroscience (embracing both neurology and mental health); and Health Services Research and Environment and Human Health. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), Peninsula Medical School submitted in two Units of Assessment: "Other Hospital Based Clinical Subjects" and "Health Services Research". In "Other Hospital Based Clinical Subjects", 65% of their submission was judged to be of international or world-class quality, ranking Peninsula Medical School 11th of 27 submissions from UK medical schools. Their research in the "Health Services Research" category was also judged to be of high international standard, with 50% of the submission judged as international or world-class, ranking them 13th out of 24 submissions.

Peninsula Dental School (PDS) was established on 26 January 2006 following a successful bid to the government as part of a national expansion of dental student numbers in the UK. It was the first dental school to open in the UK for three decades. The Peninsula Dental School was a member of the Dental Schools Council, and its inaugural dean was Professor Liz Kay.

The Peninsula Dental School trained 64 dentists a year and offered a joint Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree through the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. The programme was four years long and was designed for science graduates or healthcare professionals.

For the first two years of the dental programme, students were based mainly at the University of Plymouth, with an emphasis on core clinical and communication skills.

The Peninsula Postgraduate Health Institute (PPHI) contracted with the NHS in Devon and Cornwall to provide taught programmes and research opportunities in medicine, health, and social care, working in collaboration with the NHS. The programmes were provided by the University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Health and Social Work and by schools of the University of Exeter. The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry was represented on the Board of PPHI. The Peninsula Allied Health Collaboration (PAHC) was a separate partnership between the two universities and the University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth. It contracted with the NHS to provide undergraduate programmes in allied health professions such as nursing, occupational therapy and radiography.