The University of Leeds is providing all of its 520 fourth and fifth year medical students with free 16 GB Apple iPhones, to help them easily access online educational material on the move.

The iPhones have applications that will offer required reference material as well as prescription guidelines to students during training in hospitals. The special applications will also provide students with instant access to crucial medical text books.

The special educational material applications for the iPhone have been designed by e-learning service provider MyKnowledgeMap and MedHand.

The applications will be available with unlimited mobile broadband connectivity from carrier O2, which will allow students to keep in regular contact with their University tutors through emails. The local student accommodation will be equipped with round the clock Wi-Fi service.

Commenting on the initiative, fourth year medical student Claire Bird said, “Having the entire handbook at my fingertips on the iPhone will be so much more efficient.” The University of Leeds claimed that the iPhone can be used in a medical ward as it is more hygienic than other smartphones.

Students will not be able to take the smartphones to homes as they will have to return the devices at the completion of the course.