Medical students are set to move into their purpose-built school in Gozo in September, Barts officials said on Wednesday during a site visit by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The project was launched four years ago, and the school had initially been targeted to open in 2016.  It is part of the 30-year concession agreement originally granted to Vitals Global Healthcare which the latter transferred to Steward Health Care of the US.

The new four-storey building was described by Barts and Steward Healthcare officials as "the perfect place to study medicine".

The complex includes two laboratories, a large auditorium, several skills and simulation rooms, classrooms and a catering area at the top floor.

Steward handled the construction of the building in just over a year, investing €26 million.

Steward said that with the completion of the building by summer, its focus will move to building and refurbishing hospitals.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat thanked all those involved and also announced that Queen Mary University of London, which is partnering Barts in Gozo, will also be expanding into new academic fields at masters level in Malta and will also collaborate in humanities and science with the University of Malta.