Working-class students make up just 5% of medical school entrants in the UK, despite this figure having doubled over the last decade, a study by the Sutton Trust and University College London has found. Almost 94,000 applicants to UK medical schools between 2012 and 2022 were examined, representing almost half of all UK medical school applicants.
In 2021, only 5% of medical students came from the lowest socioeconomic groups, while 75% came from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. This was determined using the five-level National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) for parental occupation. Applicants from independent schools were 1.5 times more likely to receive offers than those from non-selective state schools, even after adjusting for exam grades and other factors.
The study also found that a small number of schools and colleges were responsible for a disproportionately high number of medical students, with 2% of institutions accounting for an average of 20 or more applicants per year.
The head of the Sutton Trust, Nick Harrison, criticized the figures as controversial, particularly during a time when the NHS is experiencing a severe shortage of doctors and relying heavily on international recruitment. He emphasized the need for greater access and a more diverse pool of medical talent from all backgrounds.
Professor Katherine Woolf, a specialist in medical education research at UCL Medical School, noted that despite efforts to improve access to the medical profession, low academic achievement remained a significant barrier for aspiring doctors from disadvantaged backgrounds. Better support for future doctors is required at all stages of their careers, she argued.
In response, the government stated that it is committed to breaking the link between background and success and growing the number of doctors trained in the UK. The government will work with partners such as NHS England and the university sector to ensure equal opportunities for everyone to study medicine.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/27/only-5-of-uk-medical-school-entrants-are-working-class-data-shows
