James Cleverly, the education secretary, has defended the government’s decision to reinstate the cap on the number of students allowed onto medicine courses at UK universities.
The cap on the number of places at medical schools in England is currently 7,500.
In 2020 and 2021, the government lifted the cap due to a shortage or medical staff which led to more than 10,000 places being accepted. However, the cap has now been reintroduced.
Education secretary defends medical degree cap
The number of students able to study medicine at universities is capped by the government as the cost is heavily subsidised. Cleverly told the BBC that is not straightforward to simply increase the number of spaces and the ‘capacity to train.’
He said: ‘To increase those numbers you would also need to increase the capacity in training institutions, both in universities and in hospitals.’
‘The increases have got to be funded, they are technical and expensive courses and we need to understand the balance of requirements between these courses and other courses that the government is supporting financially,’ Cleverly continued.
However, despite the cap on spaces, universities have been seeing an increase in students applying to study medicine. Jenny Higham, the vice-chancellor of St George’s, University of London, said that there has been a 7% increase nationally in applications this year.
Universities seeing an increase in applications
St George’s themselves have seen a 2-% increase in applications, and Higham told The Times that students with three A*s could be rejected due to the limit on spaces.
‘They might not have done well in the BMAT or might not have shown empathy in the interview,’ she explained.
Meanwhile, Sunderland University received 900 applications for 100 places on its medical degree, according to vice-chancellor Sir David Bell.
In 2020, the cap on places on medical degrees were lifted. Universities Minister at the time Michelle Donelan said:
‘This pandemic has highlighted more than ever the importance of our fantastic healthcare services and the need to invest in them. I am pleased we are removing the cap on these courses and providing additional funding so more students can take up their places now and become our future doctors and healthcare professionals.’