Doctors’ union backs cuts to medical school places as training system reaches capacity

The British Medical Association has backed reducing medical school places in areas where student numbers have exceeded the capacity available for teaching, supervision and clinical placements.

Doctors voted for the union to campaign for targeted reductions while opposing further expansion unless sufficient education and postgraduate training opportunities are guaranteed.

Medical school intakes across the UK increased by 39% between 2013 and 2024, while the number of specialty training posts has remained comparatively static. In 2026, more than 40,000 applications were submitted for around 11,000 training positions.

Students have reported overcrowded lectures, being turned away from clinical placements and growing anxiety about securing employment after graduation.

The BMA said the UK remains short of doctors but warned that recruiting more medical students without expanding the infrastructure, teaching workforce and postgraduate training system would not solve the problem.

It is calling for guaranteed foundation posts for UK medical graduates and a significant expansion of core and specialty training opportunities before student numbers increase further.

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