Are you looking into 'International' competition data reported by UK medical schools?

Whether you prefer to think of competition in terms of ratios, percentages, and numbers, we provide further explanations here of relevant calculations and data sources.

Definition of 'International' applicants

'International' applicants are all those who are not categorised as 'Home' applicants, so when evaluating competition data it's relevant to understand exactly how UK medical schools define 'Home'.

Keep in mind that classifications significantly change after 30 December 2020: whereas competition data in years before Brexit included EU applicants within the 'Home / EU' category, from 2020-21 onward EU applicants are counted within 'International' data sets.

Whenever looking at competition data across the years, do take into account this shift and be aware that in years following Brexit the 'International' competition data sets are defined somewhat differently.

Competition ratio data points

UK medical schools traditionally report two competition ratios (marked below with **), and MedSchoolGenie uses these to calculate an intermediary data point:

1. RATIO OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS PER INTERVIEW **
   This ratio answers the question: For each International applicant invited to interview, how many initial International applications were made?
2. RATIO OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT INTERVIEWS PER PLACE
   This calculated ratio answers the question: For each International place secured, how many International applicants were interviewed?
3. RATIO OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS PER PLACE **
   This ratio answers the question: For each International applicant securing a place, how many initial International applications were made?

Our derived calculation of 'Ratio of International applicant interviews per place' is relevant to applicants who, once invited to interviews, would like to understand the level of competition for places within their interviewee cohorts.

To see the latest reported data, check our interactive table and chart listing International competition ratios.

Percentages of success data points

Given competition ratios, it's possible to convert each of these ratios into percentages (again, with an intermediary data point derived from two reported data points, marked below with **):

1. PERCENTAGE OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS INViTED TO INTERVIEWS **
   This data point answers the question: What percentage of initial International applications succeeded in obtaining interviews?
   To calculate this, MedSchoolGenie converts each reported 'Ratio of International applicants per interview' into a percentage.
2. PERCENTAGE OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS SUCCEEDING AT INTERVIEWS
   This data point answers the question: What percentage of International applicants who are interviewed do secure places?
   To calculate this, MedSchoolGenie converts the derived ratio 'Ratio of International applicant interviews per place' into a percentage.
3. PERCENTAGE OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS SECURING PLACES **
   This data point answers the question: Of all initial International applications, what percentage finally result in secured places?
   To calculate this, MedSchoolGenie converts each reported 'Ratio of International applicants per place' into a percentage.

To see the latest reported data, check our interactive table and chart listing International applicant percentages of success.

Applicant numbers data points

Given the numbers of International students securing places, as published by the Office for Students (OfS) in its latest UK medical and dental student (MDS) intake survey report, it's possible to estimate how many International applicants have been competing for interviews and places at each medical school.

Specifically, to derive estimated numbers of applicants, MedSchoolGenie applies competition ratios to intake cohort numbers included in annual OfS reports:

1. TOTAL INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
   This data point answers the question: How many International applications were initially submitted?
   To estimate this, MedSchoolGenie multiplies the number of International students in the latest intake (as reported by OfS) by the 'Ratio of International applicants per place' most recently reported by each UK medical school.
2. INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS INVITED TO INTERVIEWS
   This data point answers the question: How many International applicants participated in interviews?
   To estimate this, MedSchoolGenie divides the estimated total number of International students (above) by the 'Ratio of International applicants per interview' most recently reported by each UK medical school.
3. INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS SECURING PLACES
   This data point answers the question: How many International applicants finally secure places?
   For this, MedSchoolGenie simply uses the number of International students in the latest intake (as reported by OfS).

For further details on the annual intake data sets used in these calculations, including notes on how rounding in Office for Students (OfS) reports of student numbers affects estimates, see our overview of reference data sets.

To see the latest reported data, check our interactive table and chart listing International applicant numbers.