Competition ratios
A competition ratio is a number that shows how many people applied to a scheme or post compared to how many places were available.
Important: Important
This information is provided as a guide only. The figures quoted relate only to applicants for previous intakes and it should not be assumed that there is any general pattern.
The General Practice National Recruitment Office (GPNRO) can make absolutely no guarantees that ratios for the current recruitment intake will be in line with these figures.
Competition ratios can be misleading. Our advice therefore is that you make your NHS England (NHSE) local office or deanery choices based on where you see yourself working for the next 3 years.
If you really don’t know which NHSE local offices or deaneries to choose, we suggest that you do some research into the type of programmes offered at each NHSE local office or deanery, the geographical areas covered by each NHSE local office or deanery, the main Trusts in each of those areas, transport links to home, and so on.
Bear in mind that if successful, you'll be committing to that area for the next 3 years. For more information go to the individual NHSE local office or deanery and programme profile pages.
Application ratios
These figures are based on first choice NHSE local office or deanery preferences in Round 1.
What is a competition ratio?
A competition ratio is a number that shows how many people applied to a scheme or post compared to how many places were available.
For a very competitive post, 50 people might apply for 2 places. Its competition ratio would be 25.
For a less competitive post, 11 people might apply for 3 places. Its competition ratio would be 3.66.
London continues to remain the most competitive region.
| Local office or deanery | Round 1 Ratio 2017 | Round 1 Ratio 2018 | Round 1 Ratio 2019 | Round 1 Ratio 2020 | Round 1 Ratio 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| East of England | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
| Kent Surrey and Sussex | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| London | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.2 |
| North East | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 |
| North West | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| South West | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| Thames Valley | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
| Wessex | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| West Midlands | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Health Education and Improvement Wales | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| NHS Education for Scotland | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.9 |
Page last reviewed: 26 August 2022