Journal Article

Specialty choices among UK medical students: certainty, confidence and key influences—a national survey (FAST Study)

Appleton, Katie, Razzaq, Safa, Shah, Muhammad Hamza, Fayaz, Ajwa, Movio, Guilherme, Nashith Ahamed Rizwaan, Ahamed Hafeezul, Bernie, Hugo, McDermott, Bethany, Hatrick, Phoebe, Sanctis, Nikita, Bax, Aaliyah J, Vera Onongaya, Pranjil Pokharel, Bolton, Emily, Finbow, Emily R, Gill, Madison, Shah, Khyatee, Handscomb, Arthur, Surana, Sourab Chand, Thevathas, Rachelle, Pascoe, Dora, Carver, Emily, Cairn, James A, French, Benjamin, Mäntylä, Mia, Letts, Maia C, Patel, Vyom, Barrons, India R, Rizwan, Tawfique, Marsh, Emma, Roy, Sakshi, Naraine, Louis, Kanetkar, Jui, Plumb, Ella, Garg, Sakshi, Mulchrone, Maeve K, Sallama, Raghad A F, Elankhumaren, Harini, Kidd, Sophie, McCloskey, Alexa, Feng, Oliver, Luhar, Leya, Khanom, Humaira, Rowland, Gregory A, Garlick, Mackenzie F, Bageac, Daria Maria, Njenje, Leah, Weissman, Alyssa, Otoibhi, Catherine L, Dowland, Louis R, Fallows, Megan, Capdevila, Adam Mohamed, Rowe, Olivia, Francis, Carys M., Sinyor, Jessica, Avolonto, Kajoke M S, Ali, Sara, Burley, Samantha, Stavrinou, Andreas, Cyril, Anjali, Foxcroft, Samuel, Chalk, Daniel C, Dcaccia, Luke, Rakhecha, Tushar, Pillaai, Medha, Sa

2025

Overview

ObjectiveTo explore factors influencing UK medical students’ specialty choices and examine variations in these influences across demographic groups and stages of training.DesignNational, cross-sectional online survey.SettingAll 44 UK medical schools recognised by the General Medical Council.Participants8,395 medical students.Primary and secondary outcomesThe primary outcome was the specialty preferences of UK medical students. The secondary outcomes were factors behind these preferences and how these factors vary across demographic groups and different stages of training.ResultsGeneral Practice (15.3%), Paediatrics (10.6%) and Anaesthetics (9.9%) were the most preferred specialties among final-year students. Work-life balance (84.1%), compatibility with family life (78.2%), positive training experiences (85.2%) and future specialty outlook (74.9%) were key factors influencing specialty choice. Only 23.1% of students felt confident about securing a specialty training post, with confidence higher among males (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.52, p<0.0001) and privately educated students (OR 1.18, CI 1.03 to 1.35, p=0.02). Males were also more certain about their career choices (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.31, p<0.0001). Confidence in securing a training place was positively associated with extracurricular achievements, including having a PubMed-indexed publication (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.00, p<0.0001).ConclusionsThis study highlights disparities in specialty preferences and influencing factors among UK medical students. A focus on improving career guidance, exposure to various specialties and supporting equitable access to training opportunities is essential for fostering a motivated and sustainable medical workforce.

• Publisher: British Medical Journal Publishing Group,BMJ Publishing Group LTD,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: Adult / Career Choice / Careers / Consent / Cross-Sectional Studies / Data analysis / Data collection / Demographics / Ethnicity / Female / Gender / Health Education / Health Services / Humans / Male / Medical education / Medical Education & Training / Medical Education and Training / Medical schools / Medical students / Original Research / Preferences / Questionnaires / Social networks / Specialization / Students, Medical - psychology / Students, Medical - statistics & numerical data / Surveys and Questionnaires / Trends / United Kingdom / Variables / Work-Life Balance / Young Adult