Which are the most competitive Foundation Schools?
In this article, we’ll look at which are the most competitive foundation schools to get into, based on the 2021 intake. You can read a more detailed breakdown of the data here.
Below is a graph showing the competition ratios for all deaneries, based on the applicants’ first choice preferences in 2021.
What is a competition ratio?
This is a number that represents how many applicants there were per post. A competition ratio of under 1 means that there were not enough applicants to fill all the spaces at the first-choice round– i.e., in theory, if you had put that deanery as your first choice, you would automatically get in.
Any competition ratio with a value above 1 means you’ll have to compete with others for your place. Those with higher Foundation Programme Scores than you will take precedent.
London is the most competitive
North West London takes the lead with a competition ratio of just under 3. This means that for every place available, roughly 3 candidates applied in 2021. This was closely followed by North Central and East London. South Thames was the least competitive of the London Foundation Schools with a competition ratio under 1.
Oxford, Severn, West Midlands Central and North West Foundation School were also oversubscribed, but for the rest of the country, you are likely to get your first choice.
The least competitive Foundation School was West Midlands North, which is interesting to contrast with its neighbour, West Midlands Central, which was the third most competitive Foundation School last year. West Midlands North was closely followed by LNR and East Anglia, making them the three least competitive Foundation Schools in 2021.
We’ve found that competition trends in deaneries outside of London have been fairly stable over the past few years, and we would expect them to hold true for 2022. The Foundation Programme altered the borders of the London deaneries in 2017, which has made it slightly more difficult to predict the ratios the past few years. But now with a few years of data we can now make more accurate predictions. You can explore the 2021 intake stats for yourself here.
To find out how the different Foundation School deaneries fared for trainee satisfaction, head here.
Foundation School Break down
East Anglia
2021 F1 Places: 251
2021 First Choice Applicants: 121
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.48
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.61
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.59
East Anglia for the past three years has shown a stable trend around 0.5-0.6. With this being well below one, if you put East Anglia as your first choice, you are almost guaranteed a place!
Read Messly’s guide to the East Anglia Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (EBH)
2021 F1 Places: 260
2021 First Choice Applicants: 148
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.57
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.62
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.59
Like its northern neighbour East Anglia, EBH often has a ratio of around 0.6. This is much lower than the other two neighbours of Oxford and London which often trend above one (and as high as three North West London). If you have EBH as your first choice, you are very likely to get a spot on the training programme.
Read Messly’s guide to the Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (EBH) Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Leicester, Northampton and Kettering (LNR)
2021 F1 Places: 158
2021 First Choice Applicants: 87
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.55
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.57
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.8
While in the Past LNR has seen competition ratios around 0.8, last year in 2020 the ratio dropped to 0.57. This trend has remained in 2021, with a similar competition ratio of 0.55. While the ratio could return to 0.8 next year, it is likely you will still get a place if you rank this deanery as your first preference.
Read Messly’s guide to the Leicester, Northampton and Kettering (LNR) ) Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
North Central & East London
2021 F1 Places: 332
2021 First Choice Applicants: 744
2021 Competition Ratio: 2.24
2020 Competition Ratio: 2.36
2019 Competition Ratio: 2.1
North Central & East London is one of the most competitive Foundation Schools, normally only being beaten by its western counterpart, North West London. With a ratio commonly above two, many applicants will be fighting for the same spot! less than 50% of applicants to this Foundation School will get the spot they want.
Read Messly’s guide to the North Central & East London Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
North West London
2021 F1 Places: 251
2021 First Choice Applicants: 121
2021 Competition Ratio: 2.89
2020 Competition Ratio: 2.97
2019 Competition Ratio: 3.1
North West London is the most competitive Foundation School in the Country. The competition Ratio is often around 3, and sometimes even higher! With only 1 place per three applicants many hopeful junior doctors miss out on their first choice every year.
Read Messly’s guide to the North West London Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
North West of England
2021 F1 Places: 786
2021 First Choice Applicants: 810
2021 Competition Ratio: 1.03
2020 Competition Ratio: 1.05
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.9
With having multiple teaching hospitals across several cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, the North West of England Foundation School attracts many applicants. However, with having the second highest number of F1 posts (only 26 less than the whole of Scotland!) the Competition Ratio usually sits at a comfortable 1.03. This means that while a small handful of applicants will not get their first choice, most who apply will.
Read Messly’s guide to the North West of England Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Northern
2021 F1 Places: 329
2021 First Choice Applicants: 293
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.89
2020 Competition Ratio: 1.01
2019 Competition Ratio: 1.05
Sitting Above North West of England and Yorkshire and Humber foundation Schools, Northern sits at similar competition ratios. Usually averaging around just over one, most applicants will get their place.
Read Messly’s guide to Northern Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Northern Ireland
2021 F1 Places: 251
2021 First Choice Applicants: 121
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.78
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.81
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.94
Being the only Foundation School in Northern Ireland and a low number of F1 posts the Northern Ireland Foundation School does attract Competition. However, With the ratio normally sitting just below one, more often than not, all applicants who place Northern Ireland as their first choice will get their place.
Read Messly’s guide to Northern Ireland Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Oxford
2021 F1 Places: 251
2021 First Choice Applicants: 121
2021 Competition Ratio: 1.44
2020 Competition Ratio: 1.33
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.59
Being a close neighbour to the highly competitive School in London, Oxford tends to be quite competitive, with 2021 and 2020 having a ratio of 1.3-1.4. However, in 2019 the ratio dropped to a low 0.59, being the second lowest ratio of that year. This makes it hard to predict which direction the competition will go in 2022, but its likely to stay at a 1.3 and leave many aspiring doctors disappointed.
Read Messly’s guide to Oxford's Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Peninsula
2021 F1 Places: 184
2021 First Choice Applicants: 175
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.95
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.67
2019 Competition Ratio: 1.56
Peninsula shows some of the largest variations in competition ratios. Previous years as far back as 2017 often saw Peninsula sitting as one of the least competitive Foundation Schools. However this year saw a ratio almost at 1, with 2019 with a ratio over 1.5! This makes the ratios for 2022 hard to predict, and if the ratios remain high, new junior doctors may be left disappointed
Read Messly’s guide to Peninsula Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Scotland
2021 F1 Places: 812
2021 First Choice Applicants: 805
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.99
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.97
2019 Competition Ratio: 1.06
Being the Foundation School with the most places on offer, the Scotland Foundation School takes on over 800 new F1s a year. But with many posts come many applicants, giving a relatively constant competition ratio of around one. If Scotland is your first choice, then you have a very high chance of getting your place!
Read Messly’s guide to Scotland Foundation School, with information about the regions and ratings of hospitals here! North Scotland, East Scotland, South Scotland, West Scotland
Severn
2021 F1 Places: 261
2021 First Choice Applicants: 310
2021 Competition Ratio: 1.19
2020 Competition Ratio: 1.39
2019 Competition Ratio: 1.72
Housing popular Cities such as Bath, Bristol and Gloucester, the Severn Foundation School has plenty of applicants. But with having one of the lower numbers of F1 posts this sends the Competition Ratios up. While not being as high as London Foundation Schools it has one of the highest ratios most years, sometimes reaching as high as 1.7 in 2019.
Read Messly’s guide to Severn Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
South Thames
2021 F1 Places: 742
2021 First Choice Applicants: 679
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.92
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.92
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.92
Covering a large part of London as well as Kent, Surrey and Sussex, the South Thames Foundation Schools has one of the highest intake numbers each year. While being partly in London, its ratios do not get quite as high as its Northern London neighbours. Having a ratio of around 0.9-1 South Thames doesn’t leave many applicants disappointed.
Read Messly’s guide to South Thames Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Trent
2021 F1 Places: 296
2021 First Choice Applicants: 192
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.65
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.59
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.67
Trent, being one of the smaller Foundation Schools also has one of the lowest Competition Ratios most years. Anyone who put Trent as their first Choice is almost definitely going to grab a place.
Read Messly’s guide to Trent Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Wales
2021 F1 Places: 358
2021 First Choice Applicants: 214
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.6
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.75
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.79
Wales, Despite the huge area it covers has a low number of F1 posts each year. With Also having a low number of first choice applicants, the Competition Ratios remained low in 2021. Being on the lower side of many other School Ratios, this makes Wales Unlikely to turn any first choice applicants away.
Read Messly’s guide to The Welsh Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
Wessex
2021 F1 Places: 290
2021 First Choice Applicants: 216
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.74
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.76
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.78
Being one of the least Competitive regions in the South, Wessex Foundation School normally gets a ratio of around 0.75. As this ratio is quite a way from reaching one, first choice applicants to this Foundation School are unlikely to miss out on a place.
Read Messly’s guide Wessex Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals here!
West Midlands Central
2021 F1 Places: 180
2021 First Choice Applicants: 266
2021 Competition Ratio: 1.48
2020 Competition Ratio: 1.63
2019 Competition Ratio: 1.48
Being the foundation School covering Birmingham, West Midlands Central attracts a lot of competition, giving it a much higher Competition Ratio than the other West Midlands Foundation Schools. Due to its low number of F1 posts, and ideal location the competition ratios are driven up to above 1.5 most years. While still lower than London, many applicants are turned away each year.
Read Messly’s guide to The West Midlands Central Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
West Midlands North
2021 F1 Places: 222
2021 First Choice Applicants: 91
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.41
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.54
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.72
West Midlands North Foundation School, like its Southern counterpart, West Midlands South, often has some of the lowest competition, with ratios around 0.5-0.7. If this is the Foundation School for you, then you are unlikely to not get your place.
Read Messly’s guide to The West Midlands North Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
West Midlands South
2021 F1 Places: 152
2021 First Choice Applicants: 87
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.57
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.6
2019 Competition Ratio: 0.49
With the lowest number of applicants each year, West Midlands South has very low competition ratios. Rarely reaching above 0.6, these ratios mean that if this is your first choice, you are in luck as there is sometimes more than double the number of posts to applicants.
Read Messly’s guide to The West Midlands South Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals here!
Yorkshire and Humber
2021 F1 Places: 550
2021 First Choice Applicants: 431
2021 Competition Ratio: 0.78
2020 Competition Ratio: 0.87
2019 Competition Ratio: 1.03
Yorkshire and Humber Foundation School, having a high number of F1 posts, and the highest number of Academic Foundation posts attracts competition. With a ratio often just under 1, most years all applicants who place Yorkshire as their first choice get their place. However, 2019 with its ratio of 1.03 shows that this isn’t the case every year.
Read Messly’s guide to The Yorkshire and Humber Foundation School, with information about the region and ratings of hospitals Here!
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