Analysis: Medicine is in fine fettle

It is not just medicine and law that prove popular with students and employers, 'quasi-academic' degrees are winning favour. The THES reports.

The number of people applying to study medicine in 2003 has increased by 28 per cent on this time last year, according to statistics from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

The number of applicants to dentistry has risen by 18 per cent.

Although medicine had seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of applicants in 2001, the increase in the number of medical school places means that the ratio of applicants per place has remained static.

But Michael Powell, executive secretary of the Council of Heads of Medical Schools, said: "If this increase is sustained, then medical schools will have a wider pool of applicants to choose from. The 29 per cent increase in male UK applicants is also good news."

John Renshaw, chairman of the British Dental Association's Executive Board, said: "Dentistry is a caring and demanding career where you can make a real difference to people's lives."