Know the field, not the rumour.

Applicants-per-post for Ophthalmology ST1, taken directly from NHS England's published recruitment data. Three rounds in view: 2023, 2024 and 2025.

2025 ratio · National

21.54:1

2,197 applicants for 102 posts

Year-on-year change

+7.13

vs 2024 (14.41:1)

3-year peak

21.54:1

Highest ratio in 2025

3-year trend

Source: NHS England

2023

971 applicants · 98 posts

9.91:1

2024

1,383 applicants · 96 posts

14.41:1

2025

latest round

2,197 applicants · 102 posts

21.54:1

NHS England publishes competition ratios at national level only in the open dataset. Per-deanery / per-region breakdowns are not routinely released for most specialties. Numbers here are the verified national figures from the NHS England Medical Hub. Source: medical.hee.nhs.uk