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Article History

Received: 28 February 2026

Accepted: 19 June 2026

First Online: 26 June 2026

Declarations

:

: Ethical approval for this study was not required as it relied on the analysis of de-identified data collected by UKMED. This was confirmed in writing by the University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Ethics Board (TQ/UKMED/MEDP170 LC141025). UKMED data are collated from pre-existing databases used to administer entry to medical school, medical school assessment, entry to postgraduate training programmes, the management of postgraduate training programmes and the evaluation of postgraduate training programmes. The use of anonymised personal data within UKMED is fully compliant with data protection legislation. The General Medical Council is the data controller for UKMED data and is carrying out this work to fulfil its statutory functions under the Medical Act 1983. The UK GDPR does not require the General Medical Council to obtain consent when it is processing personal data needed to perform its statutory functions, but the organisations that share data with the GMC (such as UCAS, Higher Education Statistics Agency and the Royal Colleges) include this clause in their privacy notices or terms and conditions. The GMC’s statutory powers and the agreements with these organisations provide the legal basis for collecting and using the data within UKMED. As a result, there is no requirement for additional ethical approval from individual institutions or for a separate approving ethics committee for the GMC in this context.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.