Understanding doctors’ decision-making regarding migrating to the UK

Published 20 June 2025

Why we commissioned this research:

This is the fourth report in a series of research we’ve commissioned to better understand the drivers of international migration trends that shape the UK’s medical workforce. 

This research focuses on the factors that motivate overseas-qualified doctors to pursue their careers in the UK. With doctors known to be a highly skilled and mobile workforce, the research set out to better understand where the UK sits in the market for their skills. By understanding the expectations of doctors who are migrating to the UK, the research can support workforce planners and policy makers. 

What did the research involve?

The research involved an online survey. This was carried out between June and August 2024. It explored the migration decisions of more than 3,000 overseas-qualified doctors who recently joined or took steps to join the UK medical register. The researchers then carried out a segmentation analysis to identify different groups within this population. Based on their attitudes and expectations when considering a move to the UK. 

The survey also captured doctors’ perceptions of the UK compared to other countries they considered migrating to.

Key findings

  • Doctors generally reported that a wide variety of factors were important in shaping their decision of where to migrate to. The factors identified as the most important were learning and development, career progression, working with appropriately qualified staff, a healthcare system where patients receive sufficient care, and quality of life.
  • Of those who chose, or were considering, a move to UK practice, a third (33%) were looking for a permanent move. While more than a fifth (21%) planned to stay for less than five years.
  • Around half (49%) of doctors surveyed were considering another country when thinking about a move to the UK. Most commonly the USA and Australia, followed by Canada, Germany, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ireland.
  • The UK was perceived to be stronger than other countries on practical factors, such as immigration and registration processes and the ease of securing a job. The UK was also competitive when it came to learning and development, and opportunities for career progression. However, the UK was perceived to be weaker than other countries in relation to other factors, including salary levels, cost of living and quality of life.
  • Doctors identified the costs of migration, difficulty securing a post, and differences between healthcare systems as the main barriers they faced. For those surveyed who didn't end up moving to the UK, the most common reasons were challenging requirements. Followed by changed circumstances, or preferring another country.
  • Around half (51%) of doctors who moved to the UK felt that their expectations had been met. For those that didn’t feel their expectations had been met, this was most commonly attributed to heavy workloads, poor work-life balance and stress.
  • The research identified six distinct groups of doctors based on their attitudes and expectations when considering a move to the UK:
  1. Short-term hoppers: This group are highly mobile and likely to leave the UK within a year of moving here. They place more importance on speaking the local language than on other factors.
  2. Sceptical considerers: This group have lower expectations of the UK. They place greater relative importance on moving somewhere they have strong personal or family ties. But work-related benefits and cost of living also matter.
  3. Family-focused professionals: This group prioritise opportunities for family, and existing personal and professional ties when choosing a country. Salary and benefits are less important.
  4. Young pragmatists: This is the youngest group. Ease of moving and settling in, including speaking the language, is key for these doctors, along with career progression opportunities.
  5. Ambitious expecters: This group have the highest expectations of the UK, with an ambitious outlook. They expect the UK to improve their renumeration and working conditions.
  6. Modern system seekers: This group place the most importance on working in an advanced healthcare system with high standards of care. Where their development and working environment will improve.
  • Those in the ‘young pragmatists’, ‘ambitious expecters’ and ‘modern system seekers’ groups are younger with intentions to remain in the UK longer-term. They also tend to have more expectations of coming to the UK.

Download the research

Understanding doctors’ decision-making regarding migrating to the UK 

You can also access all the other research in the series: