Growth in STEM subjects offers positive signs for future MPCE workforce
New analysis of the 2026 exam results shows encouraging growth in many of the subjects and technical pathways that underpin careers in MPCE.
EngineeringUK’s analysis of A level, Scottish Higher, T Level and vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results points to continued interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), providing positive signs for the future pipeline into engineering, healthcare science and other highly skilled technical professions.
At A level, overall entries increased by 2.7% in 2026, with STEM subjects accounting for just under 45% of all entries. Mathematics remains the most popular A level subject, with more than 115,000 entries, while entries increased in several subjects particularly relevant to MPCE, including maths (+3.9%), further maths (+8.5%), physics (+1.9%), computing (+1.1%) and design and technology (+2.8%).
Attainment also remained strong. In 2026, 42.5% of mathematics entries, 58.9% of further mathematics entries and 32.5% of physics entries achieved A*- A grades.
There are positive signs in Scotland too. Mathematics remains the most popular STEM Higher and the second most popular Higher overall. Physics entries increased by 1% and Engineering Science by 15%, while Applications of Mathematics saw particularly strong growth, increasing by 50% in a single year. Five of Scotland’s ten most popular Higher subjects are now STEM subjects.
Technical routes continue to grow
The results also demonstrate the increasing importance of vocational and technical routes into the future science and engineering workforce. The number of students completing engineering and technology-related T Levels increased by 46%, from 5,699 in 2025 to 8,307 in 2026. They now account for 42% of all young people completing a T Level.
This includes growing participation in areas such as digital support, engineering and manufacturing, and maintenance, installation and repair - skills with clear relevance to the increasingly technology-dependent healthcare environment.
The wider technical education pipeline is also substantial. For the first time, detailed national data has been published on Level 3 VTQs. Of 300,005 awards in 2026, 51,957 were in engineering and technology subjects, including 17,221 in Digital Technology and 14,871 in Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies.
Gender gap remains a challenge
Despite the positive overall picture, the data highlights a continuing challenge in attracting more young women into some of the subjects most closely associated with engineering and technology careers.
At A level, women accounted for just 24% of physics entries, 19% of computing entries, 26% of further mathematics entries and 33% of design and technology entries. There has, however, been continued growth in female participation in computing, physics and design and technology. The disparity is even greater across technical engineering routes. Only 13% of those completing engineering and technology-related T Levels in 2026 were female, although this has increased from 12% in 2025 and 9% in earlier years.
For IPEM, this reinforces the importance of continuing to improve the visibility of medical physics, clinical engineering and related careers among young people, and particularly of demonstrating to girls and young women the breadth of opportunities available across science, engineering, computing and healthcare.
Building the future MPCE workforce
Medical physicists, clinical engineers and clinical technologists work across some of the most technologically advanced areas of healthcare - from radiotherapy, diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine to medical devices, rehabilitation engineering, digital technology and clinical scientific computing.
A strong pipeline of young people studying physics, mathematics, engineering and computing is therefore essential to developing the future MPCE workforce. The 2026 results provide welcome evidence of growing interest in many of these disciplines. However, translating that interest into the healthcare science and engineering workforce will require continued investment in careers awareness, accessible education and training routes, and action to ensure that these careers attract talent from the widest possible range of backgrounds.
IPEM congratulates everyone receiving their results this summer. If you’re excited by science, engineering or technology and want to use those skills to make a difference to people’s lives, a career in medical physics or clinical engineering could be for you.