Medical Foundation
All applicants who have been nominated by their UK medical school are required to apply to the UK Foundation training Programme (FP). International applicants must first apply to the UKFPO for eligibility. Please see the guidance on the UKFPO website for more information on the eligibility process.
Registered applicants will then have the option to apply for Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) and up to two Specialised Units of Application (SUoA) for Specialised Foundation Programmes (SFP). Applicants are eligible for a maximum of five applications in total (not inclusive of applications to stand-alone recruitment). Current UK trainees are not eligible to apply in national recruitment to stand-alone foundation training programmes.
Psychiatry Fellowship Programme – Details on how to apply will be available shortly from the Royal College of Psychiatrists website
Please refer to the national UKFPO published guidance on the UKFPO website for more detailed information.
www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk
The recruitment process to foundation programmes across the four nations is co-ordinated centrally by the UKFPO with some devolved responsibility. Further information can be found on the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) website.
Oriel is the national online application system used to manage recruitment to training programmes. Oriel can be accessed at https://new.oriel.nhs.uk/Web.
For technical support please contact the helpdesk via support@hicom.co.uk. Unfortunately, the London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex recruitment team cannot advise you on any technical issues except a locked oriel account.
For 2023 Recruitment there are 2 foundation schools:
- London Foundation School
- Kent, Surrey and Sussex foundation school
The London Foundation School website contains detailed information about local programmes, policies, and processes. You may access the website at the following address; London Medical Training
The Kent Surrey and Sussex Foundation School website contains detailed information about local programmes, policies, and processes. The website details to be confirmed.
For more information you may contact the recruitment team via the applicant support portal
Doctors wishing to apply to train in London will be able to preference programmes under the following Groups:
- South London East
- South London West
- North Central London
- North West London
- North East London
Doctors wishing to apply to train in KSS will be able to preference programmes under the following Groups:
- KSS West
- KSS Central
- KSS East
Foundation Programme (FP), Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) and Foundation Fellowship Programmes (PFF)
For recruitment to the 2023/24 Foundation Programme (FP), Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) and Psychiatry Foundation Fellowship Programmes (PFF), each of the two foundation schools detailed above is a separate Unit of Application (UoA).
Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP)
For recruitment to the Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP)
- London Foundation School is the single specialised unit of application (SUoA)
- KSS Foundation School - A new foundation school for Kent, Surrey and Sussex has been developed and will be managed by the New South East Team for doctors starting F1 in August 2023.
The recruitment process for SFP programmes starting 2023 will not form part of one unit of application under London Foundation School. Applicants should select KSS (Kent, Surrey, Sussex) & Wessex Specialised Unit of application for 2023 KSS programmes. Please refer to the KSS website https://kss.hee.nhs.uk/kss-foundation/
If you have any queries about the recruitment process, please visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section on the Applicant Support Portal. Alternatively you may submit a query form to the London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex recruitment team via the support portal.
Foundation Programme (FP)
All applicants must apply for the two-year Foundation programme through the national FP vacancy on Oriel, which can be accessed via Oriel during the national application window.
1.Timeline
The application timeline and key dates for UKFP 2023 entry have been published and can be viewed on the UKFPO Website and can be viewed UKFP 2023 Entry High-Level Applicant Timeline
2.Applicant Handbook and Guidance on How to Apply to the Foundation Programme
The UKFP 2023 Applicants' Handbook and UKFP 2023 Guidance on How to Apply to the Foundation Programme can be accessed via the UKFPO website via the link UKFPO Website
3. London Foundation School and Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation Programme - Programme Information
A provisional list of programmes can be accessed by selecting the following links. The programme details may change. Applicants are advised to check the the final programme data which will be uploaded on to oriel and this website by 27th February 2023.
-
London Foundation School – 2023 North London Standard Foundation Programmes
-
London Foundation School – 2023 South London Standard Foundation Programmes
-
Kent, Surrey and Sussex – 2023 Standard Foundation Programmes can be accessed via the KSS Website
Applicants can download the programme information as an Excel spreadsheet. A definitive list of 2023/24 programmes will be available both on Oriel and to download from this webpage by end of February 2023.
It is important to note that the NHS is constantly changing and, even after being matched to an individual programme, there may be situations when placements within that programme may change because of service redesign, working time directive regulations or national directives (UK-wide). For this reason, all allocations are provisional and subject to change until confirmed by employing organisations.
4. Selecting Programme Preferences Information & Matching Process
If you are allocated to London or Kent, Surrey and Sussex foundation schools, you will be invited to preference groups and programmes within the school you have been allocated to.
Two Stage Preferencing Process
Both London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex foundation schools have a larger number of programmes, the programmes have been clustered into groups. In this instance, applicants will be matched to programmes in two stages:
Stage 1: Matched to a group
Applicants are required to rank the London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex foundation schools’ groups in order of preference between 09 –15 March 2023 (12:00 midday GMT)
Groups within London Foundation School
|
Group Name |
Group Description |
|
North Central London |
Provides 2 years in trusts in North London to the Central London of the patch |
|
North West London |
Provides 2 years in trusts in North London to the North West of the patch |
|
North East London |
Provides 2 years in trusts in North London to the North East of the patch |
|
South London East |
Provides 2 years in trusts in South London to the East of the patch |
|
South London West |
Provides 2 years in trusts in South London to the West of the patch |
Groups within KSS Foundation School
|
Group Name |
Group Description |
|
KSS East |
Provides 2 years in trusts in Kent, Surrey and Sussex to the East of the patch |
|
KSS Central |
Provides 2 years in trusts in Kent, Surrey and Sussex to the Centre of the patch |
|
KSS West |
Provides 2 years in trusts in Kent, Surrey and Sussex to the West of the patch |
Stage 2: Matched to a programme
Once matched to groups, applicants will be invited to rank the programmes within that group in order of preference between 20 –30 March 2023 (12:00 midday BST). Applicants will be notified via Oriel of their match to individual programmes on 13 April 2023.
IMPORTANT: Applicants are advised to save preference choices regularly on the Oriel system. Failure to save group / programme preferences by the deadline will result in a random allocation to a group / programme with the most vacancies. Late preferences cannot be submitted under any circumstances.
Please note that amending preferences will force links between applications to be broken, even if the final order of preferences is the same. Applicants must choose whether they want to change their preferences or maintain their link to the applicant they are initially linked with.
5. Score Ranges
within Each Foundation School will be published once applicants have been matched to the Group on 23 March 2023 and matched to the programme on 13 April 2023
6. Shadowing Arrangements
Newly appointed F1 doctors are required to attend a period of preemployment shadowing of the F1 doctor you will be taking over from before the start of the programme. Employers will provide details of local arrangements.
You will be required to undertake a mandatory induction and shadowing period for a minimum of 4 days at the Trust before TBC (Please be aware that some Trusts organise longer periods of shadowing and you are advised to be available from TBC.
7. Linked Applications
If you have linked your application on the Oriel system and wish to retain this link at the group allocation stage for either Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation School (KSSFS) or London Foundation School (LFS) (depending on your preference), both applicants will need to rank the three groups in KSSFS or the five groups LFS in the same order of preference, or the link will be broken
WARNING: The score of the lower scoring applicant will be used to allocate both linked applicants to a group. It is only possible to break the link at this stage by both applicants ranking groups in a different order.
Linked applications are not taken into account at the programme allocation stage and your individual scores are used to allocate you to a programme.
If you both wish to be allocated to the same Trust, ranking programmes in your group in exactly the same order may increase the chances of this. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be allocated to the same Trust or programme as the applicant you are linked with, particularly if there is a significant difference in your scores.
Please note that amending preferences will force links between applications to be broken, even if the final order of preferences is the same. Applicants must choose whether they want to change their preferences or maintain their link to the applicant they are initially linked with.
8. Pre-Allocation (Previously known as Special Circumstances)
A small number of F1 doctors have special circumstances approval from their graduating medical school in order to ensure allocation to a foundation school in an appropriate geographical location.
All applicants are now required to submit offline applications directly to the UKFPO team. Applications will be considered by a central panel and pre-allocations will be actioned on Oriel by UKFPO staff.
9. Supporting Trainees Entering Practice (STEP)
Full information on this process is available via UKFP 2024 Applicants' Handbook and the on the UKFPO website.
The UK Foundation Programme UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) have published UKFP 2023 Applicants’ Handbook; UKFP 2023 Guidance on How to Apply to the Foundation Programme; containing comprehensive details on 2023 application process and the UKFP 2023 High-level Timeline and key dates detailing the key dates.
Applications to Specialist Foundation Programme (SFP) and Foundation Programme (FP) 2023 will need to be submitted during the same application window. Applications for SFP will be made as part of the main Standard Foundation application through Oriel to a maximum of two Specialis Units of Application (SUoAs), and will comprise the standard application form, plus part 2 of the application form to be completed with information required by SUoAs.
1. London Specialised Unit of Application (SUoA) Local SFP Recruitment Timeline
2023 Timeline - Refer to the Applicant Guide
2. London SFP SUoA Programme Information
The London foundation SFP SUoA is affiliated to 5 medical school/universities which together offer a total of 106 specialised foundation programmes.
|
Medical School/University |
Region |
No. of |
|---|---|---|
|
Imperial College London (IMP) |
North London |
30 |
|
King’s College London (KCL) – Kings College Hospital & Guy’s and St Thomas’ |
South London |
19 |
|
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) |
North London |
24 |
|
St George’s University of London (SGUL) |
South London |
12 |
|
University College London (UCL) |
North London |
21 |
|
Total |
106 |
|
It is important to note that the NHS is constantly changing and, even after being matched to an individual programme, there may be situations when placements within that programme may change because of service redesign, working time directive regulations or national directives (UK-wide). For this reason, all allocations are provisional and subject to change until confirmed by employing organisations.
3. London SFP SUoA Applicant Guidance
The London SFP Applicant Guide select 2023 London SUoA Applicant Guide – V2
4. UKFPO SFP Appeals Process
Applicants can appeal against the outcome of the application process only on the following grounds:
i. that the SUoA application scoring/interview processes were not applied with appropriate diligence or due care;
ii. that there is evidence of prejudice, bias or conflict of interest in the handling of your application.
Applicants cannot make an appeal simply because they disagree with the principles of the SUoA recruitment process or the judgements or outcomes that have been made by the application scorers/interview panels. Applicants may request a review by the SUoA where processes or procedures have not been followed, or there is evidence of unfairness in how the process has been implemented, and the objectivity of decisions is called into question.
Please note that UKFPO SFP appeals process is separate to the London SUoA shortlist score appeal process. The UKFPO SFP appeals process guidance document may be downloaded from the bottom of this page and can be accessed via the UKFPO website.
Timeline is as follows:
| Task | Date |
| SFP appeals submission window opens | 6th February 2023 |
| SFP appeals submission window closes | 10th February 2023 |
| SFP local appeal panels held | 13th - 17th February 2023 |
| SFP appeals outcomes released to applicants via e-mail by this date | 17th February 2023 |
The webinar on how to apply to London Specialised Foundation programme took place on 13th September 2022. To view the recorded version of the webinar select London SFP Webinar
Also, please ensure that you review the 2023 Applicant Handbook, How to Apply to the Foundation Programme Guidance available on the UKFPO Website and The London SFP Applicant Guide
For any queries, please contact the Recruitment Team via the Applicant Support Portal
Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) have been developed to support specific areas of the UK that have historically found it difficult to attract and retain trainees through the foundation and specialty recruitment processes. The main aim is to maximise the opportunity for applicants who wish to be located in less popular areas and therefore improve supply for specialty training and beyond.
During 2019/20 and 2020/21, priority programmes, specifically designed to attract and retain trainees in remote, rural, and coastal geographies, under-doctored geographies, and shortage specialties, with psychiatry as an initial priority, will be introduced and evaluated. These programmes also often a range of incentives.
As part of this process, applicants will have the opportunity to rank individual priority programmes that have been determined by a specific location as part of the application form and prior to national allocation to FP. Successful applicants will be offered specific programmes prior to national allocation to foundation schools.
Foundation Priority Programmes Recruitment Timeline Please refer to the UKFPO website
London Foundation School and Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation Priority Programme Information
- London Foundation School does not have 2023 priority programmes
- Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation – Programme details can be accessed via accessed via the KSS Website
The Psychiatry Foundation Fellowship is changing from 2023. We anticipate that application to the PFF scheme will take place after allocation to Foundation Programmes and the application process will be separate from the UKFPO application process.
Details on how to apply will be available shortly from the Royal College of Psychiatrists website
National recruitment to stand-alone foundation Foundation Year 2 training programmes across the four nations is managed centrally by the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO). Detailed information about how to apply is available via the UKFPO website.
Please note that current trainees are not eligible to apply for stand-alone foundation programmes.
If you have any queries regarding the stand-alone recruitment process, please contact the UKFPO directly via helpdesk@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk.
