This guide should be read in conjunction with Wessex study leave website which gives full details of application process and expense claims.
- F2 doctors should discuss any study leave activities with their Educational Supervisor before applying.
- Study leave will only be granted if F2 trainees are progressing well with training on track to receive a favourable ARCP outcome. Study leave for exam or specialty application preparation should not be allowed to distract from or impede attainment of the foundation programme capabilities.
- Wessex Professional Development Unit runs a variety of courses. Funding for equivalent external courses will not be approved except in exceptional circumstances (for example, if a Wessex course is oversubscribed).
There are two types of study leave for F2s in Wessex:
- Essential study leave to meet the Foundation Programme Curriculum: funding is provided directly to
educational providers to fund Advanced Life Support (ALS) courses for foundation doctors. Although an ALS certificate is no longer a mandatory requirement for F2 completion (in the 2021 curriculum), Foundation Programme Capability (FPC) 2 requires evidence of equivalent skills. - Discretionary study leave (see below) which adds value to the wider system. This includes career development study leave to prepare for future training posts, including applications.
F2 trainees will be granted approval for a maximum of one wider system course plus one career development course (OR conference).
Wider system courses include:
- Quality improvement
- Medical education
- Leadership and/or management
- Resilience, wellbeing or psychological first aid
Career development courses include:
- Part One membership revision courses (which must be a local Wessex course if available)
- Basic surgical skills course
- Radiology course
- Advanced paediatric life support course
- Advanced trauma life support course
International Conferences
Presenting at conferences held outside of the UK typically adds very little extra benefit but may be supported on an exceptional basis, at the discretion of the Foundation Programme Director and Educational Supervisor and would be considered as part of the one career development activity that has been agreed in Wessex.
Attendance may be part-funded – reflecting both NHSE’s and your commitment to your development. A maximum of £1000.00 may be provided to support the conference/course fee or travel and accommodation costs (in line with local deanery guidance for claiming expenses) whichever is the lower amount. Claims must not exceed £1000.00.
For accommodation in alignment with the agreed maximum rate for study budget claims within the UK, the overnight rate should not exceed £120 per night. Subsistence expenses will not usually be reimbursed.
Approval for attendance at international events (any event outside of the UK) must be approved by your Educational Supervisor, Foundation Programme Director and the Associate Dean for Study Leave at NHSE Wessex. Please email england.studyleave.wx@nhs.net providing details of the event, costs and copies of relevant communications with your ES and TPD
Taster days
Foundation doctors can take up to a maximum of 5 taster days across F1 and F2 and this will be deducted from the F2 study leave entitlement. The vast majority of taster days are taken locally but placements in other Wessex Trusts can be considered if the relevant clinical speciality is not represented in the doctor’s own Trust.
Private study leave
Foundation doctors electing not to attend career development courses or conferences may take up to two days of leave for private study in preparation for professional exams.
Postgraduate certificates
Certificated courses of postgraduate study (PG Cert, Dip or Masters) will not be supported as the time commitments involved are not compatible with full engagement in foundation programme training.
Additional F2 Study Leave for those undertaking Specialised Foundation Programmes (SFP)
In addition to the standard F2 study leave allowance and funding granted to Wessex F2 doctors, those undertaking SFP may be granted up to a maximum of 2 days study leave in order to attend a conference where they are presenting work they have done as part of their SFP time. Conference costs (if applicable) and any accommodation and subsistence cost can be claimed in the usual way as per HEE Wessex Study Leave Guidance.
Presenting at conferences held outside of the UK will only be supported on an exceptional basis at the discretion of the Foundation Programme Director and Educational Supervisor. Attendance may be part-funded – reflecting both NHSE’s and your commitment to your development. A maximum of £1000.00 may be provided to support the conference/course fee or travel and accommodation costs (in line with local deanery guidance for claiming expenses) whichever is the lower amount. Claims must not exceed £1000.00.
There is no NHSE Wessex funding available to support the cost of project consumables, laptop computers or enrolment or fees for higher degrees or qualifications during the placement. Please discuss with supervisors in advance the resources required to conduct the work planned during the placement.