Recruitment to foundation programmes in the UK is a national online process. This includes recruitment to Specialised Foundation Programmes and F2 Stand-Alone posts. Information on the application process is available on the UK Foundation Programme (UKFPO) website. Online applications are made via Oriel.
We recommend that applicants read the UKFPO applicants handbook which can be accessed on the UKFPO website. Applicants can also find important information on applying for pre-allocation, linked applications, right to work, visas, supporting transition and entering practice (STEP) and inter-foundation school transfers (IFST) on the UKFPO website.
GMC Provisional Registration
To start a UK approved F1 training programme all incoming F1 doctors are required to hold GMC provisional registration with a licence to practice and without it they are unable to start work.
Applicants need to apply three months before their F1 start date. This gives the GMC time to process the application.
Applicants who are not ready to start by the first Wednesday in August will be given 20 working days to resolve the issues. If they are not ready to start by the end of this period, applicants will have their offer of a 2-year Foundation Programme withdrawn. Applicants will need to declare any missed working days on the Form R at their Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP).
When the GMC have completed the process for provisional registration, F1 doctors will have 1,125 days to complete their F1 training. This means it’s important that you are ready to start the first year of the Foundation Programme (F1) when you apply for your provisional registration.
More details can be found on the GMC Website
Recruitment information (2026 start and later)
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