Foundation Training
Recruitment into Foundation - Appointments Process
Process commencing August 2008
There is a single web-based national UK application process. Go to the UKFPO website for information.
All candidates must accept that they are committing to the full two-year foundation programme at the foundation school they have chosen.
Special Circumstances
Some students may have health or personal reasons (e.g. caring for a sick relative)where they need to undertake their foundation years in a given geographical area. Such students should inform their Medical School of their circumstances. Every effort will be made to accommodate students, whose circumstances meet the criteria, within a particular foundation school. In exceptional circumstances a particular programme may be allocated. Leeds Medical School students should contact Dr Richard Fuller,via the Learning and Teaching Office.
Work Permits
Graduates of UK medical schools do not require a work permit for the foundation programmes; they are still eligible for permit free training (PFT). Students should apply for permit free training in good time. They can do this from the UK or from abroad. Students need a letter of support from the Postgraduate Dean, which they can obtain by contacting Dr Patrick Neligan at the Yorkshire Deanery. The Deanery recommend 26 months, which allows students to apply at the end of June and still have a few weeks leeway at the end of F2. Students should not in any circumstances apply for visitor status.
Summary of the process
All UK medical schools will provide academic performance scores, based on national criteria/guidelines, for each candidate. Candidates will be made aware of their academic score.
Each candidate will complete an on-line application, which includes a personal statement.
Each candidate ranks UK foundation schools in preference order.
The first ranked foundation school chosen by the candidate will score their personal statement based on national criteria/guidelines.
The academic score will be added to the score of the personal statement to provide a ranking score for each candidate.
Using the combined scores candidates are matched to a foundation school. It is expected that candidates will be advised of the result of the match in January. Candidates will be able to view their allocation and score on the national website using their application log in. Instructions will be emailed from the foundation schools to candidates on how to preference their choice of posts within the allocated foundation school. Results of matching to programmes will be notified by the foundation schools in February. Enquiries about allocations should be emailed to:-
Eleanor Monkhouse (West Yorkshire Foundation School) or Joanne Clemenson (North Yorkshire and East Coast Foundation School).
Appointments in Yorkshire
Appointments in Yorkshire will be to two foundation schools which are constituted as follows:-
West Yorkshire -Airedale, Bradford, Calderdale Royal (Halifax)/Huddersfield
Dewsbury/Pinderfields/Pontefract, Harrogate, Leeds General Infirmary, St James's (Leeds)
North Yorkshire and East Coast - Grimsby/Scunthorpe, Hull, Scarborough, York.
School websites and those of the trusts/hospitals appear at the end of this article under 'relevant links'.
Who can enter the Process?
UK and (Economic European Area) EEA students. All applications for applicants who undertook their primary medical training outside of the UK will be processed centrally via the UKFPO, Eligibility Office. UKFPO website In the first instance please check your eligibility against the criteria set by the GMC.
References
Two references will be required. Candidates should first contact their chosen referees to request permission to give their details.
Candidates are asked to provide email and postal addresses and phone numbers of two referees who have been involved in their training.Candidates should also state the capacity in which the referee is known to them.
HR departments will pursue any references not received.
Final Submission
It is vital that candidates check their applications very carefully as, once submitted and scored, no further changes can be made. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted - no exceptions.
All candidates must keep a portfolio of evidence to support their personal statements and retain the portfolio until after recruitment is finished,as they may be required to take part in an audit process.
Undertaking F1 abroad - Leeds Medical School candidates
Leeds Medical School students are encouraged to undertake and complete their two-year foundation programme in the United Kingdom. Before considering working abroad a student must request permission to opt out of the national process. The student must contact Jacqui Lewis, Administrative Officer at the Yorkshire and the Humber Deanery, jacqui lewis as there are issues which must be discussed and paperwork which requires completion before the student can accept a post abroad.