2025 Specialised foundation programme (SFP) recruitment and allocation

Oriel application form completion: All applicants eligible for the 2025 foundation programme complete the main application form on Oriel within the national application window. Refer to the national application timeline.

Allocation to foundation school: Once selected by the medical school, the applicant will be automatically allocated to that foundation school on Oriel, and this takes place on national allocation day. The applicant must ensure that when they preference foundation schools on Oriel, that their local foundation school is listed as their first choice of foundation school.

Match to group: Following allocation to a foundation school, the applicant will later be automatically placed into the ‘SFP Group’ in that foundation school. The applicant is not required to preference the other groups within that foundation school on Oriel.

Match to programme: The ‘SFP Group’ contains all SFP programmes in that foundation school. The applicant will then be automatically matched to the programme that they have been selected for by their medical school. The applicant is not required to preference the other programmes within the SFP group on Oriel.

Can I be allocated to a different foundation school such as, not my local foundation school?

No. The selection process for an SFP via pathway 1 only allows for allocation to the foundation school which is linked to your medical school.  

If I am not selected for an SFP by my medical school, can I appeal their decision?

Each medical school will facilitate an appeal process for their students. NHSE and the UKFPO are not involved with the selection or appeal process and will not be able to intervene or overturn a medical school decision.

If I accept an SFP via the pathway 1 process, can I change my mind and withdraw from it after the selection process has taken place?

- Yes, but there is a deadline for this. If you wish to withdraw yourself from the pathway 1 SFP process and instead opt to be included in the main foundation programme allocation process (via PIA) you can do so.

- This means that you will no longer be allocated to your local foundation school via this process, and no longer matched to the SFP Group or to the 2-year specialised foundation programme that you were selected for.

- The deadline for an applicant to withdraw from pathway 1 and be included in the main FP allocation process is 17 January 2025 (12:00 midday GMT).

- You must notify your medical school and the local foundation school to which you were allocated.

- You must complete an MS Teams form to officially withdraw from the allocation and programme match. The completed form will ensure that your record is updated on Oriel. This form will be available on this NHSE web page.

- Once withdrawn from the SFP programme match you will be included in the national allocation to a foundation school and group/programme via PIA.

- The fact that you have taken part in the SFP medical school selection process will have no bearing on your allocation to a foundation school via PIA nor on your computer-generated rank.

It is very important that you ensure you have preferenced foundation schools in the order of your choice on Oriel before the end of the preferencing window in February. Refer to the UKFPO national application timeline for the deadline date.

Can I change or swap the SFP that I have been selected for?

Students who apply via pathway 1 will be matched to a 2-year specialised foundation programme which includes the F1 and F2 rotations and the SFP post/SFP elements. It is not  possible to change any part of a 2-year training programme.

Can I apply for the main FP programme and apply for SFP pathway 1?

Yes. All applicants for the 2025 foundation programme must still complete the main FP application on Oriel.  If your medical school SFP application is unsuccessful, you will automatically be included in the main FP allocation process.

Linking does not apply to SFP pathway 1. Linking only applies to the main FP application process. Applicants are permitted to link their application to another applicant for the main foundation programme if they wish to and also apply for SFP pathway 1. 

If one of the applicants is selected for an SFP via pathway 1, the link on Oriel will be broken and will no longer be honoured.  However, there is still the possibility that both applicants might end up in the same foundation school/group if the other applicant is allocated to the same foundation school/group via PIA. Further information about linking is available on the UKFPO website.

If I apply for SFP pathway 1, can I still apply to be pre-allocated to a foundation school?

Yes, but pre-allocation only applies to the main foundation programme and does not apply to the SFP pathway 1 process. Therefore, your national pre-allocation application will not be taken into account during the medical school selection process.

If you are applying to be pre-allocated to a foundation school other than the foundation school that is local to your medical school, you should speak to your medical school about the reasons for this and discuss whether applying to SFP via pathway 1 is advisable given your circumstances.

If your medical school SFP application via pathway 1 is unsuccessful, you will automatically be included in the main FP application and allocation process. If your pre-allocation application was approved by the national review panel, this will be taken into account, and you will be pre-allocated to the foundation school requested in your pre-allocation application.

If I apply for SFP pathway 1, can I also apply for foundation priority programmes?

Applicants are permitted to apply for FPP during the main application window on Oriel and apply to their medical school for an SFP via pathway 1 if they wish to. 

If you choose to apply to your medical school via pathway 1 and you are successful in application and accept an SFP programme via this route, you will automatically be removed from the main foundation programme allocation process and your FPP application will no longer be required. You will not be included in the FPP offers process which takes place between January-February 2025 because you have already accepted an SFP via your medical school selection process.

However, if your local medical school SFP application is not successful, you will be automatically included in the main foundation programme allocation process and if you also applied for FPP during the national application window, this will carry forward and you will be included in the application/offers process for FPP (as well the main FP application process). 

Who is eligible to apply for an SFP via pathway 1?

You are eligible to apply to your own medical school for an SFP via pathway 1 if you are currently a final year student at an English medical school.

If you qualified from a medical school in England on or after 06 August 2023 and you have been re-nominated to apply for the 2025 foundation programme, you are also eligible to apply via pathway 1 for an SFP in England.

Students at medical schools in England can only apply via their own medical school’s selection process (pathway 1) for an SFP.  They cannot apply via another England medical school selection process for pathway 1.

- Final year students from a medical school in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales are not eligible to apply via pathway 1 for an SFP in England. Refer to the application guidance for pathway 2.

- Applicants who have applied via the UKFP 2025 Eligibility route are not eligible to apply via pathway 1 for an SFP in England (this includes UK graduates). Refer to the application guidance for pathway 2.

Application for a specialised foundation programme in England via pathway 2 is via the same national application and allocation process used for the main foundation programme. The process therefore follows the same national application timeline for allocation to a foundation school, group preferencing and match, and programme preferencing and match.

1. Oriel application form completion: All applicants eligible for the 2025 foundation programme must complete the main application form on Oriel within the national application window. Refer to the national application timeline.

2. Allocation to foundation school: Applicants are allocated to a foundation school via PIA. 

3. Match to group: If allocated to a foundation school in England, applicants will then be required to preference the groups within the foundation school in the order of their choice. Some foundation schools will only have a small number of groups, and some will have more, but all of them will have a group titled “SFP group”.   

It is recommended that applicants who are hoping to be matched to an SFP preference the SFP group first. Applicants will be matched to group via the PIA method.

4. Match to programme: Applicants who are matched to the SFP group will then be required to preference the SFP programmes in their order of choice. Applicants will be matched to group via the PIA method.

If I am considering applying for SFPs once I am allocated to a foundation school, can I also apply for pre-allocation?

Yes. When completing your application to the foundation programme on Oriel, you will have the option to apply for pre-allocation to a specific foundation school, if you feel that you have personal circumstances that meet one of the national criteria.

If your application for pre-allocation is approved (and you have asked for pre-allocation to a foundation school in England) you will have the option to preference the SFP group once you have been allocated. Please be aware that the SFP group will contain all SFP programmes for that foundation school and depending on the foundation school, these programmes may cover a large geography and so you may need to take this into consideration, depending on your circumstances. You are advised to discuss your circumstances with the foundation school once you are allocated.

Can I change or swap the foundation school or the specialised foundation programme I am matched to? Is there an appeal process for this?

No. Applicants are not able to appeal their allocation outcome or national programme match and this includes a match to a specialised foundation programme. Allocation outcomes are final and there is no national swap process to facilitate applicant swaps between foundation schools or programmes.

Can I also apply for FPPs?

Yes. The FPP must be applied for in the main FPP application form during the national application window. Refer to FPP guidance on the UKFPO website.

If you accept a FPP offer you will be automatically removed from the main foundation programme allocation process, and therefore you will not have the opportunity to preference SFP groups and programmes within an English foundation school.

Can I also link my application to another applicant?

Applicants can choose to link their application to another applicant for the main foundation programme. Refer to the guidance about linking on the UKFPO website. 

The rank of the lower ranking applicant will be used to allocate both linked applicants to a foundation school (and in some cases to group as well, if used by the foundation school).

If the allocated foundation school honours linking at group level, applicants who are linked should consider this when preferencing groups on Oriel. Applicants are advised to contact their allocated foundation school to discuss their local policy for linking.

If I am not allocated to a foundation school in England, does this mean that I won’t get the opportunity to preference any SFPs in England?

You will only be able to preference SFPs in the foundation school that you are allocated to. If you are allocated to an England foundation school, you will only be able to preference SFPs if you are matched to the SFP group first. If you are not matched to the SFP group within the foundation school, you will not be able to preference SFPs.

If I am an applicant from a medical school in England and I am allocated to the Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales Foundation School, how can I apply for an SFP?

Each nation is running a different recruitment process for SFP. Refer to the relevant website for each nation or foundation school for guidance and timelines. Links are available on the UKFPO website.

If I applied for the foundation programme in a previous recruitment round but withdrew from the process and did not start in post, and I am applying again, will this affect my computer-generated rank for PIA?

No. This will have no bearing on your allocation to a foundation school via PIA nor on your computer-generated rank. No part of an application from a previous recruitment round is carried over into a new recruitment round.  

Queries which relate to the following should be sent directly to the relevant medical school in England:

Pathway 1 – Medical school selection:

- Medical school SFP application and selection process

- Medical school SFP selection process outcomes/offers

- Medical school appeal/complaint process

- Medical school timeframes and dates for selection process

- Numbers of SFP programmes available via pathway 1 selection process

Queries which relate to the following should be sent directly to helpdesk@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk

Pathway 2 – Allocation via PIA

- SFP Group and programme preferencing process on Oriel

- PIA

General foundation programme application queries

- Registration and nomination process on Oriel

- National application process on Oriel

- National application timeline

- Applicant linking

- Pre-allocation application process

Queries which relate to the following should be sent directly to the relevant foundation school. Contact details are available via a UKFPO webpage:

- Programmes and posts advertised on Oriel

- SFP job descriptions and programme content

- Employer related queries (for example, hospitals and local education providers)

- Foundation school local policy for linking applicants at group/programme level