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.
For 2025, the UKFPO will publish all applicant guidance as web pages. Some guidance will not be available until the end of August/early September. All guidance will be published on the UKFPO website, a summary of the key changes to the foundation programme application process for 2025 can be found here
Timeline
The application timeline and key dates for UKFP 2025 entry have been published on the UKFPO website and can be viewed here: UKFPO website
Applicant Handbook and Guidance on How to Apply to the Foundation Programme
The UKFP 2025 Applicants’ Handbook and UKFP 2025 Guidance on How to Apply to the Foundation Programme can be accessed via the UKFPO website: UKFPO website
Applicant Guide to Allocation – Preference Information Allocation and Further Guidance for the 2025 Application process.
The UKFP 2025 Applicant Guide to Allocation – Preference Informed Allocation and further guidance for the 2025 application process can be accessed via the UKFPO website: UKFPO website
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation Programme – Programme Information
A list of the indicative 2025 FP programmes can be viewed here: FP programmes 2025. Please note that if there is a ‘0’ in the places available column, this programme will not be available to preference for programmes commencing in August 2025.
Programme details can also be viewed on Oriel.
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.
Selecting Programme Preferences Information & Matching Process
If you are allocated to Kent, Surrey and Sussex foundation school, you will be invited to preference groups and programmes within the school you have been allocated to.
Two Stage Preferencing Process
Kent, Surrey and Sussex foundation schools have a large number of programmes, so 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 Kent, Surrey and Sussex foundation school groups in order of preference.
Groups within KSS Foundation School
Doctors wishing to apply to train in KSS will be able to preference programmes under the following Groups:
Please note some trusts will appear in more than one group and they cover wider geographical areas than the descriptors suggest. This means that the geographical distribution of trusts within each group are variable with considerable overlap.
KSS West
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
KSS Central
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
KSS East
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
KSS will use the same process to allocate groups as the national allocation to foundation school process. The computer generated rank will be used to allocate applicants to their first choice group (e.g. east, west or central), then a second pass to allocate remaining applicants who could not be allocated to their first choice.
For further information see below the KSS Group Preferencing Presentation 2024 recording
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. Applicants will be notified via Oriel of their match to individual programmes.
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.
Linked Applications
National guidance on linked applications at group and programme stage can be accessed via the: UKFPO website
If you have linked your application on the Oriel system and wish to retain this link at the group allocation stage for Kent, Surrey and Sussex Foundation School (KSSFS). Both applicants will need to rank the three groups in KSSFS in the same order of preference, or the link will be broken.
WARNING: The score of the lower ranking 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 ranks are used when allocating programmes.
If both applicants 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 as the applicant you are linked with, particularly if there is a significant difference in your ranking.
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 initially linked with.
Pre-Allocation
National guidance on pre-allocation can be accessed via the: UKFPO website
An applicant pre-allocated to a foundation school on the grounds of special circumstances will not be permitted to link their application to another individual in the application process.
The KSS FS, however, covers a wide geographical area. In order to reduce the chance of a distant allocation, individuals will be able to preference a programme group. The KSS Foundation School includes 3 programme groups (they cover wider geographical areas than the descriptors suggest owing to the need to make them fairly similar):
KSS West
KSS Central
KSS East
Supporting Trainees Entering Practice (STEP)
All applicants to the Foundation Programme are encouraged to make full use of the process for Supporting Doctors Entering Practice (STEP) by completing the relevant form. This process is intended to support the transition from undergraduate medical education to postgraduate training and employment as a doctor. This form is completed in advance of the start of the programme to allow Foundation Schools and employers time to identify suitable adjustments, if necessary, and prepare for the arrival of doctors by ensuring appropriate support mechanisms are in place. Further information to follow.