All recruitment to foundation programmes in the UK is a national online process. Details of the application process are available on the UK Foundation Programme (UKFPO) website. Online applications are made via Oriel.
We recommend that you read the UKFPO applicants handbook. This and information on applying for pre-allocation, linked applications, right to work, visas, supporting transition and entering practice (STEP) and inter-foundation school transfers (IFST) are all available on the UKFPO website.
2026 FPP Update
Due to the timing of the introduction of the proposed Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill, Foundation Priority Programmes will no longer be offered via a separate recruitment process.
The FPP offers which were due on 21, 26, 28 January 2026 and 02 February 2026 will not take place and there is no longer the opportunity for applicants to apply for FPPs outside of the main allocation process after allocation to a foundation school has taken place. The FPP preferencing deadline of 19 January 2026 is no longer applicable and the Oriel system will be updated shortly. You are no longer required to preference FPP programmes in the FPP vacancy (and this will soon no longer be possible).
KSS Welcome Event- 17 March 2026.
The KSS foundation school will be hosting a virtual welcome event on the 17 March 2026. All F1 doctors joining the KSS foundation school in August 2026 will receive an invite and joining instructions.
You can access the 2025 KSS foundation school welcome event slides and recordings here
Less than Full Time Training (LTFT)
Further guidance and details of how to apply can be accessed here.
GMC Provisional registration
To complete a UK approved F1 programme, all incoming F1 doctors are required to hold GMC provisional registration with a licence to practice and you are unable to start work without it.
You will need to apply three months before the date you wish to start F1. This gives the GMC time to process your 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are not ready to start by the end of this period, applicants will have their offer of a 2-year Foundation Programme withdrawn.
Once the GMC process your application for provisional registration, you’ll have 1,125 days to complete your 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
