Appeals

Non-urgent advice: Important – Key change to the appeal process for UKFP 2024

Applicants should be aware that for the 2024 application process (and onwards) the appeals process will no longer include a Stage 1 appeal process. This means that applicants will no longer be able to provide evidence or information that was omitted during the original application window via an appeal process.
All evidence and information required during any part of the application process must be submitted at the time of application. There will not be the opportunity to provide it at a later date.

To make an appeal concerning one of the national elements of the recruitment process you need to complete the relevant appeal form and email the form to helpdesk@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk. Forms will be published at the relevant time for the appeals process they relate to.

Appeals are only accepted during the relevant appeals windows, and appeals sent to the UKFPO outside of these time frames will not be considered.

The national elements of the foundation programme recruitment process include: the eligibility application process, pre-allocation application process, clinical assessment, and the Inter-foundation school transfer application process.

Appeals against outcomes of the Specialised Foundation Programme selection process are managed by each Specialised Unit of Application (SUoA)/foundation schools (and not by the UKFPO.

A guidance document for the SFP appeal process is available below.

Information about the processes and timelines for appeals are provided below.

UKFP 2024 National Appeal Process [.pdf 321KB]

Appeal forms should be downloaded and saved to your computer before you fill them out. Do not try to fill the form out in the web browser.

Important:
Allocations to foundation schools are final.
Applicants are not able to appeal their allocation results.
National swaps between foundation schools and programmes are not permitted.

Applicants who graduated overseas or from a UK medical school more than two years before the start of the programme to which they are applying are required to apply through the eligibility process.

Eligibility applications are considered by the UKFPO in accordance with the eligibility criteria.

10% of all eligible applications are reviewed and quality assured by an independent eligibility checking panel.

Applicants who are considered ineligible at the end of this process can submit an appeal if they believe that processes or procedures have not been followed, or there is evidence of unfairness in how the process has been implemented, and the objectivity of decisions is called into question.

Appeal submission window
UKFP 2024 Eligibility appeals form: no longer available
Submission window opens:
10 August 2023
Submission window closed:
17 August 2023 (12:00 midday BST)
Appeal results issued to applicants:
29 August 2023

Applicants who qualified from medical school two years before the start of the programme must also undertake an assessment of their clinical skills in the UK before being granted full eligibility. The primary purpose of this assessment is to determine suitability to start the foundation programme. The assessments will be undertaken by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Applicants will sit a set of 12-station Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) in approximately four hours.

Applicants who are unsuccessful and do not pass the clinical assessment can submit an appeal if they believe that processes or procedures have not been followed, or there is evidence of unfairness in how the assessment process has been implemented, and the objectivity of decisions is called into question.

Appeal submission window
Submission window opens: 28 November 2023
Submission window closed:
04 December 2023 (12:00 midday GMT)
Appeal results issued to applicants:
14 December 2023

Applicants have the option to apply for pre-allocation to a particular Foundation School based on their personal circumstances (refer to the guidance on the UKFP webpage). Applications for pre-allocation are reviewed by a national panel comprising of medical school, foundation school and UKFPO representatives.

Applicants who are not approved for pre-allocation can submit an appeal if they believe that processes or procedures have not been followed, or there is evidence of unfairness in how the process has been implemented, and the objectivity of decisions is called into question.

Appeal submission window
UKFP 2024 Pre-allocation appeal form: no longer available
Submission window opens:
01 December 2023
Submission window closes:
08 December 2023 (12:00 midday GMT)
Appeal results issued to applicants:
19 December 2023

Applicants cannot make an appeal simply because they disagree with the principles of the SUoA selection process or the judgements or outcomes that have been made by the application scorers/interview panels. Applicants may request a review by the SUoA where processes or procedures have not been followed, or there is evidence of unfairness in how the process has been implemented, and the objectivity of decisions is called into question.
SFP appeals are managed locally by each individual Specialised Unit of Application (SUoA)/foundation school (and not by the UKFPO). Applicants must therefore submit their appeal directly to the SUoA.

UKFP 2024 Specialised Units of Application (SUoA) Appeal Process guidance [.pdf 207KB]

Appeal submission window
UKFP 2024 SUoA SFP appeal form
Submission window opens:
05 February 2024
Submission window closes:
09 February 2024
Appeal results issued to applicants:
16 February 2024

Applicants who are not approved for an Inter-foundation school transfer can submit an appeal if they believe that processes or procedures have not been followed, or there is evidence of unfairness in how the process has been implemented, and the objectivity of decisions is called into question.

Appeal submission window
UKFP 2024 IFST appeal form (date available TBC)
Submission window opens:
23 April 2024
Submission window closes:
29 April 2024 (12:00 midday BST)
Appeal results issued to applicants:
13 May 2024