English Language Proficiency

All applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency using one of the following methods:

Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ)

A PMQ will only be accepted as evidence of English language proficiency if it was gained from a medical school / university in a country where English is the first and native language. The GMC maintains a list of countries where English is a first and native language. The UKFPO will refer to this list when making decisions about applications.

Please note:

  • If you gained your PMQ from an overseas campus of a non-UK university, you will be deemed by the UKFPO as having studied in the country where the campus is located.
  • If you studied at an overseas campus of a UK university, you will be deemed by the UKFPO as having studied in the UK.

Non-urgent advice: Important

All applicants who gained their PMQ from a country where English is not the first and native language (as cited on the GMC website) must evidence their English language proficiency by either a valid IELTS certificate or a valid OET certificate.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET)

Applicants whose PMQ is from a country where English is not the first and native language cannot use their PMQ as confirmation of their English language proficiency. Therefore, applicants from these medical schools must submit a valid IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) or OET at the time of application. Please be aware that test results are not always immediately available for verification by third parties, so we encourage applicants to sit their IELTS or OET test at the earliest opportunity.

Applicants must achieve a score of 7.5 in each skill (speaking, listening, reading, and writing), and the scores must be part of the same Test Report Form (TRF). The examination must be dated no earlier than 06 August 2023 to be valid for entry to UKFP 2025.

If you have scored below 7.5 in any domain, your IELTS will not be accepted as proof of English language proficiency (even if your overall score is 7.5 or greater).

The UKFPO will only accept Academic and UKVI (Academic) versions of the IELTS test. The UKFPO will no longer accept IELTS General Training certificates.

Applicants who wish to take advantage of the One Skill Retake option must bear in mind that the UKFPO must be able to view/verify the final result on the IELTS verification portal. If an applicant has used the IELTS One Skill Retake, the UKFPO will consider only the original date of examination, not the date of the One Skill Retake, to determine if an examination is in date.

The UKFPO does not accept the IELTS indicator; however, the IELTS online exam is accepted.

Applicants with a satisfactory IELTS score will be asked to provide the Test Report Form (TRF) number on their eligibility application form in Oriel, at the point of application.

The UKFPO will verify IELTS results online using the TRF number to check that the result meets requirements.

Applicants must achieve a score of 400 in each section (speaking, listening, reading, and writing), and the scores must be achieved in one test sitting. The examination must be dated no earlier than 06 August 2023 to be valid for entry to UKFP 2025. Applicants must share their OET results with the UKFPO. If results are not shared, the UKFPO will be unable to verify the result and the application may be marked as ineligible.

Instructions on how to share OET results through the OET online account can be found here.

Applicants with a satisfactory OET score will be asked to provide the Candidate Number on their eligibility application form in Oriel, at the point of application.

Non-urgent advice: Ensure the TRF or Candidate Number is correct

Applicants are reminded to ensure that the IELTS TRF / OET Candidate Number is correct in their application form. Applicants will not be able to amend any part of their application once it has been submitted. If the UKFPO are unable to verify the evidence using the TRF or Candidate Number provided, the application will be deemed ineligible.

– The IELTS certificate/OET results must have been obtained no earlier than 06 August 2023 (the test sitting must have been on or after this date).

– English language evidence is due at the time of application. Please note that if there is a delay to IELTS/OET results, due to quality checks for example, the window will not be extended, and evidence will not be accepted following the close of the eligibility application window.

– The requirements for satisfactory IELTS and OET are set at a higher level than the requirements for the GMC. Applicants with GMC registration will still be required to meet the UKFPO English language requirement for entry to the Foundation Programme.

– Scores for both IELTS and OET must have been obtained in one sitting.

– The IELTS certificate/OET results do not have to be from the most recent sitting, as long as they meet the requirements for the eligibility application process.

– Other UK courses and qualifications such as (and not limited to) Masters, GCSEs or A-Levels are not considered satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency. The assurances that are needed to ensure satisfactory English language proficiency for entry to foundation training are specifically in relation to patient contact and communications.

Frequently Asked Questions on English Language Eligibility can be found here.