Following the release of application outcomes, applicants cannot correct any errors made as part of their initial application and cannot provide any additional information/evidence they might have omitted from their application.
The principles underlying the appeal policy are:
- Applicants cannot submit an appeal simply because they disagree with the principle of the process or the judgements or outcomes that have been made by the UK Foundation Programme Office or its contractors.
- Applicants may request a review 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. No additional supporting documents will be accepted.
- Applicants can submit an appeal against the outcome of specific elements of the national application process on the following grounds:
- That the UKFPO did not apply the process with appropriate diligence or due care. The applicant feels that the UKFPO made an error in their assessment of their application.Â
- That any decision regarding the application/assessment was made in a prejudicial way, that is, where there is evidence of prejudice, bias or conflict of interest during the process.
- That the applicant was disadvantaged by a service interruption to Oriel (applies to all processes except the Clinical Assessment and the IFST process).
- The procedure will be fair and transparent, and the final decisions will be made in accordance with relevant employment legislation and statutory procedures.
- Applicant privacy and confidentiality will be respected, subject to the need for an open and fair investigation and for the outcome of the investigation to be reported appropriately. The intention is both to protect the applicant’s privacy and to protect those involved with the appeal process.
- The UKFPO will appoint an independent panel who will consider all appeals. The panel will consist of a minimum of three people (but will usually consist of more than three) and will include an appropriate representative from a medical school and from a foundation school. At least one member of the panel will be a clinician.