Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP)

The recruitment process for Specialised Foundation Programmes has changed for 2025.

NHS England (NHSE), NHS Education for Scotland (NES), and the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) announced the changes in February 2024 and details were published on their respective websites.   

• NIMDTA – https://www.nimdta.gov.uk/latest-news/recruitment-to-specialised-foundation-programmes-from-2025/
• NES – scotlanddeanery.nhs.scot/news-events/specialised-foundation-programme-sfp-in-scotland-an-update/
• NHS England – https://www.hee.nhs.uk/news-blogs-events/news/recruitment-specialised-foundation-programmes-changing-2025  / https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/08/specialised-foundation-programme-recruitment-process-for-2025/

Each of the four-nations is managing selection to the Specialised Foundation Programme in a different way. Information about how the selection process will be managed is available on an individual website for each nation. Use the web links below to take you to this guidance.  

The UKFPO are not involved with the selection process in each nation. Queries about the process, selection methods and decision making must therefore be directed to the appropriate contacts within each nation.  

Please note, that the process for Specialised Foundation Programmes in Wales has remained the same, and no changes have been made to their process for 2025.  SFP’s in Wales are included within the main Foundation Programme vacancy and programmes are allocated via main allocation (using Preference Informed Allocation). A link is also included below for the Wales Foundation School.

Information about the selection process for SFP within each of the 4-nations, and contact details can be found via the following websites:

England

Scotland
Email: sfas@nes.scot.nhs.uk

Northern Ireland
Email: confidential.foundation@hscni.net

Wales
Email: heiw.foundationschool@wales.nhs.uk

All applicants for the 2025 UK Foundation Programme must complete the main application form on Oriel within the national application window. This also applies to students from medical schools in England who intend on applying for a SFP via their medical school selection process.

Details of available Specialised Foundation Programmes within each Foundation School and the corresponding job descriptions can be found on local foundation school websites. Contact details and website links for foundation schools are available here.

Specialised Foundation Programmes can be found on Oriel under the foundation school that they belong to, within the main FP vacancy for 2025. The programmes will usually have “SFP” within their programme title or description.

Oriel process changes

Due to the changes that have been made to the SFP selection process across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is no longer a separate SFP vacancy or SFP application form in Oriel. SFP is no longer being appointed to via an “Offers” process on Oriel, and this means that applicants are not required to accept/decline SFP offers on Oriel within a 48-hour period. Instead, SFP places are being “Allocated” to applicants. 

This means that if an applicant wishes to withdraw after they have been allocated to a programme, it will be from the whole programme and potentially from the entire 2025 recruitment process, however this will depend on the process followed by the relevant nation. Refer to the information on individual nation’s websites and also to the information below about withdrawing from an SFP programme.

Pre-allocation does not apply to the Specialised Foundation Programme. It only applies to the main Foundation Programme.

Applicants are permitted to apply for pre-allocation for the main Foundation Programme and also apply for Specialised Foundation Programmes if they wish to, but the timeframes around when SFP is applied for, and the selection process that is followed will depend on the nation. Refer to individual nation websites for further information.

Linking does not apply to the Specialised Foundation Programme. It only applies to the main Foundation Programme.

Applicants are permitted to link their application to another applicant for the main Foundation Programme if they wish to and also apply for SFP. However, due to the fact that there is a different process/pathways for applying for SFP across the 4-nations, linked applicants must refer to the relevant nation website for further information about how their link may be affected when applying for SFP.

Refer to individual nation websites for further guidance about linking at application stage, preferencing groups and programmes on Oriel, and information about whether or not applicant linking will be honoured at group/programme stage for SFP.

Applicants who are considering withdrawing from an SFP place or programme that they have accepted must contact the foundation school that they have been allocated to (or were due to be allocated to) to discuss the implications of doing so.

An applicant should contact their foundation school as soon possible to ensure they are clear on the process and timeframes.

Each nation is responsible for managing and facilitating the appeals process in relation to their local selection process for the Specialised Foundation Programme. In England this process is the responsibility of each medical school. Applicants must contact the relevant team for information about the appeal process.

There is no national appeals process for foundation school allocation, nor to the match to a programme via the national allocation process. Applicants are not able to appeal their allocation outcome. Allocation outcomes are final and there is no national swap process to facilitate applicant swaps between foundation schools or programmes.