If you wish to be allocated to the same foundation school as another applicant, you can choose to link your FP application to the other applicant on Oriel.
An applicant can only link to one other applicant. The rank of the lower ranking applicant will be used to allocate both linked applicants to a foundation school (and in some cases to group as well, if used by the foundation school).
If you link your application to another applicant, both of you must rank all the foundation schools in the same order of preference. Oriel will display your linked applicant’s preference next to the name of each foundation school. Linked applicants can also amend their foundation school/UoA preferences by the preferencing deadline specified in the application timeline.
Once two applications are linked and both applications are submitted, the link cannot be undone and will remain visible in your application on Oriel. However, it is possible for the link to be broken, either by the system or by one or both applicants changing your ranking of the foundation schools/UoAs.
Links will be broken by the system if either applicant:
- is approved for pre-allocation to a foundation school
- accepts an SFP Pathway 1 programme (England only)
- does not rank foundation schools in the same order of preference as the other applicant
- one applicant is placed on the national reserve list
The link could also be broken if there aren’t two places available in any foundation school at the point that the allocation algorithm attempts to place the linked applicants in the same foundation school.
Choosing to break a link
You can choose to break the link by changing your foundation school/UoA preferences to a different order to the applicant with whom you have linked your application after you submit your application (and by the preferencing deadline specified in the application timeline).
It is important to note that both you and your linked applicant will still be able to see each other’s preferences, even if you change them so they are different from each other.
Breaking the link does not guarantee that you and the other applicant will be allocated to different foundation schools because there is still a possibility that the allocation algorithm could place you in the same foundation school.
Linking applications at group and programme stage
Not all foundation schools allow linking for the match to group/programme and applicants should consider local foundation school policies prior to submission of their linked application.
Applicants should contact individual foundation schools directly for further information.
Refer to the How to Apply on Oriel guide for information about how to link to another applicant during the application process on Oriel.