Application process general principles
It is only possible to submit one application and apply under one criterion. Applicants who believe they meet more than one of the criteria should discuss their circumstances with their medical school before applying. Applicants who apply via the Eligibility route can contact the UKFPO to discuss their application.
Pre-allocation applications must be to the foundation school area within which the applicant’s circumstances are already taking place at the time of application. The applicant must provide proof of address in their name for that same area, and the proof of address must match the address provided on their application form. Refer to the proof of address guidance.
Applicants whose circumstances do not meet one of the national criteria should not apply under criterion 4 Extraordinary Circumstances if they do not truly have extraordinary circumstances. There is not a criterion for all personal circumstances and in the absence of one that fits, applicants should not use criterion 4 unless their circumstances really are extraordinary.
Applicants who select the wrong criterion for their Pre-allocation application may have their application rejected for this reason.
Pre-allocation and the criteria
Criterion 1 Parent or legal guardian: Under this criterion the applicant and the child(ren) must already have an address in the foundation school area that they need to be pre-allocated to at the time of application. Proof of address must be for that same foundation school area.
Criterion 2 Primary Carer: Under this criterion, UK medical school applicants can only apply and be pre-allocated to the foundation school local to their UK medical school. Proof of address must be for that same foundation school area. Eligibility applicants applying under this criterion can only apply and be pre-allocated to the foundation school local to their current address and that of the person being cared for. Proof of address must be for that same foundation school area.
Criterion 3 Health condition or disability: Under this criterion the applicant must already have an address in the foundation school area that they need to be pre-allocated to so that they can continue to receive specialist treatment. Proof of address must be for that same foundation school area.
Criterion 4 Extraordinary circumstances: Under this criterion the applicant must already have an address in the foundation school area that they need to be pre-allocated to. Proof of address must be for that same foundation school area.
Criterion 5 Widening Participation: Applicants applying under this criterion can only apply and be pre-allocated to the foundation school local to their UK medical school. Proof of address must be for that same foundation school region.
Supporting evidence
Any supporting supplementary documentation/evidence that is provided must be dated/issued within the last 12 months prior to the close of the national application window, unless stated otherwise (refer to application timeline for the application closing date).
Pre-allocation and FPP/SFP
Pre-allocation does not apply to the Foundation Priority Programme (FPP) nor to the Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) selection process managed by UK medical schools. It only applies to the main Foundation Programme.
Applicants are permitted to apply for pre-allocation for the main Foundation Programme and apply for the Foundation Priority Programme and/or also apply to their UK medical school for a Specialised Foundation Programme if they wish to.
If their SFP or FPP application is successful, they will automatically be removed from the main Foundation Programme allocation process and their pre-allocation application will no longer be required.
If their SFP or FPP application is not successful, they will automatically be included in the main Foundation Programme allocation process and if their pre-allocation application was approved, this will still carry forward and they will be pre-allocated to the requested foundation school.
Pre-allocation and linking
If an applicant has chosen to link their application to another applicant and has their pre-allocation application approved, the link with the other applicant will be broken and will not be honoured on Oriel.
Geographic distribution of medical and foundation schools
Applicants are encouraged to check the cities and towns that fall under each foundation school prior to completing the application form. If an applicant is unsure which foundation school they should request on their application they should contact the foundation school to check. This is particularly important if their home address is on the border between two foundation schools.
A list of foundation schools and the towns and cities that fall under each of them is available on the UKFPO website.