Specialised Foundation Programmes

The Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) provides an opportunity for foundation doctors to develop research, teaching, and leadership and management skills in addition to the competences outlined in the Foundation Programme Curriculum.

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 below.

SFP Selection

Each of the four-nations manages selection to the Specialised Foundation Programme in a different way. Information about how the selection process will be managed is available on the individual website for each nation.

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.

After allocation to foundation school, a local selection process will be held by the Northern Ireland foundation school for applicants who are interested in applying for an SFP. Refer to the Northern Ireland Foundation School website for specific guidance, and contact confidential.foundation@hscni.net if you have any queries.

.After allocation to foundation school, a local selection process will be held by the Scotland Foundation School for applicants who are interested in applying for an SFP. Refer to the Scotland Foundation School website for specific guidance, and contact sfas@nes.scot.nhs.uk if you have any queries.

1/3 of SFPs will be appointed to via local medical school selection processes in autumn 2026 (exact timelines will be set by individual medical schools). Applicants wishing to apply for these must still complete the main FP application form on Oriel by the national application deadline and this is a mandatory and important part of the process.
 
2/3 of SFPs are now included within the main Foundation Programme vacancy and programmes are matched to applicants via the main allocation process (using PIA). After allocation to a foundation school, applicants will be required to preference groups, and if they are matched to the SFP group within their foundation school, they will be able to preference the SFP programmes within the group. The match to programme will use PIA.
 
For full information, refer to the NHS England website for specific guidance, and contact individual Foundation Schools within England if you have any queries.

SFPs in Wales are included within the main Foundation Programme vacancy and programmes are allocated via main allocation (using Preference Informed Allocation). Refer to the Wales Foundation School website for specific guidance, and contact heiw.foundationschool@wales.nhs.uk if you have any queries.

Non-urgent advice: Oriel application

All applicants for the 2026 Foundation Programme must still complete the main FP application form on Oriel, irrespective of whether they plan on applying for an SFP programme or not.  The national FP application deadline on Oriel applies to all 2026 applicants. The main FP application form is a mandatory part of the process.

General information

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

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 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 apply for SFP. However, because there are different processes/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 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) as soon possible to discuss the implications of doing so, and to ensure they are clear on the process and timeframes.
 
Withdrawal will be from the whole programme and potentially from the entire FP recruitment process. However, this will depend on the process followed by the relevant nation. Refer to the information on individual nation’s websites.

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.