UKFP 2026 Application Timeline

02 – 23 July 2025 12:00 midday (BST)

Applicants who are required to apply via the Eligibility route must complete and submit an Eligibility application form on Oriel. Information about the eligibility criteria and a timeline for the Eligibility application process can be found on the Eligibility Applications page.

If you are a UK medical student expecting to qualify by 04 August 2026, or you qualified from a UK medical school on or after 05 August 2024, you do not need to submit an Eligibility application.

Guidance and forms to support the 2026 application process will be published to applicants.

16 September 2025 09:00 (BST)

Registration opens on the Oriel application system for applicants. Registration emails will be sent to nominated applicants from UK medical schools at 09:00 (BST). Applicants should note that this email may take some time to appear in their inbox.

24 September 2025

The national application window for FP and FPP programmes opens on 24 September and closes 08 October 2025 12:00 midday (BST). Applications for the 2-year Foundation Programme and Foundation Priority Programme must be submitted during this window.

Applications for pre-allocation must also be submitted on Oriel between 24 September – 08 October 2025 12:00 midday (BST).

05 October 2025

The Oriel system has planned downtime on 05 October 2025 and will be offline and unavailable for use during the morning. Applicants are advised to factor this into their plans for completing their application form.

08 October 2025 12:00 midday (BST)

The national application window for FP and FPP closes at 12:00 midday (BST) on 08 October 2025.

Applications for pre-allocation must also be submitted on Oriel by 08 October 2025 12:00 midday (BST).

Late applications will not be accepted. Applications can only be submitted on Oriel and through the 2026 FP vacancy.

There are no other alternative routes for applications to be submitted. Applicants who do not submit their application on Oriel by the national deadline of 08 October 2025 12:00 midday (BST) will not be granted an extension to do so, under any circumstances (this includes partially completed applications).

None

Pre-allocation application outcomes were due to be released the week commencing 15 December 2025. This has now been delayed and outcomes will be released in the new year 2026.

Please refer to the update message on the front page of the website.

15 January 2026

Pre-allocation application outcomes to be released to applicants.

We apologise that due to circumstances outside of the control of the UKFPO, we have not been able to provide applicants with notice of when pre-allocation outcomes would be released.

FPP Update

Due to the timing of the introduction of the proposed Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill, Foundation Priority Programmes will no longer be offered via a separate recruitment process.  

The FPP offers which were due on 21, 26, 28 January 2026 and 02 February 2026 will not take place and there is no longer the opportunity for applicants to apply for FPPs outside of the main allocation process after allocation to a foundation school has taken place.

The FPP preferencing deadline of 19 January 2026 is no longer applicable and the Oriel system will be updated shortly.  You are no longer required to preference FPP programmes in the FPP vacancy (and this will soon no longer be possible).

18 February 2026 (12:00 midday GMT) (this date was previously published as 05 February 2026).

Deadline for applicants to withdraw from the pre-allocation process. Applicants must refer to the withdrawal process within the pre-allocation guidance and submit a withdrawal form by this deadline.

24 February 2026 (12:00 midday GMT) (this date was previously published as 11 February 2026).

Deadline for applicants to finish preferencing Foundation Schools in their order of choice on Oriel. Refer to foundation school preferencing guidance.

Date TBC – Allocation to a Foundation School (this date was previously published as 26 February 2026).

Due to the timing of the introduction of the proposed Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill, allocation to a foundation school may be delayed by a week or two until March 2026.

This is because allocation to a foundation school can only occur once the prioritisation Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes an Act of Parliament. We will update applicants directly when the revised timeline is confirmed.

Date TBC

Group and programme preferencing dates

30 April 2026 (12:00 BST)

Reference submission window closes. The deadline for referees to submit a reference in Oriel. Refer to guidance for referees and references information.