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

Date TBC

Pre-allocation application outcomes released to applicants.

19 January 2026 (12:00 midday GMT)

Deadline for applicants to preference Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) on Oriel. Refer to FPP guidance.

Deadline for applicants to completely withdraw from the Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) application process on Oriel. Refer to FPP guidance.

21 January 2026

Round 1 of Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) offers are released to applicants on Oriel. Applicants have 48 hours to accept or reject the offer. Refer to FPP offers guidance.

26 January 2026

Round 2 of Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) offers are released to applicants on Oriel. Applicants have 48 hours to accept or reject the offer. Refer to FPP offers guidance.

28 January 2026

Round 3 of Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) offers are released to applicants on Oriel. Applicants have 48 hours to accept or reject the offer. Refer to FPP offers guidance.

02 February 2026

Round 4 of Foundation Priority Programmes (FPP) offers are released to applicants on Oriel. Applicants have 48 hours to accept or rejected the offer. Refer to FPP offers guidance.

05 February 2026 (12:00 midday GMT)

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.

11 February 2026 (12:00 midday GMT)

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

26 February 2026

Allocation to a Foundation School takes place. Refer to guidance about the Preference Informed Allocation process.

26 February 2026

Reference submission window opens in Oriel. Refer to guidance for referees and references information.

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.