Improved recruitment process for academic foundation programmes announced
Published: 20/04/2009
Dr Stuart Carney, UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) Deputy National Director, announced today that medical students applying to academic foundation programmes will be able to consider all offers before making a final decision.
“This is a great step forward,” said Dr Carney, chair of the Academic Foundation Programme Sub-group of the UKFPO, “Previously, foundation schools have demanded that applicants accept or reject offers within a very short timescale. This arrangement favoured foundation schools recruiting early. Applicants felt pressurised into accepting the first offer made before they’d had a chance to attend all interviews. We felt that this was not in the best interest of students.”
Foundation schools have agreed with the Academic Sub-Group recommendations that students will be able to accept, reject or hold an offer before making a final decision at the close of the application period.
Tim Crocker-Buque, Chair of the BMA Medical Students committee, praised this new development. “Medical students will no longer be forced to make a decision about a place at one school before knowing all their options. They will be able to apply for any positions they are interested in and, with the ability to hold an offer, can make an informed choice about which academic programme is right for them. The BMA has been lobbying hard for this change. It is a significant improvement to the process.”
Foundation schools will shortly begin recruiting for 2010 academic foundation programmes. The recruitment window opens on Friday 8 May 2009 and closes on Monday 14 September 2009. Each foundation school will advertise their programmes, receive applications and interview candidates at different times. Some schools will be recruiting very early in this window and candidates are advised to check the website of the foundation school in which they are interested in applying for more information.
Details about all of the academic programmes available will be published on the UKFPO website at www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk on Thursday 7 May 2009.
Click here for the 2009 recruitment timetable.
