1. Applying to FP / AFP 2017 Published June 2016
This presentation provides an overview of the process for applying to the Foundation Programme and Academic Foundation Programme commencing in August 2017
For the full details, you should read the FP/AFP 2017 Applicant’s Handbook

2. FP/AFP 2017 national process
Nomination of eligible applicants including provision of decile score
Applicants register on Oriel and complete online application form
Verification of Educational Achievements scores
AFP offers timetable
All applicants take the SJT
Applicants on primary list allocated to UoA
Low score SJT review
Batch allocation of applicants on reserve list
Application process split into two parts.
1st national – which is run by UKFPO and the foundation school

3. FP/AFP 2017 local process SJT arrangements (medical school) AFP (AUoA)
Longlisting
Shortlisting
Interviews
Offers
FP matching to groups/programmes (UoA)
Pre-employment checks (employers)
Application process split into two parts.
2nd part is local processes.

4. Getting started (from 26 September 2016)
Register on Oriel
You must register on Oriel before you can apply
Initially you will be sent an with a URL link to create a password
Once confirmed, you log into Oriel using your address and password
You will be able to register at this point with information relating to personal details
Application form will be available from 03 October 2016
Talk you through the process. As a UK grad, you will be nominated by your medical school.
If you don’t get an , contact your University in the first instant.

5. The application form (03-14 October 2016)
You must complete and submit your application form on Oriel between 03 October and midday UK time on 14 October 2016
Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances
The application form is divided into sections; Personal, Eligibility, Fitness, Referees, Competences, Supporting, Preferences, Equality and Declaration.
Standard application form. When you apply for specialty it will be through the same system.
Important things to remember – Deadlines are deadlines – no exceptions.
Every year applicants get hung up on the references. They need to be collected but don’t worry about them. Purely for pre-employment information. It is a tick box you will need for employment but not part of the application itself.

6. Scoring applications 100 points maximum Part 1
Educational Performance Measure (EPM)
50 points maximum
Part 2
SJT (selection assessment for FP 2017)
You will be able to see 2 scores eventually on your application form and also a total. These will now explained in more detail. 6

7. Scoring applications - EPM
Educational Performance Measure (EPM) - 50 points (max)
EPM decile score (up to 43 points)
Calculated by each medical school
First decile (the top 10% of cohort) = 43 points/Tenth decile = 34 points
You will be able to see your EPM decile score once you are confirmed as a nominated applicant on Oriel
Educational achievements score (up to 7 points):-
Additional degree = up to 5 points
Publications = up to 2 points
You will be able to view your verified educational achievements score on Oriel from 24 October 2016
EPM information. It is your responsibility to check these. 7

8. Educational Achievements (1)
PART A – Additional degree (max. 5 points)
Additional degrees include Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates, regardless of the subject
A score is given for one additional degree only
More points are awarded for better class degrees
You need to upload a copy of your degree certificate
A letter from the dean/registrar confirming the pass has been ratified by the exam board is acceptable if your certificate has not been issued
No transcripts
Educational achievements must be awarded before the close of the application period. For degrees, this means the degree result must have been ratified by the examination board before 14 October Evidence required to prove this is available in the Applicant’s Handbook. Please check that you have all the relevant evidence. If something is missing, you will not get the points.
Academic transcripts on their own will NOT be accepted. Must have the certificate or a letter .

9. Educational Achievements (2)
PART B: Publications (max. 2 points)
You can claim points for:-
Publications (must have a PubMed ID)
Can claim up to 2 publications
Double check you have entered the correct PubMed ID before submitting
PubMedID number MUST LINK directly to publication
You can enter up to two publications.
The PMID number you supplied on your application form will automatically take the verifier to the PubMed database. If the PMID does not link directly to your paper, no further searches will be done and the point(s) will not be awarded. You are not required to add any more evidence.

10. Educational achievements score
Based on the information you enter on your application form, Oriel will allocate a provisional score
A panel will verify the provisional score against the information you entered and the evidence you uploaded
The panel will amend the provisional score if necessary*
Panels will comprise medical school and foundation school staff
A panel will not see any other sections of your application form
Your verified score for educational achievements will be available to view on Oriel from 24 October 2016
*Verifiers will only decrease scores, therefore if you choose mistakenly
a degree classification that is worth less points your score will NOT be increased
*If you choose a degree classification that is worth less points i.e. you achieved a 2.1 but mistakenly chose a 2.2 from the drop down list your application, your score will NOT be increased even if your evidence supports that you achieved a 2.1.
If the evidence you provide for any educational achievements is in a different name to the one given on your application for, the question ‘previous family name/surname’ will be verified
If you have changed your surname for any reason, you must answer the above question in the ‘Personal’ section of the application form otherwise 0 points will be awarded for the educational achievement as it will not be possible to verify it is your achievement 10

11. Scoring applications - SJT
SJT (selection assessment for FP 2017) - 50 points
(maximum)
Once all SJT answer sheets are completed they will be marked nationally
The range of marks across all applicants will be translated to a 0-50 point scale, with the scaling method designed to reflect a 50:50 weighting between the SJT and EPM
Exceptionally low SJT scores will be reviewed.
It is anticipated that 0.0 – 0.5% of applicants will achieve an exceptionally low SJT score
Exceptionally low SJT scores will be reviewed and there is a possibility that they may be withdrawn from the national application process. Details of the process for reviewing low scoring applications and withdrawing affected applicants will be published as soon as possible, and no later than 1 December 2016 (i.e. prior to the date of the first SJT). Applicants may be withdrawn on the basis of failing to demonstrate that they have met the person specification. 11

12. Special Circumstances
If necessary, you can request pre-allocation to a particular UoA on the grounds of special circumstances.
Requests and supporting evidence must be submitted to your UK medical school
Important: you must rank your requested UoA as first choice on Oriel otherwise your special circumstances application will not be considered
Pre-allocation is not applicable for AFP applications
If you are applying for special circumstances at a particular Foundation School you must rank this Foundation School first in your preferences during your application to the Foundation Programme. Failure to do so will result in your special circumstances application not being considered
You must provide all the information including selecting the right school. You cannot choose a location. Important to discuss with your medical school.

13. Linked applications
You may link your application to another applicant’s in order for you both to be allocated to the same UoA
You and the other applicant must link to each other and you must rank the UoAs in the same order of preference
If you are both on the primary list, you will both be allocated based on the lower of your individual scores
You cannot “un-link” once your application is submitted
Some UoAs will not guarantee that linked applicants are in the same area. Check UoA websites for more information on their policies
The link will be severed if either or both of you accepts an AFP offer or are on the reserve list
You can’t link if you are claiming special circumstances
Some schools endeavour to place linked applicants within an hour’s commute of each other, others don’t. Check individual school websites for their policy.
You cannot link to a military applicant or someone applying to specialty or any other medical training programme; only to another foundation applicant

14. UoA Preferences (1)
All applicants must rank all UoAs in order of preference
Preferencing is done using a “drop and drag” process
Important to save on a regular basis
Last saved preferences are the ones that will be considered when you submit your application
The schools will all be listed under the column “no preference” at the beginning. You will then drag and drop in the preference column.

15. UoA Preferences (2) FP preferences must be completed
You must do this even if you intend to apply for an academic programme
If your AFP application is not successful, you will be included in the FP allocation automatically
You must do this even if you have been approved for pre-allocation to a particular UoA for special circumstances
If you are not on the primary list, it may not be possible to honour your pre-allocation
You will not be able to submit your application if all the schools have not been preferenced.

16. UoA Preferences (3)
Check the FP/AFP 2017 Applicant’s Handbook for competition ratios for FP 2016
Check UoA/foundation school websites for local policies
View an outline of individual programmes in each UoA on Oriel from 16 September 2016
Important that you read all the information in the applicants handbook.
Linked applicants must rank the UoAs in the same order of preference or the link is broken
For FP 2016 over 94% of applicants were allocated to one of their top 5 choices

17. Processing FP applications (1)
Primary and reserve list
If, as anticipated, there are more fully eligible applicants than places, applications from individuals who cannot provide evidence of their right to work in UK will not be considered
If, at the end of the AFP offers period, there are more FP applicants than vacancies, the ‘n’ highest scoring applicants will be placed on the primary list (where ‘n’ is the number of FP 2017 vacancies across the UK)
If there are a number of applicants with the same score at the primary list cut-off, tie breakers will decide which ones are included on the primary list
If you are not on the primary list you will be included automatically on the reserve list
Where applicants have the same score, the EPM and then the SJT will used as tie breaks to rank everyone.

18. Processing FP applications (2)
Primary List allocation (09 March 2016)
Applicants who have been approved for pre-allocation to a particular UoA will be allocated first
Applicants on the primary list will be allocated to UoAs in rank order
If all the places are filled in your first choice UoA, the system will look at your second choice, and so on down your list of preferences until a space is available
Linked applicants will be allocated based on the lower rank of the linked pair
If you are on the primary list and have been approved for pre-allocation to a particular UoA on the grounds of special circumstances, you will be allocated to that UoA before other applicants are allocated.
Every applicant will be ranked according to score. Matching algorithm will then run using the rank.

19. Local matching to programmes
Primary list applicants
If you are on the primary list, you will be invited to choose your programme preferences by your allocated UoA by a given deadline which is an absolute
UoAs each have their own process for matching applicants to programmes; some UoAs may choose to use a two-stage matching process. This may involve more than one deadline
Reserve list applicants
Reserve list applicants will follow the same process but will only be able to choose programmes available in your allocated UoA
It is important once allocated to a school that you understand the local matching process. s will be sent advising you of the process but it is important that you understand what you need to do.
DN: Put in here you local arrangements

20. Preferencing
Preferencing is the same process for both groups and programmes
All groups/programmes will be listed under “No preference” column. Drag and drop to “Preference” column in order
If you don’t preference a group/programme, the system will allocate you to the group/programme with the most vacancies
The last preference saved is the one used
Be very aware of deadlines!
There is no requirement to preference all the groups/programmes and you will be able to save without doing this. However, you will be allocated to a group/programme. Therefore, if you don’t preference and they are full once your choices are used, you will be allocated to the programme with the most vacancies. Therefore, it is in your interest to preference them all.
Saving is carried out all the time. Last saved preference before the deadline is the one used.
Be very aware of deadlines!

21. Referees You must provide details of two referees:-
one clinical referee
one medical school/academic referee
Once provided by your referees, references are passed to employers as part of pre-employment checks
References and their content are not used to assess your application, nor are they used in deciding who gets offered an AFP or matching you to an FP programme
If one or both of your referees does not submit a reference it will not affect your application; outstanding references will be collected later by your employer
Please, please, please don’t worry about getting the “right” reference ie a professor. Please don’t worry if they are not in by the deadline. References are a requirement for the application process but don’t affect any aspect of your application such as score, allocation, ranking etc

22. Transfer of Information
The GMC’s Good Medical Practice (2013) places an obligation on UK medical schools to ensure graduates meet the outcomes required and to transfer information to those who may need it during their foundation training
UK medical schools will provide more details about the Transfer Of Information (TOI) process and will request you complete and sign a TOI form
The national TOI process and forms can be found on the UKFPO website under “Transfer of Information Processes”

23. Employment Contracts
Your employing healthcare organisation is responsible for all contractual issues including:-
Pay
Banding
Rotas
Accommodation (if applicable)
Shadowing and induction
It is important to remember that foundation schools are responsible for your educational programme.
It is your employer, your Trust or Health Board that is responsible for your employment. They are different things. The employer is responsible for all of the above not the foundation school.

24. Pre-employment checks
Pre-employment checks include Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG), and occupational health checks
They may also include a locally conducted, structured interview or local assessment of clinical skills
These checks are undertaken by the employing healthcare organisation
Contracts of employment will not be issued until pre-employment checks are successfully completed
It is important to remember that your application form with all the details and all of the information is passed from Oriel to the employer. They will follow up references, checks etc.
You must also have a GMC number and licence to practice

25. Data security
Personal data is protected under data protection legislation
The online recruitment system (Oriel) is secure and has undergone rigorous checks
Your information is held on a secure database and is only accessible to those that need to process your application
Your information is passed to your employer by your allocated UoA once you have been matched to a programme
Your data will be anonymised before it is used for research or evaluation purposes, unless you have given your permission for personalised data to be shared

26. Applying to FP / AFP 2017 Summary
Summary of key information

27. Important dates
23 June FP/AFP 2017 Applicant’s Handbook available
22 August AFP programmes available to view on Oriel
26 September Register on Oriel and confirm you are nominated
Outline of programmes available to view on Oriel
03 – 14 October 2016 FP and AFP application period Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances
Strongly recommended you register when you get and put in some personal details before waiting until application period opens.
Don’t leave it until the last minute. There will never be enough time!

28. Important dates (2)
17 Oct 2016 – 13 Jan 2017 AFP local short-listing and interviews
02 Dec 2016 & 09 Jan 2016 National SJT dates
18 Jan – 15 Feb AFP offers period
09 Mar Primary list applicants allocated to UoAs

29. Important dates (3)
09 Mar – 04 Apr Primary list applicants state group/programme preferences (deadlines and methods will vary by UoA)
05 Apr Primary list applicants matched to programmes
May – Jul Reserve list batch allocations

30. Planning and preparation
You should:-
Print and read the FP 2017 national person specification and the FP/AFP 2017 Applicant’s Handbook available online at
Start collecting the required evidence for your educational achievements (i.e. additional degree and publications)
Identify a GP, consultant or associate specialist who you can ask to provide a reference about your clinical skills
Identify a lecturer, senior lecturer, professor or reader at your medical school who you can ask to provide a medical school reference
Ask your referees to supply an address they access regularly 30

31. Planning and preparation (2)
Register on Oriel as soon as the system is available, i.e. from 26 September 2016 when you are sent an
Ensure that you apply to the Foundation Programme ahead of the last day of the application window.
APPLICATION WINDOW
03 OCTOBER – 14 OCTOBER 2016 AT 12:00 midday (BST)
If you don’t get an , contact University immediately

32. Planning and Preparation (3)
Ensure you submit your application before the last morning of the application period to avoid any last minute problems with your local PC or internet connection that may prevent you submitting it
Remember: LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
Note that technical support is available via Monday to Friday, 8.00 am – 5.00 pm (BST). This is particularly important if you are submitting your application from overseas where they may be a significant time difference

33. Where to go for more info
Go to
For further details on the application process
For answers to frequently asked questions
For a list of UoAs and AUoAs with web links
To sign up for regular e-updates
Important that you read the applicants handbook. It has all the information that is required. It also includes scenarios which illustrate key points.

34. Applying to AFP 2017
As well as the standard FP, there are also Academic Foundation Programmes. These have to be applied for separately but at the same time as the main FP application

35. AFP Application Process
For 2017, applicants will need to apply to each AUoA (up to a maximum of two) separately.
Each AUoA will determine what information it wishes to receive from its applicants which will consist of educational achievements and white space questions
Scoring criteria will be determined locally and may vary across the different AUoAs
You cannot submit AFP applications until you have submitted an application to FP application
AUoAs will have the option of using three common items provided by the UKFPO and up to three of their own; or can just use up to six of their own.
If the AUoAs you apply to use the common items, you are able to use the same answer for both. However, please be aware that it is possible that you may be awarded different points for the same answer, as schools will score your answers based on their own criteria. It is possible you could be short-listed for one and not the other.

36. AFP Application Process
Each application to an AFP is treated separately
No information from FP application will be carried forward apart your main personal details i.e. name, contact details
Educational achievement information is different from the FP application. Degrees, publications, presentations and prizes are added by completing the relevant boxes and drop down lists
Up to six white space questions will require free text answers
Educational achievement needs to be entered again for AFP. There is more flexibility and you can add presentations and prizes as well as publications. The rules for FP do not apply, i.e. you do not necessarily have to have a PMID number and they can be in press. You can input up to 2 degrees and up to 10 items for each of publications, presentations and prizes.
Max word limit on free text answers is 225.
AUoAs will have the option of using three common items provided by the UKFPO and up to three of their own; or can just use up to six of their own.
If the AUoAs you apply to use the common items, you are able to use the same answer for both. However, please be aware that it is possible that you may be awarded different points for the same answer, as schools will score your answers based on their own criteria. It is possible you could be short-listed for one and not the other.

37. AFP Programme Preferences
You will need to preference the Academic programmes available in each AUoA you select before you can submit your application
You do not need to preference all the programmes if there are some you know you will not accept
However, the fewer programmes you preference, the lower your chance of receiving an AFP offer
Highest scoring AFP applicants will receive offers first from each AUoA
If higher scoring applicants decline these offers, they will then be offered to lower scoring applicants during the cascade process
If all the programmes you ranked were offered to higher scoring applicants, you will only receive an offer if the higher scoring applicants decline any of these offers. Preferencing will be done via a drag and drop process

38. Processing AFP applications
Local short-listing and interviews
Each AUoA will:-
undertake its own short-listing according to local criteria
invite its own short-listed applicants to attend an interview
determine its own interview criteria
assign a local score to each applicant it interviews
Each AUoA is responsible for its own local short listing and interview process; the UKFPO is not involved in this part of the academic application process.
If you are invited for an interview for an academic programme you MUST provide evidence of the educational achievements you claimed on your AFP application.

39. Processing AFP applications (2)
AFP offers
Highest scoring AFP applicants will receive offers first
If higher scoring applicants decline these offers, they will then be offered to lower scoring applicants
Familiarise yourself with the AFP offers timetable
All AFP offers are subject to a satisfactory SJT score
If you accept an AFP offer, you are excluded from the FP allocation
If you do not secure an AFP post, you will be included in the FP allocation automatically
A satisfactory SJT score means that you are not withdrawn from the national process due to an exceptionally low SJT score.

40. Applying to FP / AFP 2017 The SJT
This presentation provides an overview of the process for applying to the Foundation Programme and Academic Foundation Programme commencing in August 2017
For the full details, you should read the FP/AFP 2017 Applicant’s Handbook

41. Sitting the SJT
All applicants to the Foundation Programme and the Academic Foundation Programme commencing in August 2017 are required to sit the SJT in the UK on either:-
Friday, 02 December 2016
Monday, 09 January 2017
Defence Deanery applicants are also required to sit the SJT
Your UK medical school will contact you to let you know which date/s is/are available to you
It is your responsibility to know the time and venue of your SJT, and to arrive on time regardless of the mode of transport you use

42. Sitting the SJT (2)
You must sit the SJT on the date for which you are registered
The SJT is a measure of meeting the attributes required to be a foundation doctor, as defined in the national FP personal specification
It is not an assessment of your clinical knowledge and cannot be revised for, although you can prepare for it
You should be familiar with Good Medical Practice (2013) and the attributes expected of a foundation doctor (monograph)
You should also practice responding to different question formats using the practice paper and OMR answer sheet available on the UKFPO website

43. Sitting the SJT (3) You must take the following with you on the day:-
Minimum of two HB or 2B pencils, an eraser and a pencil sharpener. A transparent ruler is optional.
Current, photographic ID
Your SJT booking confirmation (if you applied through the Eligibility Office)
Your ID will be checked on the day at the SJT venue
Smart watches are forbidden. Other watches must be placed on the desk to be checked at the SJT venue
Removal of question papers is strictly forbidden. All paperwork must be returned to invigilators at the end of the test.
No other materials, including dictionaries and electronic devices, are permitted in the SJT venue
Some applicants last year found it helpful to use a ruler as an aid to complete the answer sheet – this is entirely optional, but a transparent ruler may be taken into the test hall
Removal of the question paper from the SJT venue (or failure to comply with the invigilator’s instructions) will result in your application being withdrawn from the process.

44. What happens if… …I require adjustments for the SJT?
You may request reasonable adjustments to the format of the SJT on the grounds of a disability, health condition or impairment, or other (e.g. religious observance)
Reasonable adjustments for the SJT as a test of employment may be different to reasonable adjustments allowed for university exams. Please refer to the guidance.
You should contact your UK medical school as soon as possible
Deadline for submitting the form to request Reasonable Adjustments is 30 September 2016
It is important to note the reasonable adjustments allowed may be different from those allowed at the university. This is because it relates to your employment as a doctor rather than as a student who is studying.

45. What happens if ….
…I can’t attend the SJT on the date for which I’m registered?
If a severe and exceptional event means you can’t sit the SJT, you must submit an Extenuating Circumstances claim with supporting evidence to your UK medical school as soon as possible prior to the test
If you cannot submit your evidence in advance, you have up to one working day after the date of the SJT to submit it
If you arrive more than 30 minutes late or fail to turn up, and do not have a valid extenuating circumstances claim, you will be withdrawn from the application process
You will be required to sit the SJT on the next available date.

46. More information about the SJT
The following information is available on the UKFPO website:
Frequently asked questions and answers
An introductory video
A practice SJT paper
A monograph
Information about the design and development of the EPM and SJT, including evaluations of the pilots and live use of the SJT, is available on the Improving Selection to the Foundation Programme (ISFP) project website:
Practice SJT paper, online or paper based, in the same format as the test papers. Worked answer rationales are provided. The answer sheet is also provided to practice completing your answers.

47. Distribution of SJT/EPM scores from FP 2016
These graphs show the spread of applicant scores for FP 2016.
An applicant can score between 34 and 50 points on the EPM, and between and on the SJT. The scores from these two measures are combined to provide a total application score, and this is what determines the applicant’s ranking. The SJT is scaled to take account of the distribution of applicant scores so that the two measures have a 50:50 weighting overall. For a full explanation see Appendix 6 of the Applicant Handbook.
EPM points
SJT points