If you wish to continue your medical career in the UK you must first complete its Foundation raining. The Foundation Training usually consists of a 2 year internship; FY (Foundation Year

1) and FY2 (Foundation Year 2).

Each year students must adhere to strict deadlines set by the UK medical administration in order to first be eligible to apply.

Keep up to date via their website: https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/programmes/2-year-foundation-programme/ukfp/

Each year a new outline set by the UK is released around early Summer. As 5th Year is coming to an end you should start preparing for the English Exam that is required. You can do either the IELTS or the OET exam. The IELTS is considered more difficult but cheaper whereas the OET is around 500 Dollars and is considered the easier of the 2 exams.

• Students must first complete an online „Eligibility application", which usually must be submitted before the end of July.

• Follow the steps mentioned on the https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk as each year it may differ slightly.

• Last year everyone with a successful application (who followed all the steps correctly and on time got a spot.) That is 9702 students with 75% getting their 1st choice and 92% getting top 5.

English Language Requirements

Achieve the required score in lELTS (minimum 7.5/9) or OET (B grade). Difficult score to achieve if English is not your native language. So start studying a few months in advance if that is your situation. Even Native speakers failed the IELTS.

UKMLE?

As we are European Medical Graduates we are currently (subject to change) not required to take the newly implemented UKMLE or the PLAB exams. Also the previous SJT exam has also been removed. So overall we just need the above-mentioned English exam.

Visa and Immigration Requirements

Right to Work in the UK: Post-Brexit, EU students will need a visa to work in the UK. The visa process can take several weeks, so apply well in advance!

Pre-employment Checks

• Health and Immunization Checks: You will undergo health screenings as required by the NHS.

• Criminal Records Check: Ensure you have a clean record and submit appropriate documentation (e.g., a police clearance certificate from Poland). Make sure to do it in advance as paperwork takes time.

Application Outcome and Job Offer

• Acceptance into Foundation Training Programme: If successful in your application, you will receive an offer for an internship post, usually around March.

• Contracts and Pre-Employment Checks: You’ll need to complete employment contracts and undergo pre-employment checks, which may include health screenings and police background checks.

Relocation and Practical Considerations 

• Finding Accommodation: Start looking for accommodation near your assigned hospital or clinical site early. Rank your places accordingly.

• Cost of Living in the UK: Consider budgeting for rent, utilities, and living expenses as the UK can have a high cost of living, particularly in cities like London.

• Wales currently offers free accommodation for Intern students. https://heiw.nhs.wales/education-and-training/foundation/foundation-recruitment/further-applicant-information/

Starting the Internship Year

• Induction Programme: Attend the necessary induction sessions organized by your hospital, which will cover hospital policies, clinical practices, and the expectations for interns.

• Begin Internship: Begins at the start of August, where you will rotate through different clinical departments to fulfill the requirements of the foundation year.

• First Day on the Job: Typically starts in August; prepare for a steep learning curve as you transition to practical work. We are definitely prepared theoretically for starting work as a Junior Doctor but practically we are behind as we are not as polished when it comes to the UK system and how everything works there. Basically our hands-on experience is behind when compared to UK graduates. I would recommend doing some crash courses on practical skills beforehand. I went to https://fyfocus.co.uk and felt very confident in my practical skills afterwards!

Completion of the Internship Year

• Full Registration with the General Medical Council: Upon successfully completing your 2 year internship, you can apply for full registration with the General Medical Council (https://www.gmc-uk.org/)

• Pathway to Further Training: After gaining full registration, you can apply for specialty training programmes or work as a fully registered doctor in UK or elsewhere in the EU.

Application Outcome and Job Offer 

• Acceptance into Internship Programme: If successful in your application, you will receive an offer for an internship post, usually at the end of May.

• Contracts and Pre-Employment Checks:You'll need to complete employment contracts and undergo pre-employment checks, which may include health screenings and police background checks.

Relocation and Practical Considerations 

• Finding Accommodation: Start looking for accommodation near your assigned hospital or clinical site early.

• Cost of Living in Ireland: Consider budgeting for rent, utilities, and living expenses as Ireland can have a high cost of living, particularly in cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway.

Starting the Internship Year 

• Induction Programme: Attend the necessary induction sessions organized by your hospital, which will cover hospital policies, clinical practices, and the expectations for interns. This begins June 30th for 2025.

• Begin Internship: Begins 14th July, where you will rotate through different clinical departments to fulfill the requirements of the internship year.

Completion of the Internship Year

• Full Registration with the Medical Council: Upon successfully completing your internship year, you can apply for full registration with the Medical Council of Ireland.

• Pathway to Further Training: After gaining full registration, you can apply for specialty training programmes or work as a fully registered doctor in Ireland or elsewhere in the EU.

1. Apply for an internship position through the UK Foundation Year website. (https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk)

2. Check your requirements for a work permit in the UK

3. Start your internship and complete rotations in various clinical departments.

4. After completing your 2 year internship, apply for full registration with the General Medical Council and explore further training options e.g specialisation