UK Foundation Programme for International Medical Graduates
Two-Year Foundation Entry vs FY2 Standalone — timelines, prioritisation, and the pathway to specialty training
For GMC registration and PLAB details see GMC & PLAB page. For international alternatives see International Pathways.
THE FUNDAMENTAL RULE
To apply for the 2-year UK Foundation Programme → you must hold or expect GMC Provisional Registration.
If you hold or expect full registration, you are not eligible for the 2-year programme.
To apply for the F2 Stand-alone Programme → you must hold or expect GMC Full Registration.
If you expect provisional registration, you are not eligible for F2 Stand-alone.
Your registration type is determined by whether you have completed an acceptable internship. See the GMC & PLAB page for full details on registration types and internship criteria.
Route A vs Route B — Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Route A: 2-Year Foundation (FY1 + FY2) | Route B: FY2 Standalone (FY2 Only) |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years (FY1 + FY2) | 1 year (FY2 only) |
| GMC registration required | Provisional registration | Full registration |
| Pre-requisite internship | Not required. FY1 serves as your internship year. | Required. A GMC-acceptable internship (min 12 months; 3m medicine + 3m surgery; supervised public hospital) must be completed. |
| Application portal | Oriel — own eligibility process + main application | Oriel — separate application process |
| Typical application window | Eligibility: July. Main application: late September–early October. | January (approx. 2-week window). Late applications not accepted. |
| Competition for IMGs | Extremely competitive. Under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026, all places are offered first to the prioritised group. In FP2026, all 10,810 allocated places went to prioritised applicants. | More accessible to IMGs — UK graduates are mostly barred from applying. However, prioritisation now also applies at the offer stage (see Section 3). |
| F2SA-specific: PLAB 1 timing | PLAB timing aligns to UKFPO deadlines (PLAB 1 typically by November; PLAB 2 by May). | PLAB 1 must already be passed by the close of the application window (January). |
| Outcome on completion | Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC) → eligible for specialty training | FPCC → eligible for specialty training |
| CREST form needed? | No — FPCC satisfies foundation competency | No — FPCC satisfies foundation competency |
Parallel Timelines: GMC Registration + Foundation Programme
The GMC application and the UKFPO application run in parallel — they are separate organisations with separate deadlines. The tables below show the key months for each route. Generic months are shown; always verify exact dates on the official UKFPO and GMC websites each year.
⚠️ Important: The months below are indicative, based on the 2026 and 2027 recruitment cycles. Exact dates change annually. Always check:
Timeline 1: GMC Provisional Registration + 2-Year Foundation Programme
This timeline applies to IMGs who have not completed an internship and are applying for the 2-year programme (FY1+FY2). Year 1 is the year before the programme starts.
| Month | GMC Track | UKFPO Track |
|---|---|---|
| Before July (Year 1) | Obtain English language certificate (IELTS/OET). Set up GMC Online account. Begin EPIC/MyIntealth for PMQ verification. | — |
| June–July (Year 1) | Submit GMC application with all supporting documents and English certificate. Book PLAB 1 for August or November. | Create Oriel account. Submit UKFP Eligibility Application (July window). State proposed PLAB 1 date. Upload Dean's PMQ confirmation form if diploma not yet issued. |
| August (Year 1) | Receive GMC confirmation that PMQ and documents are acceptable, pending PLAB. (First available PLAB 1 sitting.) | Receive eligibility outcome: "eligible" or "eligible with conditions." Email GMC evidence to UKFPO helpdesk if required. |
| September–October (Year 1) | — | Submit main UKFP application on Oriel (late September to early October). List preferred deaneries/programmes. |
| November (Year 1) | Sit PLAB 1. (Last compatible sitting for many UKFP cycles.) | — |
| December (Year 1) | Receive PLAB 1 result. Book PLAB 2 via GMC Online. | Submit PLAB 1 pass evidence to UKFPO helpdesk (forward official email from plab@gmc-uk.org, quoting Oriel PIN). |
| January–March (Year 2) | Prepare for PLAB 2. | Pre-allocation outcomes released. Preference Foundation Schools on Oriel. Allocation results published. |
| May (Year 2) | Sit PLAB 2. (Last compatible date for most cycles.) | — |
| June (Year 2) | Submit PLAB 2 pass to GMC. Apply for GMC Provisional Registration. Complete identity check (Digidentity). | Submit PLAB 2 pass evidence to UKFPO helpdesk. |
| July (Year 2) | GMC provisional registration confirmed. | Employer induction/shadowing period. |
| August (Year 2) | — | Commence FY1 post. |
Timeline 2: GMC Full Registration + F2 Standalone
This timeline applies to IMGs who have completed (or are completing) an acceptable internship and are applying for FY2 Standalone entry. The internship should ideally be completed before the application window.
| Month | GMC Track | UKFPO Track |
|---|---|---|
| During Internship (Year 0) | Complete acceptable internship (min 12 months, 3m medicine + 3m surgery, supervised public hospital). Obtain English language certificate. Begin EPIC/MyIntealth for PMQ verification. Pass PLAB 1 during or after internship. Gather internship evidence documentation. | — |
| Autumn–December (Year 0) | Submit GMC application for full registration with internship evidence, PLAB results, English certificate, and all supporting documents. PLAB 1 must be passed before the F2SA application window opens in January. | — |
| January (Year 1) | Continue GMC full registration process. Book/sit PLAB 2 if not yet passed. | Submit F2 Standalone application on Oriel (approx. 2-week window in early-to-mid January). Strict deadline — late applications not accepted. |
| February–April (Year 1) | Complete PLAB 2 if outstanding. Progress GMC full registration. | Applications reviewed. Interviews/assessments (format may vary by year). |
| May (Year 1) | Finalise GMC full registration. Complete identity check (Digidentity). | Interview outcomes released. Programme preferencing window opens on Oriel (~1 week). Round 1 offers released (48-hour response window). Rounds 2 and 3 follow. |
| June–July (Year 1) | GMC full registration confirmed. Must hold full registration with licence to practise by programme start. | Clearing rounds for unfilled posts (if applicable). Employer onboarding. |
| August (Year 1) | — | Commence FY2 Standalone post. |
Route A: 2-Year Foundation Programme — Key Details
Eligibility
The 2-year programme has its own eligibility criteria managed by the UKFPO. IMGs must submit an eligibility application on Oriel (separate from the main application) providing proof of identity, a Dean's Statement, and English language evidence. The UKFPO's English language requirements are stricter than the GMC's: a Dean's Statement must confirm the degree was taught and examined entirely in English and that over 75% of clinical interactions were conducted in English (only accepted from eligible schools). UKFPO also advises applying for provisional GMC registration at least 3 months before the programme start; if registration is not in place by start date, the offer may be withdrawn.
Prioritisation (Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026)
Under the Act (Royal Assent: 5 March 2026), Foundation places are allocated first to UK medical graduates, then to the wider prioritised group: graduates from Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The Act took immediate effect for programmes commencing from August 2026. In FP2026, all 10,810 allocated places went to the prioritised group, with a national reserve list for non-priority applicants. In practice, it is extremely difficult for non-prioritised IMGs to secure a 2-year Foundation place.
Route B: FY2 Standalone — Key Details
Eligibility
Applicants must hold or expect to hold full GMC registration in time for the August programme start. Those expecting provisional registration are not eligible and will not progress beyond longlisting. PLAB 1 must be already passed by the close of the application window (January). Full GMC registration, including all supporting evidence and the identity check, must be secured before the post commences.
The Internship Requirement
Your internship can be completed in the country where your medical school is located (where your MD is automatically recognised) or another international destination meeting GMC criteria. See the GMC & PLAB page for full internship criteria. During and towards the end of the internship, apply to the GMC for full registration providing your internship evidence, PLAB passes, and other documentation.
Prioritisation for F2 Standalone
The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act also applies to F2 Standalone. For F2SA 2026, prioritisation was implemented at the offer stage. Prioritised applicants (UK, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland PMQs) are offered ahead of non-prioritised applicants. Non-prioritised applicants are only offered places if no prioritised applicants remain. F2SA posts are vacancy-dependent — numbers vary by year and region.
After Foundation: CREST Form & Specialty Training
Who Needs a CREST Form?
The Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST) is required only for doctors who have not completed the 2-year Foundation Programme or an FY2 Standalone post but wish to apply for CT1/ST1 specialty training. This typically applies to IMGs in non-training posts (trust-grade, clinical fellow, locum).
If you complete either the 2-year Foundation Programme or an FY2 Standalone post, you will receive the FPCC (Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion), which satisfies foundation competency requirements — no CREST form needed.
| CREST Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form version | 2024 CREST form (updated September 2024). Both 2023 and 2024 versions accepted for 2026 rounds. |
| Signatory | Must be signed by a consultant who supervised you for at least 3 continuous months (whole-time equivalent) within the preceding 3.5 years. |
| Deadline | Must be submitted during the specialty application process. Failure to provide = application rejected. |
Specialty Training Prioritisation
The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 also affects specialty training. For posts starting in 2026, prioritisation applies at the offer stage. From 2027 onwards, it applies at both shortlisting and offer stages. Prioritised groups include: UK/Ireland PMQ holders; Iceland/Liechtenstein/Norway/Switzerland PMQ holders; doctors who completed the relevant UK training programme; and IMG doctors in the UK with indefinite leave to remain, EU settled status, or British nationality who have completed core or foundation training.
Continue to Related Pages
GMC Registration & PLAB
Registration types, PLAB examination details, English language requirements, evidence pathways for full registration, and the step-by-step GMC process.
View page →International IMG Pathways
USA (USMLE/ECFMG), Australia (AMC), Canada, Gulf States — career alternatives beyond the UK and strategic planning for IMGs.
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