Specialised Foundation Programme SFP

What is the Specialist Foundation Programme (SFP) - Research or Education or Leadership)?

The Specialised Foundation Programme has been created to offer medical school graduates the opportunity to develop skills in research, teaching and leadership alongside their core medical foundation training. Specialised Foundation (research) posts are two-year training posts that include dedicated academic time in year 2 to develop your chosen skills their chosen whilst continuing foundation training.

These posts provide an ideal platform from which to apply for an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF). The University of Leicester Academic Foundation programme has a strong track record in supporting its trainees successfully attain ACFs across a wide range of medical specialties both locally and nationally.

For further information please refer to the Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) - UK Foundation Programme.

Application to the SFP programme

Recruitment to the Specialised Foundation programme is changing in 2025. 

All applicants must first submit an application on Oriel for the Foundation Programme 2025 between 25 September and 9 October (12:00) 2024. All students must submit a main application on Oriel, even if they only wish to apply for a ringfenced SFP post.

Medical school students in England who have demonstrated to their medical school that they have the interest, aptitude and commitment to pursue a career in academia, leadership or education will be able to apply through their medical school for an SFP post based in their local Foundation School. At Leicester this will be in the College of Life Sciences, linked to the LNR Foundation School. These local SFP posts will be allocated to medical schools on a pro rata basis by NHS England.

If you specifically wish to remain in Leicester, you will have the opportunity to apply for one of these local ringfenced SFP post in addition to the main Foundation Programme application process via the Leicester Medical School’s separate selection process, being overseen by Dr Fiona Miall, Deputy Head of School.

All those appointed to Leicester based Specialised Foundation Programme posts will be hosted by the University of Leicester & will hold an Honorary Fellow title in the College of Life Sciences.

SFPs appointed via the national system, who are allocated to Leicester may also be considered for an honorary title, where they are hosted by an academic supervisor based at the University of Leicester.

Training in Leicester & Supervision

The University of Leicester is linked to the LNR Foundation School.

In addition to your academic/research supervisor you will be allocated an educational supervisor by the Local Education Training Board.

Your academic/research supervisor will be determined by the project you choose to undertake during your academic time.

Each academic supervisor has been selected because of their commitment to provide a high quality and supportive academic placement in your second year.

Specialised Foundation (Research) trainees undertake academic time in their second year.   This may take the format of a dedicated four-month research block in August, December or April or academic time may be spread throughout the year.  You will be advised how your academic time is to be distributed.

Many trainees go on to apply for ACF posts in due course and some progress further on to PhD Fellowship, ACL posts and in the longer term to NHS consultant posts with an academic interest or University Honorary consultant posts.

How to identify an academic/research supervisor and project?

In some cases, your chosen supervisor may be the University academic with whom you undertook research/a specialised education or leadership project whilst you were a medical student. If this is the case, please advise catenquiries@le.ac.uk so that they can confirm that your chosen supervisor is able to host you for your Foundation post.

Alternatively, if you have not yet identified a supervisor, please contact catenquiries@le.ac.uk advising them of the focus of your SFP ie research/education/leadership & the clinical specialties you are interested in progressing your career in. You will be provided with a list of academics who are able to provide opportunities for Specialised Foundation trainees to work with them in these areas. Once you have the details of potential supervisors, please contact them in Year 1 year to see if they are willing to host you for your placement and agree a project prior to commencing SFP2. If you need an introduction please contact the Director of Clinical Academic Training,Dr Anvesha Singh.

Once you have agreed your supervisor and project, please confirm this to catenquiries@le.ac.uk in order that your host supervisor and host School/Department can be contacted regarding your required access arrangements. You should advise catenquiries@le.ac.uk no later than 30 June in your first  year

What research is currently going on at Leicester? What might I be able to get involved in?

Details about Schools/Departments in the College of Life Sciences can be found at College of Life Sciences | University of Leicester . In some instances, you will be able to identify specific links on the website to potential supervisors on the list provided to you.

Is there any additional support provided to me?

Funding:

A £500 bursary is available for SFP (Research) trainees to present the work generated as part of their Foundation programme at a national or international conference. See your introductory letter for further details or contact catenquiries@le.ac.uk.

SFP (Education) & SFP (Leadership) trainees are supported with appropriate funding to enable them to undertake a PG Certificate.

Clinical Academic Training Programme team

Leicester has a personalised and approachable team Clinical Academic Training team comprising:

• Director of Foundation training – Dr Rachel Parry
• Deputy Director of Foundation training – Dr Kath Higgins
• Head of Postgraduate Academic School – Prof Jon Barratt
• Director of Clinical Academic Training (ACF & ACL) – Dr Anvesha Singh
• Deputy Director of Clinical Academic Training (ACF & ACL) – Mr Tim Rattay
• Clinical Academic Training Programme Manager – Mrs Lesley Clissold
• Clinical Academic Training Administrator – Miss Nicole Riley

At Leicester the SFPs also have an SFP representative who attends the annual Clinical Academic Training Programme meeting and is also able to feedback ideas/difficulties to the clinical academic programme team.

SFPs may also contact catenquiries@le.ac.uk with any queries they may have & the query will be channelled appropriately.

Induction

Prior to commencement all new SFP trainees are sent an introductory letter which details working arrangements with the University. Please ensure that you take prompt action to provide the information requested in the letter in order that the University can progress your honorary title, University email account (this will be a new honorary staff account and will not be your former student email account) & required access arrangements.

A half day Induction session is held for new academic trainees (Specialised Foundation, ACF & ACLs) each year. This is normally held early to mid-September.  This provides an opportunity for you to learn more about the programme, to meet other local trainees and those responsible for managing the programme.

It is mandatory for all new clinical academic trainees to attend and you should obtain study leave from your Junior Doctor Administrator, if you are programmed to undertake clinical work.

If you have any issues, please contact Academic Foundation Programme Director, Dr Rachel Parry; Deputy Director Dr Kath Higgins and Head of the Postgraduate Speciality School of Clinical Academic Training, Professor Jonathan Barratt.

I want to apply for an Academic Clinical Fellowship but my SFP academic placement does not commence until after applications have closed – what can I do?

Applications for ACF post open in October and close in November; this is before most trainees have had their academic placement.  This can be worrying if you want to progress an academic career path.

Do not despair, just ensure that you have a project proposal planned and written. Keep a copy of it in your interview Portfolio and be prepared to speak about it at your interviews.

If you are not sure about an ACF and want to “try before you apply”, consider using some of your taster days (10 are available across SFP1 and SFP2) to shadow some Academic clinicians.