Medicine: British Students Abroad

The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant National Health Service experience for specialty training places. The Act is designed to support a sustainable medical workforce that can meet population health needs, reducing the UK’s reliance on an unpredictable international labour market. By creating a clear pathway from medical school to specialty training, we also strengthen domestic talent and improve retention.

Under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026, graduates of United Kingdom medical schools will be prioritised for foundation training places but not if they spent all or the majority of time training for that qualification outside the British Islands, and graduates with a primary medical qualification from an institution in Ireland will be prioritised for foundation training places but not if they spent all or a majority of their time training for that qualification outside Ireland.

The Government has no plans to introduce transitional or grandfathering arrangements for students studying at overseas campuses of UK medical schools.

The UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) is responsible for managing the recruitment to the UK Foundation Programme, including ensuring that prioritisation status is applied appropriately in line with the Act. Information for students applying to the Foundation Programme, including those awarded UK medical degrees delivered outside the British Islands, is available at the following link:

https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/

Non-prioritised graduates can still apply for foundation training and will be offered places if vacancies remain after prioritised applicants have been allocated. If graduates of overseas campuses have not secured a foundation year 1 post this year, there are alternative routes to full General Medical Council registration, such as completing an approved internship in the country where they trained.

In 2026, there were more applicants to foundation training than places available, and only prioritised applicants were allocated to a foundation school in the primary allocation. For Foundation Programme places starting in future years, the UKFPO will confirm the status of applicants as part of the application process for those years in due course.

The Government will, as for all legislation, keep the Act under review to ensure that it delivers its policy intent.