The recently announced changes to how academic foundation jobs are allocated will not remove the barriers that prevent clinicians from pursuing research, write Marina Politis , Kate Womersley , and Charlotte Summers
The UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) recently announced major changes to the specialised foundation programme (SFP)—an academic pathway for newly qualified doctors. Applicants will no longer be able to select academic jobs for which to interview; instead, these jobs will be assigned by a computer ranking system that’s not linked to applicants’ previous achievements.1 The introduction of this preference informed allocation system for the main foundation programme was met with frustration in 2023.2 The decision by UKFPO to extend it, and to incorporate the SFP into the allocation process for the main foundation programme rather than having a separate application, will make the NHS a less attractive place to train for doctors who are considering a clinical academic career.
The current allocation process assesses candidates for the SFP according to educational achievements and interviews. It is admittedly not a perfect system and risks favouring students from universities that deliver six year courses with strong …