Applicant Guide – Applying for an NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Academic Clinical Fellow 2025
Tip: Please read the whole application process before starting an application.
Recruitment Timetable
The full recruitment timetable is as follows:
| Applications Open | Thursday 3 October 2024 (10:00am UK Time) |
| Applications Close | Thursday 31 October 2024 (16:00pm UK Time) |
| Shortlisting | Thursday 7 November - Monday 18 November 2024 |
| Interview Window | Thursday 28 November - Friday 17 January 2025 |
| Initial Offers from | Tuesday 21 January 2025 |
| Hold Deadline |
Tuesday 28 January 2025 |
Training Posts
Vacancies will be published on Oriel week commencing Monday 30 September 2024.
Important: Please view the vacancy on Oriel to review eligible entry levels for each of these posts.
University of Exeter
Integrated Academic Training Lead: Dr Tamsin Newlove-Delgado
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Research Theme |
Specialty 1 |
Specialty 2 |
Specialty 3 |
Vacancy ID |
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Response Mode |
Paediatrics |
Obstetrics and gynaecology |
Geriatric Medicine |
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| Response Mode |
Renal Medicine |
Cardiology |
Gastroenterology |
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| Response Mode | Diabetes and Endocrinology | Paediatrics | Respiratory Medicine |
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| Response Mode | Old Age Psychiatry | Cardiology | Diabetes and Endocrinology |
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| Response Mode | General surgery | Gastroenterology | General Adult Psychiatry |
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| Digital | General Surgery | Anaesthetics | General practice |
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| Prevention and Public Health | Public Health | Old age psychiatry | General practice |
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| Multiple Long Term Conditions | General Practice | Respiratory Medicine | Geriatric medicine |
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| Clinical Education Research | Obstetrics and gynaecology | General Practice | Anaesthetics |
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| Mental Health | General Adult Psychiatry | Old age psychiatry | Child and adolescent psychiatry |
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University of Plymouth
Integrated Academic Training Lead: Dr Victoria Haunton
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Research Theme |
Specialty 1 |
Specialty 2 |
Specialty 3 |
Vacancy ID |
Academic Leads |
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Response Mode |
Gastroenterology |
Neurology |
General Adult Psychiatry |
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Dr Ashwin Dhanda Dr Stephen Mullin Professor Rohit Shankar |
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| Response Mode |
Emergency Medicine |
Anaesthetics |
General practice |
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Dr Tim Nutbeam Dr Jeremy Fabes Professor Richard Byng |
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| Digital | Geriatric Medicine | Clinical Radiology |
General practice |
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Dr Victoria Haunton Dr Mark Thurston Professor Richard Byng |
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| Clinical Therapeutics & Pharmacology & Industry | Neurosurgery | Medical Microbiology | Clinical Oncology |
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Professor Oliver Hanemann
Dr Ellie Edlmann
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To apply for these vacancies please visit Oriel. To find the vacancy you are looking for use the search function using the following filters:
Recruiting for: Health Education England South West - Peninsula
Post type: Academic
Training programme: the specialty or theme you wish to apply for
When submitting your application, please read the advert text in its entirety and find the relevant job descriptions on the advert for further details on each of the academic posts available.
Further details of the Schools, posts and rotations can be found on the relevant School website.
The vacancies are correct at point of advertisement but may be subject to change. Any alterations to the vacancies published will be notified to candidates that register an interest by starting an application via Oriel.
Important: A limit has been set on the number of ACF applications that can be submitted, with applicants limited to submitting a maximum of three applications to ACF vacancies. Applicants who submit more than three applications in one national round of recruitment will have the additional applications withdrawn by the recruitment offices after the application window has closed and only the first three submitted applications will be processed. This includes all regions, specialties and universities.
Eligibility
There are rules regarding eligibility to apply for specialty training in the United Kingdom. If you are submitting an application, you will need to make sure that you meet all the eligibility criteria by the closing date of applications unless an alternative date is specified in the advert or clinical and academic person specifications.
These requirements are outlined in the ST1, ST2, ST3 or ST4 Person Specifications and the Academic Person Specification.
Tip: It is important that you demonstrate the essential criteria in the Academic and Clinical person specifications linked above, to ensure your application proceeds through the process. Refer to the person specification when completing your application.
Evidence of Foundation Competence or equivalent
Applicants to CT1/ST1 training programmes are required to provide evidence of having met the UK Foundation Programme competences, or equivalent. Foundation competency can be demonstrated in any of the following ways:
- Applicants that are currently undertaking the UK Foundation Programme are not required to provide any further evidence at the time of application, but will be required to provide a Foundation Programme Certificate of Competence (FPCC) to the employer and the NHSE Local Office/Deanery on completion of training and prior to commencement in post
- Applicants who have successfully completed the UK Foundation Programme no earlier than 1 January 2022 are required to upload their FPCC to their application form, at the time of application submission.
- Applicants who are currently undertaking a core training programme and are in possession of a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) will be considered to have had their Foundation competences assessed on entry to core training and therefore do not need to confirm this again. Applicants applying directly from a core training programme do not need to provide any further evidence at the time of application. However, where they are appointed from a training programme where patient contact is not the norm, the receiving Training Programme Director should be made aware, in order that additional supervision can be arranged, as necessary.
- If applicants in this category relinquish their NTN or DRN between the time of application and commencement, they will be required to submit an Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training for the period out of training.
- All other applicants need to complete and submit an Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training. Because of changes to the process, only the 2024 version of this form will be accepted. The post that has been assessed as delivering equivalence of Foundation competence must be wholly undertaken in the 3½ years prior to the post start date, to which the applicant is applying. Click here for a link to the Certificate of Readiness to enter Specialty Training.
- The CREST should also be used for Public Health applicants applying from a medical background
- Please view this webpage for further guidance on demonstrating foundation competence
Important: It is important that you use the correct version of the form and ensure that the document is completed correctly with all the information provided.
You are only able to submit one CREST document per recruitment round. This document will be used across all applications in that round where you indicate that a CREST is required.
Please note: the initial national Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) recruitment round commencing in October in England only is linked to Round 1 for CREST review, so the document you submit in an ACF application will be used for any applications made within Round 1 in the same recruitment year.
Evidence of Core Competency
Applicants to training programmes are required to provide evidence of having attained core competences or equivalent. Core competence can be demonstrated in the following ways:
- Applicants who are currently undertaking a the linked UK Core Training Programme for the specialty to which they are applying are not required to provide any further evidence at the point of application but, if appointed, will be required to provide a Core Training Certificate or an ARCP outcome 6 prior to commencement.
- Applicants who have previously successfully completed a UK Core Training Programme are required to provide a Core Training Certificate or an ARCP outcome 6 at the time of application submission; similar to foundation competence, some specialties may have a time limit set on when an ARCP outcome remains valid before alternative evidence is required; check the relevant person specification for guidance.
- Applicants currently not undertaking a UK Core Training Programme or who have completed a UK Core Training Programme previously but are unable to provide appropriate evidence are required to demonstrate equivalence. Satisfactory evidence will vary by specialty. Please refer to the National Recruitment Office webpage and person specification for support on how to demonstrate competence / eligibility. Should you require support, please seek advice from the lead recruiter (please review the specialty person specifications, which can be found here).
- It is important that you refer to the person specification for the entry level and specialty to which you are applying to in order to determine you are submitting the correct eligibility evidence.
Online Application Form
One application form is to be completed and submitted through Oriel per vacancy.
To access Oriel to register and apply, please go to Oriel - Home
Core details can be saved and revisited at any point prior to the submission of an application. Complete instructions on how to register and use the application system are available on the home page of Oriel.
Applications for the Academic Clinical Fellow posts open at 10:00am (UK time) on the Thursday 3rd of October 2024 and can be completed and submitted from this date. The deadline for submission is 16:00pm (UK time) on Thursday 31st of October 2024.
Tip: Refer to the shortlisting scoring framework on the NIHR website when completing the application form.
Completing an Application
Sections of the application may have specific "word counts" assigned to them. This is a character count and the number of words allowed may vary depending on the length of words used in the answer.
Tip: Use the most relevant information if the word count prevents you from including all the information you would like.
Only one application will be accepted per post. If multiple applications are submitted, only the first application submitted will be included in the process.
Important: A limit has been set on the number of ACF applications that can be submitted, with applicants limited to submitting a maximum of three applications to ACF vacancies. Applicants who submit more than three applications in one national round of recruitment will have the additional applications withdrawn by the recruitment offices after the application window has closed and only the first three submitted applications will be processed. This includes all regions, specialties and universities.
Note: Alterations cannot be made to an application once it has been submitted.
Tip: Remember to save and check your application and only press the submit button when you have carried out this process. This will ensure you are submitting the correct version of your application.
Submitting an Application
Applications can be submitted at any point until the 16:00pm (UK time) on the 31st October 2024. Late applications will not be accepted.
Tip: Submit your application at least 30 minutes before the closing time of the vacancy to ensure it safely meets the cut off deadline.
Fitness to Practice
Applicants with fitness to practice declarations will need to submit additional documentation clearly defining the declaration, including dates and outcome to England.Confidential.SW@nhs.net by the closing date of applications. The fitness to practice form can be found here.
Re-application to Specialty
The "2025 Support for Reapplication to a Specialty Training Programme" form must be completed for all applicants who have previously been removed or resigned from any specialty training programme or core programme, even if this is different to the specialty they are applying to enter
The "Support for reapplication of specialty training in a different region" form should only be submitted by applicants currently on an ACF training programme, holding a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) to which they are re-applying in open competition with the intention of changing region
Click here to download the relevant forms to support your application
Longlisting
All applications will be checked for evidence of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. Applications that do not demonstrate the criteria will not continue through the process. Applicants will be notified of this decision via email.
Important: Please ensure you check the guidance carefully to confirm the appropriate method to demonstrate your foundation competence. If you are required to submit a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST) form with your application and do not do so then you will not be offered another opportunity to upload it and your application will not proceed to the next stage of the process. Guidance can be found here.
Tip: Candidates are advised to check their junk mail inbox on a regular basis in case any messages regarding your application have been filtered into there.
Shortlisting
Where appropriate, Academic Clinical Fellowship applications will be subjected to the shortlisting process.
Applications will be scored against a predefined NIHR shortlisting scoring framework by a panel of consultants from clinical and academic backgrounds involved in the recruitment process. The scoring framework has been supplied to candidates by the NIHR and no further information can be provided.
Invitation to Interview
Applicants will be notified of an invitation to interview via an email from the Oriel Recruitment Portal.
Interview slots will be pre-allocated via Oriel, or where possible available to book. There is a deadline to book an interview slot which is detailed in your invitation to interview email.
Unless you have opted out of SMS contact, you may also receive updates by text message.
Tip: Book an interview slot early to maximise choice and remember to keep checking your junk/spam inboxes.
Applicants will be provided with a link to additional information regarding the interview schedule and the additional documentation required when invited to attend the interviews.
References
You will need to provide details, including up to date email addresses, of three referees who have supervised your training within the past three years. One of these referees should be an academic referee who is able to advise as to your academic strengths and weaknesses.
If you are applying to more than one specialty, you may opt to nominate different referees for each specialty. If you have recently had a career break and cannot nominate referees from the past three years, then your referees must include your two most recent supervisors.
It is important that you confirm with your referees the email address that they would like you to provide on your application form. Referees will be contacted by email with details of their referee accounts, so it is important that the contact details provided are correct.
References will only be requested once applicants have accepted a training offer.
Tip: Contact your referees at the earliest opportunity to check that they will be happy to support your application, and they will be available to do so within the application timeframe.
Interview
The interview panel’s main aim is to find out whether you meet the requirements of the person specification for the post for which you are applying, and to make sure that only the best candidates are selected in this highly competitive process.
The interview date will be confirmed closer to the time, unless published on the main advert.
The process for each candidate may take up to 1 hour.
The invitation to interview will explain what will be required from you at the interview.
Panel members will complete a score sheet for each candidate and the aggregate score given by all the panel members will be the final score of the interview. From the final score candidates will be ranked.
ACF applicants without a NTN/DRN (National Training Number/Deanery Reference Number) in the GMC specialty to which they are applying for will also need to have applied, attended an assessment/interview, and be deemed appointable to reach the threshold of ‘appointability’ at a national clinical assessment/interview in the same recruitment year.
All interviews will take place online via the Qpercom virtual interview system.
Clinical Benchmarking
Clinical benchmarking relates to applicants reaching the “threshold of appointability” at the national standard clinical interviews/assessments for the GMC specialty and level of ACF post to which they are applying.
Only applicants successful at the ACF interviews that do not hold an NTN/DRN at the appropriate level and in the GMC specialty to which they are applying need to be clinically benchmarked.
Applicants that do not reach the level of appointability at clinical benchmarking will have their ACF offer withdrawn. Only one attempt at clinical benchmarking per ACF post is permitted.
Applicants who already have an NTN/DRN in the specialty they are applying for do not need to participate in national recruitment as they have already been clinically benchmarked.
Please refer to the specialty training website to ensure that you submit your application to clinically benchmark on time.
Please note, it is the candidates responsibility to ensure they have submitted a clinical application for the particular specialty in order to benchmark if required.
Please visit the NIHR ACF webpage for guidance on benchmarking
Offers
For recruitment to specialty training in 2024/25 the offers process will be centralised and candidates will receive information regarding their offers for all specialties via “Oriel”.
Initial offers for ACF posts will be made from Tuesday 21 January 2025. Applicants will be able to hold offers until the Tuesday 28 January 2025.
Tip: Once again it is worthwhile keeping an eye on Junk/Spam inboxes as the emails can end up in here.
Feedback
Candidates can request feedback following completion of longlisting if not progressed onto shortlisting or interview, after shortlisting if not invited to interview or after interview.
Round 2
A second round will only take place if there are vacancies remaining following Round 1.
Question not answered?
If after reading this guide your question is not answered, please contact us.
- Candidate Support Line: 01454 252610
- Email Support: England.ACFRecruitment.SW@nhs.net