Placeholders

Hundreds of final year students have been given foundation programme placeholder allocations. Those of you with placeholder allocations will not know the group you have been allocated or the specific programme details. If you are a placeholder, you are still guaranteed a foundation programme job. 

Your foundation school should be touch with details for how they will allocate you a job. If your foundation school is not giving you sufficient detail, you can reach out to the BMA for advice. 

We will continue to lobby the key stakeholders to solve this issue as quickly as possible for all finalists. We have previously called upon the statutory education bodies and government to ensure all finalists should get at least 12 weeks’ notice of their allocation. We have been clear that they must NOT breach the 8 weeks’ notice required by the resident doctor contract.

UKFP 2026 eligibility applications – timeline and deadlines

Important information regarding release of timeline dates 

Please note the key dates for UKFP 2026 entry will be released on an incremental basis and you are advised to refer to the website regularly to ensure that you are viewing the most up-to-date information.

• The application window for eligibility applications opened on 2nd July 2025 at 12.00 midday (BST) and will close on 23 July 2025.  The deadline to submit an eligibility application is 12.00 midday (BST).
• The FP and FPP application window for UKFP 2026 will open 24 September and close 08 October 2025 12:00 midday (BST).
• If you are deemed eligible or eligible with conditions, you must also complete the separate application for the two-year Foundation Programme for 2026 on Oriel. You will have the opportunity to apply for FPP programmes in addition to the main Foundation Programme (FP). Refer to the UKFP 2026 Applicant guidance for the 2-year Foundation Programme for detailed information.

Please ensure you check the website on a regular basis for updates to information.

UKFP 2025 - Key changes

Please see the UKFP website for a list of key changes to the application process for UKFP 2025.