Skip to main content Skip to footer

Foundation Groups and Programmes

Matching Process

Upon allocation to the Scottish Foundation School (UoA), applicants are required to complete a two-stage matching process to ensure placement within a Group and Programme. Please note that the Oriel preferencing page is set to timeout after 59 minutes of inactivity. The UKFPO website provides additional details on Group and Programme preferencing 

If allocated to Scotland, you will be offered a 2-year Foundation Programme. It is important to read the regional information thoroughly, as some regions (South-East) offer a fixed F1 year rotation and a separate allocation process for the F2 year, while the East, North and West offer fixed 2-year programmes.

Placeholders

All Foundation Schools in the UK will have a group in Oriel named 'Placeholder'. This group contain training programmes which are still being finalised. For further information, please refer to our Placeholder FAQs

Stage 1 - Group Matching

  • All applicants must rank the available Groups (e.g. E01, N04, W12, S7 etc) according to their personal preference. 
  • Groups are 'clusters' of programmes located within a specific region.
  • You may rank Groups in any preferred order and are not required to group all selections from the same region together.
  • The match to group is determined by your PIA number and your stated preferences.

Stage 2 - Programme Matching

  • Once matched to a group, you MUST rank the individual Programmes (e.g. E01001, E01002) within your allocated Group.
  • Programmes consist of a sequence of posts forming the rotation of placements within the Group.
  • Allocation to an individual Programme is based on you PIA number and preferences.

Final Allocation and Swaps

  • The Scottish Foundation School operates a strict NO swaps policy.
  • All matches to Group and Programme are considered final once allocated.

Allocation webinar (Scottish Foundation School)

  • The Scottish Foundation School will host a dedicated webinar for all applicants who have been allocated a place in Scotland.
  • The session will provide detailed information on the two-stage ranking process, covering both the allocation to Groups (regions) and Programmes (rotations/posts).
  • Additionally, it will include guidance on the 2026 - Scotland SFP process.

Details regarding webinar registration will be included in the Welcome email, which will be sent via Oriel and from the Foundation School email account: sfas@nes.scot.nhs.uk once allocation to Scotland has been confirmed on 26/02/2026.

 

Disclaimer

Every applicant to the Scottish Foundation School is guaranteed a two-year Foundation Programme. Please be aware, however, that even after being matched and commencing an individual programme, changes to your allocated programme or individual placements within it may occur at short notice. Such changes may be necessitated by training needs, working time regulations, national directives, or service redesign.

This page was last updated on: 23.12.2025 at 16.37