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2026 - SFP Process

2026 SFP Process - updated 10/03/2026

Allocation to the Scottish Foundation School will be conducted via the standard UK Preference Information Allocation (PIA) process for August 2026 intake. 

Applicants interested in a SFP group will be asked to complete a SFP Preference Form (link to the form is included in the Welcome email). This form will ask applicants to rank the 7 SFP Groups in order of preference (this can be all or some of the 7 groups) and complete one white space question outlining their reason for applying to the SFP.

The white space question will be anonymised and scored by clinical academics from the universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Stage 1 - Allocation to Group (Region)

Applicants will be allocated to an SFP group based on the score awarded for their white space question and how you have preferenced the groups. You will not know if they have been successful until the group allocation is issued via Oriel.

Stage 2 - Allocation to Programme (Rotation) 

Allocation to a SFP programme (rotation) within the assigned group based on your preferences and you will be allocated through Oriel and PIA. Applicants must rank all programmes within their allocated group in order of preference. Programme allocations will not known until they are released by the UKFPO.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Allocation to Scotland takes place through the national PIA process to the Unit of Application (UoA) – the Scottish Foundation School.
  2. All applications allocated to Scotland will receive our Welcome email via Oriel, this email will include a link to the SFP preference form (MS Form).
  3. Applicants are advised to attend the Scottish Foundation School MS Teams call for information on the 2-stage allocation process to group and programme.
  4. Interested applicants must complete and submit the MS SFP Preference Form, which includes ranking for all or some of the SFP groups. 
  5. Applicants must submit their completed preference form by the deadline including the one white space question group ranking - no late submission will be accepted.
  6. White space question will be anonymised and scored by clinical academics (scoring matrix will not be provided to the applicants).
  7. Applicants are reminded that they MUST rank all Foundation Programme Groups in Scotland via Oriel.
  8. Successful applicants will be allocated to one of seven groups (geographical regions: East, North, South-East, West) based on their white space question score and group preference.
  9. Group notification will be released by Oriel (see national timeline).
  10. Applicants must then preference programmes within their allocated group via Oriel.
  11. Programme allocation (rotation/posts) will be completed via PIA.
  12. Applicants will be notified of their allocated programme (rotation/posts) on the national UK allocation day.

For all enquiries, please email the Scottish Foundation School: sfas@nes.scot.nhs.uk

SFP 2026 - Appeals Process

  • If you feel that the process was not carried out in a fair and transparent manner you may submit an appeal. The window open on 22/04/2026 to 30/04/2026. Please email the Scottish Foundation School: sfas@nes.scot.nhs.uk

SFP Across the UK

  • Please see the UKFPO website for more information on the SFP process across the UK.

This page was last updated on: 10.03.2026 at 14.29