The MMed International Training Fellowship (ITF) Scheme has been designed collaboratively by senior clinicians at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) and academics at Edge Hill University (EHU). The scheme offers an opportunity for experienced international clinicians, who have already achieved higher postgraduate qualifications, to come to the UK and study for a MCh or MMed, whilst gaining further clinical experience in the NHS. The program is delivered part-time over two to three years .
The program consists of three main elements:
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Clinical Research Modules: There are two research modules which run sequentially in Year 1: ‘Critical Appraisal’ and ‘Developing a Research Proposal’. They are delivered at Edge Hill University on Saturdays, typically once per month.
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Clinical Module: The ‘Work-based Learning in Clinical Practice’ module runs across the full two years of the program, recognizing that clinical learning occurs on a continuum.
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Dissertation: You are required to complete a 12,000 word dissertation. This enables you to focus upon a significant piece of investigative enquiry from conceptualization through to completion .
Minimum criteria needed to join the Program and be eligible for GMC registration via the sponsorship route:
· Must have a primary medical degree recognized by the General Medical Council of the UK, i.e. MB ChB or MB BS.
· Have obtained a postgraduate qualification in your chosen specialty equivalent to the level of the MRCS or MRCP (UK) e.g. MS/MD, DNB in Surgery or Diplomate of National Board of India (DNB) in Surgery or Medicine, FCPS Pakistan.
· Demonstrate that you have been engaged in clinical practice/training for at least three out of the last five years.
· Please note the ’12 month rule’. IMGs applying for full GMC registration via the sponsorship route must remain in clinical practice for the 12 months immediately preceding the date the application for GMC registration is made. A period of absence of up to 5 weeks is allowed for the purpose of annual leave. Please ensure that you do not come out of clinical practice during this 12 month period. GMC registration will not be awarded if you do not meet these criteria. Please note also that Clinical Observerships are not considered to be medical practice.
· As per GMC standards (which may be subject to change) you must have achieved a minimum score of 7.0 in all 4 categories of the Academic UKVI International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 7.5. You must take this test at one of the approved SELT Consortium test centers. www.ielts.org.
· For the purpose of your GMC application, the Occupational English Test (OET) https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/test-information is also accepted. You must achieve a minimum score of B in all four of the categories. Please note that if you choose to take the OET you are still required to clear the Academic UKVI IELTS, but with a minimum score of 4 overall.
· As per GMC Standards you must submit your Primary Medical Qualification for verification via the ECFMG portal.
· You must not have sat and failed the PLAB exam (either Part 1 or 2).
· Be eligible for a Tier 2 (General) visa and meet employment, pre-employment clearances as required by law to work in UK.
· If offered a placement we will sponsor the candidate to obtain GMC registration and facilitate the application for an appropriate visa to work in the United Kingdom.
Expectations from candidate:
· Appropriate academic and clinical skills.
· Appropriate language skills.
· Commitment to NHS standards and behaviors.
· Acceptance of a job plan that combines research and clinical commitment.
· Willingness to work and study over weekend periods.
· Commitment to complete an agreed period of study and training of between 2 and 3 years in the UK.