Applicants must meet the NIHR Person Specification, the Specialty specific Person Specification entry Criteria.

Applicants that do not already hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) in the GMC specialty to which they are applying will also be required to undertake the national clinical recruitment process and attend an assessment/interview for that GMC specialty as appropriate. If applicants require clinical benchmarking, then they will be required to fill out a separate standard clinical application form.

For applicants applying where there is no clinical recruitment at that level you will need to hold a National Training Number (NTN) / Deanery Reference Number (DRN) at the right level and in the associated clinical specialty.

Please note that the ST1 programme is offered as three years in Internal Medicine Training (IMT) with progression to this Group 1 specialty, subject to satisfactory progression. Applicants will be assessed and scored against the IMT person specification with panel representation from clinicians in the Group 1 specialty.

ST2-level applicants - Only trainees who hold a Deanery Reference Number in the first year of Internal Medical Training (CT1) or second year of ACCS internal medicine (CT2) are eligible to apply. Trainees who have either: completed Core Medical Training, IMT training or ACCS-IM, are in the penultimate or final year of IMT or ACCS-IM, or have alternative experience outside of UK training, are not eligible to apply at this level.

ST3-level applicants - Only trainees who hold a Deanery Reference Number in the penultimate year of Internal Medical Training (CT2) or ACCS internal medicine (CT3) are eligible to apply. Trainees who have either: completed Core Medical Training, IMT training or ACCS-IM, are in the final year of IMT or ACCS-IM, or have alternative experience outside of UK training, are not eligible to apply.

Current core trainees who are successful in gaining an ACF programme will start their programme by completing the outstanding year(s) of IMT. Assuming internal medicine stage 1 is completed successfully they will then run-through into their higher specialty. There is no requirement for trainees in this category to clinically benchmark as they will be carrying on with completing their IMT programme.

ST4-level applicants must apply and meet the eligibility criteria as laid out in the specialty specific national person specification and be deemed as appointable in the specialty specific clinical interview.

Failure to apply to national recruitment (if applicable) will result in any offer of interview for Academic Clinical Fellow being withdrawn and your application being withdrawn from the recruitment process.

Some summary information is included below. However, please see the hyperlinks tab for links to further information about the recruitment process.

When applying to this specialty in this recruitment round, you will not need to give preferences of particular posts, regions, rotations, etc. at the time of applying; just complete and submit an application for the specialty. Any offer will be to the Wessex region as a whole. All recruitment to this specialty in this round will be managed by NHS England – Wessex, who will coordinate all long/short-listing of applications, host all interviews, and make offers.

Applications are equally open to those who may, either from the outset or subsequently, wish to train less than full time or job share.

Please note that there is a strict application policy that applications cannot be accepted after the deadline.

The hyperlinks tab includes a link to the person specification which details the eligibility criteria for this specialty. Before applying please read the Medical Specialty Training person specifications to assess your suitability for the post.

You will also find a link to information about demonstrating your competence for a training post in this specialty. It is very important you find out what is acceptable documentation.

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.

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There have been changes to the minimum shortlisting scores required for all applicants in relation to the questions for ‘Academic Experience’ and ‘Academic Potential'.

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If applying under the Disability Confident Scheme, please be aware that there will now also be a minimum score that must be achieved in order to be considered for an invite to interview.

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A higher capacity cut off will also be set for non DCS applicants.

Please refer to NIHR guidance for further details

Please visit https://wessex.hee.nhs.uk/medical-dental-training-recruitment/academic/

for the following information:

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Likely locations of posts and possible employers within the training programme

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Interview dates: Monday 7th December 2026 (PM)

Interview venue: This will be a virtual interview; Details will be sent to those shortlisted.

Interview process: A Microsoft Teams link will be sent by email a minimum of 1 working day prior to interview. Please ensure that you check your inbox and junk mailbox for this invitation.

Length of interview: Please refer the NIHR applicant guidance

Interview structure: Please refer to the NIHR applicant guidance

Enquiries: During the recruitment process please visit the NHS England – Wessex Academic pages on the Wessex Deanery website (https://wessex.hee.nhs.uk/academic-training/about-the-academic-training-programme/)regularly to access up-to-date information relating to this vacancy and information about the recruitment process.

For any queries that cannot be answered by the methods above please contact: england.recruitment.wx@nhs.net

For further national information please visit the Medical Specialty Training website.