Eligibility

This page explains the requirements you must meet if you wish to apply to come to the United Kingdom as a postgraduate doctor or dentist.

If you are currently in the United Kingdom under a different immigration category you should also read the information on switching.

In order to come to the United Kingdom as a postgraduate doctor or dentist you must:

• have successfully completed and obtained a recognised United Kingdom degree in medicine or dentistry within the last 12 months from either:
  • a publicly funded institute of further or higher education; or
  • a genuine private institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; and
• have previously been granted permission to enter and stay in the United Kingdom:
  • for the final academic year of the studies referred to above; and
  • as a student for at least one other academic year of the studies referred to above; and
• hold a letter from the Postgraduate Dean confirming you have a full-time place on a recognised Foundation Programme; and
• intend to train full-time on the Foundation Programme; and
• be able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without the use of public funds; and
• intend to leave the United Kingdom when your permission to stay expires, unless you have been given permission to stay as:
  • a doctor or dentist undertaking a clinical attachment or dental observation post;
  • a work permit holder;
  • a highly skilled migrant or a tier 1 migrant;
  • a person intending to establish themselves in business;
  • an innovator; and
• provide the written consent of your sponsor to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a postgraduate doctor or dentist if your study at medical or dental school, or any subsequent study was sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency; and
• hold a valid entry clearance for entry under this category.

Public funds are income-related benefits paid by the state. They include income support, income-based job seekers allowance, housing and homelessness assistance, housing and council tax benefit, working families' tax credit, a social fund payment, child benefit and any disability allowance. Benefits paid as a result of contributions, such as the state pension, are not considered to be public funds. Social housing is not considered to be a public fund either. Claiming public funds when you are not eligible is known as benefit fraud and it is a criminal offence.