| Stage | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nomination emails sent to nominated applicants | 15 September 2026 | Your medical school |
| Foundation Programme application window | 23 September to 7 October 2026, 12:00 midday BST | Oriel |
| Medical school pathway 1 processes run | Autumn 2026, timelines set by each school | Your medical school |
| All pathway 1 selection complete | November 2026 | Your medical school |
Everyone must complete the main Foundation Programme application on Oriel by the national deadline, whichever route into the SFP they are pursuing. Late applications are not accepted. Your medical school’s pathway 1 deadline may be considerably earlier than you expect, and it is the one date nobody will chase you about.
The SFP changed fundamentally in 2025, and most advice still circulating online describes a process that no longer exists. If you have read about deciles, the Situational Judgement Test, or applying to two Specialised Units of Application, that was the old system.
In England there are now two routes. One third of posts are filled by selection run by your own medical school: it sets its own criteria, format and timeline, everything concludes in November, and this is the route where preparation matters. The remaining two thirds are allocated through the ordinary Foundation Programme application using Preference Informed Allocation, a computer generated rank that your publications, prizes and presentations cannot influence. Scotland and Northern Ireland run local selection after allocation, and in Wales SFPs are allocated by PIA inside the main programme.
Which route you are on determines whether preparation is worth your time at all. Our free guide walks through both, what has gone from the old system, and what to do this week.
The full recording of the most recent SFP course, for anyone who could not attend live. Access runs for six months from purchase.
Everything for the whole cycle: a seat on the SFP course with its mock interview and recording, three further 1-to-1 coaching sessions, a second mock interview, written feedback on your answers with up to two rounds included, and email and WhatsApp support through to the end of your school’s selection in November. One purchase, and we’re with you from your first draft to your interview.
Founder and Lead Tutor
MBChB BSc MRes MRCPCH
About Me: I’m a paediatric respiratory registrar and the founder of Step2Med. I started it to help people into medicine, whatever their background.
My Role: I’m Lead Tutor for our undergraduate and foundation courses, and I design the courses Step2Med delivers. I also choose every member of our team personally, selecting the people best placed to teach each of the services we offer.
Background: I’ve tutored for more than ten years, coaching applicants through every part of the process. I completed an academic foundation post and an Academic Clinical Fellowship myself, ranking among the highest applicants to secure both, and I teach the SFP and ACF applications from that experience.
Interests: Paediatrics, Education, Learning a new skill regularly.
Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Registrar, Step2Ortho Lead
MBChB BSc MBA PGCME MRCS (Ed)
About Me: I’m a specialty registrar in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, and I lead Step2Ortho.
My Role: I built the orthopaedic video bank and run our mock interview circuits, and I teach on the SFP and ACF courses.
Background: I ranked in the national top 5% in 2025 T&O ST3 recruitment. Before that I completed an academic foundation post and received an ACF offer.
Interests: Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Education, Research.
Radiology Trainee, Lead Tutor for Undergraduate Applications
MBChB BSc
About Me: I’m a radiology trainee in the West Midlands. Before that I was an SFP doctor in the East Midlands.
My Role: I’m the Lead Tutor for undergraduate applications, and I teach on the SFP course and run its mock interviews.
Background: I came through the SFP myself, so I teach the application from the inside: what panels actually ask, and what a strong answer sounds like under pressure. I’ve supported medical school applicants for years, from first application to interview.
Interests: Reading, Research, Walking.
Tish Jervis
Brilliant course – highly recommend – Aug 30, 2021
I attended the Step2Med AFP course and it was brilliant in helping to support my application for an AFP last year. The lecture days were very insightful and full of invaluable tips for applications and interviews. The practice interview with an experienced academic doctor contributed hugely to my confidence for the real thing. Highly recommend to those considering applying to the AFP this coming year.
Trustpilot Simran Dhesi
Academic Foundation Programme Course – Aug 17, 2021
I recently attended an Academic Foundation Post training day organised by Step2Med. Not only did I find it extremely informative and useful, but I also found myself having a better idea of what to expect from an AFP. The instructors were very knowledgeable, and endeavoured to personalise their advislce as much as possible to the person and the deaneries they'd applied to. Thanks to Step2Med I was offered an AFP in my chosen deanery! I would highly recommend a Step2Med course to anyone considering Medical/Dental School or other higher training posts. 10/10
Trustpilot DB
Good course, great mock – Jan 21, 2022
I attended the Step2med course in October 2021. In the 2022 application cycle I received offers from both the SFP deaneries I had applied to.
The course is well structured and goes through the main points of the SFP clinical and research interviews. For me, the best part was the "clinical scenarios" workshop where attendees were walked through how to approach the station to score top marks, and then how to actually revise. The structure provided in the "critical appraisal" station was also helpful, and I worked this into my own structure for approaching that station.
The most helpful part (which is worth the cost of the course alone) was the mock interview provided after the course. This allowed me to simulate the real interviews, and receive detailed personalised feedback.
Ikra
SFP course: Excellent & great value – Jan 11, 2023
EDIT: I received an offer for my 1st choice deanery!! Super duper thanks to the team at Step2Med!
The SFP course was well-structured with instructors who are clearly very knowledgeable & really want you to do well. After attending the course, I had a mock interview which was EXCELLENT. The feedback was thorough & very constructive.
I rarely pay for events/courses (student budget!) but I have attended other SFP events/mocks (that were free) & I've found that there was a significant difference in quality compared to this course. Overall, I would 100% recommend the SFP course & it was definitely worth every penny spent.
