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Study Leave

A guide to Study Leave for Foundation Doctors November 2025 

What is study leave? 

Study leave helps you meet Foundation Curriculum requirements, attend essential training and explore career interests. This Study Leave guidance has been designed to ensure that the management of study leave across the SW Schools is in line with the South West Study Leave Guidance however in Foundation there are a number of exceptions and these are described below. The entitlement for F1 is different from F2. 

How much study leave do I get: 

F1 Doctors

  • F1s do not have any external Study Leave Budget

F1: 15 days internal study leave per year is used to deliver the Core F1 teaching requirement of the curriculum

  • Includes SIM training
  • Includes ILS/ALS
  • You do not need to apply for study leave
  • This 15 days per year of teaching is sufficient to achieve both core and non-core teaching hours for Foundation Competencies.
  • An F1 can borrow a maximum of 5 days F2 study leave for taster days in F1. (time only – no funding available)
  • An F1 can borrow study leave from F2 to present at a conference. (time only – no funding available)

F2 Doctors

All F2 Resident doctors have a budget of 30 days in total of which:

F2:15 days per year (local/regional teaching)

  • Includes SIM training
  • Includes ILS/ALS
  • F2 local teaching (where provided)
  • F2 regional teaching
  • This 15 days per year of regional/local teaching is sufficient to achieve both core and non-core teaching hours for Foundation Competencies.
  • GP learning sets (Peninsula GP F2 only)

Additional 15 days max for:

• Approved courses (see further information below on what is and is not funded)

• Conferences (see further information below on what is and is not funded)

• Tasters

F1: Up to 5 days may be borrowed from the F2 Study Leave allowance for a taster placement within the home trust.

F2: Additional taster placements may be undertaken, provided the total Study Leave allowance of 30 days is not exceeded (including any days borrowed in F1, Regional Teaching, ALS, and other approved activities).

Each taster placement must be no longer than 5 days.

Only one taster placement may be undertaken during each 4-month placement.

Less than full time residents have pro-rata allowance of study leave.


Is my study leave funded? 

  • F1 doctors do not have any funding for courses, conferences, travel or accommodation. 
  • F2 doctors can apply for funding. Depending on whether the course or conference is on the Deanery approved list, funding may be full, partial or nil and time only granted. 
     

What is on the course list, supported by study leave and funded? 

• ALS / ILS
It has been brought to our attention that the course list on the Deanery website guidance for Foundation is incorrect.  Only ALS/ILS is essential for Foundation Residents.  If you are required to complete APLS or NLS by because you are completing a Paediatric/Neonatal placement this will be arranged and funded by your employing trust.  All other advanced life support courses including trainer courses are ‘Discretionary’, please see below.

• SIM training

• Foundation Regional Teaching booked online through Peninsula or Severn Maxcourse sites which includes but is not limited to:

  • Human Factors
  • Clinical skills
  • Remote health / leadership / teamwork/ management
  • Healthcare Leadership
  • ASCERT Course
  • Train the Trainer / Teach the Teacher (see also Section 5)
  • Ethics
  • GP learning sets (Peninsula GP F2s only)
  • Academic Foundation PGCert (Med Ed/ Leadership & Management SFP only)
  • Bristol Patient Safety Conference
  • National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day
  • Foundation Psychiatry Fellow Contact Days
  • Peninsula Radiology Academy Open Day
  • X-ray and Radiology Skills for Juniors
  • IMG Foundation Careers Conference

Are any other courses/conferences supported?

The courses/conferences below are NOT fully funded.

These courses are categorised as ‘career progression, aspirational’; courses which will only be approved for a maximum of 50% funding. In addition, the F2 should be on track to achieve core curriculum competencies for their stage in training and it should be on their PDP. In some cases, <50% funding or study leave time only will be granted.

  • Life support courses (ATLS, APLS)
  • Life support instructor course
  • Basic Surgical Skills
  • Basic ultrasound course relevant to general medical skills
  • Obstetrics and gynaecology basic skills course
  • Revive and Thrive personal and professional development course by Endeavour Medical
  • Other courses/circumstances with approval of Head of School/FPD (e.g. to take a specialty examination)
  • Train the trainer/teach the teacher not part of regional Teaching (will only be approved if unable to attend regional teaching course or other exceptional reason).

Can I present at a conference? 

  • Presentation at a conference will be supported for F2, (50% of conference fee) plus expenses as per Deanery expenses policy: Study Leave Guidance -Expenses
  • Time to present at a conference can be supported for F1 although there is no funding to support. Study leave time must be deducted from F2 study leave.

F2s attending a Conference (NOT presenting)

  • For F2s a conference will be supported for F2, (50% of conference fee) plus expenses as per Deanery expenses policy: Study Leave Guidance -Expenses
  • F1s cannot attend any conferences where they are not presenting

Overseas presentations: Requires Head of School support prior to submitting application, final approval rests with NHSE.  Please use the overseas application form and refer to the Study Leave Application Flowchart for Overseas Courses

Note For All career progression, aspirational courses/conferences :

  • More than one of these courses/conferences are unlikely to be supported.
  • Experience should be gained through local training opportunities before supporting travel elsewhere
  • All career progressions courses/conferences must:
    • Be aligned to the resident’s career development
    • Added to the resident’s PDP in their eportfolio, explaining why they feel this aligns to their career development
    • Be approved by the resident’s ES
    • Be signed off by the resident’s FPD (with possible reference to Head Of School)

Can I claim expenses? 

  • With regards to travel or subsistence funding, this varies per Trust and application needs to be made to the Trust following expenses guidance within the Southwest Deanery Study Leave guidance   
  • Overseas study leave applications are subject to a different application process. 
  • F1 doctors do not have a study budget and therefore cannot claim expenses. 

What needs approval and by who? 

  • What is pre-approved? 
  • ALS/ILS 
  • SIM training 
  • Needs to be recorded on Horus 
ActivityApprover
Taster days in F2 in employing trustEducational Supervisor
Taster days in F1 in employing trustProgramme Director
Taster days in F2 away from employing trust but in School GeographyHead of School
Taster days in F1 away from employing trust but in School GeographyHead of School
F2 regional teaching / conferencesProgramme Director
F2 presenting at a conferenceProgramme Director
Courses aligned with curriculumProgramme Director
F1 presenting at a conferenceHead of School
Aspirational/career progression courses/conferencesProgramme Director (may need to refer to Head of School)
Overseas conferencesHead of School 1st followed by NHSE for final approval (ensure applied for 8 weeks before event as a minimum)

Not approved: 

  • Retrospective applications 
  • Time for exam preparation 
  • Courses for exam preparation 
  • F1 attending conference without presenting 
  • F1 any courses apart from ALS/ILS 
  • Tasters outside base hospital (unless through Head of School approved) 
  • Tasters outside Deanery  
  • Attending interview (this is managed through local Trust policy and not study leave) 
     

How to apply  

  • All Foundation doctors need an up-to-date PDP and the application should be reflected in the PDP.
  • Discuss your study leave with your educational supervisor.
  • Applications need to be submitted in good time and at a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the event.  Overseas applications need to be submitted at least 8 weeks in advance. No retrospective claims will be authorised
  • Complete form available from local medical education centre and ensure all signatures have been provided.
  • Sometimes forms may need to be sent to the Head of School for approval, ensure adequate time is given for this process.
  • Once approved discuss with rota coordinator; educational sign-off does not mean approval with department.

Top tips 

It is expected that, where practicable, that study leave is shared evenly across placements.

You are responsible for recording all study leave in portfolio 

Ensure that when you have used F2 leave during F1 (e.g. for taster) that this is documented and deducted from your F2 study leave allowance especially when moving trust location from F1 to F2