Overview
Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) recruitment for the University of Bristol, University of Exeter and University of Plymouth is managed by the NHSE South West Recruitment Office. Applications are welcomed for candidates who are looking for a unique opportunity to combine clinical training with academic research. These posts are designed to support aspiring clinical academics in specialty training to prepare an application for a Training Fellowship leading to a PhD (or equivalent), or if applicable a postdoctoral fellowship.
Please note there are important updates to the recruitment process at the shortlisting and offers stage as the Medical Prioritisation Act (2026) applies to this recruitment round. Fruther information is available below.
Key Dates
The selection process is run in line with the national recruitment timetable:
Applications Open: Thursday 01 October 2026, 10:00 (UK time)
Applications Close: Thursday 29 October 2026, 16:00 (UK time)
Shortlisting: November 2026
Interviews: November–January 2027 (via MS Teams)
Initial Offers: Tuesday 19 January 2027
Hold Deadline: Tuesday 26 January 2027
View the national specialty training recruitment timetable here:
National Recruitment Timelines
Please note: Each ACF post represents one job, even if multiple specialties are listed. You may not apply to multiple specialties within the same vacancy.
The vacancies are correct at point of advertisement but may be subject to change; alterations to vacancies published will be notified to candidates that register an interest by starting an application via Oriel.
Application Rules & Limits
A maximum of three ACF applications can be made nationally. This includes all regions, specialties and universities. Oriel will not allow more than 3 ACF applications to be made. Please only submit your preferred 3 choices as a 4th application will be rejected automatically.
As part of the selection process candidates are required to demonstrate competence at Foundation Level or equivalent. If you are using a CREST Form to demonstrate competence you now only need to submit one CREST document across the ACF Round and Round 1 applications, so the document you submit in an ACF application will be used for any applications made within Round 1 in the same recruitment year.
No edits to applications are permitted after submission.
Prioritisation for specialty training recruitment
The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 became law on 6th March 2026 and will be applied to all specialty recruitment processes apart from ST1 Public Health. Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) recruitment will align with the Act. Applicants will be assessed against national prioritisation criteria at offers stage, with priority applicants considered ahead of non-priority applicants.
Priority applicants who meet the appointability standard at interview will be considered before non-priority applicants. Applicants will be prioritised for offers based on the following criteria.
Country of Primary Medical Qualification
Immigration Status
Relevant qualifying UK programme
To find out more information, please visit the Medical Specialty Recruitment website.
Completing Your Application
Some sections of the application form may have character limits; prioritise relevant information.
It is essential to refer to the advert text, hyperlinks and files tab on each vacancy for further details and contact information.
Save and review your application thoroughly before submitting.
Refer to the Academic and Clinical person specifications and NIHR shortlisting scoring framework when completing your application. See NIHR website for the scoring criteria.
Eligibility Criteria
There are rules regarding eligibility to apply for specialty training in the United Kingdom. If you are submitting an application, you will need to make sure that you meet all the eligibility criteria by the closing date of applications unless an alternative date is specified in the advert or clinical and academic person specifications.
These requirements are outlined in the ST1, ST2, ST3 or ST4 Person Specifications and the Academic Person Specification. Refer to Academic and Clinical person specifications when considering eligibility.
Applicants should be at an appropriate level of training to be able to progress into the ACF at the advertised starting grade. It is not possible for individuals to repeat a year of training in order to take up an ACF post.
Foundation Competence
You are required to provide evidence of achievement of Foundation Competence when applying for CT1/ST1 level posts.
Current UK Foundation Programme:
Not required to provide any further evidence at the time of application but will be required to provide a Foundation Programme Certificate of Competence (FPCC) to the employer and the NHSE Local Office/Deanery on completion of training and prior to commencement in post.
Completed UK Foundation Programme (after February 2024):
Required to upload an FPCC to the application form at the time of application submission.
Currently in a training post with NTN/DRN:
Applicants are considered to have had their Foundation competences assessed on entry to core training and therefore do not need to confirm this again. No further evidence needed.
Others (CREST):
Applicants are required to complete and submit a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training. Because of changes to the process, only the 2024 version of this form will be accepted.
The post that has been assessed as delivering equivalence of Foundation competence must be wholly undertaken in the 3½ years prior to the post start date, to which the applicant is applying.
The 2024 CREST form was updated in September 2024 to include an applicant checklist. Either version of the 2024 CREST form (last updated 2023 or 2024) will be accepted for 2027 recruitment rounds.. Older versions are not accepted.
Resource: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/foundation-competencies/certificate-of-readiness/crest
The CREST should also be used for Public Health applicants applying from a medical background.
You are only able to submit one CREST document per recruitment round. This document will be used across all applications in that round where you indicate that a CREST is required.
Important: If you are required to submit evidence of competence, for example a Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC) or a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST), with your application and do not do so then you will not be offered another opportunity to upload it and your application will not proceed to the next stage of the process.
To find out more information, please visit the Medical Specialty Recruitment Foundation Competence webpage.
All candidates: Please check benchmarking requirements and eligibility in person specification.
Core Competence
You are required to provide evidence of achievement of Core Competence when applying for training programmes with ST3/ ST4 entry levels.
Current UK Core Training Programme holding NTN:
For example: Current IMT2 applying for an ACF in Haematology at ST3 level.
Applicants are not required to provide any further evidence at the point of application but, if appointed, will be required to achieve a Core Training Certificate or an ARCP outcome 6 prior to commencement.
Current UK Core Training Programme holding NTN in the specialty you are applying to:
For example: Current IMT1 applying for an ACF in Haematology at IMT2 level.
Applicants are not required to provide any further evidence at the point of application but, if appointed, will be expected to achieve competences and a successful ARCP outcome to progress in training.
Completed Core Training Programme:
Provide a Core Training Certificate or an ARCP outcome 6 at the time of application submission; similar to foundation competence, some specialties may have a time limit set on when an ARCP outcome remains valid before alternative evidence is required; check the relevant person specification for guidance
Others:
Applicants currently not undertaking a UK Core Training Programme or who have completed a UK Core Training Programme previously but are unable to provide appropriate evidence are required to demonstrate equivalence. Satisfactory evidence will vary by specialty. Please refer to the National Recruitment Office webpage and person specification for support on how to demonstrate competence / eligibility. Should you require support, please seek advice from the lead recruiter (contact information available here).
All candidates: Please check benchmarking requirements and eligibility in person specification.
Important: It is important that you refer to the person specification for the entry level and specialty to which you are applying to in order to determine you are submitting the correct eligibility evidence.
Resource: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/person-specifications
Clinical Benchmarking
Applicants must meet clinical benchmarking before the ACF post start date by demonstrating appointability at the national clinical interview for the relevant GMC specialty and ST level.
Benchmarking is mandatory if you’re successful at the ACF interview but don’t hold an NTN or DRN in the appropriate specialty/level. Only one attempt is allowed per ACF post.
Failure to meet the appointability threshold will result in withdrawal of any offer, though you may reapply in future rounds.
Applicants who already have an NTN/DRN in the specialty they are applying for do not need to participate in national recruitment as they have already been clinically benchmarked.
Please note, it is the candidates responsibility to ensure they have submitted a clinical application for the particular specialty in order to benchmark if required.
• Round 1 (CT/ST1) applications open from 10am on Thursday 22 October 2026 until 4pm on Thursday 19 November 2026 and
• Round 2 (ST3/4) applications open from 10am on Thursday 19 November 2025 until 4pm on Thursday 10 December 2026.
Academic & Clinical Training Structure
This ACF provides 25% protected academic time, with the remaining 75% dedicated to clinical training. Academic time may be arranged as either day-release or block-release, depending on individual and programme needs.
For General Practice ACFs (if applicable), the structure may vary:
• ST1 (four-year post)
• ST2 (three-year post)
• ST3 (two-year post)
All include 12 months of protected academic time, regardless of total post duration.
Longlisting & Shortlisting
All applications will be checked for evidence of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. Applications that do not demonstrate the criteria will not continue through the process. Applicants will be notified of this decision via email.
Tip: Candidates are advised to not opt-out of receiving SMS updates from Oriel and check their junk mail inbox on a regular basis in case any messages regarding your application have been filtered into there.
Where appropriate, Academic Clinical Fellowship applications will be subjected to the shortlisting process.
Applications will be scored against a predefined NIHR shortlisting scoring framework by a panel of consultants from clinical and academic backgrounds involved in the recruitment process. Applicants are scored out of a maximum score of 28 (per shortlister), including questions on academic experience and potential.
Please note there is no appeals process for the shortlisting process.
Eligibility
Please be aware that there is a shortlisting threshold. All applicants must score a minimum of 2 points for both the ‘Academic Experience’ and ‘Academic Potential’ questions to be eligible to be shortlisted.
To be eligible under the disability confidence scheme, candidates are also required to achieve a total score of at least 11 points (or 39%) to be invited to interview.
The scoring framework and eligibility criteria have been supplied to candidates by the NIHR. Please visit NIHR website for full details.
University of Bristol Applicants:
In 2027, for posts with competing specialties, applications will be divided into specialty groups. Applications will be reviewed by clinicians from the parent specialty. When the shortlisting is complete, a ranked list of candidates will be produced, one for each specialty and the top ranking two candidates from each list will be invited to attend an interview irrespective of their shortlisting scores.
Interview Process
Platform: MS Teams
Duration: Up to 1 hour (including 10-minute preparation)
Format: Single 30-minute station
The interview panel’s main aim is to find out whether you meet the requirements of the person specification for the post for which you are applying, and to make sure that only the best candidates are selected in this highly competitive process.
Interview dates will be confirmed and published on our website in due course, unless published on the main advert. If no date is published this is subject to confirmation.
Interview slots will be pre-allocated via email, or where possible, available to book. Interview invitations are sent via Oriel/email/SMS; a slot must be booked within 48 hours.
Tip: Opt into SMS messages and we will text you with important updates in the recruitment process. Remember to keep checking your junk/spam inboxes.
Applicants will be provided with an email providing additional information regarding the interview schedule and the additional documentation required when invited to attend the interviews.
Offers & Feedback
Offers made via Oriel starting from Tuesday 19 January 2027.
Hold deadline: Tuesday 26 January 2027.
Tip: Once again it is worthwhile keeping an eye on Junk/Spam inboxes as the emails can end up in here.
Feedback will be available after longlisting, shortlisting and interview.
Please note there is no appeals process. Any issues must be raised with the recruitment team no later than 30 minutes after your interview is completed.
Resource: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/overview-of-specialty-training/offers-feedback-and-upgrades
Disability Confident Scheme
Applicants applying under the Disability Confident Scheme must meet the published eligibility criteria and any required shortlisting thresholds. The national ACF guidance introduced a minimum shortlisting threshold for DCS applicants to ensure candidates invited to interview are competitive for appointment. Please review NIHR guidance for recruitment and appointment for further information.
Fitness to Practice
If applicable, email the completed Fitness to Practice form to England.confidential.sw@nhs.net by the application deadline.
Resource: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/fitness-to-practise
Deferred Start Dates
Permitted only on statutory grounds (e.g. parental leave, illness) in line with the Gold Guide and is subject to approval by NHSE Office / Deanery.
Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Training
Review the Southwest LTFT Policy here.
Resource: https://southwest.pgmdeducation.nhs.uk/resources-information-2/policies-guidance/less-than-full-time-training/
Reapplication to specialty
Current ACFs re-applying to a 2027 ACF post must complete the “Support for Reapplication to a Specialty Training Programme” form if they have previously resigned or been removed from an ACF post, regardless of the specialty they are now applying to.
A new form, with appropriate support for application, must be completed each recruitment year. Forms completed in previous recruitment years will not be accepted.
Resource: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/documents-to-support-your-application
Reapplication to a Different Region
The “Support for Reapplication of Specialty Training in a Different Region” form is only for current ACF trainees with an NTN or DRN who are reapplying in open competition and intend to change region.
Resource: https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/documents-to-support-your-application
References
You will need to provide details, including up to date email addresses, of three referees who have supervised your training over the past three years, including one academic referee.
If you have recently had a career break and cannot nominate referees from the past three years, then your referees must include your two most recent supervisors.
Referees will be contacted by email with details of their referee accounts, so it is important that the contact details provided are correct.
References will only be requested once applicants have accepted a training offer.
Round 2 Recruitment
A second round will occur only if vacancies remain after Round 1.
Contact & Support
Candidate Support Line: 01454 252610
Email: England.ACFRecruitment.SW@nhs.net