Course Information

Course List 

Overview 

The course list is derived in partnership with the Head of Schools and Training Programme Directors alongside NHSE South West Study Leave Team.  The Course list is reviewed annually and published in August. Any curriculum changes which are subject to change during the academic year will be added as an addendum to the website NOT the Course List or Study Leave Guidance. 

Important: Courses NOT on the course list will not be funded except for Category 3 courses, which are subject to specific criteria. 

The list provides courses deemed suitable for Resident Doctors at all levels provided they follow their Trust’s Study Leave application process. 

It is important to note that NHSE and the Trusts will not compare the different specialty course lists. 

Resident Doctors are to only use their speciality’s list when applying for course. 

Course List August 2025 – July 2026

Exam Preparation and Revision Courses (Including Question Banks) 

Overview 

In the first instance, school based regional activities should be utilised. These can usually be found within the Regional Annual Development Plans.  Where School-based activities are not available, one private external preparation activity or resource per exam would usually be funded capped at £600. Only activities and resources that have Specialty School and Resident Doctor approval should be considered. 

Face to Face activities 
Digital Resources 
Question Banks or other exam preparation materials. 

Subscriptions to revision materials will be considered and will only be approved up to a maximum of three month’s duration. 

Approval of subscriptions will be considered as a one-off activity and will require re-application for renewing if required. 

Funding of courses for repeated attempts at the exam should only be considered alongside other supportive actions to assist in passing the exam, ideally as part of a suite of support.  

Funding of additional further activities should not be considered except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Postgraduate Dean or nominated deputy. 

When considering further funding additional activities, recommendation from the Professional Support and Wellbeing Team from NHSE SW (PSW SW) or the Dean/Deputy Dean, or HoS is required. 

PACES Courses Attendance 

Overview 

Resident Doctors should attend online or regional courses as a first point of need. Resident Doctors must have TPD sign-off to attend a PACES course. TPDs will be asked to consider the relevance of attending an external face to face PACES course before signing approval. If further review is required, approval should be submitted to the HoS. PACES courses are considered a revision course and therefore capped as such. 

Eligibility 

A single PACES course will be approved and reimbursed where appropriate for Resident Doctors if: 

This is part of their PDP as appropriate for their stage of training. 

They cannot get the necessary experience within their usual work and training programme. They have a place in the upcoming exam or a good chance of being prioritised for a place, based on the MRCPUK criteria. 

They have ES support. 

Leadership and Management Courses  

Overview

NHSE SW provide PG DiTs with an opportunity to attend Leadership and Development courses throughout their training, therefore, leadership courses run by independent providers or as part of a school regional teaching programme will not be supported for funding.

A suite of Leadership and Management courses are available through the NHSE SW Faculty Development Team. 

These courses can be accessed via their booking system, Maxcourse. 

For more information visit their course catalogue

A suite of Leadership and Management courses are available through the NHS Leadership Academy. 

Peer Mentoring and Mentoring Courses 

NHSE SW provide Resident Doctors with an opportunity to attend Peer Mentoring and Mentoring courses throughout their training and do not fund these courses individually or as part of a school regional teaching programme. Please click here for further information on mentoring. 

Life Support Courses 

Overview 

It is recognised that no specific course is required to achieve curriculum capabilities. The required capabilities can be effectively learned through a ‘life support’ course covering the required areas in sufficient depth. 

The Resuscitation Council UKs Advanced Life Support (ALS) is such a course that delivers these capabilities and has evidence to support an improvement in patient outcomes.  

NHSE therefore supports the use of study leave funding to attend ALS courses, where the training programme believes it to be the most effective and efficient way of delivering the capabilities. Resident Doctors are encouraged to undertake the blended delivery ‘e-ALS’ for first time candidates and recertification for future attendance. 

Course fees will usually be reimbursed up to £300, this is the upper limit of what is considered to be a reasonable cost to run an e-ALS course.  

However, Deans’ discretion should be used in individual cases where due to uncontrollable factors the cost is higher or a two-day course is required. 

In cases where the employer requires certification, but the capabilities have been achieved via other routes or are not required by the curriculum then it is expected that the employer will cover the cost. 

Step-up Courses 

Overview 

NHSE SW will fund step-up courses as part of the regional teaching programme. These should be included on the annual development plan (ADP) as compiled by the TPD or HoS.  

Exclusion

NHSE SW are unable to fund step-up courses on an individual basis. 

Postgraduate and Higher Courses

Postgraduate qualifications are no longer in curricula so would only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Any such applications must be rationalised by a commitment that the qualification will be integral to the postgraduate doctor’s future career.

Train the Trainer and Teaching Courses 

Overview 

Resident Doctors will be supported to attend one ‘train the trainer course’ during their training if this is approved by their ES, HoS or TPD (and in some cases their Associate Dean). This will be fully reimbursed. 

Educational Supervision courses from NHSE SW Faculty Development. 

There courses are available to attend in the latter part of training (during the final two years of training) at no cost to the Resident Doctors.  

Please send expressions of interest to Faculty Development.  

External Educational Supervision courses (specialty-specific) will be supported up to a maximum of £300. 

These courses are available to attend within the final two years of training.