NHS England South West & University of Bristol, University of Exeter & University of Plymouth
Welcome
Welcome to Academic Clinical Fellowship Training in the South West.
Delivered in partnership between NHS England (Workforce, Training and Education), the University of Bristol, University of Exeter and University of Plymouth, we offer a range of opportunities through the NIHR Integrated Academic Training (IAT) programme and locally supported academic pathways.
These programmes are designed to support doctors in developing a successful career as a clinical academic, combining high-quality clinical training with world-leading research opportunities.
Training Locations
Successful applicants will train across:
- NHS organisations within the South West training programmes
- Academic institutions including:
- University of Bristol
- University of Exeter
- University of Plymouth
Clinical placements will be confirmed following appointment and may vary across the duration of the programme.
Before You Apply
We strongly recommend that you:
- Review the person specification, job description and applicant guide carefully
- Understand clinical benchmarking requirements
- Familiarise yourself with the:
- Academic pathway
- Interview format
- Specialty-specific criteria
Why train in the South West?
- Strong academic partnerships across Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth
- Access to leading research environments and NIHR-supported opportunities
- High success rates in doctoral fellowship applications
- Supportive academic and clinical training network
Career pathway
An ACF is the first stage in the clinical academic pathway:
- Academic Clinical Fellow (ACF)
- Doctoral Fellowship (PhD/MD)
- Clinical Lectureship (CL)
- Senior Academic / Consultant roles
The primary aim is to support progression to a doctoral research fellowship.
What to Expect as an ACF
As an academic trainee in the South West, you can expect:
- A balanced training programme (clinical + research)
- Access to academic supervision and mentorship
- Opportunities to:
- Develop research proposals
- Publish and present work
- Undertake higher degrees
- Integration into a collaborative academic network
Academic Training Environment
You will benefit from:
- Structured academic supervision
- Access to university facilities and networks
- Engagement with national organisations including the NIHR Academy
Clinical Lectureships (CLs)
Clinical Lectureships are postdoctoral training posts for trainees who have completed a PhD (or equivalent).
- Typically 50% clinical / 50% academic time
- Provide an opportunity to consolidate research experience and progress towards senior academic roles
- NHS England recruit to University of Exeter and University of Plymouth CL roles.
- University of Bristol Recruit directly