What is an ACF?
Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs) are specialty training posts that combine clinical training with academic development.
3-year programme (4 years for General Practice)
75% clinical / 25% academic time
It is designed to support doctors in preparing for a doctoral research fellowship (PhD or MD) with protected time to develop research skills.
ACFs are designed for doctors in the early stages of specialty training who demonstrate clear potential for a clinical academic career.
Who can apply?
ACFs are open to:
– Doctors in the early stages of specialty training
– Applicants who meet both:
The clinical person specification, and
The academic criteria for the post
Do I need research experience?
Not necessarily, but you should demonstrate:
– An interest in research
– Evidence of academic potential
– Commitment to developing a clinical academic career
Please review the academic person specification and the shortlisting criteria for more information.
What is clinical benchmarking?
Applicants applying to Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs) will need to meet the criteria in both the clinical and ACF person specifications.
This means that, unless you currently hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Deanery Reference Number (DRN) which required clinical interview in the GMC specialty associated with the ACF, at the same level of training, you will be required to attend the clinical interview for the specialty of their ACF.
At the end of the selection process you will need to be deemed ‘appointable’ to achieve a successful benchmarking result.
How is the academic time organised?
Your 25% academic time may be arranged in different ways. Academic time can be structured flexibly, for example:
– 1 day per week
– Block placements (e.g. 3–6 months)
– A combination across the programme
This will be agreed with your academic and clinical supervisors.
Can I train less than full time (LTFT)?
Yes. Less than full time training is supported, and academic time will be adjusted proportionally.
What happens after an ACF?
Most ACFs aim to:
– Secure a doctoral fellowship (PhD or MD)
Following this, trainees may:
– Return to clinical training
– Apply for a Clinical Lectureship (CL)
Will I need a university contract?
Yes.
ACFs are employed by the NHS
You will also hold an honorary contract which will be issued by your university.
Where will I be based?
You will be based within:
– A South West NHS training programme
– A partner university (Bristol or Exeter or Plymouth)
Exact placements will be confirmed following appointment unless stated in the job description. For further information please contact the training programme directly.
Can I apply for more than one ACF post?
Yes, but:
– You must ensure each application is completed correctly
– You should carefully check eligibility for each post
Important: Applicants can apply for a maximum of 3 ACF posts nationally in Round 1. A 4th application will be automatically rejected on Oriel.
Can I change my preferences after applying?
No. Once submitted:
– Applications cannot be amended
– Preferences must be selected carefully before submission
Who can I contact for advice?
– Academic recruitment team (South West)
– Local integrated academic training leads
– Academic leads
– Training programme directors
Contact information is provided in the job descriptions for each post on Oriel. Please contact the recruitment team who can point you in the right direction.