Applications are invited from second-year general practice specialty trainees (in ST2 year) who wish to undertake clinical academic training. Funding is now available to allow trainees to extend their training by a year, allowing part-time attachment to a University department during the ST3 and ST4 years.

ST3 entry Academic Clinical Fellowships are offered at five Universities: Birmingham, Bristol, Keele, Oxford, and Southampton. In most cases we anticipate applicants will wish to continue to train in their existing Deanery although cross-Deanery transfer may be possible in specific cases.

The proportional split between clinical and academic activity in the ST3 and ST4 years varies between Universities and is often negotiable within the constraint that, taken over the two years, trainees must spend about half their time engaged in each activity. By the end of the ST4 year trainees will be expected to have gained specialist accreditation as a general practitioner and have completed the requirements for the award of MRCGP. The academic attachment is likely to include some taught courses as well as participation in a research study resulting in journal publication. The academic focus is on research training although this can include research into medical education.

Before making an application, potential applicants are encouraged to make direct contact with the University Department to which they would like to be attached. This should normally be a University in the Deanery in which they are currently training. Individuals training in Deaneries without a participating University should discuss the feasibility of part-time academic training with their own Deanery lead in the first instance. It may be feasible for individuals to be attached to a University outside the Deanery or, with mutual agreement, by cross-Deanery transfer.

More information about the opportunities offered by each individual University together with full contact details is available from www.gprecruitment.org.uk.  There is also information about the posts on the website of the West Midlands Deanery who is hosting the recruitment application process.