BMA strongly opposes changes to foundation programme applications

The BMA has said it “strongly opposed” the decision to exclude additional degrees and publications from the points system used to allocate foundation training posts, which is set to take effect from 2023.1

A letter to medical schools from the co-chairs of the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO) Tom Lawson and Mike Masding said that the office had decided to make the changes because additional degrees and publications were no longer a useful way of distinguishing between candidates.

“The percentage of applicants seeking points for additional achievements has increased from 30% to 70% in the most recent application round, resulting in less differentiation between application scores,” they said.2 The co-chairs also acknowledged that “the opportunities for students to obtain additional degrees are inconsistent.”

The BMA said that …