Eligibility panels and outcomes

Special Circumstances

This process ensures that if you have special circumstances and a requirement to train in a particular location, you are treated in a fair and consistent way.

Special circumstances applications will be reviewed by a national eligibility panel.

National eligibility panel

Your application and evidence will be reviewed by a national eligiblity panel comprising:

  • Representation from the national Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection (MDRS) team.
  • Devolved nation representatives.
  • Regional recruitment lead(s).
  • British Medical Association representative.

Following the eligibility panel you will be informed whether your application has been successful or not within two working days.

National appeal panel

If you are unhappy with the decision of the eligibility panel, you can submit an appeal. Your appeal will be reviewed by an independent panel comprising:

  • Lead Dean for recruitment, or deputy.
  • Devolved nation representatives.
  • Representation from the national Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection (MDRS) team.
  • British Medical Association representative.

New evidence must be submitted for an appeal, we cannot review evidence that has already been considered by the eligibility panel. The decision of the national appeals panel will be final.

Carry over of approval 

If you are approved for special circumstances, but are not made an offer in the region(s) you are restricted to, you can carry over your approval to later recruitment rounds within the same recruitment year (i.e. approvals from Round 1 or 2 can be carried over to Round 3).   

The special circumstances application form for the relevant criterion will need to be completed, but there is no need to submit further supporting evidence, providing that personal circumstances have not changed since the application was originally approved.

Approvals cannot carry over between recruitment years, even if the duration since approval is less than 12 months. 

If your circumstances change following approval

If the circumstances on which your approval was granted change at any point during the recruitment process, or if you wish to withdraw from the special circumstances process, please email [email protected] at the earliest opportunity.