Academic Recruitment

Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs)

The duration of an ACF will be for a maximum of 3 years or 4 years in General Practice. During this time the trainee combines clinical specialty or core training with academic training which is geared to competing for a training fellowship.

When trainees successfully obtain a fellowship, they normally spend 3 years outside of their clinical programme in Out of Programme Research (OOPR) working towards the completion of an MD or PhD (or equivalent).

On completion of a training fellowship, they will return to the clinical programme and at an appropriate point may competitively apply for a Clinical Lectureship provided that appropriate academic and clinical competences have been obtained or continue in clinical training.

Further sources of information:

• National Institute of Health Research
• 2027 NIHR FAQs

Please note - ACF Shortlisting: 

• As for 2026 Academic recruitment, there is a minimum shortlisting score required for all applicants in relation to the questions for ‘Academic Experience’ and ‘Academic Potential'.
• If applying under the Disability Confident Scheme, please be aware that there is also a minimum score that must be achieved in order to be considered for an invite to interview.
• A higher capacity cutoff will also be set for non DCS applicants.

Please refer to NIHR guidance for further details

Please note - Update to Medical ACF recruitment 2027:

Applicants should be at an appropriate level of training to be able to progress into the ACF at the advertised starting grade. It is not possible for individuals to repeat a year of training in order to take up an ACF post.

Medical ACF Recruitment Timeline

Round 1

Round 1 Re-advert (please note that individual vacancies may have slightly different opening and closing dates)

Dental ACF Recruitment Timeline

Round 1

**Please note that individual vacancies may not necessarily follow this exact timeline. Please ensure that you review the timetable in each vacancy page.

Opportunities in each area are listed below