About the Foundation Programme

The Foundation Programme was introduced by Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) - a project board of the four UK Health Departments - and went live in August 2005.

The Foundation Programme is a two-year training programme for doctors after leaving medical school. It is designed to give trainees a range of general experience before choosing an area of medicine in which to specialise.

The first year of the foundation programme (F1) was previously known as the pre-registration house officer or PRHO year.

Roles and responsibilities

The GMC sets outcomes in The New Doctor (pdf) that must be demonstrated by F1 doctors before they are eligible to apply for full registration.

The curriculum

A curriculum for the Foundation Programme has been developed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

View the curriculum (Foundation Programme Office website) (opens in a new window)

The GMC has approved the Foundation Curriculum as meeting its standards for training for the first year of the Foundation Programme. 

Those entering the Foundation Programme will be expected by their postgraduate deanery to follow this curriculum.