GMC sponsorship scheme - Frequently asked questions

Information for applicants 

This page contains information for potential applicants as well as doctors who are in the process of applying for the GMC sponsorship scheme.

GMC sponsorship scheme – FAQs

The RCP can sponsor candidates in physician specialties, which are listed on the Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) website. We currently sponsor the following specialties:

  • ACCS
  • Acute Internal Medicine
  • Allergy
  • Audio vestibular Medicine
  • Aviation and Space Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Genetics
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
  • Dermatology
  • Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus
  • Gastroenterology
  • General Internal Medicine
  • Genitourinary Medicine
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Haematology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Medical Oncology
  • Medical Ophthalmology
  • Neurology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Paediatric Cardiology
  • Palliative Medicine
  • Pharmaceutical Medicine
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Renal Medicine
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Sport and Exercise Medicine
  • Stroke Medicine.

Please check our eligibility page to see the full eligibility criteria for candidates, and for suitable posts.

Before you can commence the application process, you need to check that you meet the candidate eligibility criteria [LINK]. Secondly, you must secure a suitable post at an NHS hospital. If you have not done so yet, please check for suitable vacancies on the NHS Jobs website, HSC Jobs in Northern Ireland, Lancet website, BMJ website, and others.

For detailed information about the application process, please see our website.

The application process takes three to six months on average. As a requirement for GMC registration, doctors must keep in continuous practice for the last 12 months prior to GMC registration. With no gaps (except for contractual leaves less than five weeks in total within the last 12-month period). Please do not leave your current job until GMC registration is completed.

The RCP charges application fee to cover some of the administration costs involved in administering the GMC registration, as well as the work involved in supporting doctors throughout their training in the UK, including organising dedicated events and providing pastoral support.

 

The RCP application fee is £1020 which comprises of:

  • £300 initial fee. This is a non-refundable fee payable when the application is submitted
  • £720 application fee, payable when approved for sponsorship by the RCP.

Other fees associated with the process*:

  • General Medical Council (GMC) – £455 registration fee 
  • Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates fee for verification of qualifications (variable amount)
  • IELTS or OET
  • Visa costs

*Fees correct as of September 2024

All doctors practicing in the UK need to be registered with the general medical council (GMC). Doctors participating in the GMC sponsorship scheme are able to apply for registration through sponsorship route, as the RCP is an approved GMC sponsor.


Please see the GMC website for advice on selecting the most suitable route to registration and additional information. 

 

Candidates must sit either the IELTS or the OET English test and present a certificate dated within the last two years. The certificates must be valid when the GMC application is submitted, so you may be asked to re-sit the test if the expiry date is approaching.

Passing requirements:

  • IELTS (Academic) - Candidates must have an average score of 7.5 overall and a minimum of 7.0 in each section, in one sitting
  • OET (Medicine) - Candidates must have a minimum B in each section, in one sitting.

Please see our eligibility page for detailed information

Doctors who have failed (and not subsequently passed) either part 1 or part 2 of the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test are not generally considered as suitable candidates for GMC registration via sponsorship route. You will have to retake the test and pass it before you can apply for GMC registration. Until that point, you will not be eligible for the RCP scheme.

Related information

GMC sponsorship scheme - Overview and resources

GMC sponsorship scheme - Eligibility requirements

GMC sponsorship scheme - Application process

Begin your application

In order to start your application for GMC sponsorship scheme, it is essential that you have already secured a suitable post with a UK Trust or hospital.

Once your post is confirmed, you can proceed with your application through our online portal. Before you begin, please ensure you have reviewed the following resources:

These resources are designed to help you navigate the application process smoothly and efficiently.

To begin your application, please click the button below:

Start your application

Contact us

If you have any query relating to the GMC sponsorship scheme, please get in touch.

The MTI team is available to respond to telephone queries on +44 (0)20 3075 1631. If you are unable to speak to us please leave a voicemail.

The MTI team can also be reached via email: mti@rcp.ac.uk

 

Get in touch

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