Study leave funding moved away from a national individual annual allocation of study leave funding in 2018/19, to implement a system that incorporates equity of access for all trainees, in accordance with ‘Enhancing Junior Doctors Working Lives’.
GP Study Leave still follows the principles of the East of England Study Leave Policy, which can be viewed here. However due to NHSE processing the forms, GP Trainees follow a slightly different process.
Please see the blue drop-down boxes below for information and guidance.
The attached document outlines GP Study Leave guidance for GP Trainees, Educational Supervisors and Training Programme Directors.
If you need any more guidance please contact england.studyleave.eoe@nhs.net
The Study Leave Application & Claim Form can be downloaded from the bottom of the page.
The form cannot be opened or completed in a web browser. Please ensure you download and save the document locally on your PC/laptop, then open it as a PDF with Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader before completing.
- Right click mouse and click on ‘Save link as’ and then save on desktop or in local folder
- Go to desktop and click ‘Open with’ – adobe reader.
If you're unable to open the form, please watch the step by step video guidance.
Please be aware that unless you provide ALL of the following information for your study leave application, we will not be able to process your payment:
- An electronic study leave application form - part 1 and 2 completed
- Proof of payment
- Proof of attendance or certificate
Please allow 3 months for your payment to be reimbursed within your monthly salary.
How to complete your electronic signature
Please refer to the video below for guidance on how to complete your digital signature
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader Free - Click Here
A Process Flowchart outlining the steps that a GP Trainee needs to take to apply and claim for Study Leave can be found here.
Curriculum requirements for GP trainees can be found here.
All courses not listed here fall under the 'aspirational' category, including exam preparation courses
The GP School runs a number of regional teaching days to support trainees. These courses are run and funded centrally via the Regional Teaching Fund and will not incur an attendance cost. Please click here for further information.
How much study leave funding am I entitled to?
There is no longer a nominal ‘allocation’ of funding per training year. However, the study leave budget is finite and by NHSE EoE funding regional courses we aim to provide high quality and breadth of teaching using this budget to maximum benefit for all trainees. Therefore, it is important that you check for regionally funded courses before booking any commercial course.
Individual GP Study Leave requests are now split into three areas:
- Curriculum Requirements (Under £600 per activity) – Requires ES Sign off
- Curriculum Requirements (Over £600 per activity) – Requires TPD Sign off
- Aspirational Activities (To include Exam Preparation Courses) – Requires TPD Sign off & to be added as PDP objective on e-portfolio.
A list of approved curriculum requirements can be found here.
Please ensure you obtain TPD/ES approval on our digital study leave form prior to committing to any course/resource. This can be helped considerably by providing a good description in the narrative box as to how this course will help you in your GP training.
How many study leave days am I entitled to?
As a GP trainee you have an annual study leave entitlement of 30 days of which 15 days are allocated to the half-day release programme. Part-time trainees are entitled to study leave on a pro-rata basis.
You must ensure you confirm the time off required for study leave with the Clinical Supervisor/Rota Coordinator/Practice Manager in accordance with local processes (minimum of 6 weeks in advance).
How and when will I be reimbursed?
Trainees will receive reimbursement through their payroll, via the Lead Employer.
You will receive reimbursement as soon as possible, but please allow 3 months for your payment to be reimbursed within your monthly salary.
Is there a deadline for claiming?
Claims must be submitted within one month of the course/event date. Any claims received outside of this time frame will not be processed or paid.
I am attending a free course and will need to claim for travel only. Who needs to sign off my study leave form?
If the course is a regional activity which is run and funded centrally via the Regional Teaching fund, then the study leave funding form will require ES sign off.
If the course is an aspirational activity, then the study leave funding form will require TPD sign off, prior to committing.
How many GP Update courses am I entitled to reimbursement for?
Trainees are entitled to reimbursement for a maximum of 1 GP Update course, throughout their training.
Additional GP Update courses may be attended in exceptional circumstances only and this needs to be discussed with your TPD.
How many AKT and RCA Preparation courses am I entitled to reimbursement for?
Please book onto our regionally funded courses in the first instance. We aim to provide our trainees with inhouse courses, however, we appreciate there is a large demand and therefore, other courses may be approved where it was not possible to attend those already funded by NHSE EoE. We are aware of more expensive commercial packages that are available, in general these will not be reimbursed via the study leave budget apart from in exceptional circumstances.
Trainees are entitled to reimbursement for a maximum of 1 AKT preparation course/resource claim and 1 CSA/RCA preparation course/resource claim throughout the course of their training (this includes travel and subsistence).This includes attendance at regional exam preparation courses too although it does not include participation in SOX programmes.
Audiobooks and Podcasts are not usually eligible for reimbursement, however, taking into account individual preference, these packages may be approved provided they are supplied by a recognised examination preparation provider. These would count as being equivalent to the one AKT preparation that trainees are able to claim reimbursement for.
Additional exam preparation courses may be funded in exceptional circumstances only and this needs to be discussed with your TPD. Please provide an explanation about your additional need in the narrative box.
How much private study leave can I take prior to an exam whilst in a GP/Community placement?
NHSE does not encourage the taking of private study leave for any reason during a GP/Community placement. This includes exam preparation, as the best preparation for AKT and RCA is consulting with patients and reflecting on casework. Additionally, whilst in a GP placement, self-directed study time should be used for private study.
Individual host employers should consider 1-2 days of exam leave to allow the trainee to take the exam.
How much private study leave can I take prior to an exam whilst in a hospital placement?
Please see the answer above. However, whilst NHSE does not generally encourage the taking of private study leave for exam preparation, we recognise that during a hospital post, trainees do not have specific self-directed study time each week in their contract of employment. So, in recognition of that, GP trainees could potentially request a total of 5 days during the total period of time in non-GP/community placements for either private study leave or online courses (please see FAQ below) prior to an exam. We would expect this private study leave to be taken in the month immediately prior to the exam. We recognise that hospital placements will need to consider the ability to deliver a safe service when assessing these study leave requests
Individual host employers should consider 1-2 days of exam leave to allow the trainee to take the exam
How much online study time can I take prior to my exam?
For online courses, up to 5 days of study leave during your time in non-GP placements can be requested for this. This 5 days is a total combined with private study leave, please see above FAQ. In GP/Community posts, self-directed study time should be used for this activity.
Can I claim for exams or letters of competency?
Reimbursement of exams and letters of competency are excluded expenses from the study leave budget.
Can I claim for ALS?
Please note that until August 2021, the possession ALS certificate was an entry requirement to all ST1 training. However, the possession of an ALS certificate is not a curricular requirement of GP training, nor a mandatory element of MRCGP, and its on-going validity is not monitored by the School.
Therefore a trainee’s ALS certificate could expire during their GP Training Programme. If a trainee rotates through a department that requires them to possess such a certificate (or any other non-curricular qualification) in order to work in the department, it is the Host Trust's responsibility to ensure that the trainee has a currently valid certificate, and if necessary provide them with access to the relevant course and fund it.
It is the trainee’s responsibility to contact the Host organisation ahead of their placement and follow any necessary processes to approve and attend ALS courses.
In no circumstances will ALS courses be funded through NHSE’s study claim process.
Can I claim for an Academic Course such as a Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters?
Study leave applications to fund a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma during General Practice training can be accepted only in very exceptional circumstances.
General practice training is for a relatively short period of time with a lot to fit into that time. For that reason, we feel that you should be concentrating your time and energy on meeting the requirements to qualify as a GP.
If you have a passion for a particular area, we would encourage you to consider applying for one of our Fellowship schemes. Depending on the funding we are allocated, bursaries are sometimes available for Certificates in Postgraduate Medical Education, which we’d encourage applications for. Please see our fellowship posts here.
Can I claim for additional qualifications/specialist certificates?
Study leave applications ought primarily be aimed at working towards a certificate of completion of training in general practice and not at courses to develop extended roles at GPwER level post-CCT.
Additional qualifications/certificate courses are unlikely to represent the most cost-effective way of gaining the relevant knowledge in the GP curriculum and will not normally be funded.
For all aspirational funding applications TPDs are encouraged to consider if the proposed activity represents good value in terms of time, cost and geography.
Can I claim for the DCSRH fees?
Following the usual study leave funding application, approval and claiming process you can claim the following fees:
- £331 application fee
- Up to £250 towards the Summative Clinical Assessment and Independent Learning Portfolio Sessions and Assessment
The Diplomate membership fee is not eligible for funding.
Can I claim for a Conference?
Study leave applications to fund attendance at a national conference will not be considered, unless trainees are presenting a paper or poster.
All 3 RCGP Faculties in our region are offering several bursaries for GP trainees to fund attendance at the national RCGP conference.
Study Leave applications to fund a regional RCGP conference will be considered providing the agenda for the regional conference has been approved by NHSE. If this is the case, the conference will be funded via the Regional Teaching fund, and will not incur an attendance cost to the trainee.
Can I claim for study leave funding if traveling overseas?
Trainees may apply for overseas activities and these are classed as aspirational, eligibility criteria can be found in the study leave policy.
The approval of such activities will be made by the Postgraduate Dean or his/her designated deputy and must be submitted using the 'additional aspirational application form' and selecting 'Overseas Activity' for the type of activity or course field. This must be submitted to england.studyleave.eoe@nhs.net a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the date of attendance.
If the application is approved, NHSE will consider funding either the cost of the course/conference fees or the cost of economy travel and accommodation whichever is the lower amount.
For more information on the overseas policy, please click here.
In line with Point 8 of the 10 Point Plan to improve resident doctors’ working lives, all study leave activities are now in scope for early reimbursement (ER) payments, as long as the necessary approvals have been obtained in advance and valid receipts can be provided at the point of claiming.
What expenses are applicable for early reimbursement?
Course/conference fee, accommodation and public transport (e.g. a train that has already been booked) with receipts.Receipts/proof of purchase must be provided for all expenses within an ER claim.
What expenses are not applicable for early reimbursement?
Mileage and subsistence (as these can only be incurred in ‘real time’) or any of the above expenses for which a receipt/proof of purchase is not provided.
Does another claim need to be submitted after the event if I am also claiming mileage or subsistence?
Yes, mileage and subsistence need to be claimed after the activity is completed, along with any other expenses for which a receipt could not be provided prior to the activity. Please ensure that you refer to any local guidance provided by your Trust/Employers specific reimbursement process.
What if the event is cancelled or I do not attend?
If you have been reimbursed early and did not attend the event or it has been cancelled, you must inform your Trust/Employer, and the money will be recouped (where appropriate to the circumstances). Failure to do this will be reported to the Head of School and GMC as a probity concern.
When should I submit my certificate of attendance?
Proof of attendance will no longer be required; all resident doctors are required to inform their local contacts if they did not attend an event. Any applicants found to be claiming for non-attendance will be required to return any funds claimed and will be reported to their Head of School and GMC as a probity concern.
