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The Roal Collee o Ophthalmoloists
DUAL SPONSORSHIP SCHEME
Dual Sponsorship Scheme Booklet
or International Medical Graduates
Ophthalmologists-in-Training
International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee February 2008
Fourth Edition (2008)
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INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................3
THE TRAINING OF IMG OPHTHALMOLOGISTS ..............................................4
ROUTES ONTO THE DUAL SPONSORSHIP SCHEME .....................................5
TRAINING POSTS ......................................................................................................7
THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATE/APPLICANT ..........................9
THE UK SPONSOR (PRIMARY OR SECONDARY).......................................... 10
THE OVERSEAS SPONSOR/CONSULTANT ..................................................... 12
THE OVERSEAS REFEREES .................................................................................. 13
THE DUAL SPONSORSHIP SCHEME APPLICATION PROCEDURE .......... 14
COMPLETION OF SPONSORED TRAINING.................................................... 18
APPEALS MECHANISM ........................................................................................ 18
USEFUL INFORMATION ....................................................................................... 19
GLOSSARY OF TERMS .......................................................................................... 20
APPENDIX I (FLOW CHARTS) ............................................................................. 21
CONTENTS
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The Royal College o Ophthalmologists may act as a sponsoring body or
international medical graduates (IMG) who wish to spend time undertaking
part o their training in ophthalmology in the United Kingdom. The Collegeestablished a Dual Sponsorship Scheme in April 1994 to enable international
medical graduates o exceptional ability to come to the UK or a period o
training. The International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee o the
College is responsible or administering the Dual Sponsorship Scheme on behal
o the Council o The Royal College o Ophthalmologists.
Aims o College Sponsorship
To sponsor trainees or registration with the General Medical Council (GMC)with restricted exemption rom the Proessional and Linguistic Assessment
Board Examination (PLAB)
To enable international ophthalmologists o high calibre to undertake a
xed period o targeted training in ophthalmology in College-approved
postgraduate training posts in the UK, beore returning to work in their
own countries
To ensure that good quality training is provided or these international
medical graduates
To oster links between postgraduate institutions in the UK and abroad
Basis o the Dual Sponsorship Scheme
The International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee o the College
can recommend to the General Medical Council that it grant international
medical graduates registration to cover their period o training in the UK. The
College sponsorship is or a specic period o training in a specied training
post. This is arranged by a UK sponsor completing the Dual Sponsorship Scheme
application and submitting it to the International Medical Graduates Training
Sub-committee, which, i satised with the application, can then recommend to
the General Medical Council that the doctor be granted registration (see page14 or details o the application process). In order to maintain acceptable quality
assurance o the ability o the doctor, as well as to make certain that the system
is not misused, there are strict criteria that need to be maintained by the College
in accordance with its agreement with the General Medical Council.
Most training positions are oered as direct placements (reer to page 7).
The Royal College o Ophthalmologists does not have a list o UK sponsors or designated training poststo be oered through the Dual Sponsorship Scheme.
The Royal College o Ophthalmologists will not consider sponsorship unless an approved training post is
available to the trainee in accordance with the Scheme criteria.
INTRODUCTION
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Under the Dual Sponsorship Scheme, sponsored training is oered or a minimum
o six months up to a maximum o twelve months. This can be extended by a
urther year i a specic need is identied, but only in exceptional circumstances.
International medical graduates eligible or the Dual Sponsorship Scheme
IMGs who qualied outside o the European Economic Area (EEA) and who
do not benet rom the provisions relating to EEA nationality may qualiy.
The trainees primary medical qualication must be accepted by the GMC
or registration beore the International Medical Graduates Training Sub-
committee will consider his/her application to the Dual Sponsorship
Scheme
International medical graduates not eligible or the Dual Sponsorship Scheme
International medical graduates who have ailed the PLAB test
International medical graduates wishing to undertake additional training
that has been suggested ollowing evaluation o a PMETB Certicate
conrming Eligibility o Specialist Registration (CESR) application
International medical graduates who are EEA nationals and EEA qualied;
should not apply to the Dual Sponsorship Scheme but should contact the
GMC direct. International medical graduates who are either EEA nationals
or EEA qualied (but not both) should contact the College, which will take
advice rom the GMC
Trainees who obtained their primary medical qualication rom the ollowing
universities should contact the GMC direct as they may be eligible or GMC
registration without using the Dual Sponsorship Scheme
Please note that this list is subject to change and up to date inormation should be sought rom the GMC
in each case.
Medical Schools in
New Zealand
Australia
Hong Kong
Singapore
South Arica
West Indies
The University o Malaya (doctors who qualied beore 31st Dec 1989)
HE TRAININg O IMg
PHTHALMOLOgISTS
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Route A
IMGs are recommended to The Royal College o Ophthalmologists by aconsultant ophthalmologist in the UK (UK sponsor). The UK sponsor, must
be a ully registered medical practitioner whose name is on the Specialist
Register o the General Medical Council, a Fellow, Member or Aliate
Member o The Royal College o Ophthalmologists, and should hold an
honorary or substantive position as a consultant ophthalmologist in the UK
NHS. The UK sponsor must know the trainees overseas sponsor personally
(normally a senior consultant or academic ophthalmologist within the
trainees home department). The UK sponsor and the overseas sponsor must
have met; they must not know each other simply through correspondence.
The UK sponsor must conorm to the description on page 10.
Route B
This enables a UK sponsor to arrange a training post in another training
unit or the overseas applicant. The UK sponsor primar sponsor who is
known to the overseas sponsor can personally recommend the trainee to
another UK consultant secondar sponsor who is willing to oer a Royal
College o Ophthalmologists approved training post to the international
medical graduate, on the recommendations o the primary sponsor, and
then proceed with the sponsorship ormalities according to the regulations
o the Scheme. The primary UK sponsor and the overseas sponsor must have
met; they must not know each other simply through correspondence. Both
UK sponsors must conorm to the description on page 10.
Under this route the secondary sponsor takes on the roles and responsibilities
o the UK sponsor in organising the application documentation, organising
the training post and mentoring the trainee.
The primary sponsor can also arrange or a second placement o the trainee i
necessary ater the rst six months in the training unit o a second secondarysponsor known to him/her who is willing to oer a suitable training post.
The College expects the primary sponsor to be kept ully inormed o the
progress o the trainee by the secondary sponsor(s).
ROUTES ONTO THE
DUAL SPONSORSHIP
SCHEME
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Route C
The Director o postgraduate training o an overseas institution that is on the listo recognised institutions held by The Royal College o Ophthalmologists can
act as an overseas sponsor o a suitable IMG (please contact the College or an
updated list). Each application is assessed by the Chairman o the International
Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee. The IMG is then recommended to
The Royal College o Ophthalmologists by a UK consultant ophthalmologist in a
similar manner to route A.
Route D
IMGs who wish to undertake a period o clinical training ater nishing a UK
postgraduate qualication may be recommended to the College by the head o
the academic department o ophthalmology in which the academic course was
undertaken. Such candidates do not need to have an overseas sponsor.
An IMG can only utilise one o the above routes or sponsorship under the Dual Sponsorship Scheme.
Please reer to Appendix I or fow charts regarding the various routes oered through the Dual
Sponsorship Scheme.
ROUTES ONTO THE
DUAL SPONSORSHIP
SCHEME(CONTD)
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Training posts oered under the Scheme are usually substantive Fellowship
posts recognised by the Training Committee (see section below). Posts oered
under the Dual Sponsorship Scheme need not necessarily be made ollowinga competitive application process as direct placement is possible under the
scheme. Quality assurance can be ensured by the overseas sponsors and by
discussing the IMGs curriculum vitae with colleagues in the UK unit. LAS/ trust/
StR posts or similar are not accepted under the Scheme.
The post should be the rst ormal training post the IMG will undertake in
the UK and should be a training post with the educational approval rom the
Postgraduate Dean and the training approval o The Royal College o Ophthal-
mologists.
Fellowship posts
The Royal College o Ophthalmologists no longer has permanently approved
Fellowship posts, but i there is a specic need identied or subspecialty
training, then prior approval rom the Training Committee o The Royal College
o Ophthalmologists needs to be obtained by submitting a DSS application
which should include a:
Job description
Timetable matrix (template available rom the Education and Training
Department at the College)
Letter rom the Postgraduate Dean giving educational approval o the
Fellowship or the individual IMG or a completed application orm or the
Medical Training Initiative
Letter rom the College Tutor stating that the Fellowship will not detract
rom the training o other trainees in the unit
Educational approval o the Fellowship rom the Postgraduate Dean is an
essential pre-requisite beore the post is accepted by the Training Committee o
the College as it implies the post not only has the appropriate training content,but is also unded in keeping with UK employment regulations.
Posts that have been usually considered to be ASTO/TSC posts must rst have
been oered to UK trainees and can only be advertised or IMGs i there is no UK
trainee to take up the post. Assurances with regard to this will be sought rom
the Programme Director.
Award o the CCT
No training position undertaken in the UK through the Dual Sponsorship
Scheme may count towards the award o the CCT.
TRAININg POSTS
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Direct Placement
This is a well-established way o oering training posts to IMGs and has beenaccepted by the General Medical Council, Department o Health, the Deaneries,
and The Royal College o Ophthalmologists without having to select the
candidate in open competition. This has been accepted on the basis that good
quality assurance is maintained during the selection process. The personal
acquaintance o the overseas sponsor and the UK sponsor underpins this
assurance. In addition to which, the curriculum vitae o the trainee should be
discussed with other trainers in the unit, the College Tutor and the Programme
Director o the region to ensure that the applicant has a good working
knowledge o the speciality and is able to hold the position oered.
Fellowship posts can also be oered as direct placements. I the training unit
eels that an assessment o the candidate is necessary beore oering the post,
it should be carried out well beore the application is initiated and should be by
mutual arrangement with the prospective candidate and the trainers oering
the post.
TRAININg POSTS
(CONTD)
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All applicants must:
Still be overseas when the application to the Scheme is initiated unless theapplicant is undertaking a period o clinical attachment in the UK or the
IMG is applying via route D
Hold a primary medical qualication, which is acceptable to the GMC or
registration
Be at least three years post qualication as a doctor, have undertaken a
minimum o two years acceptable postgraduate training in ophthalmology
and be capable o working at the level o a ST3 ophthalmologist on arrival
in the UK
Show evidence o exceptional clinical ability via a CV countersigned by the
overseas sponsor Have proo o immunity to Hepatitis B inection
A pre-requisite o the Dual Sponsorship Scheme is that the doctor must
take the IELTS English examination (academic component). The doctor
should demonstrate his or her ability to read, write, speak and understand
English by passing with a minimum o 7.0 in each section. No exception
will be granted. This test can be taken under the auspices o the British
Council in any one o the one hundred and eighty centres available in
one hundred and ten countries. Please see page 19 or the website o the
British Council
Please note the ollowing:
No other Enlish lanuae eamination will be accepted.
The International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee cannot accept
verication rom any third party about the doctors standard o English in the
event that he/she ails to reach the required scores in the IELTS.
The International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee must be in
receipt o the original IELTS examination result sheet beore it can consider theapplication.
The GMC require that the IELTS examination must have been taken no more than
two years beore registration is due to commence.
The overseas reerees and sponsor must be ophthalmologists who have
supervised the applicant within a our-year period o the application.
There is no College list o approved sponsors held by The Royal College o Ophthalmologists or the Dual
Sponsorship Scheme. It is the responsibility o the applicant (where applicable) to identiy overseas and
UK sponsors who are known to each other at a personal level.
THE INTERNATIONAL
MEDICAL gRADUATE/
APPLICANT
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The UK sponsor(s), must be all o the ollowing:
a ully registered medical practitioner whose name is on the SpecialistRegister o the General Medical Council
a Fellow, Member or Aliate Member o The Royal College o
Ophthalmologists
a consultant ophthalmologist in a substantive NHS post in the UK (includes
honorary posts)
The UK sponsor must also:
Be able to oer the IMG a College-approved training post in his/her hospitalor a minimum period o six months
Assemble the application and submit all the requested documents to the
College within six months o the initial application and in good time to
permit processing o the application beore the start o the training post
(the completed application must be received by the College not less than
one month beore the requested registration date to allow or processing
by the International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee and the
General Medical Council in good time)
Ensure that the proposed start date o the post is within six months o the
initial enquiry slip being received by the College (this is the start o the
application process)
I using Route A, know the overseas sponsor personally and have condence
in the sponsors assessment o the international medical graduate
I using Route B, the primary sponsor must know the overseas sponsor
personally and be willing to accept the reerral o the trainee and arrange
a placement with a secondary UK sponsor. The secondary sponsor should
be willing to accept the recommendations o the primary sponsor and then
complete the application to the Dual Sponsorship Scheme as stipulated in
the application pack
I using Route C, the UK sponsor must have condence in the overseas
sponsors assessment o the trainee so that there is adequate qualityassurance in order to oer the post as a direct placement
Ensure that the relevant Postgraduate Dean has approved the placement
by completion o the MTI orm beore submission o an application to the
Dual Sponsorship Scheme as it conrms the educational value and unding
o the post by completion o the MTI orm
Provide the Chairman o the International Medical Graduates Training Sub-
committee o the College with a report o the sponsored doctors ability
and progress ater six months in the post, or beore i any concerns are
identied
THE UK SPONSOR
(PRIMARy OR
SECONDARy)
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Be willing to act as a mentor to the sponsored doctor throughout the
doctors sponsored period
Ensure the applicant undergoes suitable appraisal during the sponsoredpost and that a copy is provided to the College
Please note again the ollowing:
For Routes A and B the UK sponsor and the overseas sponsor must have met. They must not know eachother simply through correspondence.
A relative o the applicant cannot act as UK sponsor.
THE UK SPONSOR
(PRIMARy OR
SECONDARy)(CONTD)
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The overseas sponsor must be:
A distinguished ophthalmologist o consultant standing with whom the IMG hasworked or a period o not less than six months within the last our years, or be
the head o a Royal College o Ophthalmologists approved training unit where
the trainee has worked or at least six months within the last our years.
(An ophthalmologist working in the UK cannot thereore act as an overseas
sponsor).
The overseas sponsor must:
Have personal knowledge o the candidates work, character and suitability
or training in the UK
Select candidates on merit and training potential. To qualiy or the Dual
Sponsorship Scheme the candidate must be o exceptional ability and be
deemed to be capable o working at least at the level o a third year trainee
(ST3/junior Registrar level) on arrival in the UK. He/she should ratiy the
IMGs CV prior to submission
Know the UK (primary i applicable) sponsor personally
Conrm that the doctor intends to return to their home country ater
completion o his/her period o training in the UK and assist the trainee in
obtaining a suitable post on his/her return
Have completed the orm ODT03 as supplied by the College
Ensure that the overseas reerees are appropriately selected by the IMG.
I utilising route C, the overseas sponsor must ensure that his/her unit is
recognised by The Royal College o Ophthalmologists to be appropriate or
such a route o entry into the DSS
Please note the ollowing:
A relative o the applicant cannot act as an overseas sponsor.
THE OvERSEAS
ONSOR/CONSULTANT
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The overseas reerees must be ophthalmologists with consultant status who have
supervised the ophthalmic training o the applicant within a our-year period o
the application.
Reerence Forms
Please note that the International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee
require to see three completed Reerence Forms concerning the international
medical graduate (ODT03 completed by the overseas sponsor, ODT04 completed
by overseas reeree one and ODT05 completed by overseas reeree two). The
Education and Training Department o the College will send the Reerence Forms
to the overseas sponsor and the two other reerees respectively. These shouldbe completed and returned to the Education and Training Department as soon
as possible.
The International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee cannot consider
the entire application until all three reerence orms have been returned.
Please note:
A relative o the applicant cannot act as an overseas reeree.
An overseas reeree cannot act as an overseas sponsor. The Committee requires two reerees in addition
to the overseas sponsor.
An overseas reeree must have recent (within the last our years) personal knowledge o the candidates
work, character and suitability or training in the UK. Each overseas reeree should have personally
supervised the candidates work within that period.
Please ensure that the ull hospital address o the reerees is completed in the initial enquir y slip to avoid
delays in the application process.
THE OvERSEAS
REEREES
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AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR THE APPLICATION
PROCESS TO BE COMPLETED.
The IMG is making two applications, one to The Royal College o Oph-
thalmologists see section A below and one to the GMC see section B on
pae 17. The requirements or both the College and the GMC must be met
and acceptance o inormation rom the College does not guarantee GMC
acceptance (and vice versa). College Sponsorship should be obtained beore the
IMG applies to the GMC to avoid conusion and possible delays.
The Royal College o Ophthalmologists
The IMG is requesting conrmation rom the College to the GMC that he/she
has the necessary medical knowledge, skills and experience to be granted
ull registration with the GMC. In this application the IMG must prove to the
College that his/her clinical knowledge, skills and experience are suitable or
GMC registration and that the post he/she wishes to undertake in the UK is an
appropriate training post.
The Collee application process and requirements
Ater having read this booklet the IMG should complete and return the initial
enquiry reply slip to:
The Education and Training Department
The Royal College o Ophthalmologists
17 Cornwall Terrace
London
NW1 4QW
UK
When this has been received by the Education and Training Department, the UK
sponsor and the IMG will be sent an application pack.
I the International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee approves the
application to the Dual Sponsorship Scheme any documents held by the College
that are also required by the GMC will be sent to the General Medical Council by
the College.
THE DUAL
SPONSORSHIP
CHEME APPLICATIONPROCEDURE
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Section A
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A completed application to the College should contain the ollowing:
UK Sponsor Application Form (ODT01) International medical graduate Application Form (ODT02)
A College Employment Details Form (which must be lled in by the UK
employing authority)
An original academic IELTS results sheet with a score o 7.0 in each o the
our sections. Please note this is a higher level than the IELTS results required
by the GMC
An anonymised logbook o the doctors surgical procedures rom the last 2
years (desirable not essential)
A curriculum vitae o the applicant which must include in detail
inormation on: present appointment, previous postgraduate experiencein ophthalmology and related subjects, qualications, and ophthalmic
surgical/laser experience (i relevant or the proposed ellowship), research
interests, publications, meetings attended, and an outline o a uture
career plan with an undertaking to return to the country o origin at the
completion o the training period in the UK
College reerence orm rom Overseas Sponsor (ODT03)
College reerence orm rom Reeree 1 (ODT04)
College reerence orm rom Reeree 2 (ODT05)
Details o exchange o correspondence between sponsors relating to the
sponsorship o the trainee. Including a letter rom the overseas sponsor to
the UK sponsor(s) requesting that he/she will sponsor the applicant.
A detailed job description o the proposed College-approved training post
and a timetable
A cheque made payable to The Royal College o Ophthalmologists or
consideration o the application. The ee will be advised by The Royal
College o Ophthalmologists. (Up to date ees are advertised on the College
website www.rcophth.ac.uk)
A copy o medical degree certicates. Any documents not in English must
be accompanied by a notarised translation
A copy o the Certicate o Good Standing rom the GMC equivalent body
in current country o practice (see www.mc-uk.or MTI application and supporting letter rom the College Tutor in the UK
training unit in which the applicant will be based
Medical deree certifcates that are in the maiden name o emale
international medical raduates must be accompanied b a cop o the
marriae certifcate i the trainee has since married.
I an inormation or documentation is requested directl rom the general
Medical Council, the applicant should contact the Collee or adice
in the frst instance in case the Collee also requires the inormation/documentation.
THE DUAL
SPONSORSHIP
CHEME APPLICATIONPROCEDURE
(CONTD)
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When the College receives all the completed documentation, the application
is sent to three members o the International Medical Graduates Training Sub-
committee or independent consideration. When a decision has been reached,the UK sponsor will be notied together with the Postgraduate Dean, College
Tutor and the IMG applicant.
I the International Medical Graduates Training Sub-committee approves the
application to the Dual Sponsorship Scheme, all necessary documents will be sent
to the General Medical Council by the College including a completed Certicate
o Sponsorship. The GMC will then notiy the trainee who will be provided with a
certicate conrming his/her registration.
The Collee requests that the IMg sends a cop o the general MedicalCouncil certifcate o reistration to the Collee once the gMC has issued
the certifcate.
I the application is unsuccessul, there is an appeals process (see page 18).
Applicants should initiate their application with the College at least 4-6 months
in advance o the predicted start date o their training post. The College is not
able to guarantee registration will have been granted in time or specied start
dates as it cannot assess incomplete applications.
I an application is received that is incomplete or incorrectly completed, the
application process may take longer than the our months advised.
Applications received late are not given priority.
Applicants should contact their UK sponsor and not The Roal Collee o
Ophthalmoloists in the frst instance or inormation on the proress o
their application, as it is the responsibilit o the UK sponsor to submit the
application to the Collee in ood time.
THE DUAL
SPONSORSHIP
CHEME APPLICATIONPROCEDURE
(CONTD)
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THE DUAL
SPONSORSHIP
CHEME APPLICATIONPROCEDURE
(CONTD)
17 The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Dual Sponsorship Scheme Booklet. February 2008
UK
Sponsor
IMG
Applicant
College
1. UK Sponsor/Consultant Application Form (ODT01)
2. International medical graduate Application Form (ODT02)
3. Certicate o Selection or Employment
4. IELTS Results Sheet
5. Curriculum vitae o International medical graduate
6. Reerence - Overseas Sponsor (ODT03)
7. Reerence - Overseas Reeree (1) (ODT04)
8. Reerence - Overseas Reeree (2) (ODT05)
9. Exchange o Letters
10. Proposed Training Post and Timetable
11. A cheque or the College (Fee as advised)
12. Logbook
13. Original certicates o primary medical degree
14. Certicate o Good Standing
15. MTI application and letter rom College tutor UK sponsor
This table illustrates the documentation or which each person is responsible.
Section B The GMC
The IMG is applying or ull registration with the GMC as a graduate rom amedical school in a country outside the UK and EEA who have been selected or
sponsorship under an arrangement approved by the GMC.
An oer o College sponsorship provides the GMC with evidence o the doctors
medical knowledge, skills and experience. The GMC requires proo o sponsorship
(certicate o sponsorship) which the College will only issue once it has assessed
and approved a ull sponsorship application. The GMC also requires additional
documentary evidence that is requested or any IMG doctor applying or GMC
registration and supplying alternative evidence o their medical knowledge,
skills and experience.
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THE DUAL
SPONSORSHIP
CHEME APPLICATIONPROCEDURE
(CONTD)
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The gMC application process and requirements
The IMG should make an online application or ull registration via the GMCwebsite.
In order to guide you to the correct on-line application orm you will be asked a
series o questions. Answering these questions correctly should bring you to a
page with the ollowing title:
Registration as a doctor - graduates rom medical schools in countries outside
the UK and EEA who have been selected or sponsorship under an arrangement
approved by the GMC.
The GMC will then assess the inormation provided and email the applicant and
the College requesting any urther inormation it requires including photocopies
o the documents required to complete the application. The applicant will
then orward the documents to the College who will orward them with the
Certicate o Sponsorship, to the GMC. The GMC will then make an assessment
o these documents and i applicable, approve the application subject to the
doctor completing an ID check and bringing original documents to the London
or Manchester GMC oces. Registration will be granted once the original
documents have been validated against the photocopies held on le and the ID
has been completed.
Once the IMG has completed his/her training post, he/she should provide a
report concerning the training experience to the International Medical Graduates
Training Sub-committee.
IMGs whose application or sponsorship or renewal o sponsorship has been
unsuccessul have the right o appeal. In the rst instance the application
is reviewed by the Chairman o the Education Committee and, i the matter
cannot be resolved, a urther appeal can be made to the President o The
Royal College o Ophthalmologists.
COMPLETION O
PONSORED TRAININg
PPEALS MECHANISM
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All enquiries regarding ophthalmology training in the UK or overseas doctors
should be addressed to:
Education and Trainin Department
The Roal Collee o Ophthalmoloists
17 Cornwall Terrace
London
NW1 4QW
Tel: 00 44 0 20 7935 0702
a: 00 44 0 20 7935 9838
Email: [email protected]
Collee website address: www.rcophth.ac.uk
Enquiries about the examinations structure o the College should be addressedto:
The Eaminations Assistant at the aboe address.
Tel: 00 44 0 20 7935 0702
a: 00 44 0 20 7487 4674
Email: [email protected]
Enquiries to the overseas representative o the Ophthalmic Trainees Group
(OTG) o the College should be addressed to:
c/o The OTg Co-ordinator at the aboe address
Tel: 00 44 0 20 7935 0702
a: 00 44 0 207935 9838
Email: [email protected]
Other useul contacts:
The British Council
http://www.britishcouncil.org/
British Medical Association
http://www.bma.org.uk
Immiration and Nationalit Department
http://www.ind.homeoce.gov.uk/
general Medical Council
http://www.gmc-uk.org/
Work Permits
http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/
Postraduate Medical Education and Trainin Boardhttp://www.pmetb.org.uk/
SEUL INORMATION
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ARCP Annual Review o Competence Progression
ASTO Advanced Subspecialty Training Opportunities
BMJ British Medical JournalBST Basic Specialist Training
CCT Certicate o Completion o Training
CESR Certicate conrming Eligibility or Specialist Registration
DSS Dual Sponsorship Scheme
EEA European Economic Area
RCOphth Fellowship o The Royal College o Ophthalmologists
TSTA Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointment
gMC General Medical Council
gP General Practitioner
HES Hospital Eye ServiceHST Higher Specialist Training
IELTS International English Language Testing System
IMg International Medical Graduate
LAS Locum Appointment or Service
MCQ Multiple Choice Question
MMC Modernising Medical Careers
MRCOphth Membership o The Royal College o Ophthalmologists
MTI Medical Training Initiative
NHS National Health Service
OMP Ophthalmic Medical Practitioner
OST Ophthalmic Specialist Training
PLAB Proessional Linguistics Assessment Board Examination
PMETB Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
PRHO Pre-registration House Ocer
RCOphth The Royal College o Ophthalmologists
RITA Record o In-Training Assessment
SATQ Sel-Assessment o Training Quality
StR Specialty Registrar
ST Specialty Training e.g. ST3 means Specialty Training Year 3
STC Specialty Training Committee
TSC Trainee Selected Component
gLOSSARy O TERMS
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Below are fow charts briefy outlining the process o an application to the Dual
Sponsorship Scheme or each o the routes onto the Dual Sponsorship Scheme.
APPENDIx I
ROUTE AThe applicant nds an overseas consultant/sponsor who knows on a
personal basis a UK consultant/sponsor
The overseas sponsor recommends the applicant to the UK sponsor who
oers him/her a training post in his/her unit
The applicant (IMG) contacts the
Royal College o Ophthalmologists to
start the application process
The application is successul
The UK sponsor obtains permission
rom Postgraduate Dean to place the
applicant in the training post
The application is not successul
Please reer to the appeals mechanism on
page 18
The College sends out the application
packs and reerence orms
I the trainee is to undertake a Fellowship
post the UK sponsor must obtain the
permission o the College Tutor and
Programme Director. A timetable matrix and
job description as well as correspondence
conrming the above should be provided
The application paperwork is gathered at the College and once the complete application has
been received it is sent to the Chairman and members o the International Medical Graduates
Training Sub-committee or assessment
The College sends a certicate o
Sponsorship to the GMC. The applicant
completes the online GMC application
procedure
Please allow at least our months or the application process.
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ROUTE B The applicant nds an overseas consultant/sponsor who knowson a personal basis a UK consultant/sponsor
The overseas sponsor recommends the applicant to the UK sponsor primar UK sponsor
who recommends the applicant to a colleague secondar UK sponsor who oers the
applicant a training post in his/her unit. (Please note rom hereon in this chart
reerences to the UK sponsor mean secondary sponsor)
The applicant (IMG) contacts the College to
start the application process
The application is successul
The UK sponsor obtains permission rom
Postgraduate Dean to place the applicant in
the training post
The application is not successul
Please reer to the appeals mechanism on
page 18
The College sends out the application
packs and reerence orms
I the trainee is to undertake a Fellowship
post the UK sponsor must also obtain
the permission o the College Tutor and
Programme Director. A timetable matrix and
job description as well as correspondence
conrming the above should be sent to the
College
The application paperwork is gathered at the College and once the complete application has
been received it is sent to the Chairman and members o the International Medical Graduates
Training Sub-committee or assessment
The College sends a certicate o
Sponsorship to the GMC. The applicant
completes the online GMC application
procedure
Please allow at least our months or the application process.
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ROUTE CThe applicant (IMG) nds an overseas consultant/sponsor who is the Director o
Postgraduate training in the overseas training institution that he/she is training in. The
Director o postgraduate training writes to the UK consultant/sponsor recommending the
applicant as a trainee. The Director o postgraduate training is thereore
the overseas sponsor
The overseas sponsor applies to the
Chairman o the Training Committee at
the Royal College o Ophthalmologists to
act as the overseas sponsor (application
documents to be requested rom the
College)
The applicant (IMG) contacts the College to
start the application process
The UK sponsor oers the applicant a
training post in his/her unit
The application is successul
The UK sponsor obtains the permission
rom Postgraduate Dean to place the
applicant in the training post
The application is not successul
Please reer to the appeals mechanism on
page 18
The College sends out the application
packs and reerence orms
I the trainee is to undertake a Fellowship
post the UK sponsor must also obtain
the permission o the College Tutor and
Programme Director. A timetable matrix
and job description should be sent
to the College
The application paperwork is gathered at the College and once the complete application has
been received it is sent to the Chairman and members o the International Medical Graduates
Training Sub-committee or assessment
The College sends a certicate o
Sponsorship to the GMC. The applicant
completes the online GMC application
procedure
Please allow at least our months or the application process.
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ROUTE D The applicant requests that the Head o the University Department at which he/sheundertook a UK postgraduate qualication, act as his/her overseas sponsor. The Head o
Department recommend him/her to another UK consultant/sponsor whom the Head oDepartment knows on a personal basis
The Head o Department recommends the applicant to the UK sponsor who oers the
applicant a training post in his/her unit
The applicant contacts College to start the
application process
The application is successul
The UK sponsor obtains permission rom
Postgraduate Dean to place the applicant in
the training post
The application is not successul
Please reer to the appeals mechanism on
page 18
The College sends out the application
packs and reerence ormsI the trainee is to undertake a Fellowship
post the UK sponsor must also obtain
the permission o the College Tutor and
Programme Director. A timetable matrix and
job description as well as correspondence
conrming the above should be sent to the
College
The application paperwork is gathered at the College and once the complete application has
been received it is sent to the Chairman and members o the International Medical Graduates
Training Sub-committee or assessment
The College sends a certicate o
Sponsorship to the GMC. The applicant
completes the online GMC application
procedure
Please allow at least our months or the application process.
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