The words to use
- Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA)
- The national assessment every UK medical student must pass as part of their degree, from 2024-25: an applied knowledge test plus a clinical and professional skills assessment.
- Foundation Programme
- Two paid years after graduation, F1 and F2, rotating through different specialties. Completing it earns the certificate you need to enter specialty training.
- Run-through and core training
- Run-through: one national selection, then the whole programme. Core: two or three years of broader training, then a second competition for higher specialty training.
- Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026
- The law, in force since March 2026, that puts UK graduates and a few other groups first for foundation and specialty training places.
