Study Leave Guidance

01 August 2025

 

Individual study leave funding is available to support the achievement of competences as defined by the specialty curricula. Resident Doctors should ensure that curriculum requirements are relevant to their specialty and stage of training to claim for time and funding. Enhanced knowledge or career development activities should be registered on their PDP (personal development plan) in order to claim time and funding as appropriate and should be discussed with and approved by their Educational Supervisor (ES). There is also career progression support which should also be included on their PDP to claim time and funding as appropriate.

The Study Leave Guidance and Course List (updated August 2025) provides the relevant information for Resident Doctors when claiming study leave. There is also a school’s Annual Development Plan which references regional training courses planned for the next academic year; the reference number should be used when/ if requesting time and claiming any reimbursement for attending these courses. 

Resident Doctors should apply for study leave time and reimbursements through their employing Trust and work to the Trust policy for claims.

Exceptions until further notice are
 the following specialties. Please check with your postgraduate medical education office and discuss with the medical education manager.


The principles, application process and funding allowance within this guidance takes precedence over any categorisation of any named course on the course list.

Any queries Resident Doctors have regarding Study Leave should be directed to the Postgraduate Medical Education Team at their Trust

 

Overview of Guidance

Roles and Responsibilities

Exceptions

  • Introduction
  • Public Sector Equality Duty
  • Acronyms
  • Principles of Study Leave
  • General Study Leave Information
  • Time for Study Leave
  • Resident Doctor
  • Educational Supervisor
  • Head of School and Training Programme Director (HoS & TPD)
  • The Trust's Postgraduate Medical Education Team
  • NHS England South West (NHSE SW)
  • Resident Doctors Out of Programme
  • Academic Clinical Fellows & Lecturers (ACF & ACL)
  • Foundation Resident Doctors
  • Primary Care Postgraduate Resident Doctors

Course Information

Funding

Expenses

  • Course List
  • Exam Preparation and Revision courses (including Question Banks)
  • PACES Courses Attendance
  • Leadership and Management Courses
  • Peer Mentoring and Mentoring Courses
  • Life Support Courses
  • Postgraduate and Higher Courses
  • Step-up Courses
  • Train the Trainer Courses and Teaching Courses
  • Application Process
  • Funding Arrangements
  • Funding for External Courses
  • Approvals Required
  • Overview of Expenses
  • Reminder of Expectations
  • Accommodation
  • Travel
  • Subsistence
  • Excluded Expenses

Regional Teaching

Overseas Guidance

Appeals

  • Annual Development Plans (ADP)
  • Face to Face Teaching and Training
  • Funding Requests
  • Resident Doctor Organised Training
  • Overseas Study Leave Application Form
  • Overview of Overseas Study Leave
  • Principles for Overseas Study Leave
  • Overseas Study Leave Application and Approval Process
  • Conditions on when to submit an appeal
  • Appeals Process
  • Decision Outcome