DSS Booklet Feb 08 Final

8/6/2019 DSS Booklet Feb 08 Final

1/24

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)


2/24

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

2 The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Dual Sponsorship Scheme Booklet. February 2008


3/24

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



4/24

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



5/24

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



6/24

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)



7/24

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



8/24

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)



9/24

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



10/24

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)



11/24

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)



12/24

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



13/24

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



14/24

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


Section A


15/24

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


(CONTD)



16/24

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


(CONTD)



17/24

THE DUAL

SPONSORSHIP


(CONTD)


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.


18/24

THE DUAL

SPONSORSHIP


(CONTD)


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


19/24

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


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


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



20/24

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



21/24

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.



22/24

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



The UK sponsor obtains permission rom

Postgraduate Dean to place the applicant in

the training post



page 18




post the UK sponsor must also obtain

the permission o the College Tutor and



conrming the above should be sent to the

College







procedure




23/24

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


The UK sponsor oers the applicant a

training post in his/her unit


The UK sponsor obtains the permission

rom Postgraduate Dean to place the

applicant in the training post



page 18






Programme Director. A timetable matrix

and job description should be sent

to the College







procedure




24/24

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 UK sponsor obtains permission rom

Postgraduate Dean to place the applicant in

the training post



page 18


packs and reerence ormsI the trainee is to undertake a Fellowship





conrming the above should be sent to the

College







procedure


Documents

DSS Booklet Feb 08 Final