Academic Clinical Fellowships are specialty training posts that incorporate academic training. NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs) spend 75% of their time undertaking specialist clinical training and 25% undertaking research or educationalist training.
ACFs are aimed at those who, at the early stages of their specialty training, show outstanding potential for a career in academic medicine or dentistry. The duration of an ACF is for a maximum of 3 years (4 years for GPs). During this time, alongside clinical training, ACFs will be able to develop their academic skills and be supported in preparing an application for a Research Training Fellowship (to undertake a higher research degree) or an application for a place on an educational programme (leading to a higher degree). Success in these applications is defined as the end point of an ACF.
The scheme is open to F2 trainees and Core Trainees who are eligible to apply for a National Training Number (NTN).
Training Programme
The research training programme for Academic Clinical Fellows at the University of East Anglia was commended by NIHR.
Our research training programme is delivered by combination of modular taught programmes (20 M level credits per module) and appropriate courses (e.g. GCP course). The assessment follows the requirement of individual modules set out in the training curriculum for ACFs who are allocated to the Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia. There is a dedicated programme co-ordinator who oversees trainee progress and training requirements.
Any identified gaps in training needs will be dealt individually, thereby providing you with a flexible but structured academic training programme which meets the standard set out by NIHR.
If, in agreement with your supervisors, other training is considered more appropriate, you can arrange for attendance on modules and training events hosted by other organisations. A bursary of up to £4500 in total over the 3 year period is available to support training costs at UEA or other locations.
Travel and Subsistence
A bursary of up to £1000 per year is available for approved expenditure which is expected to include travel, conferences or similar to support each Fellow. Please note that this does not normally include costs associated with any Fellow's modular training. Surplus bursary funds will remain with recipient organisation for use on activities that benefit the academic development or training of the Academic Clinical Fellow and Clinical Lecturer cohort.
Vacancies
The NHS Health Education England hosts the details of any current posts being recruited into, with details of any current Academic Clinical Fellowships being held on their relevant recruiting page.