Trainee information
The window for requesting Foundation Inter-Regional Transfers in Scotland due to an unforeseen significant change in personal circumstances opens on 10 April 2025 and closes on 30 April 2025. ****This window is now closed****
Once allocated to an individual group and programme there is NO other system of changing your region.
If you need to transfer to England, Wales or Northern Ireland please use the Inter-Foundation School Transfer process (IFST).
If you have any further queries regarding Foundation IRTs in Scotland please contact sfas@nes.scot.nhs.uk
The Foundation Inter-Regional Transfer (IRT) process has been developed to support applicants and current Foundation doctors where individual circumstances have changed since the point of initial application/ allocation to a 2-year foundation programme. IRTs outside these times will be considered in exceptional circumstances.
An application for an Inter-Region Transfer (IRT) is based on the premise that the applicant is no longer able to manage their training and their health or caring responsibilities in their allocated or current region and must be based on your current circumstances and not any future circumstances.
Please note an IRT:
Incoming F1
Current F1/F2
Relationships
Housing
Other
Foundation doctors/applicants may apply for an IRT under one of the following criteria and the significant change in personal circumstances should fall under one of the following:
Where an individual meets more than one criterion, the onus is on the Foundation doctor/applicant to decide which one they apply under, as this chosen criterion will be the one that the application is reviewed under, by the panel.
All applications must include supporting evidence specific to the criterion the applicant is applying under.
The applicant is a parent or legal guardian of a child or children under the age of 18 at the start of the training year who reside(s) primarily with them and for whom they have significant caring responsibilities, and their circumstances have significantly changed since submitting their original application or commencing their foundation training.
The applicant is required to supply the following mandatory supporting evidence for Criterion 1 - Parent or Legal Guardian
The applicant is the primary carer for someone who is disabled (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) and their circumstances have changed since submitting their original Foundation Programme application or commencing their foundation training.
Definition of 'disability' under the Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment, and that the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
For the purposes of the Act:
People who have had a disability in the past that meets this definition are also covered by the scope of the Act. There are additional provisions relating to people with progressive conditions. People with HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis are protected by the Act from the point of diagnosis. People with visual impairments are automatically deemed to be disabled. Some conditions, such as a tendency to set fires or addictions to non-prescribed substances, are specifically excluded.
You are required to supply the following mandatory supporting evidence for Criterion 2 – Primary Carer:
The signatory must:
The applicant has a medical condition (physical or mental health) or disability for which ongoing follow up for the condition in the specified location is an absolute requirement.
You must describe how your circumstances have changed since submitting your original application or commencing your foundation training. You must describe why you need to move to a different region. You must present clear arguments as to why follow up arrangements and treatment cannot continue as it presently does.
You are required to supply the following mandatory supporting evidence for Criterion 3 – Health Condition or Disability:
The signatory must:
How to Apply
If after reading all the information provided you consider that you meet one of the criteria and want to proceed with your application.
Application Forms
Criterion 1 Parent or Legal Guardian Incoming F1 - Application Form
Criterion 1 Parent or Legal Guardian Current F1/F2 - Application Form
Criterion 2 Primary Carer Incoming F1 - Application Form
Criterion 2 Primary Carer Current F1/F2 - Application Form
Criterion 3 Health Condition or Disability Incoming F1 - Application Form
Criterion 3 Health Condition or Disability - Current F1/F2 - Application Form
Points to note
The IRT application process is administered by the Scottish Foundation School Team not the Regional Teams/ NHS Scotland Board HR Teams.
If your application is approved and a suitable vacancy is available within your desired region:
If your application is approved, but a suitable vacancy is not available within your desired region:
If your application is not approved:
Incoming F1
Existing F1/ F2
This page was last updated on: 28.08.2025 at 11.40