The Medical Training Initiative scheme, also known at the MTI scheme, is designed to allow a small number of doctors to enter the UK from overseas so that they can benefit from training and development in the NHS before returning to their home countries.
- What is the MTI scheme?
- Who is eligible to apply for the MTI scheme?
- Prioritisation and allocation for MTI Applications
- Which medical Royal Colleges participate in the MTI scheme?
- GMC Sponsorship
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MTI scheme?
The Medical Training Initiative scheme, also known at the MTI scheme, is designed to allow a small number of doctors to enter the UK from overseas so that they can benefit from training and development in the NHS before returning to their home countries.
Doctors involved in the scheme are offered the opportunity to learn from experienced consultants within the UK national health system for a maximum of 24 months, and will receive core and/or specialty medical training to the same standards of UK national trainees. They’ll also have the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops and seminars, gain fellowship to their relevant medical college and in some instances, sit their Medical Royal College Part 2 examination.
Who is eligible to apply for the MTI scheme?
As per the academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the minimum criteria for acceptance onto the MTI scheme is:
- Appropriate postgraduate qualification
- Part 1 College Exam or equivalent (to UK version, check with your relevant Royal College)
- Three years minimum postgraduate experience (Four for Royal College Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
- Including 1-year internship, 1+ in specialty
- International English Language Test System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET)
- A score of at least 7.0 in each of the testing areas of the academic test (speaking, listening, reading and writing) as well as a score of no less than 7.5 overall in IELTS or a grade of B or above in each testing area in OET
- Have references from Supervising Consultants/Fellows of Royal College
- Live overseas at time of application
- Willing to go back to home country following training in the UK
Prioritisation and allocation for MTI applications
The primary purpose of the MTI scheme is to contribute to improving the quality of healthcare in developing countries. Although doctors from developed countries can apply, the main intention of the scheme is to provide doctors from developing countries with a period of training and development in the NHS before returning to their home countries. As such, priority will be given to applicants from developing healthcare systems.
The following priority will be given when allocating MTI placements:
- DfID priority countries
- L&LMI Countries who do not come under the DfID priority countries
Low Income Countries
Lower Middle Income Countries - All other applications
Within each category, applications will be processed by the Academy in order of receipt. To read more on the prioritisation and allocation mechanism for MTI applications, click here.
Which medical Royal Colleges participate in the MTI scheme?
You can find a list of the Royal Colleges who participate in the MTI scheme here.
GMC sponsorship
Before making your application, you need to identify and apply for a training post. You can find a suitable training post on NHS jobs or alternatively, most royal colleges will have a list of approved posts on their website.
Once you’ve found a suitable post and you’ve been offered the position, you can apply for the MTI scheme via the relevant Royal College.
If your MTI application is successful, you’ll be issued an offer letter and recommendation for visa sponsorship (tier 5). With this, you’ll be able to apply for GMC registration (bypassing the PLAB examinations).
Frequently asked questions
The General Medical Council (GMC) registers doctors to practise medicine in the UK. Their purpose is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine.
All doctors practicing and training in the UK must be registered with the UK General Medical Council (GMC) and this must be gained before an MTI application is submitted.
MTI participants are able to stay in the UK for up to 24 months. This period of 24 months cannot be broken up into different periods with gaps in-between.
Yes, MTI participants can leave the UK on an intermittent basis (i.e. for holiday or domestic reasons). Note that prolonged absences will be scrutinised by border officials and may result in the withdrawing of their Tier 5 visa.
In short, yes. Please read the family members section of the UK tier 5 visa page on the UK government website by clicking here.
Employers will need to meet UK employment standards including rights to equal treatment, for example pay levels.
MTI contracts are a local matter however, the salary that you receive should be in line with trainees who are working at a similar level in the UK. Some hospitals take prior international experience into account and some do not. This is at the discretion of the hospital.
Credit: Academy of Royal Colleges (https://www.aomrc.org.uk/)
