Prior to this recruitment cycle, the GP Sub Deanery has collaborated closely with both medical schools to fully understand the recruitment and allocation principles used in preceding years.
We continue to listen to GP teams across NI, having visited >125 of the 180 current teaching Practices. This reminds us that there is no perfect process for recruitment, and GP Practices have differing opinions on what is best.
Due to the significant oversupply of applications for both medical schools, we have followed the Recruitment Principles published on this website. The principles focus on the two themes most frequently suggested by Practices – Quality and Equity. We are mindful that undergraduate medical student placements provide revenue for practices. We also know that practices invest both in workforce and infrastructure to ensure students have excellent experience.
The changes in this recruitment cycle are part of the intended transition to a full GP Sub Deanery-led allocation of undergraduate medical student placements from 2027-28 (contingent on continued Department of Health funding). The aim of these changes is to ensure a consistent, clear, and transparent process for allocations. We will review our process at the end of this recruitment cycle, and welcome suggestions from practices as to how we can refine the process for future years.
To assist with ranking of applications, the GP Sub Deanery has created a points system. Each practice’s application has been scored against the criteria in the table at the end of this document. We also aligned with practice stated preferences where possible.
The allocation for each new practice is only one placement type in the next academic year and will be subject to a satisfactory onboarding visit by one of our GP Locality Leads.
UU had one vacancy to host Y1 which has been allocated to a practice new to UU. They also had a Y2 vacancy, but no new practices were within the required radius from campus, so this was allocated to a current UU teaching practice. QUB received a significant oversupply of applications to host Y4 and Y5 students. As a result, no GP practice has been allocated more than 4 student pairs across QUB Y4 and Y5 and no more than 3 pairs of Year 4. The overall smaller numbers of students at any given practice will ensure a greater geographical distribution of allocations.
We have compiled a list of “reserve” practices, as there are occasions when a GP practice needs to unexpectedly withdraw from hosting students, and an alternative needs to be found.
N.B. Students can fail to progress between years, or withdraw from medicine for assorted reasons, often at short notice. We acknowledge the adverse impact this regrettably has on the small number of Practices where those students had been allocated, but that is clearly beyond the control of any allocation process. This means that your practice may receive one student rather than a pair.
GP Sub Deanery Scoring Criteria – information was submitted by practices on this FORM. A core function of the GP Sub Deanery is to meet the placement requirements of the medical schools. In preceding recruitment cycles, it has proven more challenging to recruit for QUB Y3 and Family Medicine placements. Consequently, the need to meet capacity for these placements was reflected in the scoring system. Three principles used – Quality, Equity and Need.
| Criterion | Number of points | |
| Educational Qualification – QUALITY | 1 for L& T | 2 for PG Cert or above |
| New practice – EQUITY | 1 | |
| Offering to take QUB Y3 - NEED | 1 | |
| Offering to take QUB Family medicine – NEED | 1 per block offered (max 3) | |
| Total | Max 7 | |
The following categories may feature in the allocation’s pdf sent to each practice : –
| Category | Explanation/Description |
| Allocated | You have been allocated students for this cohort |
| Reserve |
You have not been allocated students at this stage but may be contacted during the academic year by GPSD if a placement becomes available. Practices that “missed out” in the current allocations will be contacted first, in order of points scored. A practice remains reserve while it has capacity and has not yet reached its maximum allocation. |
| Unallocated | You have already been allocated the maximum number of Year 4 and 5 placements (i.e. four pairs) AND/OR 3 pairs of Year 4. Any remaining offers for these cohorts will be recorded as “unallocated.” |
| Not Eligible | You applied for a placement type for which you are not eligible (e.g. the practice is beyond the required distance from campus), AND/OR the practice is new to or resuming teaching and thus limited to one placement type |
| Not Applicable | Your practice did not apply for this placement type OR has reached self-declared placement capacity based on allocations and/or reserves for a given cohort. |
What happens next?
UU will contact practices with details of the annual medical educator’s conference, planned for 3 June (Derry/Londonderry campus) and 4 June (Belfast campus). GP tutors should attend one of these days. The GP Placement Team will contact individual practices with specific student details once student progression for the next academic year has been confirmed.
QUB will contact practices to confirm details of the GP Tutor training events on 17 June (in person, Belfast) and 2 September (online). Practices allocated Year 1 and/or Year 2 Clinical Skills placements will be contacted directly by QUB, with student names and contact details shared later in the summer once exam and progression outcomes are confirmed and students are formally allocated. Clinical Skills allocations will be communicated by the GP Sub Deanery, with QUB managing the arrangements thereafter.
