11 St Andrews Place,

Regent’s Park, London NW1 4LE

T +44 (0)20 3075 1631

mti@rcp.ac.uk

MTI interview – FAQs for candidates

What is the Medical Training Initiative (MTI)?
The Medical Training Initiative scheme sponsors doctors for GMC (General Medical Council) registration
and Tier 5 visa to enable them to undertake training in the UK for a maximum of 24 months. There are 2
routes to join the MTI scheme.
Route A - is where candidates have identified and secured a suitable post (honorary or a paid position)
directly with the hospital trust.
Route B – is where the MTI team recruits candidates into posts that have been submitted by UK trusts to
the RCP.

Why should I apply for the MTI scheme?

Benefits of the MTI scheme for IMGs:
 UK training experience to develop clinical, communication and leadership skills in a fast-paced,
supportive environment

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 support for General Medical Council (GMC) registration

 certificate of sponsorship for Tier 5 government authorised exchange visa
 free associate RCP membership for the first year and a discounted rate for the second year – with all
associated membership benefits, e.g. discounts on RCP conferences, events and educational
programmes, career development and networking opportunities,
 quarterly Induction sessions, providing information as well as networking opportunities
 free access to ePortfolio to log all evidence of experience, competencies and courses
 pastoral support to help your integration into the MTI role, NHS and the UK
 RCP endorsed certificate of completion of the MTI programme
 opportunities to opportunities to attend RCP events and conferences and share your work
(competitions, case studies)

Am I eligible for the MTI scheme?

In order to be eligible for the scheme, you will need to meet the following criteria:
 Primary medical qualification recognised by GMC and verified by Educational Commission for Foreign
Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
 Postgraduate medical qualification (MRCP part 1, MD or higher degree)
 Three years post-qualification experience, including:
o 1 year internship
o 1 year in specialty you intend to train in in the UK
 Have not taken and failed any part of PLAB within the last 3 years
 Engaged in clinical practice for 3 out of the last 5 years, including 12 months prior to GMC registration
 You must remain in continuous medical practice during the most recent 12 months until the GMC
registration
 Possess the skills, competencies and understanding of medicine at least equivalent to a UK graduate at
the end of their IMT1 (first year of Internal Medical Stage 1 Training – please see curriculum)
 Passed (in last 2 years) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic with overall
score of 7.5 and 7.0 in all categories OR Occupational English Test (OET) Medicine with minimum grade
B in all categories
o The GMC may consider exemption for candidates that are nationals of countries where
English is the first and native language, AND were awarded their primary medical degree
from one of these countries. The MTI team will advise at application, but please note the
GMC will make the final decision regarding any exemption request.

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I meet the eligibility criteria, how do I apply?

The RCP holds regular interviews for candidates from different countries. To find out about future
interviews available, please visit our website. If there is an upcoming interview in your country, please
complete and submit an application before the specified deadline.

When the shortlisting process has been completed and you have been successful, the MTI team will send
you an email with an interview invitation. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are not
able to provide individual feedback. Therefore, if you have not heard from the MTI team within 2 weeks
after the closing date for submissions, please assume that your application has not been successful.

What information do I need to complete the application?

List of information needed to complete the online application for interview:
 Contact details
 Eligibility questions:
o PLAB exam details (if taken)
o GMC registration (if already registered)
o English language test (IELTS or OET) date of test and results
 Employment history (start/end dates of jobs covering the last 5 years and a brief summary of role and
responsibilities)
 Education and qualifications, including internship/ housemanship details
 Any awards, distinctions and/or publications
 Specialty and/or procedural interests and experience, future training plans
Ensure that you sign the Declaration on the last page of the application form and press the Submit survey
button, as unsigned and incomplete forms will not be reviewed and considered.

What happens at the MTI interview?

When possible, the MTI team organises in-country interviews for candidates – these are face to face panel
interviews. The team also organises virtual interviews – these are conducted via Teams or Zoom and are
also panel interviews.

The interview panels consist of two to five members, they are fellows of RCP who support the work of
Global department and the MTI team. The associate global director (AGD) for international medical
graduates is usually one of the interview panel members. Please see the RCP website for the full list of
international officers and international advisers who work with the global department.

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The interview is divided into two parts. In the first part, you will be given a clinical scenario and a
communication scenario to read for 5 minutes. We will then go through the scenarios with you. In the
second part, we will go through your CV and ask about your experience, why you want to join the MTI
scheme and the speciality and post you are looking for in the UK.

What happens if I am successful at the interview?

We will contact you within 2 weeks to let you know the outcome of the interview. If you are successful at
the interview, we will ask you to create an online MTI account and you will be placed on our database. As
soon as a suitable post becomes available, you will be put forward for it. After you have been matched with
a post, the trust or hospital will conduct an interview, usually online or over the phone.

After the trust or hospital offers you a post, the MTI team will ask you to update your online MTI account
and upload documents required for GMC registration and Tier 5 visa. At the same time the RCP will ask the
trust or hospital to submit required information and forms.

The MTI team will advise you when you can start your GMC application. We will also work with the
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to issue your tier 5 visa certificate of sponsorship (CoS). When the CoS
is issued you will be able to apply for your visa online and begin to make your travel arrangements for
coming to the UK.
Once a suitable post has been secured, it takes on average three to nine months for the MTI application
process to be completed before you start your post. The graph below outlines the main stages of the
application.

MTI post secured Tier 5 IMG applies for

Visa CoS Visa

IMG and trust

IMG confirms
send documents GMC registration
arrival in UK
to RCP

MTI team Induction

reviews Panel approval session.
documents ePortfolio access

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What MTI posts are available?

MTI posts are non-numbered training jobs, which include work-based training and educational elements
(such as teaching sessions). Many posts will involve being on call for general medicine and may include
some night duty. The post could be located anywhere in the UK, including Northern Ireland, Wales and
Scotland.

For salaried NHS posts, the payment will be at standard UK rates of pay.

Vacancies offered via the MTI scheme are training posts, which means that the timetable needs to contain
sufficient training elements. Depending on your job and/or your experience, you may remain in one
specialty for the duration or your post or rotate through different specialties. When a suitable post is
available, the MTI team will send you a job description which contains details of the vacancy, including your
rotations, on call work and salary – please read those carefully.

The scheme is designed to give you an experience of working in UK, to make new friends and colleagues,
and to develop your skills and competencies not only in medicine but also in teaching, research and
management which you will be able to develop further upon your return home at the end of your post.

What specialties can I train in?

We generally have posts ranging from internal medical training (senior house officer) to specialty training
posts within most of the medical specialties. Please check the table below for details of available
specialties. If your preferred specialty is not on the list, you may still be able to apply but it is likely to take
much longer (up to 12 months) to secure a placement.

Regularly available Sometimes available Rarely available

- Acute Medicine - Haematology - Rehabilitation Medicine
- Endocrinology & Diabetes - Infectious Diseases & Tropical - Clinical Neurophysiology
Mellitus Medicine - Clinical Pharmacology &
- Gastroenterology - Neurology Therapeutics
- General (Internal) Medicine - Palliative Medicine - Dermatology
- Geriatric Medicine - Rheumatology - Paediatric Cardiology
- Stroke Medicine - Genitourinary Medicine - Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine - Cardiology - Pharmaceutical Medicine
- Renal Medicine - Nuclear Medicine - Metabolic Medicine
- Medical Oncology

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Certain specialities are not supported by the MTI scheme run by the Royal College of Physicians, please
contact relevant Royal College to enquire about the support on offer:
− Anaesthesiologists - www.rcoa.ac.uk
− Emergency medicine - www.rcem.ac.uk
− Family medicine and General practitioners (GP) - www.rcgp.org.uk
− Intensive care medicine - www.ficm.ac.uk
− Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - www.rcog.org.uk
− Ophthalmologists - www.rcophth.ac.uk
− Paediatrics and child health - www.rcpch.ac.uk
− Pathologists - www.rcpath.org
− Psychiatrists - www.rcpsych.ac.uk
− Radiologists - www.rcr.ac.uk
− Surgeons - www.rcseng.ac.uk and www.rcsed.ac.uk and www.rcpsg.ac.uk

Structure of training in the UK

There have been recent changes to the physician training pathway in UK, for further details please visit the
Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) website.

Internal Specialty
Graduation Foundation medical Specialist
Training Consultant
from years stage 1 training certification
ST3-->ST4-- appointment
university FY1 --> FY2 (CCT)
ST1 (IMT1) --> > ST5 -->
ST3 (IMT3) ST6

What visa will I have and how long can I stay in the UK?
The RCP will provide a certificate of sponsorship for the Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange visa. This
visa can be issued for a maximum of 2 years. During your visa, you can travel and re-enter UK, but when the
visa expires you must leave the UK; this visa is not a route into settlement in the UK. Please see the UK visa
and immigration website for more information.

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Can I bring my family?

The Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange visa allows you to be accompanied by your dependents -
spouse and children. The visa allows your spouse to work in the UK if he/she wishes. Please see the UK visa
and immigration website for more information.

How will I arrange accommodation for the duration of my

post?
Some hospitals offer accommodation on the hospital site, which can be discussed at/after your interview.
Otherwise, you will need to independently find accommodation. Advice on how to approach
accommodation is included in the "MTI Welcome Pack", shared with you once you secure your post.

How will I know if my application was received?

Please complete the full application, including the last page requesting your signature. When all the details
are completed, press the “Submit Survey” button which will submit your application and re-direct you to a
confirmation page – please see example below:

Unfortunately, the MTI team is not able to provide updates and submission confirmation on individual
applications.

Can I go back and add more details to my application?

When you are completing the application form, you can save your progress by clicking the “Save” button on
the bottom of each page. When the application is saved, a page will display your individual link, please
make note of it. You can use that link to go back to your application and finish completing it later.
Once the application is submitted, you will no longer be able to make changes to the application form.

I have made a mistake; how can I amend my application?

When you are completing the application form, you can save your progress by clicking the save button on
the bottom of each page. When the application is saved, a page will display your individual link, please
make note of it. You can use the link to go back to your application and finish completing it later.
Once the application is submitted, you will no longer be able to make changes to the application form.

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I am yet to take my IELTS or OET test, can I still apply?

Yes, you can apply, you should follow the steps listed below depending on your circumstances:
a. If you have taken an IELTS or OET test already and have received your scores - please input your
results in the form.
b. If you have taken an IELTS or OET and are awaiting the results of your test - please put in the date
when you took the test and, in the results field, please type in “Pending”.
c. If you have not taken an IELTS or OET test yet, but you have booked a date to take it – please put in
the date of your future test in the field at the bottom called “Date of IELTS/OET test booking if not
yet taken”.
Please note that both tests are valid for two years only, the temporary GMC extension to test validity which
was put in place during Covid-19 pandemic has been withdrawn now.

Can I be exempted from the IELTS or OET?

The GMC may consider exemption for candidates that are nationals of countries where English is the first
and native language and were awarded their primary medical degree from one of these countries.
The MTI team will advise at application, but please note the GMC will make the final decision regarding any
exemption request.

What postgraduate qualification do I need?

You must hold a primary medical qualification recognised by the GMC and verified by Educational
Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
Additionally, you need to have a postgraduate qualification, for example MRCP (UK) part 1, MD, or other
higher degree in medicine or a medical subspecialty.

I have not completed MRCP(UK), can I still apply?

You must hold a primary medical qualification recognised by the GMC and verified by Educational
Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
Additionally, you need to have a postgraduate qualification, for example MRCP (UK) part 1, MD, or other
higher degree in medicine or a medical subspecialty.

I have not taken PLAB yet, can I apply?

Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exam is not required for the MTI scheme. Therefore,
you can apply for the MTI scheme if you have not attempted the PLAB in the past.

I have failed PLAB, can I apply?

The RCP cannot sponsor doctors who have failed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB)
test within the last three years prior to application.

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What specialties can apply for MTI scheme run by RCP

London?
Table below details specialties eligible for MTI scheme run by the Royal College of Physicians
Posts regularly available Posts sometimes available Posts rarely available
- Acute Medicine - Haematology - Rehabilitation Medicine
- Endocrinology & Diabetes - Infectious Diseases & Tropical - Clinical Neurophysiology
Mellitus Medicine - Clinical Pharmacology &
- Gastroenterology - Neurology Therapeutics
- General (Internal) Medicine - Palliative Medicine - Dermatology
- Geriatric Medicine - Rheumatology - Paediatric Cardiology
- Stroke Medicine - Genitourinary Medicine - Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine - Cardiology - Pharmaceutical Medicine
- Renal Medicine - Nuclear Medicine - Metabolic Medicine
- Medical Oncology

What specialties are not eligible for MTI scheme run by

RCP London?
Certain specialties are not supported by the RCP MTI scheme, please contact relevant Royal College to
enquire about the support on offer:
− Anaesthesiologists - www.rcoa.ac.uk
− Emergency medicine - www.rcem.ac.uk
− Family medicine and General practitioners (GP) - www.rcgp.org.uk
− Intensive care medicine - www.ficm.ac.uk
− Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - www.rcog.org.uk
− Ophthalmologists - www.rcophth.ac.uk
− Paediatrics and child health - www.rcpch.ac.uk
− Pathologists - www.rcpath.org
− Psychiatrists - www.rcpsych.ac.uk
− Radiologists - www.rcr.ac.uk
− Surgeons - www.rcseng.ac.uk and www.rcsed.ac.uk and www.rcpsg.ac.uk

I have been successful at the interview; how soon will I be

offered a post in the UK?
We cannot guarantee how quickly a suitable post will become available. Please see the specialties table
above which indicates the frequency of posts available.

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