Welcome to the Student Zone!
Applicant Enquiries
The PGMDE Support Portal is used for applicants to find information relating to recruitment activity.
Please access the portal below, use the search function for FAQs or submit an applicant enquiry form if you cannot find the answers you are looking for.
In collaboration with NHS England, HEIW (Wales) and Public Services Delivery (PSD Scotland), the RPS has published answers to commonly asked questions regarding the National Recruitment Scheme.
On this page you will find all the key information related to the National Recruitment Scheme, including the Person Specification and the Professional Attributes Framework on which the selection process is based.
Application window, for the 2027-28 Foundation Training Year, opens Monday 15 June 2026 at 12pm (GMT) and will close Friday 3 July 2026 at 10am (GMT)
Applications for the 2027-28 Foundation Trainee Pharmacist training year open on 15 June 2026 (12pm) via the Oriel website, this is the only way to obtain a foundation training place in England and Wales.
The applicant handbook is available below and links to the RPS webinars. Programme information will be available here in mid-June.
RPS Webinars
The Royal College of Pharmacy will be delivering webinars to support you with aspects of the process, please see below.
Recruitment Timeline
Activity
Month
Applicant handbook available
Mid May
Foundation Pharmacist Training Programme information available on Oriel
15 June 2026
Application window opens
15 June 2026 at 12pm
Application window closes
3 July 2026 at 10am
Preferencing window opens
29 July 2026
Numeracy/SJT centre booking window opens
3 August 2026
Numeracy/SJT centre booking window closes
14 August 2026
Numeracy/SJT centre Start Date (Pearson VUE Test Centres)
21 September 2026
Numeracy/SJT centre End Date (Pearson VUE Test Centres)
1 October 2026
Preferencing window closes
22 October 2026
First round of offers released
Early November 2026
Offers upgrade deadline
Late November 2026
Employers informed of recruited applicants
Mid-December 2026
Programmes commence
July/August 2027
*Please note the date/items are subject to change/TBC