If your International study leave is held virtually then please follow the Aspirational Study Leave Guidance. International Study Leave applications are for courses that require trainees to attend in person outside the UK.
Please follow the guidance on claiming for International Study Leave below and follow the link to the right for the International Study Leave Application form.
Please submit to studyleave.wm@hee.nhs.uk on completion.
International Study Leave Guidance
International study leave should occur when the learning outcomes from the course/conference are not available in the UK (joint societies with a UK and Ireland remit for these purposes are considered as UK). The DHSC has made requirements clear in the tariff publication for 19/20.
As specified in the Aspirational Study Leave section above, one international/meeting, providing all other curriculum requirements are met, will be considered for each doctor in training for any one programme, which can be defined as Foundation, Core, Higher or otherwise every three years.
If attending an international opportunity is evidenced to be cheaper than a UK alternative/equivalent, then the international opportunity will usually be approved and would not count as the one occurrence above.
If service requirements prevent a trainee in attending a UK based educational opportunity, an international alternative/equivalent could be considered.
HEE Deans have agreed the following principles:
Attendance at courses/conferences should be taken as close to the base of the trainee as possible.
For approved international study leave applications, HEE will consider funding either the full cost of the course/conference fees or the full cost of economy travel and accommodation whichever is the lower amount. For accommodation, in alignment with the agreed maximum rate for study budget claims within the UK, the overnight rate should not exceed £150 per night. Subsistence expenses will not usually be re-imbursed by HEE.
As part of the approvals process, requests to attend overseas study courses/conferences will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances. Such circumstances include:
• for the presentation of significant research findings from within an NIHR recognised academic clinical fellowship or clinical lectureship
• for the presentation of research undertaken as part of a clinical training programme
• where the training course is not available in the UK
• where the course or activity is part of the college curriculum or guidelines on required training
• where the course is set out as a mandatory requirement of college training to reach the required qualification to practice
For international study leave requests where the individual will be presenting, such applications should take priority.
The course/conference must provide a clearly stated curriculum outcome and there must be a documented discussion with the ES about the clear need of the course/conference to meet curriculum requirements.
A full programme should be provided. A report covering the entirety of the leave may be requested from the doctor in training after attendance.
Any contribution to funding of such leave will need the prior written approval of the HEE local Postgraduate Dean.
If further periods of international study leave are required this will be considered on a case by case basis by the Postgraduate Dean, and budget allowing.
If a doctor in training wishes to fund a period of international study leave by other means, the ES should still ensure the activity aligns to the curriculum or personal development plan. This must be the case for any period of international Study Leave irrespective of how it is funded.
Page last updated 6th July 2020
