Study Leave

Study leave for doctors in training is managed by the Postgraduate Medical Education team on behalf of Health Education England. All study leave must be approved by the Educational Supervisor prior to an application being submitted to the rota co-ordinator using the Intrepid system.

The terms and conditions related to study leave are covered in Schedule 9 and state the following:

Study leave must be used for the purpose for which it is granted.

Study leave includes but is not restricted to participation in:

• Study (linked to a course or programme)
• Research
• Teaching
• Taking examinations
• Attending conferences for educational benefit
• Rostered training events

Attending statutory and mandatory training (including any local departmental training) is not counted as study leave.

All requests for study leave will be properly considered by the NHS Trust. Any grant of study leave will be subject to the need to maintain NHS services (and, where the doctor is on an integrated academic pathway, academic responsibilities) and must be authorised by the NHS Trust.

Study leave up to the limits described in the table below will normally be granted flexibly and tailored to individual needs, in accordance with the requirements of the curriculum. Requests for study leave in excess of these limits should be considered fairly where circumstances indicate such requests to be reasonable, and may be granted by the employer provided that the needs of service delivery can be safely met.

Study leave for Foundation Year 1 doctors will take the form of a regular scheduled teaching/training session as agreed locally.

Study leave for doctors at Foundation Year 2 and above will include periods of regular scheduled teaching/training sessions, and may also, with approval from the educational supervisor and service manager, include:

• Undertaking an approved external course
• Periods of sitting (or preparing for) an examination for a higher qualification where it is a requirement of the curriculum.

Requests for such leave shall be viewed positively in most circumstances, but with a view to ensuring that the needs of service delivery can be safely met.

Where a doctor working less than full time is required to undertake a specific training course required by the curriculum, which exceeds the pro rata entitlement to study leave, the employer will make arrangements for additional study leave to be taken, provided that this can be done while ensuring safe delivery of services.

Where a doctor takes maternity leave their entitlement to study leave continues, and this may be taken during 'keeping in touch' days or will otherwise accrue to be taken at a later date.