Dual Sponsorship Scheme

Verification of primary qualifications before UK registration

Information about the process for the verification of primary qualifications for overseas doctors is available from the General Medical Council (GMC) here.

The Dual Sponsorship Scheme is run by the College. It offers an opportunity for international medical graduates (IMGs) to undertake targeted training in ophthalmology for a limited time. Find out how to apply.

The College acts as a sponsoring body for IMGs to gain registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) to undertake targeted training in a suitable training post in the UK. The Postgraduate Dean, College Tutor and Programme Director in the area where the training will take place must give support for the training post to be used under the Dual Sponsorship Scheme.

According to the GMC, a doctor applying for an offer of sponsorship must have been engaged in medical practice for three out of the last five years and demonstrate at least 10 months of medical practice within the most recent 12 months. No exceptions can be made to this.

It is therefore essential that your DSS application is processed, and a sponsorship registration certificate (SRC) issued before you finish your current clinical practice overseas. Clinical attachments/observerships are not counted as medical practice and should not be undertaken before or during the application process. Internships are not counted towards medical practice.

Information for UK sponsors

The College requires a detailed job description from the UK Trust (the employing institution). This job description must include a list of training objectives. These might include:

To significantly improve the trainee’s ability to perform penetrating glaucoma surgery
An improvement in the IMG’s ability to diagnose secondary glaucoma

The UK sponsor should provide the Chair of the International Medical Graduates’ Training Subcommittee with a mid-term report of the sponsored doctor’s ability and progress after six months. The mid-term report should include details of progress towards the objectives set out in the job description. The UK sponsor should also provide the Chairman with an end of term report after 12 months about the doctor’s ability and progress, and it should state how the objectives have been met.

English language qualifications

The College only accepts the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET) for a DSS application.

The minimum IELTS scores that the GMC and College accept as evidence of knowledge of English for registration are:

A score of at least 7.0 in each of the four areas tested (speaking, listening, reading and writing)
And an overall score of at least 7.5

The GMC and College only accept the academic version of the IELTS test.
For the College to accept your Occupational English Test (OET) certificate, it must show:

Your candidate number
You took the medicine version of the test
You achieved at least a grade ‘B’ in each testing area (speaking, listening, reading and writing)
You achieved these grades in the same test
You obtained the grades in your most recent sitting of the test

If you are applying for registration with a licence to practise through the GMC sponsorship route, you must demonstrate your knowledge of English using either an acceptable OET or IELTS certificate.

There is further information on the GMC’s website. Please follow this link about your knowledge of English to ensure you are eligible for the scheme and do not currently hold any qualifications that could allow you to apply directly to jobs with the use of the Dual Sponsorship Scheme.

Record keeping

During the period of sponsorship, you should keep a log of surgery you have carried out. This should record the number of procedures you performed and assisted at, rather than individual details. You should record the number of cases of posterior capsule rupture and vitreous loss on which you have operated. The log should be submitted with the IMG report on the Dual Sponsorship Scheme and certified by the UK Sponsor.

You should include a list of the surgical cases in which you’ve been involved within your CV. Please refer to the Dual Sponsorship Scheme booklet and FAQs for further details.

Dual Sponsorship Scheme Booklet – please read this carefully before deciding whether to submit an application form. Please note Route C and D are currently unavailable.
FAQs – please read the Frequently Asked Questions before deciding whether to submit an application form.
ODTO1-2026 v2 – please download and complete to open your application.

Direct placement

Direct placement is an approved way for someone to be offered a specific training post without the post being advertised, shortlisted and interviewed by a properly constituted appointments committee.

If the College sponsors the doctor, the quality assurance of the offer of employment is based on a recommendation of the trainee from an overseas sponsor known personally to the UK consultant recommending the trainee for sponsorship. References are also required.

The College does not find training posts for doctors wishing to use the scheme. Training opportunities and sponsoring consultants should be identified before contacting the College to request sponsorship.

Work permit/visa applications

It is the responsibility of the applicant and the relevant employing authority, (e.g. a hospital’s medical staffing department), to ensure the applicant has obtained the appropriate work permit/visa if required. Visa applications are not the responsibility of the College.

Duration of sponsorship

Training through the DSS is limited to 12 months with a maximum possible extension of between three and 12 months under exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the International Medical Graduates Training Subcommittee.
Sponsored trainees must agree to return to their country of origin on completion of the training period. Work permits and visas to remain in the UK will be granted to only cover the period of training. Once the application to the DSS is accepted, at the recommendation of the College, the GMC will grant you registration. Please refer to the Home Office website for any other restrictions.

Please note that it is trainee’s responsibility to identify the UK and overseas sponsors. The College does not arrange training posts. A suitable post has to be identified and offered by the UK sponsor.

This scheme can only accept College-approved training posts and fellowships (fellowships are considered for educational approval on an individual basis). Honorary or locum posts are no longer approved for this purpose (College Council, October 2000). Fellows, Members or Affiliate Members of the College holding consultant posts in the NHS in the UK can act as UK sponsors for the Dual Sponsorship Scheme.

Induction for international doctors

Induction for International Doctors’ e-Learning programme is a free course aimed at welcoming and valuing international medical graduates in UK clinical practice.

The National Induction programme has been designed to ensure that all international medical graduates (IMGs) recruited to the NHS are welcomed, valued, and supported as they transition to UK clinical practice.

The Welcoming and Valuing International Medical Graduates Guidance sets out the minimum standards for effective induction and support. It explains why induction is vital for new IMGs and describes in detail what Trusts should provide in terms of a welcome and pastoral induction, professional practice induction, IT and electronic patient record systems induction, and language & communication induction. The document also includes additional information for HR departments.

For more details please see link: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/nhs-induction-programme-for-international-medical-graduates/.