The CPSP MTI UK & Ireland scholarship program complete guide

 The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, one of the post-graduate training bodies in Pakistan that offers several post-graduation diplomas to medical professionals pursing specialization.

In Pakistan, the college has affiliated hospitals which provide training under cpsp approved supervisors, while the body itself conducts the entry and exit exams as well as workshops and training monitoring.

"PLAB VS MRCP for GMC REGISTRATION"

During the past several years, the cpsp has forged a working relationship with several healthcare bodies, amongst them;

• Royal Colleges & GMC UK
• HSE Ireland

The partnership with these health bodies of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland allows cpsp to send its trainee doctors in Pakistan for 2 year placement in the selected teaching hospitals in the UK and Ireland.

This international training placement is sponsored by the CPSP and trainees are provided with a stipend to spend 2 years of their training in international centres, in order to experience healthcare in first world countries and to learn skills which could in turn lead to the professional development as well as uplift the health care in Pakistan in the long run.

There are two types of international training fellowships

• .       Junior fellow:

                  Post-IMM

•  Senior fellow:

               Post FCPS

 

How to find the MTI UK & Ireland fellowship placements:

The CPSP MTI fellowships are announced by cpsp itself on their website, usually twice a year in around November/December and June-July each year.

You will have to follow the cpsp website to look out for them, as the application portal opens up for around 2-3 weeks only.

An important thing to consider is that this program is different from the MTI UK program sponsored by the Royal colleges of the UK.

 

Requirements for the CPSP MTI program:

So this is the most significant area to understand in order to successfully proceed with this pathway.

• First one is the ENGLISH language competency:

Both ILETS and OET are acceptable. But the utmost thing to note is that you must have the result with the required bands or grade, respectively, with you at the time you are applying for the position. Previously CPSP used to accept applications provisionally along-with the ilets/oet exam booking reference but since last few years they categorically state that ilets/oet result needs to be attached with the application.

 

• Second is the Experience:

For the junior fellow position, you must have the 2 years pre-imm experience along with IMM passing certificate. (You need to pass IMM in order to apply for the junior fellow position).

For Senior Fellow, you need to have passed your FCPS 2 exam & are in good standing with CPSP.

 

The application process for MTI UK & Ireland program:

Once the positions are announced by the cpsp, they open up the application portal on cpsp website for a limited time, the application is all online, you have to fill in your biodata, medical experience, job experience and attach relevant documents etc along-with the ilets/oet result and submit.

 

Which specialty seats are offered in the MTI program:

Multiple specialties are offered by the MTI program each year, depending upon the Hospital, fellowship type i.e. junior or senior fellow.

• Acute Medicine 
• General Medicine
• General Surgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Gynaecology & Obstetric
• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology
• Respiratory medicine
• Haematology
• Critical Care
• Anaesthesia
• Emergency Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Paediatrics
• Psychiatry

 

 

The selection process:

Once application is submitted, it might take around 6 months till you start working. CPSP will arrange interviews at their regional centers in Pakistan, the interview and the further selection process in done mutually by the CPSP and the teams from UK & IRELAND. These days, interviews are done online due to the covid restrictions.

The applications are vetted after the last date and shortlisting is done, only shortlisted candidates are called for the interview.

After the interviews, successful candidates are offered job offers and necessary guidance about the visa and GMC registration.

It should be noted that seats are limited in each specialist, approximately 2-3 seats in each program offered.

 NHS UK JOBS APPLY

How much does the fellowship program in UK & Ireland pay:

The pay varies by the fellowship type,

Junior fellows get ~ 2700 GBP.

Senior fellows get ~ 3200 GBP.

The salary is enough for comfortable living, and you can expect to save incase you don’t have any other commitments.

There might be the option of locums in the same hospital, if your TRUST and contract allows, by which you might increase your income.

 

What about the visa for the MTI UK & Ireland program:

The visa is tier 5 visa, which is a mutual government exchange visa, for a period of 2 years. This visa is not extendable and you have to return to your country after completing the tenure. There are some other limitations too e.g. you can’t switch jobs on this visa as this visa is sponsored by the Hospital. Also your stay in the UK on this visa is not counted for residency/citizenship duration.

The requirements for the UK tier 5 visa are:

•        Sponsorship letter from the organization.
•          Health surcharge – which allows you access to National health care services. Costs around 634 GBP per year
•          Evidence of personal savings (bank statement) at least 1270 GBP, that should be available for at least 28 days in a row. With the day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa. Unless your contract covers your first month's cost.
•       Tuberculosis test.

The fee for the visa application is around 244 GBP.  In case there are dependents with you each will need separate application fee and health surcharge fee.

You can apply 3 months before the starting date and can enter 14 days before in UK.

Some of the relaxations offered in this visa are:

•          To bring your wife & children with you if eligible
•          You can only switch to global talent visa if allowed/applicable
•          Do a second job upto 20 hours a week
•          Study

Things you can’t do:

•         Do any permanent job
•         Get public funds

 

GMC/ IMC registration:

The MTI program will sponsor your medical license in the UK or Ireland, you don’t have to clear any licensing exam. The license is full license for medical practice, and reportedly you can keep it even afterwards if you continue the yearly validations and fees.

We will share the GMC registration process in a future post.

Read more about Medical council Ireland registration here

Read more about Australian medical council license for FMGS

 

Final words

The CPSP MTI scheme is a one off program that allows you to work in the western health care system and experience their health care, practice guidelines, approach and to boost your skill set. Apart from that, the exemption of licensing exam is an added bonus. The pay, though not exceptional but is enough to cover your cost of living easily. You can also appear in the UK or Ireland post-graduate exams e.g. MRCP UK.

There are some drawbacks too, the time duration 2 years is not extendable & you need to return to your country for at least one year, (the cpsp and UK authorities are very serious on this some trainees have faced serious consequences for not following this rule, candidates have to sign an affidavit that they will return to their respective countries after the completion of the program).

There are also some reservations about lack of hands on procedures/surgeries compared to what you can get in Pakistan. As you work there on a junior level i.e. SHO as junior fellow and registrar as senior fellow.