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Frequently Asked IMG Questions

On this page, you will find quick answers to many of the questions brewing in your mind. You will also find links to articles where important concepts are explained in more detail.

We hope your question is answered on this page! If not, please search through the blog, visit relevant useful websites, or contact us here.

Savvy IMG FAQ bank for questions about GMC registration plab ukmla msra training

General questions

Can I work in the UK if...?

Unique situations

GMC registration

Internship

Exams

Including PLAB, IELTS, & OET

Specialty training

UK residency

Foundation Programme

UK internship

General questions

These are some things we recommend:

  • Continue working or go back to work overseas – having recent clinical experience is always going to look good on any application.
  • Keep up to date – make sure you maintain your clinical knowledge with courses, e-learning modules, journal articles etc.
  • Improve your CV – now may be a good time to consider preparing for a specialist exam such as MRCP or MRCS etc
  • Prepare for applications to a training job – if you thought you didn’t have time to write a publication or organise a teaching session, well now there’s no excuse! While waiting for exams or jobs to re-open, you can certainly improve your CV or portfolio!

Unfortunately, we cannot provide any assurances or advise you on the likely outcome of your application since the GMC assesses each application on a case-by-case basis.

All we can say is that everyone has been affected by COVID-19 so delays or career gaps are inevitable and understandable. The GMC will not hold you responsible for circumstances outside of your control.

But be prepared to provide documentation about what happened if they ask you about it.

For further advice, please contact the GMC directly at gmc@gmc-uk.org.

Nope. Restrictions based on age are considered age discrimination and this is illegal in the UK.

As long as you are fit and able to perform your job as a doctor, you can get GMC registration and work whatever your age!

GMC stands for General Medical Council, they are the medical regulatory organisation in the UK. You need to be registered with the GMC in order to have a medical license to practice and legally work as a doctor in the UK.

You can read more about the GMC in this article.

The NHS is the UK public health system. It stands for National Health Service. Patients in the NHS do not pay directly for medical services, this paid for through everyone’s taxes.

All specialty training programmes (residency) take place primarily in NHS hospitals.  

You can read more about the NHS in this article.

The steps are different for everyone because there are multiple paths to work in the UK. However, the most common pathway involves the following:

  1. Determine your long-term goal
  2. Gain GMC registration
  3. Apply for jobs
  4. Secure a job
  5. Apply for a UK visa (Tier 2 or Tier 5)
  6. Come to the UK +/- bring family

The order of these steps can differ depending on personal circumstances.

You can read more about the steps in the IMG Crash Course.

The main options for IMGs of all backgrounds who want to work as a clinical doctor in the UK are: 

  1. Become a UK Consultant or GP
  2. Work in the UK long-term without becoming a GP or Consultant
  3. Obtain short-term fellowship training then return home

Decide on your long-term goal, and it will become much clearer what your pathway will involve.

All the options are explained here.

Of course there are other options to pursue a career in academia, research, pharmaceuticals, hospital management etc. However, our advice in this website is mainly for clinical careers.

When referring to the different pathways to GMC registration, there are 6 possible options. 

  1. PLAB/UKMLA
  2. Relevant European qualification
    1. Acceptable overseas licensing exam (Eg. USLE, AMC, MCCQE)
  3. Accepted postgraduate qualification aka PGQ eg. MRCP, MRCS, MRCOG
  4. Sponsorship eg. MTI
  5. CESR/CEGPR

Once you eliminate the ones that are not applicable to you, you’ll need to weigh up the pros and cons of the remaining options.

Read more about the 6 routes to GMC registration and which one is most suitable for you depending on your background.

No, there are thousands of vacancies across the UK, however the number of vacancies will differ between the different specialties and grades. For example, there’s a higher need for doctors in Psychiatry compared to Neurosurgery, and there’s a higher demand for Ophthalmology Consultants compared to Ophthalmology Senior House Officers.

Regardless, the reality is that there are huge shortages of doctors in almost every specialty at all levels – from junior to senior. If you search on NHS jobs on any given day there are lots of vacancies. With the growing and ageing UK population, and the long duration of UK training, the UK will not have the number of doctors it needs for many years. 

But just because there are lots of jobs available, does NOT mean you can expect a job to be handed to you without doing the work to be a good applicant. Keep working, maintain your skills and knowledge, pursue excellence in all areas of your professional career, and you will find a job!

Unfortunately, we don’t have an NHS crystal ball so we can’t predict the future!

However, having said that, considering the growing and ageing UK population, and the long duration of UK training, the UK will not have the number of doctors it needs for many years.

Our advice is to continue working hard regardless of what’s going on in the UK, and keep your options open.

It all depends on the number of vacancies, the number and quality of applicants, and how your CV and interview performance compares to others. You can check NHS jobs for the number of vacancies, but there is no way to monitor the number and quality of other applicants.

Immigration laws are now very favourable for IMGs so there are no barriers to getting a job other than your CV and interview performance. So it all boils down to this: What are you willing to do to make yourself the best applicant for the job?

Even if there are thousands of vacancies, you won’t be handed a job with an empty and poorly written CV! Just because there are lots of vacancies, doesn’t mean they will accept anyone who applies.

It will take hard work, but if you’re willing to work hard then the process is quite fair and the chances are always good!

Unfortunately we are unable to review any job applications or assist with getting a job.

We recommend getting your CV reviewed by a professional who has experience in the hiring process for doctors. If you search “UK doctor recruitment agency”, you will find lots of agencies that offer this as a free service.

Unfortunately there are no guarantees in life. Passing PLAB is just the first step. After that, it will take hard work to get a job, but if you’re willing to work hard then the process is quite fair and the chances are always good!

There are still thousands of doctor vacancies across the UK after Brexit.

Doctors in the public health system typically take home £2,000-£4,000 each month. It depends on the level of seniority, how many hours worked each week, and how many nights and weekends worked.

You can earn more by doing extra shifts, taking on more managerial responsibilities, or working in the private sector.

You can read more about UK doctors’ salary here.

Yep. Doctors earn higher than the UK national average salary. If you’re sensible with your money then it is more than enough to live comfortably but not luxuriously.

If you’re looking for a luxury lifestyle, you can earn more by doing extra shifts, taking on more managerial responsibilities, or working  in the private sector.

It can range anywhere between £5,000 to £10,000 depending on how much you are prepared to spend for comfort, whether you need to retake exams, flight costs, etc.

Read this article for the full breakdown.

You cannot work as a doctor in the UK without first having GMC registration.

However, if you’re thinking of working in a non-medical field or non-doctor healthcare role, then it may be possible if you can find a position that will sponsor a work visa for you.

Definitely check out the UK website for the Skilled Worker Visa.

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Can I work in the UK if…

What’s old? There is no such thing as being too old to work in the UK as long as you are qualified and able. There are no age limits for jobs or specialty training (residency).

Yes, as long as you do the following:

  • Declare your condition to your employer
  • Undergo serological tests to prove you are not actively infectious
  • Comply with medical treatment, and
  • Attend the regular health checks as required by your employer

If you are infectious, then there will be some limitations on what you can do until you are non-infectious.

If you do not comply with treatment, attend the regular health checks, or if you hide that you have HIV/HBV/HCV, then you may be dismissed for putting patients in danger and can face GMC disciplinary action and/or imprisonment. Honesty is the best policy!

Of course! There are options for those who wish to become UK Consultants in the same specialty, change specialty, or just gain short-term training and return home. Please see this article for your options.

However, if you intend to apply for UK training, please note that you may be overqualified. I’ve explained this in detail here.

Yes. Lots of IMGs in this situation have found work in the UK.

Review the steps for your UK journey in pathway B.

Yes, however, your only option to work in the UK is to apply for the UK Foundation Programme.

Read more about UK internship in the UK Foundation Programme FAQ section below.

It is possible, lots of IMGs in this situation have found work in the UK with gaps of up to 10 years. However, recent clinical experience preferred for obvious reasons and is more important than the fact that you have a gap. To improve your chances of getting a job in the UK, then it’s a good idea to return to work back home.

If you’re already in the UK and therefore can’t return to work back home, you’ll need to work on your application and show you are clinically up-to-date and ready to work in the NHS through CPD and potentially a clinical attachment.

Read more about how to find a clinical attachment.

Yes. There are lots of IMGs working in surgery in the UK.

It’s difficult to get into surgery. This is no different than any other country in the world, but if you work hard and smart you can succeed.

We have a masterclass dedicated to helping IMGs overcome this obstacle, be sure to check out the IMG Masterclass.

For the pathways for surgical fields, check out our Specialty Guides.

Yes, there are doctors in the NHS with all kinds of disabilities and illnesses. As long as you coordinate with your employer to make reasonable adjustments to your work and you’re able to carry your duties as a doctor, then you can work.

No, you cannot work as a doctor without GMC registration.

You can work in other non-medical jobs but whether or not you can get a visa for other jobs is another issue. If you don’t need a visa to work in the UK, then you can apply for any jobs you like and you are qualified for.

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GMC Registration

We do not know exactly how the GMC will handle your application since COVID-19 is new for everyone and the GMC assesses each application on a case-by-case basis. So unfortunately, we cannot provide any assurances or advise you on the likely outcome of your application.

All we can say is that everyone has been affected by COVID-19 so delays or career gaps are inevitable and understandable. The GMC will not hold you responsible for circumstances outside of your control. But be prepared to provide documentation about what happened if they ask you about it.

For further advice, please contact the GMC directly at gmc@gmc-uk.org.

The GMC is the UK medical authority. GMC stands for General Medical Council. If you want to work in the UK as a doctor, you need to be registered with them.

No.

The requirements vary from person to person depending on the background. However, for most IMGs, these are the requirements:

  1. An accepted medical degree verified through EPIC
  2. +/- An acceptable pattern of internship
  3. Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, OET, or other)
  4. Proof of clinical skills (PLAB, sponsorship, or postgraduate qualification eg. MRCP/MRCS/MRCEM/MRCOG etc.)
  5. +/- Certificate of good standing
  6. Past 5-year activity record
  7. Passport

You can read about the requirements in more detail here.

Unfortunately no, we do not provide any services to assist with any part of GMC registration. 

No. All doctors in the UK must have GMC registration before they are legally allowed to work. It is not possible to start work before you have GMC registration.

If you need a visa to work in the UK, you’re very unlikely to be able to find work. This is because of the salary requirements for a Tier 2 work visa. Jobs that meet the salary threshold are not entry-level jobs, they require relevant qualifications and previous experience in that field so you cannot find a casual job while working towards your GMC registration. However, if you do manage to do this, please let us know how it goes!  

If you do not require a visa to work in the UK, eg. you are already on a dependent visa or you have permanent residence status (AKA Indfinite Leave to Remain or ILR) then yes, you can try applying for any non-medical jobs you are qualified for and work while working towards GMC registration.

No, there is no route based on experience alone. Being a Consultant overseas does not mean you will automatically be granted GMC registration.

There are 4 routes to registration: PLAB, an acceptable postgraduate qualification, sponsorship, and CESR/CEGPR (experience + comprehensive documentation of equivalence to UK training).

Read more here: 

No, only the certificate of your degree requires verification.

Yes. You just need to make an EPIC account then make a request to ECFMG to send the report to the GMC.

If you pass all exams the first time and have no issues with applying for visas to come to the UK for PLAB 2, it typically takes 8-12 months. If you have to resit exams or have your visitor visa denied and have to re-apply, then of course, it can take longer.

Things are currently delayed due to COVID-19 so it’s hard to say now. It is likely to take much longer due to exam cancellations and reduced availability of seats.

It depends. If it was just classes it should be fine, but if it also included clinical rotations and internship that could possibly be an issue. Unfortunately the GMC will only tell you once you submit your application which is after taking IELTS/OET and an exam like PLAB. They’ll usually ask to see more documentation before giving a final decision.

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Unsure of the best route to GMC registration for you?

There is usually more than one option for IMGs but how do you choose the best one for your individual situation? If you're still unsure, why not book a one-to-one guidance session with us?
Learn more

Internship

We do not know exactly how the GMC will handle your application since COVID-19 is new for everyone and the GMC assesses each application on a case-by-case basis. So unfortunately, we cannot provide any assurances or advise you on the likely outcome of your application.

All we can say is that everyone has been affected by COVID-19 so delays or career gaps are inevitable and understandable. The GMC will not hold you responsible for circumstances outside of your control. You will likely just need to provide documentation about what happened exactly if they ask you about it.

If you require further advice, please contact the GMC directly at gmc@gmc-uk.org.

No. Clinical rotations are a standard part of medical school and are not accepted as internship. You can read about the difference here.

No, clerkship refers to clinical rotations during medical school and is not the same as internship. The GMC does not accept clerkship as internship. You can read about the difference in this article.

The minimum requirements are:

  • Immediately before graduation (pre-graduate internship), or immediately after (postgraduate internship)
  • 12 months full-time with no gaps
  • 3 months in medical specialties
  • 3 months in surgical specialties

You can read about the internship requirements in detail here.

Unfortunately, no. Nobody can tell you for sure whether the GMC will accept your internship. However, if your internship does meet the requirements then it is likely to be accepted. Read about the internship requirements here.

Gaps tend to be accepted as long as you can provide a satisfactory explanation, the reason is valid, and you have relevant documentation.

You do not need to provide the additional documentation with your original application for registration, however the GMC may ask for it so just be prepared to provide this if needed.

Other than the above comment, unfortunately, nobody can tell you for sure whether the GMC will accept your internship gaps.

Unfortunately, the only way to really find out for sure is to submit your application for GMC registration. This means completing all the requirements first including, IELTS/OET, PLAB, certificate of good standing etc.

You can read more about the internship requirements here and valid reasons for gaps here.

Having a gap after internship is not a strict barrier to GMC registration for IMGs who sit PLAB. However, if you have a long clinical gap, you may need to submit a statement and additional paperwork to show that you are clinically up-to-date.

The criteria to continue working as a doctor after graduation is only applicable to Qualifying Swiss Applicants, and EEA applicants who hold provisional registration which was obtained prior to 1 January 2021, and who now wish to apply for full registration.

Possibly.

One of requirements to sit PLAB is that you have qualified from medical school. If your internship is a pre-requisite to qualify then you may need to complete your pre-graduate internship before you can book PLAB. 

We also asked the GMC this and they said “yes, you must complete your pre-graduate internship”, however we have come across many IMGs who have completed PLAB during a pre-graduate internship so it looks like it’s possible but we cannot provide any reassurances. Please contact the GMC if you require further clarification.

If you pass all exams the first time and have no issues with applying for visas to come to the UK for PLAB 2, it can take 12-18 months. If you have to resit exams or have your visitor visa denied and have to re-apply, then of course, it can take longer.

This pathway used to take between 8-12 months pre-COVID.

Either is acceptable, so the main factors you need to consider are:

  1. Cost
  2. Availability in your country or nearby countries
  3. Availability on the dates you need
  4. Personal preference

If cost and availability are the same, I recommend looking into both tests and trying sample questions for each to see which one you find easier.

For more tips on IELTS and OET preparation, check out our guides here.

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Exams (IELTS, OET, PLAB, UKMLA)

For GMC registration, the passing score is 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each section (reading, writing, listening, speaking). You must take the Academic version of the IELTS.

For the UK Foundation Programme or FY2 Standalone, the passing score is 7.5 in all sections. For 2024 applications, you can take the General, Academic or UKVI version of IELTS. For 2025 applications onwards, you  must take the Academic IELTS.

The GMC requires Grade B in each section (reading, writing, listening, speaking).

For the UK Foundation Programme or Standalone FY2, the passing score is 400 in all sections. Your result must state the numeric score and not just the letter grade.

Both exams are accepted for PLAB, GMC registration, and a Tier 2 visa so it’s really up to you. Try the sample tests, pick one, and prepare for it.

You can check the validity of each exam here: 

No. None of these options reach the level of English proficiency required by the GMC.

The IELTS Academic for UKVI is no longer required for a UK work visa, so you can take the regular IELTS Academic which can be used for both GMC registration and a Tier 2 visa application.

This is a hard question to answer as there are not many IMGs that have done PLAB courses with multiple academies.

What is best for others may not necessarily be best for you. Read our article on 15 things to consider when choosing a PLAB academy.

PLAB is set at the level of a doctor who has just completed internship, and it can even be passed by those who have not yet completed internship, so it’s not that difficult if you are well prepared.

But don’t think that you can pass without adequate preparation. Give it the attention it deserves and you can pass!

Read here for more things you need to know about PLAB.

No. British nationals who graduate outside the EU must sit both PLAB and an English exam.

If you study in a country that has English as the first and native language, you may be exempt from the English exam but you still need to sit PLAB.

No, PLAB scores are not taken into consideration at all when applying for UK specialty training.

No. PLAB is set at the level of a doctor who has just completed internship but it is not required that you complete internship before you can book PLAB as you have already passed the final exams for your medical school and therefore completed your medical qualification.

Read here for more things you need to know about PLAB.

No, PLAB can only be booked once you have passed your final exams and qualified from medical school.

Possibly.

One of requirements to sit PLAB is that you have qualified from medical school. If your internship is a pre-requisite to qualify then you may need to complete your pre-graduate internship before you can book PLAB. 

We also asked the GMC this and they said “yes, you must complete your pre-graduate internship”, however we have come across many IMGs who have completed PLAB during a pre-graduate internship so it looks like it’s possible but we cannot provide any reassurances. Please contact the GMC if you require further clarification.

If you pass all exams the first time and have no issues with applying for visas to come to the UK for PLAB 2, it can take 12-18 months. If you have to resit exams or have your visitor visa denied and have to re-apply, then of course, it can take longer.

This pathway used to take between 8-12 months pre-COVID.

The UKMLA is the new UK Medical Licensure Assessment which all UK graduates and need to pass in order to get GMC registration.

Previously, the GMC have said that the UKMLA will replace PLAB in 2024. However, they now say that the exam content will follow the UKMLA content, but it will still be called PLAB for now.

You can read more about it on the GMC website here:

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Our official recommendation for PLAB 2 prep

Of all the providers out there, we recommend Arora Medical Education for your PLAB preparation. As a former PLAB examiner, Dr Arora is an expert in this exam, and his 10-day PLAB 2 Academy ticks all the right boxes.

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Recommended

Specialty Training (residency)

It differs for each specialty. GP is 3 years. All other specialties range from 5-9 years. Read the duration of training per specialty here.

Please take note that you must complete 2 years of clinical experience before you can start UK specialty training. This includes 1 year of internship + 1 year experience after internship.

No, there are no tuition fees for any stage of training. All training jobs are paid, from FY1 onwards. You are paid a salary while you are training.

There are some professional fees that you need to pay each year such as GMC fees and Royal College membership (approx £200+/year), and you have to pay for your exams, but there is no tuition fee. 

You can read more about some of the common misconceptions about UK specialty training here.

There are no fees to submit an application for UK specialty training (residency)!

If you need to sit the entrance test the MSRA, there are no fees to book that either, and it can be taken anywhere in the world.

Interviews are usually online now as well so these can be done anywhere without the need to travel to or around the UK.

No. There is no age limit for GMC registration, specialty training, or any kind of job. Age discrimination is illegal in the UK.

Actually, you won’t get either.

Masters or MD degrees in the UK are completely optional. Completing one of these degrees does NOT lead to becoming a recognised GP or Consultant.

The qualification you after completing UK postgraduate training is the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). You will also become a member of the Royal College relevant to your specialty by passing their exams.

It’s only by obtaining the CCT that you can work as a GP or permanent Consultant in the UK.

You might be surprised to learn that the answer is no. According to the rules set in Oct 2019, UK graduates and IMGs will be given equal priority for training jobs including the UK Foundation Programme. Every applicant will be considered basis of their application score alone.

The only exception so far is Public Health.

Related: UK internship (Foundation Programme) open to all IMGs for 2020

Current immigration rules mean that IMGs have the same chances as UK graduates. UK graduates and UK citizens are no longer prioritised for training posts so it’s all down to you to make your application good enough. 

Related: 9 ways the new Shortage Occupation List affects IMGs dreaming of UK specialty training

Of course, your chances are also linked to the competitiveness of the specialty. The more competitive the specialty, the more difficult it is to get in, although it’s not impossible. You can understand more about competition in this guide under the section Competition

Current immigration rules mean that IMGs have the same chances as UK graduates. UK graduates and UK citizens are no longer prioritised for training posts so it’s all down to you to make your application good enough. 

Related: 9 ways the new Shortage Occupation List affects IMGs dreaming of UK specialty training

Of course, your chances are also linked to the competitiveness of the specialty. The more competitive the specialty, the more difficult it is to get in, although it’s not impossible. You can understand more about competition in this guide under the section Competition

Absolutely! There are no barriers specifically for IMGs when it comes to applying to surgical training in the UK. In fact, there are lots of IMGs working in surgery here.

Of course, it’s not going to be easy. There’s no doubt that it is difficult to get into surgical training, but this is no different than any other country in the world. But the application process is quite transparent, so if you work hard and organise yourself well, then you can succeed!

Start by reading what you need to know about specialty applications. 

Nothing is easy in medicine, you will need to put in the time and effort. But as long as you understand the process well, plan your strategy clearly, and put in the time and effort needed to execute your plan, then the chances of success are quite good in the UK. This is mainly because the criteria to get a high application score are quite transparent compared to other countries so you will know almost exactly what you need to do. 

We have a masterclass dedicated in helping IMGs overcome this obstacle, be sure to check out the IMG Masterclass.

I’m afraid there is no “waiting time”. It doesn’t matter how patient you are, waiting around will not lead to a training job.

You need to actively work on improving your application score. How well and how quickly you improve your application score will determine how long and how many attempts it takes for you to succeed, but in the end it will be due to your hard work, not your patience!

Related: 8 tips to succeed when applying for UK specialty training (residency)

If you feel you need help in this area, we teach a proven strategy to optimise your application to specialty training here in our IMG Masterclass.

It all depends on how much work you put into your application. Some IMGs get a training job within a year because they plan well, while others never get a training job because unfortunately, their application is never better than the competition.

Those who work hard and work smart will always be rewarded with the achievement of their goals!

Related: 8 tips to succeed when applying for UK specialty training (residency)

If you feel you need help in this area, we teach a proven strategy to optimise your application to specialty training here in our IMG Masterclass.

There is no minimum amount of time to work in a non-training job before you can apply for training. It depends on how long it takes you to meet the eligibility requirements. When you meet the eligibility requirements, then you can apply.

Of course, if you want to succeed, then you also need to work on building up a competitive portfolio and you need to be ready for the interview. 

All of this shouldn’t take more than 1-2 years if you are organised and hard-working.

No, not everyone gets a training job because not everyone has a good enough application. It is not a matter of time, it is a matter of whether your application is good enough to beat the competition.

If your application is not good and you don’t do anything to improve it, it doesn’t matter how long you “wait”, you will never get a training job.

But if you work hard and work smart, you can succeed!

We teach a winning strategy for success in the IMG Masterclass.

You can find the specific requirements for each specialty in the person specifications.

However, in general, these are the requirements to be eligible to apply:

For a first-year position (ST1 or CT1)

  • Full GMC registration by the time you start ST1 or CT1
    • This means you have completed internship (FY1 equivalent) and you are already in the process of GMC registration with IELTS/OET and PLAB.
    • If you have completed internship overseas, then you do not need to repeat internship in the UK (FY1).
    • Please note that sponsorship or MTI cannot be used for GMC registration for the purpose of a specialty training programme.
  • 12 months post-internship experience by the time you start ST1 or CT1 (not at the time of application)
    • Option A: 12 months of clinical experience in a supervised hospital post with in a specialty with acute medical responsibilities either in the UK, overseas, or a combination of both, OR
    • Option B: WAST in the UK, OR
    • Option C: Standalone FY2 in the UK
  • F2 competences
    • Option 1: A valid CREST 2020 form (previous versions of CREST will no longer be accepted). Applicable to Option A or B above, OR
    • Option 2: Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC) – applicable to Option C above

Please note that NHS experience is not a requirement to apply but is hugely beneficial. Starting your first job in a training post is challenging and can have negative effects on your career progression if you stumble.  

Please also note that you can be overqualified for an ST1/CT1 post if you have too much experience in the same specialty you are applying for. You can read more about this here.

For a position in higher specialty training (ST3 or ST4)

  • A certificate to confirm previous training equivalent to ST1/CT1 and ST2/CT2
  • Minimum required months of experience
  • +/- Logbook & formal assessments
  • Compulsory exams eg. MRCP, MRCS, etc.
As an example of the requirements for ST3 applications, check out this article which explains the requirements for ST3 Cardiology and ST3 General Surgery.
 
Again, you can find the specific requirements for each specialty for that specialty and level in the person specifications.
 

Internship is the equivalent of FY1, so if you have completed internship overseas, then you do not need to repeat internship in the UK (FY1).

However, you still need to complete FY2 or the equivalent. This is because having 12 months clinical experience after internship, is a compulsory requirement of ALL first-year training jobs.

These are the options:

Please note that NHS experience is not a requirement to apply but is hugely beneficial. Starting your first job in a training post is challenging and can have negative effects on your career progression if you stumble.  

Please also note that you can be overqualified for an ST1/CT1 post if you have too much experience in the same specialty you are applying for. You can read more about this here.

For the competitive specialties, the answer is generally no because of the experience limits.

Please see this article: Are you overqualified for UK specialty training?

For the less competitive specialties, you may still be able to apply but this is not necessarily the best route. You don’t need to repeat training in order to work in the UK or become a UK Consultant if you already have the equivalent training and experience under your belt.

Please see this article: Career options in the UK for IMGs

If you want to become a recognised Consultant in more than 1 specialty, then there are only certain combinations of specialties that are permitted. You can check the list and GM guidance here:

If you want to train in 2 specialties that are not in the approved list, then you have to complete the programmes separately. You cannot do this simultaenously.

No. Grades during medical school might get you a couple of points in your application in some specialties, but they make up just one component of your application.

In the UK they look for well-rounded applicants with achievements in all areas including quality improvement, presentations, publications, leadership, teaching etc.

Related:

Additional degrees may score points in your application in some specialties, but they make up just one component of your application.

In the UK they look for well-rounded applicants with achievements in all areas including quality improvement, presentations, publications, leadership, teaching etc.

So although having an additional degree can help when applying to some specialties, it’s not a magic bullet. You still need to work on all areas of the portfolio.

Related:

No. PLAB scores are not given any consideration at all in your application to specialty training (residency).

No, applications for specialty training are done through the website Oriel, not through the NHS jobs website.

You can find the link to Oriel including the user guide and Oriel FAQs here.

A portfolio is essentially a folder that contains all the documentation of your professional achievements.

Professional achievements can include areas such as additional degrees, research, teaching experience, quality improvement, presentations, publications, prizes etc.

The portfolio is used as part of your application score to specialty training.

Read more about the portfolio here.

The general rule is: analyse the person specifications for the specialty you want to apply for, research the scoring criteria, and develop your portfolio accordingly.

These are our general tips on improving your application to UK specialty training.  If you need step-by-step guidance in doing this, check out the IMG Masterclass.

 

We highly recommend Arora Medical Education for your MSRA prep. As a UK-trained GP and former question writer for the MSRA, his guidance is essential. Get 10% off with the discount code ARORASAVVY10.

Of course! We love answering your questions! You can send us a question here.

But do keep in mind that if your question is already answered on this page or on the FAQ page, we’ll direct you back to the website.

At the moment, CREST forms signed overseas are acceptable, however if you are unable to get your CREST form signed overseas, you can get it signed in the UK.

In order to get it signed in the UK, you need to work in paid employment in the NHS with the same consultant for at least 3 months. This assumes that you have completed all the competences in the form. Sometimes it can take longer than that.

Consultants are not obligated to sign the form after 3 months if you have not completed all the competences to their satisfaction.

Regarding suggestions, it would be beneficial to consider returning to work if feasible, as being idle in your profession can be unproductive. Additionally, if you have the opportunity to engage in teaching within your hospital, it would be advantageous. Participating in audits could also prove useful, as well as dedicating more time to continuous medical education. These are the primary recommendations to consider.

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UK Foundation Programme (internship)

It’s a 2-year postgraduate training programme for new medical graduates. It consists of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) which is equivalent to internship, and Foundation Year 2 (FY2) which is an additional year of experience before starting specialty training (residency).

No. Age does not affect your application in any way.

There are no fees to submit an application to the UK Foundation Programme.

However, if you qualified from medical school more than 2 years prior to the start date of FY1, then you will need to attend the Clinical Assessment (an OSCE exam) in the UK. The Clinical Assessment costs around £800+.

Eg. If the start date of FY1 is 6 Aug 2024, and you graduated 5 Aug 2022, then you will need to pay for and attend the Clinical Assessment.

No, you are paid a salary while in the Foundation Programme. There are some professional fees that you need to pay each year such as the GMC registration fee (approx £150 year), and you have to pay for any exams you take, but there is no tuition fee.

You can read more about some of the common misconceptions about UK specialty training here.

No. The Foundation Programme contains the UK equivalent of internship (FY1) so you cannot apply if you have already completed internship overseas.

However, if your internship does not meet the GMC internship criteria, then you can apply for the Foundation Programme since your internship will not be accepted by the GMC.

Yes.

The 3 accepted forms of evidence for English proficiency for UKFP are:

  1. IELTS with a minimum of 7.5 in all sections,  OR
  2. OET Medicine with a minimum score of 400 in all sections,  OR
  3. Dean’s statement confirming that your medical degree was taught and examined solely in English, and more than 75% of clinical interactions were also conducted in English. (This is only valid if your school is not on this list)

Read more about applying to the UK Foundation Programme as an IMG here:

No, you can apply before graduating or sitting PLAB however, there is a timeline to be followed. You need to graduate and sit PLAB by a certain date otherwise your application will be rejected.

No. You do not need to have right to work in the UK before you apply. 

If you succeed with your application, you will be issued a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) which can be used for a Tier 2 work visa. This is stated on the applicant guidance on page 24. This will provide you the right to work by the time you start.

Your chances are equal to that of any UK graduate. Nationality no longer plays a role. 

Being considered equally amongst UK graduates was introduced in 2020. You can read the official guidance here on page 2 and 3.

You can also read our article about this change here:

In terms of numbers, each year there are more than 7,000 places available. Places can even be increased to accommodate all applicants so virtually everyone who is eligible gets a place.

Ensure that your application, and all the associated paperwork, is submitted correctly and on time.

To make sure you don’t make mistakes in your application, check out our FY1 Mini-Masterclass here.

It depends on where you qualified.

If you qualified from a medical school outside the EU, then you will most likely have to sit PLAB for GMC registration which you need to work in the Foundation Programme, so, yes.

If you qualified from an EU medical school, then you most likely to not have to sit PLAB for GMC registration, so no.

Check out our article about the UK Foundation Programme.

Do also visit the official website and their FAQ page for more information.

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Privacy Overview

This Privacy Policy sets out how we, The Savvy IMG, collect, store and use information about you when you use or interact with our website, thesavvyimg.co.uk (our website) and where we otherwise obtain or collect information about you. This Privacy Policy is effective 13th November 2019.

Contents

  • Summary
  • Our details
  • When you visit our website
  • When you use our website
  • Marketing communications
  • Information obtained from third parties
  • Disclosure and additional uses of your information
  • How long we retain your information
  • How we secure your information
  • Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area
  • Your rights in relation to your information
  • Changes to our Privacy Policy
  • Children’s Privacy

Summary

This section summarises how we obtain, store and use information about you. It is intended to provide a very general overview only. It is not complete in and of itself and it must be read in conjunction with the corresponding full sections of this Privacy Policy.

  • Data controller: The Savvy IMG
  • How we collect or obtain information about you: when you provide it to us e.g. by contacting us, registering, uploading and downloading from our website, completing registration forms, posting blogs, or signing up for content such as newsletters. From your use of our website, using cookies and occasionally, from third parties such as mailing list providers.
  • Information we collect: name, contact details, social media information, IP address, information from cookies, information about your computer or device (e.g. device and browser type), information about how you use our website (e.g. which pages you have viewed, the time when you view them and what you clicked on, the geographical location from which you accessed our website (based on your IP address), engagement history and transaction history.
  • How we use your information: for administrative and business purposes (particularly to contact you, to improve our business and website, to fulfil our contractual obligations, to advertise our and other’s goods and services, to analyse your use of our website, and in connection with our legal rights and obligations.)
  • Disclosure of your information to third parties: user information can be shared with partners for specific types of content and events where a user has registered their information. Other disclosures are only to the extent necessary to run our business, to our service providers, to fulfil any contracts we enter into with you and where required by law or to enforce our legal rights.
  • Do we sell your information to third parties (other than in the course of a business sale or purchase or similar event): No, The Savvy IMG, does not sell data. However, when you register or sign up for certain types of content, your registration data can be shared with sponsors and partners. Examples of where we do this include event registrations, webinar signups or whitepaper downloads. We will always make it clear where any information provided will be shared with other parties.
  • How long we retain your information: for no longer than necessary, taking into account any legal obligations we have (e.g. to maintain records for tax purposes), any other legal basis we have for using your information (e.g. your consent, performance of a contract with you or our legitimate interests as a business) and certain additional factors described in the main section below entitled How long we retain your information. For specific retention periods in relation to certain information which we collect from you, please see the main section below entitled How long we retain your information.
  • How we secure your information: using appropriate technical and organisational measures such as storing your information on secure servers, encrypting transfers of data to or from our servers using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, encrypting payments you make on or via our website using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology and only granting access to your information where necessary.
  • Use of cookies and similar technologies: we use cookies and similar information-gathering technologies such as marketing automation tracking on our website including essential, functional, analytical and targeting cookies. For more information, please visit our cookies policy.
  • Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area: By using our website, your information may be transferred outside of the European Economic Area. We take personal data seriously and as such we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including, for example, that the third parties we use who transfer your information outside the European Economic Area have self-certified themselves as compliant with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield.
  • Use of profiling: we use profiling to understand our users better through web and marketing analytics, provide targeted advertising and deliver a personalised user experience.
  • Your rights in relation to your information
    • to access your information and to receive information about its use
    • to have your information corrected and/or completed
    • to have your information deleted
    • to restrict the use of your information
    • to receive your information in a portable format
    • to object to the use of your information
    • to withdraw your consent to the use of your information
    • to complain to a supervisory authority
  • Sensitive personal information: we do not collect what is commonly referred to as ‘sensitive personal information’.

Our details

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact the data controller.

The data controller in respect of our website is The Savvy IMG.

You can contact the data controller by sending an email to info@thesavvyimg.co.uk.

When you visit our website

We collect and use information from website visitors in accordance with this section and the section entitled Disclosure and additional uses of your information.

Web server log information

We use a third party server to host our website called BlueHost Inc. the privacy policy of which is available here: https://www.endurance.com/privacy/privacy

Our website server automatically logs the IP address you use to access our website as well as other information about your visit such as the pages accessed, information requested, the date and time of the request, the source of your access to our website (e.g. the website or URL (link) which referred you to our website), and your browser version and operating system.

Use of website server log information for IT security purposes

We collect and store server logs to ensure network and IT security and so that the server and website remain uncompromised. This includes analysing log files to help identify and prevent unauthorised access to our network, the distribution of malicious code, denial of services attacks and other cyber-attacks, by detecting unusual or suspicious activity.

Unless we are investigating suspicious or potential criminal activity, we do not make, nor do we allow our hosting provider to make, any attempt to identify you from the information collected via server logs.

Legal basis for processing: compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject (Article 6(1)(c) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legal obligation: we have a legal obligation to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk of our processing of information about individuals. Recording access to our website using server log files is such a measure.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: we have a legitimate interest in using your information for the purposes of ensuring network and information security.

Use of website server log information to analyse website use and improve our website

We use the information collected by our website server logs to analyse how our website users interact with our website and its features. For example, we analyse the number of visits and unique visitors we receive, the time and date of the visit, the location of the visit and the operating system and browser use.

We use the information gathered from the analysis of this information to improve our website. For example, we use the information gathered to change the information, content and structure of our website and individual pages based according to what users are engaging most with and the duration of time spent on particular pages on our website.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest: improving our website for our website users and getting to know our website users’ preferences so our website can better meet their needs and desires.

Cookies

Cookies are data files which are sent from a website to a browser to record information about users for various purposes.

We use cookies on our website, including essential, functional, analytical and targeting cookies. For further information on how we use cookies, please see our cookies policy.

You can reject some or all of the cookies we use on or via our website by changing your browser settings or non-essential cookies by using a cookie control tool, but doing so can impair your ability to use our website or some or all of its features. For further information about cookies, including how to change your browser settings, please visit www.allaboutcookies.org or see our cookie policy.

When you contact us

We collect and use information from individuals who contact us in accordance with this section and the section entitled Disclosure and additional uses of your information.

Email

When you send an email to the email address displayed on our website we collect your email address and any other information you provide in that email (such as your name, telephone number and the information contained in any signature block in your email).

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where your message relates to us providing you with goods or services or taking steps at your request prior to providing you with our goods and services (for example, providing you with information about such goods and services), we will process your information in order to do so).

Enquiry forms

When you contact us using an enquiry form, we collect your personal details and match this to any information we hold about you on record. Typical personal information collected will include your name and contact details. We will also record the time, date and the specific form you completed.

If you do not provide the mandatory information required by our contact form, you will not be able to submit the contact form and we will not receive your enquiry.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

We will also use this information to tailor any follow up sales and marketing communications with you. For further information, see the section of this privacy policy titled ‘Marketing Communications’.

Messages you send to us via our contact form may be stored outside the European Economic Area on our contact form provider’s servers.

Phone

When you contact us by phone, we collect your phone number and any information provide to us during your conversation with us.

We record customer-facing phone calls for training and customer service purposes.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation)

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where your message relates to us providing you with goods or services or taking steps at your request prior to providing you with our goods and services (for example, providing you with information about such goods and services), we will process your information in order to do so).

Post

If you contact us by post, we will collect any information you provide to us in any postal communications you send us.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation)

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where your message relates to us providing you with goods or services or taking steps at your request prior to providing you with our goods and services (for example, providing you with information about such goods and services), we will process your information in order to do so).

When you use our website

We collect and use information from individuals who interact with particular features of our website in accordance with this section and the section entitled Disclosure and additional uses of your information.

Social Media Tools

We have a wide range of social media tools to be able to use on our website. These tools include (but not limited to); Sharing, Likes, comments and submitting content both on and off our website. By using these tools, you are providing your consent to store and use the submitted data whether personal information or general information both on and off our website.

Legal basis for processing: your consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation). Consent: you give your consent to us storing and using submitted content using the steps described above.

We may also use this information to tailor any follow up sales and marketing communications with you. For further information, see the section of this privacy policy titled ‘Marketing Communications’.

Information you submit may be stored both inside and outside the European Economic Area on our servers as well as third-party servers such as Facebook.

For further information about the safeguards used when your information is transferred outside the European Economic Area.

Registering on our Website

When you register on our website or via teachable, we collect the following information; Your Name, Email.

If you do not provide the mandatory information required by the form, you will not be able to interact with our website or on Teachable.

You can view Teachable's privacy policy here https://teachable.com/privacy-policy

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest: registering and administering accounts on our website to provide access to content, allows you to download content and facilitates the running and operation of our business.

We will also use this information to tailor any follow up sales and marketing communications with you. For further information, see the section of this privacy policy titled ‘Marketing Communications’.

Transfer and storage of your information

Information you submit to us via the registration form on our website may be stored outside the European Economic Area on our third-party hosting provider’s servers.

Marketing communications

Our content, goods and services

When signing up for content, registering on our website or making a payment, we will use the information you provide in order to contact you regarding related content, products and services.

We will continue to send you marketing communications in relation to similar goods and services if you do not opt out from receiving them.

You can opt-out from receiving marketing communications at any time by emailing info@thesavvyimg.co.uk

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: Sharing relevant, timely and industry-specific information on related business services, in order to assist your organisation, grow.

Third party goods and services

In addition to receiving information about our products and services, you can opt in to receiving marketing communications from us in relation third party goods and services by email by ticking a box indicating that you would like to receive such communications.

Legal basis for processing: consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Consent: you give your consent to us sending you information about third party goods and services by signing up to receive such information in accordance with the steps described above.

Transfer and storage of your information

Information for marketing campaigns will be stored outside the European Economic Area on our third-party mailing list provider’s servers in the United States.

For further information about the safeguards used when your information is transferred outside the European Economic Area, see the section of this privacy policy below entitled Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area.

Use of tracking in emails

We use technologies such as tracking pixels (small graphic files) and tracked links in the emails we send to allow us to assess the level of engagement our emails receive by measuring information such as the delivery rates, open rates, click through rates and content engagement that our emails achieve.

Information obtained from third parties

This section sets out how we obtain or collect information about you from third parties.

Information received from third parties

We can often receive information about you from third parties. The third parties from which we receive information about you can include partner events within the marketing industry and other organisations that we have a professional affiliation with.

It is also possible that third parties with whom we have had no prior contact may provide us with information about you.

Information we obtain from third parties will generally be your name and contact details but will include any additional information about you which they provide to us.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where a third party has passed on information about you to us (such as your name and email address) in order for us to provide services to you, we will process your information in order to take steps at your request to enter into a contract with you and perform a contract with you (as the case may be).

Legal basis for processing: consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Consent: where you have asked that a third party to share information about you with us and the purpose of sharing that information is not related to the performance of a contract or services by us to you, we will process your information on the basis of your consent, which you give by asking the third party in question to pass on your information to us.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: where a third party has shared information about you with us and you have not consented to the sharing of that information, we will have a legitimate interest in processing that information in certain circumstances.

For example, we would have a legitimate interest in processing your information to perform our obligations under a sub-contract with the third party, where the third party has the main contract with you. Our legitimate interest is the performance of our obligations under our sub-contract.

Similarly, third parties may pass on information about you to us if you have infringed or potentially infringed any of our legal rights. In this case, we will have a legitimate interest in processing that information to investigate and pursue any such potential infringement.

Information obtained by us from third parties

In certain circumstances (for example, to verify the information we hold about you or obtain missing information we require to provide you with a service) we will obtain information about you from certain publicly accessible sources, both EU and non-EU, such as Companies House, online customer databases, business directories, media publications, social media, and websites (including your own website if you have one.

In certain circumstances will also obtain information about you from private sources, both EU and non-EU, such as marketing data services.

We will continue to send you marketing communications in relation to similar goods and services if you do not opt out from receiving them.

You can opt-out from receiving marketing communications at any time by emailing hello@thesavvyimg.co.uk

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: Sharing relevant, timely and industry-specific information on related business services.

Where we receive information about you in error

If we receive information about you from a third party in error and/or we do not have a legal basis for processing that information, we will delete your information.

Disclosure and additional uses of your information

This section sets out the circumstances in which will disclose information about you to third parties and any additional purposes for which we use your information.

Disclosure of your information to service providers

We use a number of third parties to provide us with services which are necessary to run our business or to assist us with running our business

These include the following: Internet services, IT service providers and web developers.

Our third-party service providers are located both inside and outside of the European Economic Area.

Your information will be shared with these service providers where necessary to provide you with the service you have requested, whether that is accessing our website or ordering goods and services from us.

We do not display the identities of our service providers publicly by name for security and competitive reasons. If you would like further information about the identities of our service providers, however, please contact us directly by email and we will provide you with such information where you have a legitimate reason for requesting it (where we have shared your information with such service providers, for example).

Legal basis for processing: legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest relied on: where we share your information with these third parties in a context other than where is necessary to perform a contract (or take steps at your request to do so), we will share your information with such third parties in order to allow us to run and manage our business efficiently.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract and/or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: we may need to share information with our service providers to enable us to perform our obligations under that contract or to take the steps you have requested before we enter into a contract with you.

Disclosure and use of your information for legal reasons

Indicating possible criminal acts or threats to public security to a competent authority

If we suspect that criminal or potential criminal conduct has been occurred, we will in certain circumstances need to contact an appropriate authority, such as the police. This could be the case, for instance, if we suspect that we fraud or a cyber-crime has been committed or if we receive threats or malicious communications towards us or third parties.

We will generally only need to process your information for this purpose if you were involved or affected by such an incident in some way.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: preventing crime or suspected criminal activity (such as fraud).

In connection with the enforcement or potential enforcement our legal rights

We will use your information in connection with the enforcement or potential enforcement of our legal rights, including, for example, sharing information with debt collection agencies if you do not pay amounts owed to us when you are contractually obliged to do so. Our legal rights may be contractual (where we have entered into a contract with you) or non-contractual (such as legal rights that we have under copyright law or tort law).

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest: enforcing our legal rights and taking steps to enforce our legal rights.

In connection with a legal or potential legal dispute or proceedings

We may need to use your information if we are involved in a dispute with you or a third party for example, either to resolve the dispute or as part of any mediation, arbitration or court resolution or similar process.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest(s): resolving disputes and potential disputes.

How long we retain your information

This section sets out how long we retain your information. We have set out specific retention periods where possible. Where that has not been possible, we have set out the criteria we use to determine the retention period.

Retention periods

Server log information: we retain information on our server logs for 3 months.

Correspondence and enquiries: when you make an enquiry or correspond with us for any reason, whether by email or via our contact form or by phone, we will retain your information for as long as it takes to respond to and resolve your enquiry, and for 36 further month(s), after which point we will archive your information.

Newsletter: we retain the information you used to sign up for our newsletter for as long as you remain subscribed (i.e. you do not unsubscribe).

Membership: we retain the information you used to sign up for our memberships for as long as you remain subscribed (i.e. you do not unsubscribe).

Criteria for determining retention periods

In any other circumstances, we will retain your information for no longer than necessary, taking into account the following:

    • the purpose(s) and use of your information both now and in the future (such as whether it is necessary to continue to store that information in order to continue to perform our obligations under a contract with you or to contact you in the future);
    • whether we have any legal obligation to continue to process your information (such as any record-keeping obligations imposed by relevant law or regulation);
    • whether we have any legal basis to continue to process your information (such as your consent);
    • how valuable your information is (both now and in the future);
    • any relevant agreed industry practices on how long information should be retained;
    • the levels of risk, cost and liability involved with us continuing to hold the information;
    • how hard it is to ensure that the information can be kept up to date and accurate; and
    • any relevant surrounding circumstances (such as the nature and status of our relationship with you).

How we secure your information

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to secure your information and to protect it against unauthorised or unlawful use and accidental loss or destruction, including:

  • only sharing and providing access to your information to the minimum extent necessary, subject to confidentiality restrictions where appropriate, and on an anonymised basis wherever possible;
  • using secure servers to store your information;
  • verifying the identity of any individual who requests access to information prior to granting them access to information;
  • using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software to encrypt any payment transactions you make on or via our website;
  • only transferring your information via closed system or encrypted data transfers;

Transmission of information to us by email

Transmission of information over the internet is not entirely secure, and if you submit any information to us over the internet (whether by email, via our website or any other means), you do so entirely at your own risk.

We cannot be responsible for any costs, expenses, loss of profits, harm to reputation, damages, liabilities or any other form of loss or damage suffered by you as a result of your decision to transmit information to us by such means.

Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area

Your information may be transferred and stored outside the European Economic Area (EEA) in the circumstances set out earlier in this policy.

We will also transfer your information outside the EEA or to an international organisation in order to comply with legal obligations to which we are subject (compliance with a court order, for example). Where we are required to do so, we will ensure appropriate safeguards and protections are in place.

Your rights in relation to your information

Subject to certain limitations on certain rights, you have the following rights in relation to your information, which you can exercise by writing to the data controller using the details provided at the top of this policy.

  • to request access to your information and information related to our use and processing of your information;
  • to request the correction or deletion of your information;
  • to request that we restrict our use of your information;
  • to receive information which you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format (e.g. a CSV file) and the right to have that information transferred to another data controller (including a third-party data controller);
  • to object to the processing of your information for certain purposes (for further information, see the section below entitled Your right to object to the processing of your information for certain purposes); and
  • to withdraw your consent to our use of your information at any time where we rely on your consent to use or process that information. Please note that if you withdraw your consent, this will not affect the lawfulness of our use and processing of your information on the basis of your consent before the point in time when you withdraw your consent.

In accordance with Article 77 of the General Data Protection Regulation, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or of an alleged infringement of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Further information on your rights in relation to your personal data as an individual

You can find out further information about your rights, as well as information on any limitations which apply to those rights, by reading the underlying legislation contained in Articles 12 to 22 and 34 of the General Data Protection Regulation, which is available here:http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/reform/files/regulation_oj_en.pdf

Verifying your identity where you request access to your information

Where you request access to your information, we are required by law to use all reasonable measures to verify your identity before doing so.

These measures are designed to protect your information and to reduce the risk of identity fraud, identity theft or general unauthorised access to your information.

How we verify your identity

Where we possess appropriate information about you on file, we will attempt to verify your identity using that information.

If it is not possible to identity you from such information, or if we have insufficient information about you, we may require original or certified copies of certain documentation in order to be able to verify your identity before we are able to provide you with access to your information.

We will be able to confirm the precise information we require to verify your identity in your specific circumstances if and when you make such a request.

Your right to object

You have the following rights in relation to your information, which you may exercise in the same way as you may exercise by writing to the data controller using the details provided at the top of this policy.

  • to object to us using or processing your information where we use or process it in order
  • to carry out a task in the public interest or for our legitimate interests, including ‘profiling’ (i.e. analysing or predicting your behaviour based on your information) based on any of these purposes; and
  • to object to us using or processing your information for direct marketing purposes(including any profiling we engage in that is related to such direct marketing).

You may also exercise your right to object to us using or processing your information for direct marketing purposes by:

  • clicking the unsubscribe link contained at the bottom of any marketing email we send to you and following the instructions which appear in your browser following your clicking on that link;
  • sending an email to info@thesavvyimg.co.uk, asking that we stop sending you marketing communications or by including the words “OPT OUT”.

Sensitive Personal Information

‘Sensitive personal information’ is information about an individual that reveals their racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, genetic information, biometric information for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual, information concerning health or information concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Our website does not allow you to register any ‘Sensitive Information’, however if we ask for this, you will be considered to have explicitly consented to us processing that sensitive personal information under Article 9(2)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

We update and amend our Privacy Policy from time to time.

Minor changes to our Privacy Policy

Where we make minor changes to our Privacy Policy, we will update our Privacy Policy with a new effective date stated at the beginning of it. Our processing of your information will be governed by the practices set out in that new version of the Privacy Policy from its effective date onwards.

Major changes to our Privacy Policy or the purposes for which we process your information

Where we make major changes to our Privacy Policy or intend to use your information for a new purpose or a different purpose than the purposes for which we originally collected it, we will notify you by email (where possible) or by posting a notice on our website.

We will provide you with the information about the change in question and the purpose and any other relevant information before we use your information for that new purpose.

Wherever required, we will obtain your prior consent before using your information for a purpose that is different from the purposes for which we originally collected it.

Children’s Privacy

Because we care about the safety and privacy of children online, we comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA). COPPA and its accompanying regulations protect the privacy of children using the internet. We do not knowingly contact or collect information from persons under the age of 18. The website is not intended to solicit information of any kind from persons under the age of 18.

It is possible that we could receive information pertaining to persons under the age of 18 by the fraud or deception of a third party. If we are notified of this, as soon as we verify the information, we will, where required by law to do so, immediately obtain the appropriate parental consent to use that information or, if we are unable to obtain such parental consent, we will delete the information from our servers. If you would like to notify us of our receipt of information about persons under the age of 18, please do so by contacting us by using the details at the top of this policy.