Integrated Foundations of Medical Education (IFME) programme

The Integrated Foundations of Medical Education (IFME) programme is run by the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. 

Adapted versions of the programme also run in some of the regional hub hospitals.

IFME is designed for clinicians from Foundation Year 2 (FY2) upwards who teach undergraduate medical or veterinary students at the University of Cambridge.

These include:

  • GP/Primary care teachers
  • hospital based FY2 grade and above
  • Cambridge and regional teaching centres – including the School's regional partner hospital Trusts and GP practices
  • doctors and other health care professionals involved in teaching
  • teachers in the Department of Public Health
  • teachers at the School of Veterinary Medicine
  • undergraduate Clinical Supervisors

The programme runs each academic year and lasts between 6 and 9 months.

There is a combination of in person and online taught seminars followed by a final written assignment. 

Find out more about seminars, assignment and the programme structure.

Aims of the programme

The programme aims to:

  • develop your understanding and skills about medical education
  • develop your knowledge and understanding of the theoretical basis of teaching and learning
  • enable you to put teaching into the context of your role
  • improve your ability to deliver clinical teaching and to accumulate insight into the scholarship, research and professional values required of medical educators

Accreditation with AdvanceHE

By the end of the programme, you will:

  • be able to demonstrate awareness of models of teaching
  • have developed your learning, professional values and evaluation of teaching practice (as appropriate to Descriptor 1 of the Professional Standards Framework 2023)
  • have developed credible links between personal observations, published material and models of teaching and learning

If you complete all aspects of the programme successfully, including the final written assignment, you will be recommended for the award of Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).

The IFME programme is also approved by the Royal College of Physicians and you will be awarded Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for attendance to the taught seminars.

Fees and funding

You will not require funding because there are currently no fees to take part in the programme. We reserve the right to review this on an annual basis. 

The programme does not offer refunds for travel or parking expenses.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to apply, you must:

  • be actively teach Cambridge undergraduate medical or veterinary students on a regular basis, for the duration of the programme (September to March) – proof of this is required on application
  • be at minimum grade of Foundation Year 2 (FY2), or equivalent in primary care or public health
  • be able to attend the minimum required amount of taught seminars
  • be prepared to engage in teaching observations
  • be able to complete the programme over a maximum of 2 consecutive academic years.
  • actively take part in the interactive in person and remote sessions
  • allow enough time to carry out the pre and post session work available on the Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle)

Applying to the programme

General information

The IFME programme is very popular and has a limited number of places available each year (approximately 150). 

Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis, with approximately 50 places reserved for newly appointed Undergraduate Clinical Supervisors and 20 for veterinary students. Please note that veterinary students will be selected directly by the Veterinary School of the University of Cambridge and will not be required to fill out our online application form.

We will only consider correct and complete applications.

How to apply

Please note that the applications for the IFME central programme 2026-27 is now closed. 

Applications for the 2027-28 central programme will open in May for existing staff and in early August for relocating or newly appointed teaching staff.

We will not consider any applications submitted via email.

If you wish to apply to one of our regional hub programmes, please get in touch directly with the local SubDean or programme Lead:

If you submit an application to the central programme, you will be expected to attend all sessions in Cambridge.

When to apply

The IFME programme applications take place in 2 groups each year.

Group 1: Early May to mid-July 

Apply at this time if you are an existing staff with a confirmed teaching position for the following academic year.

Group 2: 1 Early August to mid-September (or until the programme reaches capacity)

Apply at this time if you are a newly appointed teacher for University of Cambridge medical students, or if you are relocating to/from one of our regional hub hospitals. For example, if you were actively teaching in Ipswich and have now secured a teaching position in Peterborough for the upcoming academic year.

Annual application timeline

  • early May – applications open for Group 1 (current teaching staff).
  • early July – deadline for Group 1 to submit applications.
  • late July – applicants in Group 1 with complete applications receive the outcome of their application
  • early August – applications open for Group 2 (newly appointed and relocated teaching staff)
  • first fortnight of September– applicants in Group 2 with complete applications receive the outcome of their application
  • end of September – all outstanding applicants receive the outcome of their application

Proof of teaching

You will not need to provide proof of teaching if you are an active Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor who was appointed by the School of Clinical Medicine or one of our partner regional hospital trusts. 

If you teach in any other capacity (for example Anatomy Demonstrator, Clinical Teaching Fellow, GP, unofficial clinical supervisor), you will need to add the full name, job title and contact details of someone who can verify your teaching status to the relevant section of the application form. 

This could be the Sub-dean of the Trust, the GP lead, the administrator for the Anatomy Demonstrator or your Educational Line Manager. We will contact them to confirm your teaching status before processing your application further.