In this guide, we explain how to use Oriel , how to apply for work placements, and share top tips for submitting your application.
What is Oriel?
Oriel is the online portal used by postgraduate students in the UK to find and apply for work placements to complete their training in the following areas:
- Pharmacy
- Medical
- General practice
- Dentistry
- Public health
- Healthcare science
Applicants use Oriel to manage each stage of the recruitment process, and can apply for multiple programmes at a time, scheduling interviews, reviewing offers, and completing assessments in one central location.
Who is Oriel for?
Oriel is used by the following:
- Postgraduates to find and apply for foundation training programmes to complete their studies and gain qualified status
- Healthcare professionals to seek placements or training positions in a particular specialty
- Healthcare institutions to source postgraduates for upcoming placements and manage each stage the recruitment process
What is the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme?
The UK’s Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme is a year-long programme that all MPharm (Master of Pharmacy) graduates must complete before they are able to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and become a fully qualified pharmacist.
Pharmacy postgraduates are required to undertake a 52-week work placement as part of the programme, where they’ll receive hands-on training and experience to develop their clinical and patient care skills under supervision. During the foundation programme, trainee pharmacists will learn more about areas including:
- Clinical pharmacy
- Prescribing
- Pharmacy law
- Ethics
- Delivering person-centred care
- Effective collaboration
- Leadership and management
Types of foundation pharmacy placements
There are different types of pharmacy placements available via Oriel under the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme. You can select your preferences as part of the application process, depending on the specific area of practice you’d like to specialise in.
- Community pharmacy: this type of placement involves working in a retail or community pharmacy setting, where you’ll have a patient-facing role, engaging with the local community to prescribe over-the-counter medicines
- Hospital pharmacy: work on a hospital ward, gaining experience in medication management, patient safety, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Read more about what to expect as a foundation trainee pharmacist in a hospital pharmacy
- Primary care pharmacy: these placements typically involve working within a GP practice or primary care network. Responsibilities will include preparing prescriptions, conducting medication reviews, and advising patients on managing a range of conditions
- Academic placements: placements are also available in academia, where you’d play a key role in pharmaceutical research or training
- Industry placements: an industrial placement will provide you with experience in the development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, offering an insight into a different side of pharmacy
The Oriel application process
Applying for placements via Oriel is a straightforward process. You’ll need to register on the portal, then you can search for placements, select your preferences, and pass the relevant competency tests. The Oriel foundation programme timeline runs as follows:
- Application submission
- Preference selection
- Candidate assessments
- Offer stage
- Submission of supporting documents and references
1. Register with Oriel
The process begins with registering on the Oriel website. You’ll need to complete a registration form with your personal details, create a username and secure password, and click the verification link sent to your email address to complete your registration. This will grant you access to your very own Oriel dashboard, where you can:
- Submit and keep track of your placement applications
- Send and receive messages
- Manage your offers
- Submit references
2. Applying for placements
Browse and search for foundation pharmacy placements, using Oriel’s filters to tailor the results you see based on the eligibility criteria or your individual preferences. You can filter your preferences based on:
- Location
- Specialty
- Training provider
- Organisation size
- Number of placements available within a specific programme (this may increase the chance of being accepted)
- Skilled worker visa availability (for international applicants)
The different placement levels are as follows:
- Preference: use numbers to rank the placements you’re most interested in, starting with number 1 for your top choice
- No preference: this is the default setting for all programmes, and indicates that you’ll be happy to accept offers from these placements if your top preferences are not granted
- Not wanted: mark any placements that you won’t be happy to accept as ‘not wanted’. For instance, there may be some you can’t accept due to their location, so make this clear
When completing your Oriel application, make sure you complete all of the required fields, upload any supporting documents (CV, personal statement, qualification verifications) in the correct file format, and stick to the deadline to avoid missing out on your preferred pharmacy placement.
3. Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
When applying to the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme, you’ll be required to sit an online Situational Judgement Test (SJT). You’ll be asked to answer a series of scenario-based questions, which will assess your competency in areas such as:
- Decision making
- Problem solving
- Ethical reasoning
- Teamwork
There are SJT practice questions available online to help you prepare for the test, and you’ll be assessed on your professional judgement, and your ability to prioritise clinical challenges.
4. Numeracy test
Oriel applicants are also required to take a numeracy test, which will assess your ability to perform calculations, interpret data, and solve quantitative problems. The test will only take around 15 minutes to complete, and you can use a calculator (only certain models are permitted, so check what’s allowed ahead of the test day).
5. Deadlines
Make sure you’re aware of the application deadlines for the placements you’re interested in. Employers and healthcare institutions typically need to register on Oriel before March, with candidates needing to submit their applications around October time. You may need to get your application in before a certain time of day, so double and triple check the deadlines for your cohort to avoid missing out on your preferred placement.
Understanding your Oriel offer
Oriel pharmacy placement offers will be emailed to successful candidates, including details on the terms of the offer, its location, start date, and who you’ll be working with. The email will explain how to accept or decline the offer, and any relevant deadlines.
If you receive an offer that doesn’t match your preferences, or you miss out on a placement initially, there may be an opportunity to upgrade your offer or find a placement via Oriel’s clearing process.
Offer upgrades
You may be able to upgrade your initial Oriel offer to one of your higher-ranked preferences, if these become available at a later date. However, to be in with a chance of this, you’ll need to have opted into the ‘upgrade’ option when submitting your application.
Clearing
If there are unclaimed placements at the end of the offer process, these will be offered to candidates without a placement via a clearing system. If you apply for a position via Oriel’s clearing system, you’ll be able to select your preferences again, and will be awarded offers in line with your ranking.
Accepting an Oriel offer
Placement offers are awarded via the Oriel portal. You’ll be contacted by interested employers via Oriel, where you can manage your offers and accept a placement. Employers receive a high volume of applications, so it’s recommended that you wait for them to contact you, rather than chasing an answer.
Bear in mind that all foundation placement offers will be subject to pre-employment checks, with these typically taking place between January and March. Always make sure you read your placement contract carefully before signing, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice if there’s anything you don’t understand or are concerned about.
After accepting an offer, take the time to review any onboarding or policy documents from the employer, and make sure you’re clear on what’s expected from you on your first day.
Oriel application top tips for trainee pharmacists
Make the most of your Oriel application and put yourself in with the best chance of catching the eye of recruiters to be awarded your preferred placements with these top tips:
- Do your research: carefully research the organisations where you’re applying to placements to make sure you’re aligning your application with its values, and that you’re aware of any recent developments that may impact your time there
- Select your preferences carefully: make sure you select your preferences diligently in terms of placement location, preferred organisation size, and any specialties you’re particularly interested in to ensure you get the best match for your skills and professional interests
- Practice makes perfect: take the time to prepare for interviews by practising potential questions, and look for mock SJT and numeracy tests to get used to the format of the assessment before you sit the real exam
- Check, double check, and check again: demonstrate your meticulous attention to detail as a pharmacist, starting with your application. Check over each section carefully before submitting your application
- Be aware of deadlines: don’t miss the deadline to get your placement applications in; perhaps write it down and stick it above your desk or set a reminder in your phone, so you don’t miss out on the chance to complete your foundation training
- Join a pharmacy network for extra support: get advice and support from your peers during the application stage, throughout your placement, and beyond by joining a pharmacy network like UKCPA
Completing the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme
Once you’ve been accepted onto a placement as part of the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme, you’ll spend the next 52 weeks enhancing your skills and building your knowledge of pharmacy practice. At the end of your placement, you’ll have the necessary experience required for your GPhC registration.
During your placement, you can expect:
- 12 months of workplace learning, supervised by experienced pharmacy professionals and supported by mentors
- Exposure to a variety of pharmacy environments via structured rotations; for example in both community and hospital pharmacy settings
- Continued training and development opportunities
- Practical and theoretical evaluations to assess your competency
- Opportunities to directly contribute to patient care
Join UKCPA as a trainee for support throughout your pharmacy career
Get extra support, access expert-led training, and share knowledge with your peers throughout your career when you join UKCPA. Become a member for less than £3 a week as a foundation trainee pharmacist, and remain part of the network once you’re a qualified pharmacist to continue your education and access a busy calendar of in-person and virtual networking events, specialist resource libraries, in-depth forum discussions, and more.
