Applying

Dental Foundation Training (DFT) applicant guide

All applications must be made via the Oriel recruitment portal hosted by NHS England (NHSE) using the nationally agreed application form.

Information about the Dental Foundation Training (DFT) schemes will be available via the recruitment portal, as well as on individual NHSE local offices’ websites (or the equivalent in Wales and Northern Ireland).

Registering

To register with the recruitment portal, you must ensure you have a valid email address. We strongly recommend that you use an alternative email address to the one provided by your university or employer as these may expire prior to DFT start dates. 

When registering on Oriel, you must set up your account using the name as it appears on your passport.

Registering with the recruitment portal is only the first step, and a confirmation of this registration will automatically be sent to you. Subsequent to this confirmation, you must complete and submit the application by the deadline. Please refer to the additional Oriel User guidance available on the Oriel system.

Non-urgent advice: Communication

Communication between the Dental Foundation Training National Recruitment Office (DFTNRO) and applicants will be primarily via email. You should check your email account and online Oriel account a minimum of once every 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in you missing vital information in relation to your application.

Please also check ‘spam’ or ‘junk-mail’ to ensure correspondence has not been filtered by your email provider.

DFT application form

For full details of how to use Oriel and complete all relevant sections please refer to the Oriel Applicant User Guide which can be found on the Oriel Resource Bank.

We have provided additional information below regarding how to complete certain sections specifically for your application to Dental Foundation Training.

When you select Submit, the page will change on Oriel informing you that you have submitted your application. After this point, you will only be able to edit your contact details.

References

You will not be asked to submit any reference details as part of their application. These will be requested after offers have been accepted and collected by the lead employer as part of pre-employment checks prior to starting post in September 2024.

Competences

Here you will be asked to provide details of your primary dental qualification, and the date of achievement. If you have not yet completed your primary dental qualification – please enter the date as the anticipated date of achievement (for example, 07 June 2024).

Employment

In this section you will need to enter any employment details that you have had up to the start date of the post (September 2024). It may be that you have no employment history at the date you are applying as you are still a dental student, in which case – answer Yes to ‘I have no employment history’.

Evidence

Here you will be asked to enter the details of the dental school where you achieved your primary dental qualification. If it does not fall within the list provided – please select other and you will be prompted to give details.

You will also be asked to tick that you have read and understood the guidance below.

  • Applicant declaration that focused on Preparing for and Conduct at your Online Interview and the Recruitment Process and use of Information. This can be found on on the Oriel Resource Bank.
  • COPEND guidance on education and training with close family members. This can be found on the COPDEND website.

Reasonable adjustments

Reasonable adjustments are the practical arrangements made to provide access to the Situational Judgement Test (SJT), to ensure that no applicant is at a disadvantage on the grounds of disability or health, without changing the demands of the assessment.

You must apply for reasonable adjustments as part of the national application process also submitting any relevant supporting information by the closing date at 12pm (UK time) on 5 September 2023. It is important to note that the reasonable adjustments allowed for the SJT selection assessment may differ from those you obtain for university exams. 

The Dental Foundation Training National Recruitment Office (DFTNRO) is aware of the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate requests provided these are made known in advance. Any requests for reasonable adjustments (for example, wheelchair access, extra time, nursing mothers) must be submitted as part of your Oriel Application form. Adjustments cannot be guaranteed if contact is made after the specified deadline and no adjustments can be made on the week of the test. 

In some instances, in order to satisfy requests for adjustments, it may be necessary to schedule your exam at a specific time or in a specific location. 

As part of your application form you will be asked to select the relevant adjustment and upload the supporting evidence to support the request. 

If you have any queries regarding Reasonable Adjustments, please contact the DFTNRO recruitment team.

Expenses

Please note that any expenses incurred as part of the recruitment process will not be reimbursed.

Related information

Page last reviewed: 11 March 2024
Next review due: 11 March 2025