Information for refugee pathologists in the UK
The Royal College of Pathologists is able to offer some assistance to refugee pathologists already in the UK. The opportunity for interaction with other pathologists and access to the College’s educational resources may assist refugee doctors and their potential pathology careers in the UK.
Please note that during the period of assistance such pathologists are not entitled to use the College post-nominals, e.g FRCPath. These are only available to people who have passed the relevant College examinations.
Key benefits
- Access to the monthly President's newsletter.
- Access to our quarterly digital professional membership magazine, the Bulletin, which caters for the interests of our diverse readership, provoking discussion and comment on topics that range across the 17 specialties of pathology.
- Access to the members' area of the website (MyRCPath).
- Discount for College events and conferences.
- Free FRCPath Part 1 attempt (subject to meeting entry criteria).
- Access to an RCPath mentor.
- Free ticket to attend International Pathology Day.
- Free ticket to Undergraduate and Foundation Day.
Eligibility
Refugee membership of the Royal College of Pathologists is open to all refugee pathologists in the UK for 1 year. Membership starts on the date your application for the Refugee Scheme is approved by the College.
How to apply
Refugee membership is free for those who are eligible. If you would like to apply for refugee membership, please complete the form below and return this by email to international@rcpath.org
The General Medical Council
The General Medical Council (GMC) are aware that doctors holding refugee status may have difficulty providing original documents or evidence to meet the various requirements (e.g. English tests/employment records) in the standard way. Therefore, the GMC assess all applications from refugee doctors on a case-by-case basis to establish if they can accept alternative evidence.
Who can get help?
- Recognised as a refugee under the 1951 United Nations Convention and granted limited leave (5 years).
- Granted indefinite leave to remain (with refugee status).
- Granted indefinite leave to enter (with refugee status).
- Granted exceptional leave to remain (granted prior to 1 April 2003).
- Granted humanitarian leave to remain (also known as humanitarian protection, granted on or after 1 April 2003).
- Granted discretionary leave to remain (with no restrictions on working, granted on or after 1 April 2003).
- Granted leave to remain under family settlement visa (family member with refugee status).
The following support and financial help is available to refugee doctors:
- primary medical qualification verification with Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) completed free of charge
- two attempts at Part 1 (free) and two attempts at Part 2 (half price) of the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test
- payment of their annual retention fee in instalments
- may be eligible for the GMC annual retention fee income discount.
GMC registration
Currently, there are two routes to GMC registration offered to all refugee doctors in the UK:
- the GMC Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test (PLAB)
- postgraduate qualification route (PGQ). For refugee pathologists, this would be fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (by examination only).
The British Medical Association
The British Medical Association (BMA) runs the refugee doctors initiative. The initiative is free and provides a range of benefits to help asylum seeker and refugee doctors to get their GMC registration. To date, the BMA have approximately 800 doctors enrolled on the initiative. As soon as they secure GMC registration they are free to transition to full BMA membership. However, not all asylum seeker or refugee doctors are enrolled on the initiative.
What is included in this membership?
- A free weekly subscription to the BMJ.
- A confidential, 24-hour phone counselling service for doctors and their families for all, personal, emotional, work or study related problems.
- Use of the BMA library.
- Local BMA support and attendance of local BMA meetings.
- Support from the BMA international department.
The College recommend that you connect with the BMA and register to join their Refugee Initiative as a first step.