The UK Field Epidemiology Training Programme (UKFETP) is a full-time, competency based 2-year specialist postgraduate training programme. The programme is aimed at medical, scientific, veterinary or nursing staff who are, or whose future career may be, in a post involving field investigation and epidemiology or public health microbiology and who want to further enhance their specialist epidemiology skills.
This call is specifically for ringfenced posts available to higher specialist trainees in microbiology, infectious diseases and virology. This route into UKFETP has been opened up as part of a pilot to improve access to those not currently working as epidemiologists but working in related specialities.
The programme provides training and experience to develop the core competencies agreed for field epidemiologists in the United Kingdom and in the European Union (EU). For further information about the programme, please review the prospectus or contact the team (details below)
Prior to completing the application, please review the instructions on how to complete as this will greatly increase your chance of being selected for interview.
Training is provided mainly on the job with at least ten percent of time dedicated to formally taught training courses. Fellows will be based in an UKFETP training location for the two-year fellowship. The training locations include national public health centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or local UKHSA teams. Fellows are expected to relocate for the duration of the training programme.
In order to conduct the main duties of the fellowship, you are required to be educated to postgraduate level and have demonstrable experience of working within public health, health protection, microbiology with some public health microbiology component, infection prevention and control or epidemiology. You will be an excellent team member and have an understanding of public health systems in your country of work. You will be familiar with analysis, interpretation and presentation of scientific data. You will be able to demonstrate how the UKFETP could be of value to your future career.
Main Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the role are detailed in the attached job description. Other expectations are detailed below.
Relocation: Individuals currently contracted by UKHSA and working in a UKFETP training site are expected to relocate to an alternate site for the duration of the programme. However, consideration will be given for extenuating circumstances.
Sites: Different training sites are available each year on a rotational basis. The location of the training placement for each individual will be determined after interview based on the fellows learning needs and work interests, and on performance at interview.
Full time: The fellowship must be completed full time.
Travel: Training within or outside the UK may necessitate week-long residential stays. Fellows may also have the opportunity to undertake national projects and international missions.
Previous FETP: We would not consider applications from those that have already completed an advanced FETP programme.
Other Information
Open to external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Applicants are strongly advised to read the instruction on how to complete the application and use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
For further details relating to this post, please refer to the accompanying Job Description and Person Specification and the UKHSA website on Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP).
Successful applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start date (11 September 2025). The UKFETP cannot provide sponsorship.
For an informal discussion, please contact the UKFETP office at , additionally, a Q&A live event will be held on Thursday 5 December at 2pm during which information about the FETP and the application process will be provided with an opportunity to ask any questions. Participation in this meeting will be anonymous.
To join the meeting follow the link below: If link does not open for you please contact the office on
FETP Fellowship 2025 Pre-Application Event
Invitations to interview will be sent out in mid March 2025. Interviews will be held in North West London on 31 March 2025. Successful candidates will begin the programme on 11th September 2025.
Closing Date: 23.55 22/12/2024
Hybrid Working
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our lab/office in various UKHSA offices, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland and Public Health Wales. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Security Clearance
Successful candidates for this role must pass an enhanced disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.