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BFIRST Fellowship applications have reopened for 2026

BFIRST awards up to 6 fellowships each year to enable overseas plastic surgeons from resource-poor countries to spend time and gain observational experience in a recognised plastic surgery unit in the UK.

Testimonials from previous BFIRST fellows will help provide an idea about what happens during a BFIRST fellowship.

 

What is the aim of a BFIRST Fellowship?

The aim of this observership is for plastic surgeons from resource-poor countries to see the services and systems within the UK, and to observe new skills and equipment that they may not have access to at home. Fellows should be able to take this knowledge home to assist them in setting up new services, and educating colleagues/trainees within their own region and country. The aim of this observership is ultimately to help Fellows improve healthcare in their own country in a sustainable way.

 

Where can you spend a BFIRST Fellowship?

A BFIRST fellowship consists of a 6-week observership that can be spent in one of over 50 plastic surgery units in the UK. For more information on UK units please follow the BAPRAS page. Additional information regarding subspecialty activity of each UK plastic surgery unit can be found on the individual hospital websites. If you are already in contact with specific surgeons within the UK and wish to work with them, please mention that on the application form. If you do not know which unit you would like to work in, our Fellowship Coordinator will help match you to an appropriate placement.

 

How is the BFIRST Fellowship funded?

A BFIRST fellowship awards £4,000 which is expected to cover travel, accommodation and living expenses. Please note, Fellows do need to pay for these expenses upfront, and receive the funding to reimburse them when they land in the UK.

It is expected that successful applicants come to the UK alone, as regrettably BFIRST is unable to facilitate additional family members during the fellowship.

 

Who is eligible to apply for a BFIRST Fellowship?

To apply for a BFIRST Fellowship you must satisfy the following two criteria:

  1. Fully Trained Plastic Surgeons: Senior Registrar or Consultant level
     
  2. Currently working within an established Plastic Surgery Unit in a resource poor (BFIRST priority*) country
     

* Please follow this link to see the list of BFIRST priority countries for sources of fellowship application.

 

How do you apply for a BFIRST Fellowship?

We request that you prepare the submission of the following documents for application:

  1. Completion of Application Form
     
  2. A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
     
  3. Two Letters of Reference from Consultant Plastic Surgeons supporting your application

Please look at the following example application forms and CVs to better understand what is expected of the content and formatting. Please do not send any additional documents apart from the requested ones.

What should the letter of reference contain?

  1. Details of progress and achievements made by the applicant in plastic surgery to date
  2. How the fellowship would benefit the applicant
  3. How the applicant would implement change as a result of the fellowship in their unit

Applications should be emailed to fellowship@bfirst.org.uk.

The deadline for fellowship applications for 2026 is 5th September 2025.

Please ensure you submit all your documents for application as early as possible. Any submission after the deadline will not be considered. You should get a confirmation email after you have submitted your application.

 

How are the applications scored?

The BFIRST Fellowship Subcommittee score the applications based on 5 domains:

  1. Reasons for applying for the fellowship - what would you like to achieve from this fellowship?
  2. Impact of the fellowship in your home country - how will you be using this to benefit your own service, colleagues and country?
  3. Clinical, academic and teaching experience - are you in a position to pass on your gained knowledge, and educate colleagues and trainees? How will you do this?
  4. Leadership, charitable or collaborative experience - have you been involved in other charitable ventures, or established new projects to help disadvantaged populations previously?
  5. Overall impression and references - enthusiasm, passion and possible opportunities to establish a long term working relationship with BFIRST

Please keep these points in mind when writing your application.

 

Due to the high volume of applicants, scoring all the applications does take some time. You should receive an email informing you if you have been successful or not by December.

The fellowship should take place between 1st January and 31st September in the year following the fellowship application.

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