Use of bookable extra study (BES)

Trainees from the 2018 intake onwards are entitled to a total of 30 days of bookable extra study (BES) to use for work on the thesis in addition to regular study days. These are normally taken from third year placement time. However, up to six in total may be taken from core placements in the (placement three or four). All BES days must be taken before the thesis submission date. Please note that there will be a minimum number of days that trainees will need to spend on their third year community placement and so BES cannot be used in a way that would take a trainee below this minimum.

There is flexibility in how a trainee uses their BES, depending on factors including the timing and nature of their thesis work, the nature of the placement, and preferred study routine. However, BES should be consistent in pattern and easy to understand, for example, once a week for x number of weeks, or 3 short study blocks. It should not consist of days taken inconsistently from one week to the next across an extended period.

All BES days must be scheduled in advance of the placement starting wherever possible, and only with the agreement of the individual clinical tutor, research tutor and placement supervisor(s). The spreadsheet at the bottom of this page must be used to document plans for BES days, as well as regular study days, placement, and teaching throughout the third year, and can be adapted for use during core placements year if BES days are taken then. The spreadsheet should be shared and agreed with the clinical tutor, research tutor, and placement supervisor(s).

3rd year placement days

Trainees from the 2018 intake onwards on a part time route are entitled to a total of 30 days of BES to use for work on the thesis in addition to regular study days; this is the same amount as full time trainees. For part time trainees, most will normally be taken from final placement time, which begins in Nov of the 4th year of the part time route, however, up to six in total may be taken from core placements (placements three or four – April of yr 2 to Oct of yr 4).

All of the above rules for full-time taking BES days also apply to part time trainees.