Dental Foundation Training Academic Offer (ADFT)

What is Academic DFT (ADFT)?

HEIW are launching an exciting new opportunity for foundation dentists which has been developed in direct response to feedback from current trainees.

Academic DFT (ADFT) posts are already established elsewhere in the UK and offer foundation dentists the opportunity to develop both clinical and research skills within a structured and supportive framework. These posts bridge the gap between clinical practice and academic careers, enabling newly graduated dentists to pursue interests in research, scholarship, leadership, or policy while continuing their clinical development post-qualification.

Feedback from research and focus groups with recent post-graduate trainees demonstrates strong demand for these types of posts.  Survey data and feedback from the past two years across all training programmes indicate that many trainees aspire to diverse and portfolio-based careers, incorporating elements such as research, leadership, and teaching- all of which align with the academic domain.

While not tied to a specific career pathway, the ADFT model potentially provides valuable exposure to academia and can serve as a stepping stone toward future careers in research, education, or academic leadership.

Benefits of ADFT

• Integrated experience
• Research opportunities
• Skills development
• Mentorship and Networking
• Career advancement 
• Explore without full commitment 
   

Who can apply?

• Applicants must have participated in the national DFT recruitment process, including attending the national selection centre (SJTs) in November for entry in following September. Please note: An email is sent to the DFT National Recruitment Office (DFTNRO) to confirm whether applicants have completed the national recruitment process. Eligible candidates are then longlisted and invited to attend a local online interview around March/April time. 
• Applicants must meet the DFT National Recruitment Person Specification for the 2026/2027 recruitment year FD PERSON SPEC 2026-27 as well as the additional criteria outlined in the Academic DFT (ADFT) person specification.
  Please note that this post is not eligible for temporary registration with the General Dental Council (GDC), and applicants must not have previously completed DFT or VT.
• Due to the additional academic component alongside standard DFT, applicants will be expected to demonstrate motivation, engagement, and strong organisational skills, as detailed in the Academic DFT (Wales) person specification Academic DFT (ADFT) person specification.

How do I apply?

The application for an academic DFT position is a separate local recruitment process but runs alongside the national DFT recruitment. You can apply through the Oriel platform after completing the standard DFT application and the Situational Judgement Test (SJT).

The application from for ADFT requires details of previous experience, publications, prizes, and future aspirations. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to an online interview in March.
 

Local recruitment intake for 2026/2027