📆 Leave Entitlements: Study Leave & Annual Leave Explained

  

Feeling like you need a break? Or maybe just some time to cram for the AKT?

This guide breaks down exactly how much leave you're entitled to during GP training; from study days to your annual leave allowance, and how to actually make the most of it.

          

📚 Study Leave

   

Each year, you’re entitled to 30 days of study leave (or pro-rata if you're LTFT). This is stated in the 2016 doctors contract.

But not all of this is “free-floating” leave.

Importantly, it includes your regular Educational Release Days (aka VTS teaching or HDR).

The number varies depending on your VTS program and local policy, so the below is a guide - but check with your TPDs if you need further confirmation:

         

🧠 Breaking It Down - An Example 

I'm currently working in the West Midlands where the following principles apply to study leave: 

• 12 days are usually taken up by HDR / VTS teaching sessions (i.e. 24 half days)
• That leaves up to 18 days each year for extra study leave for courses, conferences, exam prep, and so on.
• Private exam study: . The BMA GP registrars committee suggests you should be entitled to the day of the exam plus 5 days off for independent study. 
  • Note - this may vary between deanery. But make sure you take it!
• You can’t roll over unused days to the next training year, so use them or lose them.

         

🎓 What Counts As Study Leave?

✔️ Clinical courses
✔️ Conferences (in-person or online)
✔️ Leadership, QI, or teaching courses
✔️ Private exam study leave (below)

         

🤯 Private Study Leave (For Exams)

In most deaneries, you can request up to 5 days per year, as per the BMA guidance, for personal revision time (like doing AKT questions or preparing for the SCA). 

📌 Tip: Plan your revision leave early. Some registrars find it useful to book the week off before their exam in one 5-day stretch..

      

🏡 Education Time in GP

You should get regular “education time” on top of study leave, over the course of each week: 

• GP placements: 3 sessions/week (around 12 hours), typically:
  
  • 1 session: Half-day release (included in study leave as described above)
  • 1 session: Tutorials / Small group learning (may be broken into 2 x shorter tutorials depending on the practice)
  • 1 session: Self-directed portfolio or study time - this is particularly useful for staying on top of portfolio work or revising for exams. Make sure your weekly timetable in your GP placement includes this session. If it’s missing, check your local policy and speak to your TPD, supervisor, or practice manager to get it sorted.

          

🧾 How to Apply for Study Leave

Most regions use Accent Leave Manager to apply for study leave and claim expenses.

🖱️ Set up your account: This is done automatically 8 weeks before your programme starts.

📎 Link to Accent Guidance PDF

        

🧪 Exam Leave vs Study Leave

🗓️ If you need time off to sit the AKT or RCA, that comes under Exam Leave, which is separate from your 30 days of study leave.

• 1 day for AKT or the SCA

Remember, requests should be reasonable and made in good time & you’re more likely to get them approved.

        

🏖️ Annual Leave: How Much Can You Take?

Your annual leave is set out in your contract (based on the 2016 TCS).

Importantly, your entitlement depends on your NHS service history.

Annual leave is based on 'reckonable service' - which is any previous service you have with an NHS organisation. This is different to continuous service (used for sickness, redundancy, parental pay calculations etc.). 

So, if you worked as a teaching fellow, a HCA, a pharmacist, F1, F2, or locum directly for a trust during F3+ these should all count. 

💡 Note - Locum years usually should count as long as you are employed directly by an NHS trust and not an agency. If you’re having difficulty with your employer, discuss this with the BMA. 

        

📅 Full-time Annual Leave Entitlement:

• 27 days – standard
  
  
• 32 days – once you’ve completed 5 years of NHS service
  

Nb. Annual leave entitlements are according to RECKONABLE SERVICE (different to continuous service). See here (bottom paragraph). 

       

🧮 Key Annual Leave Rules

• Leave is pro-rata for part-time trainees or <12-month rotations.
  • i.e. 4-month rotation, 27-days total AL = 9 days in that rotation
• You normally need to give at least 6 weeks’ notice.
• Employers must be reasonable and can’t unfairly block leave requests if they have time to book a locum/arrange cover.
  • GP registrars are supernumerary to the number of GPs required to safely run the practice. So as long as you give adequate notice (usually 6+ weeks), your leave should normally be approved without issue. If not, speak to the BMA.
    
    
• Life-changing events (e.g. weddings, religious events) should be prioritised  if requested in good time.
  • 2016 contract: “Employers must allow annual leave to be taken when it has been requested for a lifechanging event, provided that the doctor has given notice to the employer in accordance with paragraph 14 of this Schedule.”
• In rare cases, up to 5 days of annual leave may be carried over. There must be exceptional circumstances as to why you haven’t been able to use your leave, and can only do sowith your employer’s agreement.
  

      

🔁 Can I Take Leave During Nights or On-Calls?

No - leave can't be taken from shifts with enhancements (like nights or weekends). If you’re rostered for a banded shift and want time off, you’ll need to arrange a swap with another doctor.

It’s your responsibility to sort this out.

       

📝 TL;DR - Your Leave in a Nutshell

• 🧠 Study Leave: 30 days/year - includes VTS.
  • Up to 18 days for additional study (varies according to VTS). 
    • Make sure you request up to 5 days/year for personal revision!
• 🎫 Exam Leave: Separate from study leave. Request in advance.
• ✅ Make sure your GP weekly rota includes 1 session for self-directed study time (and 3 educational sessions total)
• 🌴 Annual Leave: 27 or 32 days depending on NHS experience. Swap shifts if in hospital and on-call. Book with > 6 weeks notice if you can!