RCGP Fellowship

Celebrate your outstanding career achievements and receive the recognition of your peers by applying for RCGP Fellowship - our highest grade of membership, and mark of excellence and recognition of your distinguished contribution to general practice.

Join our diverse Fellowship community and open the door to further professional opportunities. Login to MyRCGP and select to apply for Fellowship.

We want to offer Fellowship to as many of our members as possible. Find out what's required in order to apply.

Full information for completing a Fellowship application.

All you need to know to support a Fellowship application.

Why become a Fellow?

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Recognition from your professional home

RCGP Fellowship is the highest mark of professional recognition offered by the College.
A woman with dark, greying hair, wearing glasses and a grey top smiles while in conversation with a man, who is seen from over their shoulder, out of focus.

Take pride in your career achievements

RCGP Fellowship is an honour and mark of your career achievements, awarded in recognition of your significant contribution to general practice.
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Be part of a community

Join an esteemed community of RCGP fellow peers and colleagues, and inspire the next generation.
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Further opportunities for you and your career

RCGP Fellowship opens the door to further professional opportunities.
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Local networking events for Fellows

Attend networking and celebration events for Fellows in your locality.

Inspire Awards 2024 - nominations are open

The Inspire Awards celebrate the invaluable contributions of our member volunteers, representatives and faculty groups. The event will be held on Friday 21 June, 19:00 at 30 Euston Square. 

View the full awards booklet with all the criteria 

Place your nominations before 31 March


Criteria for Fellowship

There are some requirements that you must fulfil to be eligible to apply:

  1. You must be either a current Member or International Member in good standing of the RCGP, and have been for at least five continuous years;
  2. If you are clinically active in the UK, you must also have successfully completed at least one cycle of revalidation post-CCT (this requirement is not applicable to candidates who are not clinically active or those who solely practise outside the UK);
  3. You should also be able to demonstrate a significant contribution to:
    • the health and welfare of the community,
    • the science or practice of medicine,
    • the aims of RCGP, or any organisation which benefits general practice.
  4. Fellowship is open to UK, Overseas and International Members.

If successful, a candidate can use the postnominals FRCGP or FRCGP[INT] following their formal election as a Fellow at a general meeting.

  1. The fellowship administration fee is a one-off fee and is separate to the annual membership subscription fees.
  2. Approved candidates need to pay this fee prior to their election as a Fellow, to be elected.
  3. Your annual membership subscription fee rate does not change as a result of being made a Fellow.
  4. For international and overseas candidates, the fee is based on the World Bank country classification list, as it is for annual membership fees - you should speak to the International faculty to confirm the fee rate applicable to you.

The fee for UK based candidates is £235.

Being awarded a fellowship is a great honour and a privilege. To be well regarded by your peers is a very meaningful accolade in any profession.

Candidate user guide

We have put together some advice to help you with your Fellowship application. Your application will be made through your MyRCGP login; you will be able to save your application as you go but you'll need to collate additional information needed.

  • Your application will be linked to your MyRCGP log in, so your details will be prepopulated. Please check these carefully, any changes you make here will be reflected in your member record.
  • Designated Body - if you are unsure who you designated body is you can find out on the General Medical Council website.

  • This can be between 500 - 1,000 words.
  • There are six suggested 'achievement areas' for fellowship, which a prospective Fellow would typically be able to refer to as the basis of their application. These areas are: Clinical practice; Patient-centred practice; Leadership; Teaching and education; Innovation and creativity; and Academia and research.
  • Showcase your contributions to general practice, patients, and the community in a similar way to how you would in a job interview. Do not be afraid to sell yourself!

  • You will need a principal and additional supporter to support your application.
  • At least one of your supporters must be a current Member or Fellow (or International Member/Fellow) of the RCGP (and have been for at least five years).
  • Only one of your supporters can be a current practice colleague and neither can be family relations (including spouses) or life partners.
  • The role of your supporters is to set out the reasons you should be recommended as a Fellow and to attest to some, if not all, of the work, personal qualities, and achievements on which you base your application.
  • You will need to input your supporters contact details (full name and email address) and their supporting statements.
  • A confirmation email will be sent to them on submission of your completed application.

  • You will receive notification that you have submitted your application.
  • Your application will be checked by your Faculty Administrator and your Faculty Fellowship Committee.
  • Once approved you will receive an email confirming the date of your election to Fellow by Council.
  • Once approved by Council you will be sent a payment link for the administration fee of £235 for UK based candidates (international and overseas candidates should speak to their faculty to confirm the fee). Please note, this is a separate fee to your annual membership subscription.
  • You will be able to book to attend a ceremony to celebrate your achievement with your family and friends and to receive your fellowship certificate.
  • Once your payment has been received you will be upgraded to Fellow and you will be able to use the post-nominals FRCGP/FRCGP[INT].

When you sit down and look at the criteria for Fellowship, if gives you the opportunity to reflect on all you have achieved and should make you feel proud to be a GP.

Supporter user guide

We have put together some advice for supporters, to help you prepare supporter information for the candidate to apply for Fellowship through the online system.

  • Applicants need a principal and additional supporter to support their application.
  • At least one supporter must be a current Member or Fellow (or International Member/Fellow) of the RCGP (and have been for at least five years).
  • Only one supporter can be a current practice colleague, and neither can be family relations (including spouses) or life partners.
  • The role of the supporters is to set out the reasons the applicant should be recommended as a Fellow and to attest to some, if not all, of the work, personal qualities, and achievements on which they base their application.
  • Applicants will need to input your contact details (full name and email address) and your supporting statements.
  • A confirmation email will be sent to you on submission of the applicants completed application.

  • You will need to prepare a supporting statement of up to 500 words.
  • Your role is to provide your own independent insights about the candidate to build up a complete description of the candidate's achievements.
  • Try to demonstrate how the candidate has made a significant contribution to the health and welfare of the community, the science or practice of medicine, and the aims of the RCGP, or any organisation which benefits general practice.
  • Set out the reasons as to why you believe the candidate should be made a Fellow. What do you feel is special about their achievements? What is the impact of their work and of their personal qualities and values? Try to clearly and persuasively describe how they have made a difference, vividly bringing them to life for the reader.

  • Once you have completed all sections of your form, you will need to send it on to the candidate so they can upload this to the website.

  • You will receive notification that the candidate has submitted their application.
  • The application will be checked by your Faculty Administrator and your Faculty Fellowship Committee.
  • Once approved the applicant will receive an email confirming the date of election to Fellow by Council.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, need support with your application or just want a bit more information, we are here to help.

Contact the fellowship team