Specialty training
UK Specialty Training Recruitment 2027 Dates
Every application window with the date it closes, and what each UK specialty application actually scores, read from the recruitment office's own published guidance.
ACF
IMT
GP
Core Surgical Training (CST)
ACCS Emergency Medicine
Anaesthetics CT1
Core Psychiatry
Paediatrics ST1
Radiology ST1
O&G ST1
Ophthalmology ST1
Public Health
Histopathology ST1
OMFS ST1
Cardiothoracic Surgery ST1
Trauma and Orthopaedics
Nuclear Medicine ST3
Emergency Medicine ST3/ST4
ENT ST3
Urology ST3
Vascular Surgery ST3
Paediatric Surgery ST3
Clinical Oncology ST3
Occupational Medicine ST3
Paediatric Cardiology ST4
Paediatric Sub-specialty
Higher Pathology
Broad Based Training
Rounds of many specialties
Before you apply
When are the specialty recruitment rounds?
Round 1 (22 Oct-19 Nov 2026), mainly CT1/ST1, and Round 2 (19 Nov-10 Dec 2026), mainly ST3/ST4: posts Aug-Dec 2027. Round 3 (13-29 Jul 2027): posts Jan-Mar 2028; may not run if earlier rounds suffice. Source ↗
How do you apply for specialty training?
All applications go through Oriel. Nationally recruited specialties take one application, with geographical preferences ranked in Oriel. In 2027, each applicant may submit at most five applications per round. Source ↗
Which specialties use the MSRA?
Used by ACCS EM, Anaesthetics CT1, Radiology ST1, Core Psychiatry, Core Surgery, CSRH ST1, GP, Neurosurgery ST1-3, Nuclear Medicine ST3, O&G, Ophthalmology, plus Scotland BBT, Core Psychiatry and T&O ST1, and four NI programmes. Source ↗
How competitive is specialty training?
NHS England publishes applications, posts and ratios per specialty on its Medical Hub. 2025, Round 1 and Round 2 (e.g. GP ST1 4.91, Core Psychiatry 21.83, IMT 5.27). Source ↗
What scores for Internal Medicine Training CT1.
Your self-assessment on the Oriel form decides who is shortlisted. The interview decides your rank.
Provisional2027 recruitmentPhysician Specialty Recruitment Office, NHS England (IMT Recruitment)Read 1 October 2026
How selection works
You self-assess on the Oriel application. The score is used for shortlisting and is not routinely re-marked, although you must hold evidence because applications can be audited or investigated.
What is scored
- Only your best achievement in each domain counts.
- Over-claiming is a probity matter and can be referred to the regulator.
The domains below add up to 30.
Postgraduate degrees and qualifications
up to 4
| Achievement | Points |
|---|---|
| PhD or MD by research (can include non-medical related qualifications) | 4 |
| Masters level degree eg MSc, MA, MRes, etc. (can include non-medical qualifications). Typically lasts 8 months or longer, full-time equivalent | 3 |
| Other relevant postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate typically lasting between one and ten months (whole-time equivalent). You cannot claim for any membership examinations, or parts thereof, from within or outside the UK; this includes the MRCP(UK). Qualifications unrelated to medicine cannot be claimed for in this option | 1 |
| None of the above | 0 |
Presentations / posters
up to 8
| Achievement | Points |
|---|---|
| An ORAL presentation in which I was a first or second author was given at a NATIONAL or INTERNATIONAL medical meeting | 8 |
| A POSTER in which I was a first or second author was shown at a NATIONAL or INTERNATIONAL medical meeting | 6 |
| An ORAL presentation in which I was a first or second author was given at a REGIONAL medical meeting | 4 |
| An ORAL presentation in which I was a first or second author was given at a LOCAL medical meeting | 2 |
| A POSTER in which I was a first or second author was shown at a REGIONAL or LOCAL medical meeting | 2 |
| None of the above | 0 |
Publications
up to 6
| Achievement | Points |
|---|---|
| I am first author, joint-first author or corresponding author of ONE or more PubMed-cited ORIGINAL RESEARCH publication (or in press) | 6 |
| I am co-author of ONE or more PubMed-cited ORIGINAL RESEARCH publication (or in press) | 5 |
| I am first author, joint-first author, corresponding author or co-author of MORE THAN ONE PubMed-cited OTHER publications (or in press) such as editorials, reviews, case reports, etc | 4 |
| I have written one or more chapters of a book related to medicine in its broadest sense (this does not include self-published books) | 4 |
| I am first author, joint-first author, corresponding author or co-author of ONE PubMed-cited OTHER publication (or in press) such as editorials, reviews, case reports, etc | 2 |
| I have published one or more abstracts, non peer-reviewed articles or published articles that are not PubMed-cited | 1 |
| None of the above | 0 |
Teaching experience
up to 5
| Achievement | Points |
|---|---|
| I have worked with local tutors to ORGANISE a teaching programme (a series of sessions) for healthcare professionals or medical students on which I REGULARLY TAUGHT over a period of APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS or longer. I have evidence of FORMAL FEEDBACK | 5 |
| I have provided REGULAR teaching for healthcare professionals or medical students, as part of a defined programme/course, over a period of APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS or longer. I have evidence of FORMAL FEEDBACK | 3 |
| I have taught medical students or other healthcare professionals OCCASIONALLY. I have evidence of FORMAL FEEDBACK | 1 |
| None of the above | 0 |
Training in teaching
up to 3
| Achievement | Points |
|---|---|
| I have a higher qualification in teaching e.g. PG Cert or PG Diploma | 3 |
| I have had training in teaching methods which is below the level of a PG Cert or PG Diploma | 1 |
| I have had no training in teaching methods | 0 |
Quality improvement
up to 4
| Achievement | Points |
|---|---|
| Involvement in ALL STAGES of TWO CYCLES of a quality improvement project | 4 |
| Involvement in SOME STAGES of TWO CYCLES of a quality improvement project OR involved in ALL STAGES of a SINGLE CYCLE of a quality improvement project | 3 |
| Involvement in SOME STAGES of a SINGLE CYCLE of a quality improvement project | 1 |
| None of the above | 0 |
A conference counts here through what you present at it, and how big the meeting is changes the score. The directory shows what each listing could be worth to Internal Medicine Training.
Still counts before 19 Nov.
IMT: nothing new will count for 2027. No open call finishes before Round 1 closes.
For next year.
Prepare for IMT.
Self-assessed and unofficial. What you claim is verified by the recruitment office, and your authorship, whether the panel judges the work related to the specialty, and whether you presented it yourself can all bring a claim down. This is not a threshold, a pass mark or a prediction that you will be shortlisted. Round 1 closes 19 November 2026.