UK Core Surgical Training (CST) Application

The application process:

1.      Online applications for UK CST programme should be made using the ORIEL website.

2.      All applicants who meet eligibility criteria will be long listed for interviews. Eligibility criteria can be found in the Core Surgical Training Person Specification, and includes GMC status, competency level and documentation, immigration status, career progression, English Language skills and fitness to practise declarations.

Note that once you have completed up to 18 months of a UK core training programme in any theme, you cannot reapply for Core Surgical Training. You may have difficulty applying for other core training after having worked up to 18 months in one speciality even within a non-training post.

3.      Interview slots are booked on ORIEL.

4.      Jobs are released and ranked on ORIEL. Themed jobs (General Surgery, Urology, ENT, T&O, Plastics, Cardiothoracic), are designed to ensure that you fulfil the minimum required experience to apply for your desired ST3 specialty at the end of CST. Some deaneries will allow you to choose jobs for CT1 and CT2 years when you first apply. Some only provide CT1 jobs at the start and allocate CT2 jobs based on clinical need (a CT2 job is guaranteed but location within the deanery is not). There is some flexibility within certain deaneries to change themes.

5.      Essential documents to bring on the day of interview:

Proof of identity (passport) • Evidence of current immigration status/ right to work in the UK • Evidence of GMC registration • Primary Medical qualification • Postgraduate qualifications (if appropriate) • Evidence of Foundation competencies • ALS (if available) • English Language Proficiency (if appropriate) • Portfolio

Note that you will be required to bring original as well as clear copies of all documents requested.

For more information on interview structure, click here.

6.      You will be scored and ranked based on your interview performance, and jobs allocated accordingly. Upon receiving your offer, you would have 48 hours to ‘Accept’, ‘Accept with Upgrades’, ‘Hold’ or ‘Reject’.

Do not fret if you do not immediately receive an offer when first wave of offers are released. Every year there are applicants who do not take up their offer so as long as your score is appointable (different cut-off score every year), you might still receive job offers days or even a couple of weeks after. Similarly, do not fret if you do not immediately get your first choice job, as there is a chance of ‘Upgrade’.

7.      Feedback: Scoresheets will be released to your registered email address within one month of the offers deadline.

New for 2018:

Applicants for CST may also express a preference for the Improving Surgical Training General Surgery Pilot and the Otolaryngology Pilot programmes. Both are run-through training for General Surgery and ENT respectively, where trainees appointed to ST1 posts will continue through to ST8 and certification without further competitive interview or recruitment processes provided they meet the requirements of the programme and curriculum.

Improving Surgical Training General Surgery Pilot Trainee Prospectus 2018 here

Run Through Pilot in Otolaryngology Trainee Prospectus 2018 here

Reference timeline (2018):

Applications open 8 Nov 2017

Applications close 30 Nov 2017

Interviews held 22 Jan – 2 Feb 2018 in London

Programme preferencing 16 Jan – 2 Feb 2018

First iteration of offers (as well as rank and score) released 5 Mar 2018

Hold deadline 9 Mar 2018

Upgrades deadline 9 Mar 2018

Useful links:

Person Specification 2018 here

Applicant Guide 2018 here

List of available CST jobs 2018 here  

Updated by: Miss Yanyu Tan | Last updated: 05/09/2018