💤Anaesthetics (Higher) 2025/26

Verified 9 October 2026

At a glance

Competition ratio

1.7 : 1

699 apps·423 posts

Low

Source: NHS England 2025 ↗

Entry point

ST4

Training length

4 years

ST4 to ST7

Check out the free Pay Calculator to see how much you'd earn at each grade ↗

Your training journey

Step 1

Medical School

5-6 yrs

Step 2

Foundation Training

2 yrs

Step 3

Anaesthetics Core

Current

Anaesthetics (Higher)

4 years

ST4-ST7

Step 5

CCT

Download the curriculum

Hear from registrars and consultants

Short videos from people already in Anaesthetics (Higher) are coming to this page. If you are one of them, record one.

Application process

New for 2027

In 2027, UK graduates and others in the priority group are offered interviews and training posts first. Read more here.

Key dates for August 2026 entry (Round 2)

National recruitment by ANRO (NHS England West Midlands). Clusters: England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland.

Applications

Advert published

At 17:00 Wednesday 19 November 2025

Applications open

At 10:00 Thursday 20 November 2025

Applications close

At 16:00 Thursday 11 December 2025

Offers

SA document upload window

Monday 5 January to Sunday 11 January 2026 (via Qpercom)

SA verified scores released

Monday 2 February 2026

SA review window

Tuesday 3 February (10:00) to Friday 6 February (10:00) 2026 - 72 hours

Interviews

Interview invitations + declaration

Monday 2 March 2026

Interview booking deadline

At 16:00 Thursday 5 March 2026

Interview window

Monday 16 March to Friday 10 April 2026 (via Qpercom)

Shortlisting & Evidence

Stage 1 / Equivalence evidence deadline

At 13:00 Friday 10 April 2026

Offers

Sub-preferencing window

Monday 9 March to Friday 27 March 2026 (23:59). Reopens between recycles until upgrade deadline.

Initial offers released

By 17:00 Tuesday 14 April 2026

Hold deadline

At 13:00 Wednesday 22 April 2026

Upgrade deadline

At 16:00 Thursday 23 April 2026

Paperwork deadline

Wednesday 6 May 2026

Source: ANRO / NHS England WM 2026 ↗

Lead recruiter

ANRO - NHS England West Midlands

National recruitment by the Anaesthetics National Recruitment Office (ANRO). A single application covers Higher Anaesthetics ST4 posts across England, Scotland and Wales.

NHS recruitment helpdesk ANRO ST4 recruitment page

Top-rated trusts for Anaesthetics (Higher), as rated by doctors

Get ready for your Anaesthetics (Higher) interview

We're starting right now with IMT for The Schema, but depending on which specialties get more waiting list sign ups, resource development will be focused more towards that.