✂️Core Surgical Training 2026/27

Verified 9 October 2026

At a glance

Competition ratio

8.6 : 1

5,399 apps·630 posts

High

Source: NHS England 2025 ↗

Entry point

ST1

Training length

2 years

CT1 to CT2

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

Current

CST

2 yrs

CT1-CT2

Step 4

Step 5

CCT

Download the curriculum

Hear from core surgical trainees

Short videos from people already in Core Surgical Training 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 2027 entry

England, Scotland and Wales share one process; Northern Ireland has separate guidance.

Applications

Vacancy advertisement

By 5pm Wednesday 21 October 2026

Applications open

At 10am Thursday 22 October 2026

Applications close

At 4pm Thursday 19 November 2026. If you need a CREST form (the 2024 or 2027 version), it must be submitted with the application, or the application is withdrawn.

MSRA

MSRA invitations sent

To be confirmed (December 2026)

MSRA test window

Tuesday 5 January to Monday 18 January 2027

Interviews

Interview invitations

Tuesday 16 February 2027 (subject to change)

Shortlisting & Evidence

Evidence upload portal opens

Friday 19 February 2027

Evidence upload portal closes

Wednesday 24 February 2027

Interviews

Interviews held

Monday 1 March to Wednesday 10 March 2027 (online via Qpercom)

Offers

Initial offers released

By 5pm Tuesday 6 April 2027

Hold deadline

At 9am Friday 9 April 2027

Upgrade deadline

At 4pm Wednesday 14 April 2027

Source: NHS England 2027 ↗

Lead recruiter

NHS England (CST National Recruitment)

National recruitment covering England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has separate guidance. A single UK-wide application feeds all regional CST programmes.

NHS recruitment helpdesk NHS England Core Surgery recruitment page

Top-rated trusts for Core Surgical Training, as rated by doctors

Get ready for your Core Surgical Training 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.