🔬Histopathology 2026/27

Verified 9 October 2026

At a glance

Competition ratio

9.5 : 1

985 apps·104 posts

High

Source: NHS England 2025 ↗

Entry point

ST1

Training length

5 years

ST1 to ST5

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

Histopathology

5 years

ST1 to ST5

Step 4

CCT

Download the curriculum

Hear from trainees

Short videos from people already in Histopathology 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 2027 entry

Centralised recruitment by NHS England with the Royal College of Pathologists, covering England, Scotland and Wales.

Applications

Vacancies published

By 5pm Wednesday 21 October 2026

Applications open

At 10am Thursday 22 October 2026

Applications close

At 4pm Thursday 19 November 2026

Shortlisting & Evidence

Evidence upload window opens

Monday 23 November 2026

Evidence upload window closes

At 10am Monday 30 November 2026

Offers

Appeal window

At 5pm Friday 8 January to Monday 11 January 2027 (72 hours including weekends)

Interviews

Monday 1 February to Thursday 4 February 2027

Offers

Initial offers released

By 5pm Tuesday 6 April 2027 (applicants will be told the exact date of Histopathology offers)

Hold deadline

At 9am Friday 9 April 2027

Upgrade deadline

At 4pm Wednesday 14 April 2027

Hierarchical deadline

At 4pm Thursday 15 April 2027

Source: NHS England / RCPath 2027 ↗

Lead recruiter

NHS England (Histopathology National Recruitment)

Central recruitment run by NHS England working with the Royal College of Pathologists, covering England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has separate guidance via NIMDTA.

NHS recruitment helpdesk NHS England Histopathology recruitment page

Top-rated trusts for Histopathology, as rated by doctors

Get ready for your Histopathology 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.