Helping you through the Core Surgical Interview
Core Surgical Interview
  • Introduction
  • The Interview
    • Clinical Station
    • Management Station
    • Portfolio Station
  • Interview Guide
  • Interview Course
  • Interview Process
    • Application Form
    • Surgery in the UK
    • Key dates for 2019/2020
    • The IST Pilot - How does affect me?
  • Improving Your Surgical CV
    • Effective Case Reports
    • Poster Presentations
    • Getting Published
  • Information for EU applicants
  • Contact us

Surgery in the UK

In the UK, the most common route into a surgical specialty is via Core Surgical Training. Each year around 3000 people apply, with competition ratios as high as 6:1 in some areas. ‘Core surgical training’ covers most surgical specialties, including:

  • General surgery (Colerectal, Upper GI, Trauma)
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Urology
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
  • Otolaryngology (ENT)
  • Paediatric Surgery

Specialties such as neurosurgery, maxillofacial surgery, cardiothoracics and ophthalmology have nationalised application systems, with direct application into Specialty Training (ST) posts, through to the attainment of the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). 

This guide will concentrate on those looking to get into core surgical training programmes in the UK. Other specialities are covered in some detail elsewhere.

Getting in to Surgery

There is no one 'to do list' for the ambitious would be vascular, colorectal or orthopaedic surgeon.  However, there are essential steps that you have to take to maximise your chances of getting over the first hurdle, the Core Surgical training Application Form and Interview. This website and our application guide combine to cover these in great detail and we will continue to add useful sections to the website as time goes on. 

Please contact us with any comments or suggestions

Good luck!