CST Application Overview

Preparing for CST: Guide

Preparing for the Core Surgical Training (CST) application process is an important step towards securing a surgical training post. With competition ratios increasing significantly over recent years, early preparation and a structured approach are essential to maximising your chances of success.

Successful applicants need to demonstrate commitment to surgery, develop a strong portfolio and perform well in both the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) and CST interview. Starting your preparation early allows sufficient time to gain relevant experience, complete quality improvement projects, participate in teaching and develop the clinical and management skills assessed at interview.

For 2027, the CST recruitment process has introduced updated portfolio scoring criteria and a revised interview structure. Understanding these changes early will help you focus your preparation on the areas that contribute most significantly to your final selection score.

Prior to CST

Building your CST portfolio should ideally begin during medical school and continue throughout your Foundation Programme. Although the portfolio scoring criteria may change between recruitment cycles, gaining relevant surgical experience and demonstrating professional development will remain valuable.

During FY1, consider working towards the following goals:

• Quality Improvement: Lead or make a significant contribution to a quality improvement project or clinical audit, ideally with measurable outcomes and evidence of improvement.

• Teaching: Organise or contribute to a structured teaching programme for medical students or junior doctors, collecting feedback and demonstrating your personal involvement.

• Presentations and Publications: Aim to present your work at regional, national or international meetings and explore opportunities for publication.

• Leadership: Take on a representative or leadership role that allows you to demonstrate teamwork, communication and organisational skills.

• Operative Experience: Maintain an accurate surgical logbook documenting your involvement in surgical procedures.

• Surgical Experience: Seek opportunities to gain relevant surgical experience and develop your understanding of surgical practice.

• Professional Development: Consider relevant surgical courses, Royal College of Surgeons membership and preparation for MRCS Part A where appropriate.

For 2027, portfolio evidence is assessed across three domains:

1. Knowledge, Skills and Development – Operative and surgical experience.

2. Patients, Partnership and Communication – Teaching, presentations, publications and eligible patient education resources.

3. Colleagues, Culture and Safety – Quality improvement and clinical audit.

Candidates should review the official portfolio guidance before undertaking activities specifically to gain portfolio credit, as not all achievements or courses attract points.

CST Interview Application

During FY2, preparation should focus on completing your application, organising portfolio evidence, revising for the MSRA and developing your interview technique.

Candidates are required to upload supporting portfolio evidence during a designated evidence upload window. Evidence should be clearly organised and demonstrate the achievements claimed, including your individual contribution where relevant.

We recommend preparing your evidence well in advance, ensuring that certificates, logbook summaries, letters of confirmation and other supporting documents meet the requirements outlined in the official guidance.

Key interview dates are included below:

Dates are subject to change. Candidates should refer to the official NHS England recruitment timetable for the latest information.

Application Opens | 22 October – 19 November 2026

Applications for Core Surgical Training are submitted through the Oriel recruitment portal. The recruitment process is coordinated nationally, with candidates required to meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the current CST Person Specification.

Before applying, candidates should familiarise themselves with the application requirements, including eligibility, relevant clinical experience, professional registration and any applicable recruitment prioritisation criteria.

The application process includes completion of the online application and participation in the MSRA examination. Candidates are shortlisted for interview based on the recruitment rules applicable to the 2027 cycle, including MSRA performance and prioritisation status where relevant.

Unlike previous recruitment cycles, candidates should not assume that a fixed number of applicants will automatically be invited to interview based solely on their MSRA ranking.

Link to Oriel Recruitment Portal

MSRA Exam | 5–18 January 2027

The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) forms an important part of the CST selection process. For 2027, the MSRA contributes 10% towards the final selection score and is also used during the shortlisting process.

The examination assesses professional judgement and clinical problem-solving through two components:

• Professional Dilemmas

• Clinical Problem Solving

Candidates should begin preparing well in advance, using structured revision and regular question practice to become familiar with the examination format.

See our MSRA Exam page for further information.

Evidence Upload | 19–24 February 2027

Candidates invited to the relevant stage of recruitment will be required to upload supporting portfolio evidence during the designated upload window.

For 2027, portfolio achievements are assessed using updated criteria organised into three domains aligned with the GMC’s Good Medical Practice framework.

Candidates should ensure that all achievements meet the eligibility requirements and are supported by appropriate documentation. Evidence should clearly demonstrate the candidate’s personal involvement and satisfy the requirements of the relevant scoring indicators.

The evidence upload window is short, so we strongly recommend preparing and organising your documents before February.

The Portfolio station contributes 45% of the final selection score, making portfolio preparation a significant component of the application process.

See our CST Portfolio Guidance page for further information.

CST Interviews | 1–10 March 2027

CST interviews are conducted remotely and assess candidates’ clinical knowledge, decision-making, communication, leadership, professionalism and suitability for surgical training.

For 2027, the interview consists of two 15-minute stations.

Clinical and Management Station – 15 Minutes

This station comprises:

• 5-minute management scenario

• 5-minute clinical scenario

• 5-minute clinical scenario

Candidates are expected to demonstrate safe clinical decision-making, prioritisation, effective communication and an understanding of common surgical emergencies and professional challenges.

Portfolio Station – 15 Minutes

This station comprises:

• 3-minute prepared presentation

• 2 minutes of questions relating to the presentation

• 5-minute portfolio question

• 5-minute portfolio question

Portfolio questions focus on the Patients, Partnership and Communication and Colleagues, Culture and Safety domains.

Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experiences, explain their individual contributions and reflect on what they have learned.

Preparing for Your CST Interview

We recommend beginning structured interview preparation approximately 3–6 months before the interview, depending on your previous experience and familiarity with the assessment format.

Preparation should include revising common surgical emergencies, practising management scenarios, developing structured answers to portfolio questions and completing regular mock interviews with other candidates.

Candidates should also familiarise themselves with the remote interview platform, test their microphone and camera, and ensure they have suitable photographic identification available.

At CST Revision, we provide structured clinical and management interview resources, portfolio guidance and revision materials to help candidates prepare effectively for the CST selection process.