Recruitment timeline
Specialty Recruitment applicant guideKey recruitment dates for specialty recruitment.
Important: Important
It is important that you familiarise yourself with which round the specialty that you wish to apply to is being recruited in as their timelines may vary.
In 2026 Round 1, applicants will only be able to submit a maximum of five applications.
There will be no limit to the number of applications that can be submitted in Round 2.
Recruitment timelines for 2026
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 2 October 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 30 October 2025
November 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 10 November 2025
January 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 16 January 2026
Initial offers released from
Date: Tuesday 20 January 2026
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 27 January 2026
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2026. Where sufficient appointable applicants remain at the end of the recruitment process, posts with a later start date may be appointed, even if the specialty has previously advertised twice per year.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 10am
November 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 4pm
January 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 5 January 2026
March 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 20 March 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Time: 5pm
April 2026
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 2 April 2026
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 8 April 2026
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 9 April 2026
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2026.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 10am
December 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 11 December 2025
Time: 4pm
January 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 5 January 2026
April 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 10 April 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 14 April 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 22 April 2026
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Time: 5pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2027. Where sufficient appointable applicants exist from Round 1 or 2, we reserve the right to not advertise again.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2026
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 28 July 2026
Time: 10am
August 2026
Applications close
Date: Thursday 13 August 2026
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 24 August 2026
October 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 16 October 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 20 October 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 5pm
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 2 October 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 30 October 2025
November 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 10 November 2025
January 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 16 January 2026
Initial offers released from
Date: Tuesday 20 January 2026
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 27 January 2026
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2026. Where sufficient appointable applicants remain at the end of the recruitment process, posts with a later start date may be appointed, even if the specialty has previously advertised twice per year.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 10am
November 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 4pm
January 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 5 January 2026
March 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 20 March 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Time: 5pm
April 2026
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 2 April 2026
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 8 April 2026
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 9 April 2026
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2026.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2025
Applications open
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 10am
December 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 11 December 2025
Time: 4pm
January 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 5 January 2026
April 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 10 April 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 14 April 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 22 April 2026
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Time: 5pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2027. Where sufficient appointable applicants exist from Round 1 or 2, we reserve the right to not advertise again.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2026
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 28 July 2026
Time: 10am
August 2026
Applications close
Date: Thursday 13 August 2026
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 24 August 2026
October 2026
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 16 October 2026
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 20 October 2026
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 5pm
Recruitment timelines for 2027
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 1 October 2026
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 4pm
November 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 9 November 2026
January 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 15 January 2027
Initial offers released from
Date: Tuesday 19 January 2027
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 26 January 2027
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2027. Where sufficient appointable applicants remain at the end of the recruitment process, posts with a later start date may be appointed, even if the specialty has previously advertised twice per year.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 22 October 2026
Time: 10am
November 2026
Applications close
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
Time: 4pm
January 2027
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 4 January 2027
March 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Thursday 25 March 2027
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 30 March 2027
Time: 5pm
April 2027
Hold deadline
Date: Friday 2 April 2027
Time: 9am
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 7 April 2027
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical upgradedeadline
Date: Thursday 8 April 2027
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2027.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
Time: 10am
December 2026
Applications close
Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
Time: 4pm
January 2027
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 4 January 2027
April 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 9 April 2027
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 13 April 2027
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 21 April 2027
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 22 April 2027
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 22 April 2027
Time: 5pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2028. Where sufficient appointable applicants exist from Round 1 or 2, we reserve the right to not advertise again.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2027
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 13 July 2027
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 July 2027
Time: 4pm
August 2027
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 23 August 2027
October 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 15 October 2027
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 19 October 2027
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 26 October 2027
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 28 October 2027
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 28 October 2027
Time: 5pm
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 1 October 2026
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 4pm
November 2026
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 9 November 2026
January 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 15 January 2027
Initial offers released from
Date: Tuesday 19 January 2027
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 26 January 2027
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2027. Where sufficient appointable applicants remain at the end of the recruitment process, posts with a later start date may be appointed, even if the specialty has previously advertised twice per year.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 22 October 2026
Time: 10am
November 2026
Applications close
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
Time: 4pm
January 2027
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 4 January 2027
March 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Thursday 25 March 2027
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 30 March 2027
Time: 5pm
April 2027
Hold deadline
Date: Friday 2 April 2027
Time: 9am
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 7 April 2027
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical upgradedeadline
Date: Thursday 8 April 2027
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2027.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2026
Applications open
Date: Thursday 19 November 2026
Time: 10am
December 2026
Applications close
Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
Time: 4pm
January 2027
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 4 January 2027
April 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 9 April 2027
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 13 April 2027
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 21 April 2027
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 22 April 2027
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 22 April 2027
Time: 5pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2028. Where sufficient appointable applicants exist from Round 1 or 2, we reserve the right to not advertise again.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2027
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 13 July 2027
Time: 10am
Applications close
Date: Thursday 29 July 2027
Time: 4pm
August 2027
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 23 August 2027
October 2027
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 15 October 2027
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 19 October 2027
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 26 October 2027
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 28 October 2027
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 28 October 2027
Time: 5pm
Religious holidays
Wherever possible, recruitment offices will avoid religious holidays when planning interview dates, but this cannot be guaranteed. If you are unable to attend an interview date for this reason, you should contact the specialty Recruitment Lead at the earliest opportunity to establish if it is possible to make alternative arrangements.
Pregnancy and maternity leave
Specialty recruitment is organised in a number of nationally agreed recruitment rounds that all specialties adhere to. If you unable to attend the interviews due to pregnancy or maternity leave, you should contact the specialty Recruitment Lead at the earliest opportunity to enquire whether alternative interview arrangements can be accommodated.
Page last reviewed: 24 February 2026
Next review due: 24 February 2027