Recruitment timeline
Specialty Recruitment applicant guideKey recruitment dates for specialty recruitment for 2023 intake.
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.
Recruitment timelines for 2022 to 2023
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2022
Applications open
Date: Friday 7 October 2022
November 2022
Applications close
Date: Wednesday 2 November 2022
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 7 November 2022
January 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 13 January 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 19 January 2023
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 26 January 2023
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2023.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2022
Applications open
Date: Thursday 3 November 2022
Time: 10am
December 2022
Applications close
Date: Thursday 1 December 2022
Time: 4pm
January 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 3 January 2023
March 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 17 March 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 30 March 2023
Time: By 5pm
April 2023
Hold deadline
Date: Friday 28 April 2023
Time: 1pm
May 2023
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 May 2023
Time: 1pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 May 2023
Time: 4pm
Paperwork deadline
Date: Wednesday 3 May 2023
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2023.
Vacancies are only advertised where posts remain vacant following Round 1.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
March 2023
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 28 March 2023
Time: 10am
April 2023
Applications close
Date: Wednesday 12 April 2023
Time: 4pm
May 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Wednesday 3 May 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 19 May 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Tuesday 30 May 2023
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 31 May 2023
Time: 10am
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 31 May 2023
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2023.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2022
Applications open
Date: Thursday 17 November 2022
Time: 10am
December 2022
Applications close
Date: Thursday 8 December 2022
Time: 4pm
January 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 3 January 2023
April 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 14 April 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 20 April
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 27 April 2023
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 27 April 2023
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Friday 28 April 2023
Time: 1pm
May 2023
Paperwork deadline
Date: Wednesday 3 May 2023
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2024.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2023
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 25 July 2023
Time: 10am
August 2023
Applications close
Date: Tuesday 15 August 2023
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 29 August 2023
October 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 20 October 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Monday 23 October 2023
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 25 October 2023
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Friday 27 October 2023
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 31 October 2023
Time: 4pm
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2022
Applications open
Date: Friday 7 October 2022
November 2022
Applications close
Date: Wednesday 2 November 2022
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 7 November 2022
January 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 13 January 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 19 January 2023
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 26 January 2023
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2023.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2022
Applications open
Date: Thursday 3 November 2022
Time: 10am
December 2022
Applications close
Date: Thursday 1 December 2022
Time: 4pm
January 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 3 January 2023
March 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 17 March 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 30 March 2023
Time: By 5pm
April 2023
Hold deadline
Date: Friday 28 April 2023
Time: 1pm
May 2023
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 May 2023
Time: 1pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 2 May 2023
Time: 4pm
Paperwork deadline
Date: Wednesday 3 May 2023
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2023.
Vacancies are only advertised where posts remain vacant following Round 1.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
March 2023
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 28 March 2023
Time: 10am
April 2023
Applications close
Date: Wednesday 12 April 2023
Time: 4pm
May 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Wednesday 3 May 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 19 May 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Tuesday 30 May 2023
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 31 May 2023
Time: 10am
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 31 May 2023
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2023.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2022
Applications open
Date: Thursday 17 November 2022
Time: 10am
December 2022
Applications close
Date: Thursday 8 December 2022
Time: 4pm
January 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 3 January 2023
April 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 14 April 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 20 April
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 27 April 2023
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 27 April 2023
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Friday 28 April 2023
Time: 1pm
May 2023
Paperwork deadline
Date: Wednesday 3 May 2023
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2024.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2023
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 25 July 2023
Time: 10am
August 2023
Applications close
Date: Tuesday 15 August 2023
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 29 August 2023
October 2023
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 20 October 2023
Initial offers released
Date: Monday 23 October 2023
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 25 October 2023
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Friday 27 October 2023
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 31 October 2023
Time: 4pm
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: 15 September 2022