Recruitment timeline

Specialty Recruitment applicant guide

Key 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.

Recruitment timelines for 2025

For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.

October 2024

Applications open

Date: Thursday 3 October 2024

Applications close

Date: Thursday 31 October 2024

November 2024

Interview window opens

Date: Monday 11 November 2024

January 2025

Interview window closes

Date: Friday 17 January 2025

Initial offers released

Date: Tuesday 21 January 2025

Hold deadline

Date: Tuesday 28 January 2025

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: 9 August 2024
Next review due: 9 August 2025