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.
Recruitment timelines for 2024
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2023
Applications open
Date: Friday 6 October 2023
November 2023
Applications close
Date: Wednesday 1 November 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 6 November 2023
January 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 26 January 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Wednesday 31 January 2024
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 7 February 2024
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2024.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2023
Applications open
Date: Thursday 26 October 2023
Time: 10am
November 2023
Applications close
Date: Thursday 23 November 2023
Time: 4pm
January 2024
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 2 January 2024
MSRA window opens
Date: Thursday 4 January 2024
MSRA window closes
Date: Tuesday 16 January 2024
March 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 22 March 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Tuesday 26 March 2024
Time: By 5pm
April 2024
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 4 April 2024
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 9 April 2024
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Wednesday 10 April 2024
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2024.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2023
Applications open
Date: Thursday 16 November 2023
Time: 10am
December 2023
Applications close
Date: Thursday 7 December 2023
Time: 4pm
January 2024
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 2 January 2024
April 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Tuesday 16 April 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 18 April 2024
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 23 April 2024
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 24 April 2024
Time: 1pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Wednesday 24 April 2024
Time: 4pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2025.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2024
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 23 July 2024
Time: 10am
August 2024
Applications close
Date: Tuesday 13 August 2024
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 27 August 2024
September 2024
MSRA window opens
Date: Friday 6 September 2024
MSRA window closes
Date: Friday 13 September 2024
October 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 18 October 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Tuesday 22 October 2024
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 24 October 2024
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Friday 25 October 2024
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 29 October 2024
Time: 4pm
For further information on the ACF recruitment process, please visit the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) website.
October 2023
Applications open
Date: Friday 6 October 2023
November 2023
Applications close
Date: Wednesday 1 November 2023
Interview window opens
Date: Monday 6 November 2023
January 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 26 January 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Wednesday 31 January 2024
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 7 February 2024
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2024.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2023
Applications open
Date: Thursday 26 October 2023
Time: 10am
November 2023
Applications close
Date: Thursday 23 November 2023
Time: 4pm
January 2024
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 2 January 2024
MSRA window opens
Date: Thursday 4 January 2024
MSRA window closes
Date: Tuesday 16 January 2024
March 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 22 March 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Tuesday 26 March 2024
Time: By 5pm
April 2024
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 4 April 2024
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 9 April 2024
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Wednesday 10 April 2024
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2024.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2023
Applications open
Date: Thursday 16 November 2023
Time: 10am
December 2023
Applications close
Date: Thursday 7 December 2023
Time: 4pm
January 2024
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 2 January 2024
April 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Tuesday 16 April 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Thursday 18 April 2024
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Tuesday 23 April 2024
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Wednesday 24 April 2024
Time: 1pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Wednesday 24 April 2024
Time: 4pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2025.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2024
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 23 July 2024
Time: 10am
August 2024
Applications close
Date: Tuesday 13 August 2024
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 27 August 2024
September 2024
MSRA window opens
Date: Friday 6 September 2024
MSRA window closes
Date: Friday 13 September 2024
October 2024
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 18 October 2024
Initial offers released
Date: Tuesday 22 October 2024
Time: By 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 24 October 2024
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Friday 25 October 2024
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 29 October 2024
Time: 4pm
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
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2025.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2024
Applications open
Date: Thursday 24 October 2024
Time: 10am
November 2024
Applications close
Date: Thursday 21 November 2024
Time: 4pm
January 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Thursday 2 January 2025
March 2025
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 21 March 2025
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 25 March 2025
Time: 5pm
April 2025
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 3 April 2025
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 8 April 2025
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Wednesday 9 April 2025
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2025.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2024
Applications open
Date: Thursday 14 November 2024
Time: 10am
December 2024
Applications close
Date: Thursday 5 December 2024
Time: 4pm
January 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Thursday 2 January 2025
April 2025
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 11 April 2025
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 15 April 2025
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 23 April 2025
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 24 April 2025
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 24 April 2025
Time: 5pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2026.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2025
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 29 July 2025
Time: 10am
August 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 14 August 2025
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 26 August 2025
October 2025
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 17 October 2025
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 21 October 2025
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Friday 24 October 2025
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 28 October 2025
Time: 4pm
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
This round is predominantly for recruitment to CT1/ST1 for posts commencing between August and December 2025.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
October 2024
Applications open
Date: Thursday 24 October 2024
Time: 10am
November 2024
Applications close
Date: Thursday 21 November 2024
Time: 4pm
January 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Thursday 2 January 2025
March 2025
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 21 March 2025
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 25 March 2025
Time: 5pm
April 2025
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 3 April 2025
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Tuesday 8 April 2025
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Wednesday 9 April 2025
Time: 4pm
This round is predominantly for recruitment to ST3/ST4 for posts commencing between August and December 2025.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
November 2024
Applications open
Date: Thursday 14 November 2024
Time: 10am
December 2024
Applications close
Date: Thursday 5 December 2024
Time: 4pm
January 2025
Interview window opens
Date: Thursday 2 January 2025
April 2025
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 11 April 2025
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 15 April 2025
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Wednesday 23 April 2025
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Thursday 24 April 2025
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Thursday 24 April 2025
Time: 5pm
This round of recruitment is for posts commencing between January and March 2026.
All times are in UK local time (GMT or BST).
July 2025
Applications open
Date: Tuesday 29 July 2025
Time: 10am
August 2025
Applications close
Date: Thursday 14 August 2025
Time: 4pm
Interview window opens
Date: Tuesday 26 August 2025
October 2025
Interview window closes
Date: Friday 17 October 2025
Initial offers released by
Date: Tuesday 21 October 2025
Time: 5pm
Hold deadline
Date: Thursday 23 October 2025
Time: 1pm
Upgrade deadline
Date: Friday 24 October 2025
Time: 4pm
Hierarchical deadline
Date: Tuesday 28 October 2025
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: 9 August 2024
Next review due: 9 August 2025