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Find out more about longlisting and shortlisting questions.
Appendix 1 – Longlisting
At the longlisting stage applications will be reviewed in line with the entry criteria set out in the nationally agreed General Surgery ST3 person specification. It is essential that applicants provide the evidence below in their application form. If applicants fail to follow these instructions, it is highly likely that their application will be withdrawn from the recruitment process.
The following criteria will be assessed at longlisting stage.
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent
Action required
Please include your MBBS, or equivalent, qualification in the ‘Entry Qualifications’ section of the application form. Applicants should indicate this as their primary qualification.
Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (MRCS) or equivalent (by time of offer date)
Action required
Applicants must have passed full MRCS (Parts A and B) by the time of the offer date.
The last eligible sitting of the MRCS Part B to qualify for this criterion is February 2026.
Applicants should list MRCS in the 'Entry Qualifications' section of the application form, in addition to confirming that they have MRCS at time of application where asked "Do you currently have full MRCS?".
Alternatively, applicants should confirm that they will be sitting/have sat the MRCS exam by the offer date when asked "Are you sitting an MRCS examination in the February 2026 diet (or earlier) that will lead to full MRCS qualification".
Complete employment history
Action required
All applicants must provide details of all posts undertaken following the award of their primary medical qualification. This includes Foundation and Core Surgery posts and work undertaken overseas.
Evidence of achievement of CT1 competences in surgery by time of application and CT2 competences in surgery by time of appointment
Action required
Applicants not currently undertaking Core Surgical Training will be required to submit evidence proving achievement of the requisite competences, of which an ARCP 1 at CT2 level or a signed CREHST now The Alternative Certificate of Eligibility to Enter Higher Surgical Training form are the only acceptable documents.
Applicants providing incomplete or unsatisfactory evidence will be provided 48 hours to submit satisfactory evidence.
Important information on CREHST (Certificate of Readiness to Enter Higher Surgical Training) certificate.
This has now changed to the Alternative Certificate of Eligibility to Enter Higher Surgical Training form and is the only acceptable evidence of achievement of all requisite core surgical competences for your application to General Surgery ST3 for applicants who have not completed a recognised UK Core Surgical Training Programme or who will have completed a UK Core Surgical Training Programme by the post start date.
All competences must be signed off in order for the Alternative Certificate of Eligibility to Enter Higher Surgical Training to be accepted. If necessary, competences can be signed off by multiple supervisors where a single supervisor feels unable to sign off the totality of competences. Alternative Certificate of Eligibility to Enter Higher Surgical Training must be submitted by all applicants who are not on or have not completed a UK Core Surgical Training programme.
The Alternative Certificate of Eligibility to Enter Higher Surgical Training can be downloaded from the Oriel resource bank and can also be found under the ‘document tab’ in the Oriel advert content section and the link above.
Appendix 2 - General Surgery shortlisting questions
Listed below are the 7 questions which appear on the 2026 General Surgery ST3 application form along with the possible responses to each question and details of suitable evidence to substantiate your responses.
A guide to the scoring for each question is provided, with descriptions of the quality indicators where appropriate. Please ensure you are only using the templates published for this recruitment round. Applications which are submitted using previous years templates will not be accepted, and this will result in the application being withdrawn from the process.
Applicants must record their responses to all 7 questions using the templates provided. Applicants can access the 7 templates under the ‘document tab’ in the Oriel advert content section only.
The “Shortlisting Evidence Applicant and Educational Supervisor Checklist” must also be completed and uploaded by all applicant to the Qpercom Evidence Portal. Failure to do so will result in the application being withdrawn from the process.
Candidates are reminded that the information they provide on the templates will form the basis of their scores. Therefore, full and detailed descriptions of their involvement in audits, publications and presentations are essential. Any evidence of plagiarism, including the use of AI in the templates will be treated as a matter of probity. Probity concerns will be treated with utmost seriousness and may result in candidates being withdrawn from the application process and referred to the GMC.
All applicants must upload their completed and signed General Surgery ST3 Shortlisting Evidence Applicant and Educational Supervisor Checklist alongside the 7 completed templates merged with the relevant supporting evidence to the Qpercom Evidence Upload Portal, which opens on Tuesday 16 December 2025. Applicants will receive further information on how to access the Qpercom Evidence Upload Portal nearer to the time.
Shortlisting templates, checklists and evidence can only be accepted via the dedicated Qpercom Evidence Upload Portal. Evidence provided to the London Recruitment Team by any other means will not be accepted. Failure to upload any completed template(s), evidence and checklist is likely to result in your application being withdrawn from the process.
For each question a description of the evidence required is given. You will only be awarded marks if the evidence provided matches the description of the evidence required for that domain.
Maintaining trust by being open and honest and acting with integrity is one of the key elements of Duties of a Doctor (GMC). If it is subsequently discovered that any statement made on your application is false or misleading, evidence will be collected, and you may be referred to a Probity Panel.
Question 1
By the end of July 2026, or by the completion of Core Training if this is later, how many months full time (or equivalent if LTFT) will you have spent in total in General Surgery in any Post-Foundation job in any country? Eligible posts must include experience in both unselected emergency general surgery and elective general surgery (or a recognised general surgical sub-specialty). Please do not include any other posts.
Maximum points: 8
Responses
Score
0 to 3 months
Score ineligible for appointment
4 to 7 months
1
8 to 12 months
6
13 to 36 months
8
37 to 60 months
4
61 months or more
1
Evidence
In addition to the General Surgery ST3 Shortlisting Evidence Applicant and Educational Supervisor Checklist countersigned by your Educational Supervisor and completed template for Question 1:
Please provide evidence of completion of training posts (as described in the longlisting section Appendix 1)
For non-training posts please provide a copy of the front page of your contract of employment, which must include dates and a clear description of the role. This must include clear, unambiguious evidence that the post(s) included experience in unselected emergency general surgery in addition to elective general surgery (or recognised general surgical sub-specialty)
The responsibility for providing adequate, clear and unequivocal evidence lies with the applicant. Please note that if the evidence is not clear the decision of the shortlisting committee will be final
Submissions where no template/evidence is submitted for this question will be deemed ineligible
If the front page of your contract does not include specialty and both start and finish dates additional evidence confirming the duration and specialty of post (for example, Letter from HR/Head of Service/Supervising Consultant) must also be uploaded as part of your evidence in this domain
Question 2
By the time your evidence is submitted, how many appendicectomies (laparoscopic and/or open) have you completed? Do not include cases where your role was limited to assisting the operating surgeon only.
Maximum score: 10
Responses
Score
0 to 9
Scoring ineligible for appointment
10 to 20
2
21 to 35
7
36 to 70
10
71 to 85
5
86 or more
1
Evidence
In addition to the General Surgery ST3 Shortlisting Evidence Applicant and Educational Supervisor Checklist countersigned by your Educational Supervisor and completed template for Question 2:
Please provide full and consecutive logbook evidence. Consolidation sheets from a validated logbook are acceptable. Each page of the logbook including cover sheets where applicable must contain a clearly legible signature, printed name and GMC number (or equivalent) for the verifying supervisor
Logbook evidence must be congruent with the applicant’s employment history. If the applicant has undertaken General Surgery posts where logbook evidence is omitted, then a score of 1 point will be awarded for this section
Please ensure there are no gaps in the logbook evidence. If there are gaps in the logbook evidence you provide, then a score of 1 point will be awarded for this section
Submissions where no template/evidence is submitted for this question will be deemed ineligible
The responsibility for providing adequate, clear and unequivocal evidence lies with the applicant. Please note that if the evidence is not clear the decision of the shortlisting committee will be final
Question 3
Closed loop Audit
Please submit your single best closed loop audit. Please only submit an audit which has been presented, as you will need to provide evidence for this. For each loop of the closed loop audit you must provide evidence of your involvement in the design, execution and presentation stages.
Points will be awarded for example, depth of candidate involvement, reference standard, study design, importance of clinical question and impact of work.
Applicants should note that to qualify as a closed-loop audit, there must be clear evidence of applicant involvement in both audit cycles. Submissions where the applicant is deemed by the shortlisters to have only been involved in the initial or re-audit will receive 0 points and are ineligible to proceed to the interview stage.
Applicants should also note that very generic audits are no longer accepted. for example, (Mandatory) Trust Venous Thromboembolism (VTE audits, antibiotic prescribing compliance, simple casenote/operation note audits, as these are felt to have low/no value in discriminating between the best applicants for ST3.
Submissions where no template/evidence is submitted for this question will be deemed ineligible.
Maximum score: 8
Evidence
In addition to the General Surgery ST3 Shortlisting Evidence Applicant and Educational Supervisor Checklist countersigned by your Educational Supervisor and the completed template for Question 3:
Please provide a copy of audit presentations (6 slides per page)
Please provide evidence (for example, a letter from the head of department/clinical lead for audit) clearly stating your contribution
Simple audit/departmental certificates only are not sufficient evidence
Question 4
By the end of July 2026, or the completion of Core Training, will you have spent at least 4 months in Trauma and Orthopaedics T and O), Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Ear, nose and throat (ENT) Surgery, Cardiac/Thoracic surgery, A and E, Intensive/Critical Care (ITU), Paediatric Surgery, Urology, Vascular or Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) posts since completing your Foundation Programme?
In order to be eligible for points, applicants must evidence that they have completed a minimum of 4 months full time (or equivalent if LTFT) in both unselected emergency and elective work within the relevant specialty.
Maximum score: 4
Responses
Score
I will not have spent 4 months in any of these specialities
0
I will have spent at least 4 months in a post in 1 of these specialities
2
I will have spent at least 4 months each in posts in 2 or more of these specialities
4
Evidence
In addition to the General Surgery ST3 Shortlisting Evidence Applicant and Educational Supervisor Checklist countersigned by your Educational Supervisor and the completed template for Question 4:
Please provide evidence of completion of training posts (as described in the longlisting section Appendix 1)
For non-training posts please provide a copy of the front page of your contract of employment, which must include dates and a clear description of the role. Where relevant, this must include clear, unambiguious evidence that the post(s) included unselected emergency and elective work within the specialty
The responsibility for providing adequate, clear and unequivocal evidence lies with the applicant. Please note that if the evidence is not clear the decision of the shortlisting committee will be final
If the front page of your contract does not include specialty and both start and finish dates additional evidence confirming the duration and specialty of post (for example, Letter from HR/Head of Service/Supervising Consultant) must also be uploaded as part of your evidence in this question
Question 5
Publications
Please submit your 2 best publications, published in a PubMed indexed journal. In order to be eligible for this section, publications must have a PubMed ID, journal impact factor, and be published by the time your evidence is submitted.
Irrespective of PubMed ID, publications in pay-to-publish model journals (for example, Cureus) are no longer be accepted and will score 0 points.
Please submit in order of preference, with your best publication first.
Do not include articles which have not yet been published. Collaborative papers, abstracts, case reports, letters or technical tips are acceptable. Points will be awarded for candidate contribution, level of authorship, quality of study and impact factor of publication.
Maximum score: 10 (5 per publication)
Evidence
Please provide a single merged document which comprising of the completed template for Question 5 and supporting evidence
Please provide a copy of each publication including the authorship list, journal reference, PubMed ID and journal impact factor
If you are submitting a collaborative paper, please also submit the list of collaborators with your name highlighted. Failure to do so will result in no points being given for this section
The responsibility for providing adequate, clear and unequivocal evidence lies with the applicant.
Question 6
Academic presentations
Please submit your 2 best academic presentations. In order to be eligible for this section, the presentation must have been published by the time your evidence is submitted.
Please submit in order of preference, with your best presentation first.
You may include poster presentations.
In event that the presentations duplicate/repeat one another (for example, results/conclusions are the same and/or derived from the same data analysis), only the first presentation will be scored.
Points will be awarded for example, depth of candidate contribution, being the presenter of the work, quality of study.
Applicants should note that presentations made at departmental/hospital/regional (or equivalent) level only are not eligible. Decisions regarding benchmarking of the relative level of a scientific meeting are at the discretion of the shortlisting panel/clinical leads irrespective of meeting title.
Applicants should note that presentations made in the course of the applicant delivering teaching/training activity are not accepted. This category of activity can be discussed during the professional development interview station.
Maximum score: 10 (5 per presentation)
Evidence
Please provide a single merged document which comprising of the completed template for Question 6 and supporting evidence
Please provide a copy of the relevant page of the meeting programme(s)
Please provide a copy of the presentation (6 slides per page) or Poster
The responsibility for providing adequate, clear and unequivocal evidence lies with the applicant.
Question 7
By the time your evidence is submitted, have you been awarded a stand-alone degree by a UK university (see evidence below)?
NB: This does not include intercalated degrees, including intercalated degrees which are part of a standard training programme.
This category has now been broadened to include PG Certs, Diplomas and taught Masters degrees. Points will not be awarded unless evidence is provided that the qualification has been awarded.
Maximum points: 5
Responses
Score
Postgraduate Certificate
1
Diploma/Masters degree without thesis or dissertation
2
Masters with thesis or dissertation (for example, MSc, MMedEd, MS, ChM)
3
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
4
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
5
In addition
Please provide a copy of your degree certificate. (Or written evidence from the university confirming the award pending graduation and issuing your certificate)
If your degree included a thesis or dissertation, please provide clear evidence of this or marks will not be awarded for this type of degree
If your degree was taken outside the UK, you must also provide evidence of its equivalence (for example, a letter from the university confirming that it was awarded following the production of a research-based thesis and full examination together with a copy of your results transcript)
If your degree certificate is not in English, you must provide a certified translation
The responsibility for providing adequate, clear and unequivocal evidence lies with the applicant
We are aware of organisations such as UK NARIC however the Selection Leads will be the final arbitrators
Page last reviewed: 19 November 2025
Next review due: 19 November 2027
