Radiology ST1 Applications 2019/2020
"The application process significantly changed last year. We correctly predicted almost every single change and incorporated these into our courses and will continue to provide up to date, relevant material for our delegates."
Anticipated timeline for radiology ST1 applications for 2019 / 2020
What has changed recently?
The RCR announced fundamental changes to the recruitment process in 2016. We believe that this has been driven by a number of different factors. Firstly, the large number of applicants combined with the lack of shortlisting has led a huge increase in the number of applicants interviewed. This has inevitably led to some candidates being interviewed that are clearly unsuitable for a variety of reasons but have not been ‘filtered out’. In addition, the increasing competition for training places has led to better prepared candidates, resulting in the interview panel having difficulties in distinguishing between candidates.
The recruitment process will again be run through the ORIEL recruitment system, however the timetable was pushed back to include a new Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) test, that all candidates must sit, usually in early January. The SRA will be used by the RCR to shortlist-out only the lowest scoring applicants and the intention is still to interview the majority of applicants.
How does this change things?
The stages of application
Why is it so difficult to get in?
Resources
We thoroughly recommend the excellent resources that RadiologyCafe have on their website.
Person Specification and Applicant Handbook
Alongside the handbook the person specification is the most important document for your ST1 application. Click on the relevent links for the appropriate documents for the 2016 / 2017 recruitment round.
Applicant Enquiries
http://applicantenquiries.londondeanery.ac.uk/Enquiry/?ApplicationEnquiry
The numbers (RCR)
- 8th November 2019 - Application window open
- Mid December 2019 - Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) invitations
- 4 -13th January 2020 - Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) window
- 20-23 February 2020 - Interviews (held in London)
- 5th March 2020 - Initial offers circulated
What has changed recently?
The RCR announced fundamental changes to the recruitment process in 2016. We believe that this has been driven by a number of different factors. Firstly, the large number of applicants combined with the lack of shortlisting has led a huge increase in the number of applicants interviewed. This has inevitably led to some candidates being interviewed that are clearly unsuitable for a variety of reasons but have not been ‘filtered out’. In addition, the increasing competition for training places has led to better prepared candidates, resulting in the interview panel having difficulties in distinguishing between candidates.
The recruitment process will again be run through the ORIEL recruitment system, however the timetable was pushed back to include a new Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) test, that all candidates must sit, usually in early January. The SRA will be used by the RCR to shortlist-out only the lowest scoring applicants and the intention is still to interview the majority of applicants.
How does this change things?
- Simplistic initial application process has attracted more speculative applications
- The SRA will likely eliminate only the least suitable candidates prior to interview
- More candidates being interviewed overall (owing to the longlisting)
- Worse competition ratio at the interview stage than previously
- Good performance at the interview is vital to success
The stages of application
- Applications are submitted as a single Unit of Application (UoA) using the ORIEL recruitment system.
- Applicants preference their preferred deaneries on application, excluding themselves from particular training schemes or stating no preference.
- Applicants will be assessed for eligibility and if successful they will be invited to complete the SRA in early January
- Longlisting based on application and SRA result
- All eligible applicants will receive an invitation to one central interview, held in London at the end of February.
- The offers process is managed by London Recruitment via ORIEL
- If required, a national clearing process, run by the Shared Services, is used to allocate any surplus appointable candidates to any posts that remain unfilled.
- There will be a national minimum score of appointabilty in order to be put forward for clearing.
Why is it so difficult to get in?
- Very popular, fast growing, technologically driven specialty
- Huge variety of work which touches on every medical and surgical specialty
- Good work life balance
- Growing disillusionment with other medical and surgical specialties
- Relatively short training period
- Focused consultant led training
- Excellent prospects of gaining a consultancy post at the end of training
- Potential for private work
Resources
We thoroughly recommend the excellent resources that RadiologyCafe have on their website.
Person Specification and Applicant Handbook
Alongside the handbook the person specification is the most important document for your ST1 application. Click on the relevent links for the appropriate documents for the 2016 / 2017 recruitment round.
Applicant Enquiries
http://applicantenquiries.londondeanery.ac.uk/Enquiry/?ApplicationEnquiry
The numbers (RCR)
Value |
Applications |
Took SRA |
Interviewed |
Posts |
Competition ratio |
2012 |
693 |
- |
544 |
167 |
4.15 |
2013 |
754 |
- |
604 |
210 |
3.59 |
2014 |
794 |
- |
635 |
229 |
3.47 |
2015 |
917 |
- |
734 |
244 |
3.76 |
2016 |
963 |
823 |
537 |
249 |
3.87 |
2017 |
937 |
771 |
554 |
262 |
3.58 |
2018 |
970 |
760 |
543 |
282 |
3.44 |
"Got a number in my first preferred choice. Your course was excellent guys. You were so attentive and meticulous in organising the layout of the course booklet as well. Thank you very much indeed."
Dr AA ST3+
Dr AA ST3+