Radiology ST1 Applications 2023/2024
"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."
Timeline for radiology ST1 applications for 2022 / 2023
(note that we anticipate timelines for 2024 to be broadly aligned with this)
What has changed recently?
The recruitment process will be run through the ORIEL recruitment system. The Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) test, that all candidates must sit, usually in early January forms a critical part of your overall score. The SRA will be used by the RCR to shortlist-out applicants.
There were obviously some significant changes owing to COVID with an increased emphasis on the SRA and a move towards digital interviews and a change to how your 'portfolio' was assessed. For 2024 it is highly likely that many of these changes will continue, with remote interviews via MS Teams.
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 2022 recruitment round.
Applicant Enquiries
http://applicantenquiries.londondeanery.ac.uk/Enquiry/?ApplicationEnquiry
The numbers (RCR)
(note that we anticipate timelines for 2024 to be broadly aligned with this)
- 3rd Nov 2022 - Application window open
- Before 20th December 2022 - Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) invitations
- 5th-17th January 2023 - Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) window
- 2nd-7th March 2023 - Interviews (Remote MS Teams)
- 30th March 2023 - Initial offers circulated
What has changed recently?
The recruitment process will be run through the ORIEL recruitment system. The Specialty Recruitment Assessment (SRA) test, that all candidates must sit, usually in early January forms a critical part of your overall score. The SRA will be used by the RCR to shortlist-out applicants.
There were obviously some significant changes owing to COVID with an increased emphasis on the SRA and a move towards digital interviews and a change to how your 'portfolio' was assessed. For 2024 it is highly likely that many of these changes will continue, with remote interviews via MS Teams.
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, but also pre-select some to be offered a post without interview
- More candidates being interviewed overall (owing to the longlisting)
- Worse competition ratio at the interview stage than previously
- Good performance at the remote interview is vital to success
- Shorter interview time means you only have a short time to impress
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 2022 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 |
2019 |
967 |
769 |
555 |
278 |
3.48 |
2020 |
1128 |
977 |
572 |
311 |
3.63 |
2021 |
1677 |
TBC |
491 |
353 |
4.75 |
"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+