Radiology Application Process

In short: Clinical radiology ST1 posts in the UK are filled once a year through national recruitment on Oriel. Applications open in late October for August starts. All applicants sit the MSRA in January, and the MSRA score decides who is shortlisted. The final ranking combines MSRA, verified portfolio evidence and interview scores. In 2025 there were 4,011 applications for 356 posts. This page covers the cycle, the MSRA, the portfolio domains and the interview.

Written by Yiannis Skarparis, Consultant Interventional Radiologist. Last checked: 23 September 2026.

The cycle (2025 to 2026 round, for August 2026 entry)

NHS England is finalising the pages for the next round (August 2027 entry) by 2 October 2026; update this table then. Dates shift by a week or two each year and the scoring framework is revised between rounds. NHS England publishes the applicant guide, person specification and portfolio review guidance for each round; those are the source of truth. From the autumn 2026 round, the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 introduces prioritisation of UK graduates and doctors with significant NHS experience.

The MSRA

All eligible applicants sit the Multi Specialty Recruitment Assessment: Professional Dilemmas (95 minutes) and Clinical Problem Solving (75 minutes), delivered by Pearson VUE. Previous scores cannot be reused. The MSRA score decides shortlisting and also counts in the final ranking. The score needed to reach interview changes each round.

Eligibility

• GMC registration with a licence to practise by the start date
• Foundation competencies (or equivalent evidence for those outside the UK foundation programme)
• Eligibility to work in the UK for the duration of training

The portfolio: five domains, 24 points

Each domain is self scored A to E (4 to 0 points) and only the highest category counts. Commitment to specialty is double weighted.

• Commitment to specialty (up to 8): multiple significant exposures to radiology, each at least three whole day equivalents. Taster weeks, attachments, radiology research
• Leadership and management (up to 4): sustained roles of six months or more
• Teaching and training (up to 4): formal qualifications or sustained contribution to an organised programme
• Audit and quality improvement (up to 4): completed, led, with a change in practice; two radiology related projects for the top category
• Academic achievements (up to 4): postgraduate degrees, publications, presentations. Undergraduate and intercalated degrees no longer score

Only completed achievements count. Categories cannot be edited after the application is submitted, and evidence that does not match the category claimed scores zero for that domain.

The interview

Online, two stations of up to 15 minutes. Station A: two portfolio questions, one on understanding of the specialty, one skills question. Station B: clinical prioritisation, coping with pressure and uncertainty, teamwork. Appointability thresholds and ranking weights are published in the NHS England offers guidance for each round. Prepare examples with a clear outcome, and be ready to discuss AI, teleradiology, workforce and NHS service pressures for the specialty question.

Common questions

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