ST3 General Surgery Application Timeline 2026: Key Dates

The ST3 General Surgery recruitment process for 2026 is well underway, and staying on top of deadlines is crucial for a successful application. With a competition ratio of approximately 3.76:1 in 2024, every stage of this process matters. Here's your complete guide to the key dates and what you need to prepare at each stage.

Complete Timeline Overview

Stage	Key Dates	What You Need to Do
Vacancies Published	19 November 2025 by 5pm	Start Preparation of Self Assessment Evidence
Applications Open	20 November 2025 at 10am	Begin your application
Applications Close	11 December 2025 at 4pm	DEADLINE - Submit complete application
Evidence Verification Upload	16 December 2025 – 12 January 2026	Upload supporting evidence
Portfolio Shortlisting	26 – 27 January 2026	Scoring takes place
Shortlisting Results	12 February 2026	Find out if you're shortlisted
Appeal Window	12 – 16 February 2026	Submit appeals if necessary
Interview Invites	10 March 2026	Invitations sent out
Interview Window	26 – 27 March 2026	Interview dates
Preferences Window	19 March 2026 – 2 April 2026	Rank your deanery preferences
Initial Offers	14 April 2026 by 5pm	First round offers released
Hold Deadline	23 April 2026 at 1pm	Accept or reject your offer
Upgrade Deadline	23 April 2026 at 4pm	Final deadline for upgrades

Key Preparation Strategies

Before Applications Close (by 11 December)

• Complete your application with detailed, evidence-backed claims

• Have colleagues review your portfolio

• Organize all supporting evidence documents

• Proofread everything multiple times

During Evidence Verification Period (December - January)

• Upload high-quality scans of all certificates

• Ensure evidence exactly matches your claims

• Double-check file formats and sizes

• Submit early - don't wait until 16 January

After Shortlisting Results (from 12 February)

• Start interview preparation immediately

• Practice clinical scenarios regularly

• Review key guidelines and protocols

• Work on structuring clear, systematic responses

• Consider using structured practice resources

Interview Preparation Window (February - March)

• Clinical scenario practice (management, prioritization, communication)

• Staying current with surgical guidelines

• Practicing responses under timed conditions

• Getting comfortable with different station formats

Don't Leave It Too Late

The timeline is tight, and each stage builds on the previous one. The most successful candidates:

✓ Submit applications early with strong portfolio evidence

✓ Begin interview preparation well before invitations arrive

✓ Practice clinical scenarios consistently over weeks, not days

✓ Understand the structure and expectations of each interview station

✓ Can articulate clear, systematic responses under pressure

With interview invites going out on 27 February and interviews taking place 17-19 March, you'll have approximately 2-3 weeks to prepare once invited. Candidates who've already been practicing have a clear advantage.

Start Your Preparation Today

Whether you're still working on your portfolio or waiting for interview invitations, now is the time to start preparing. Understanding what's expected at interview, practicing with realistic clinical scenarios, and learning how to structure compelling responses takes time - time you won't have once the invitation arrives.

The difference between securing your first-choice deanery and missing out can come down to how well-prepared you are when you walk into that interview room. Make every day count.

Ready to start your interview preparation? Explore our clinical scenario question bank with expert model answers designed specifically for ST3 General Surgery interviews.

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