The dates
- Academic Clinical Fellow recruitment: applications open 10am Thursday 1 October and close 4pm Thursday 29 October 2026.
- Round 1, predominantly CT1/ST1: applications open 10am Thursday 22 October and close 4pm Thursday 19 November 2026.
- Round 2, predominantly ST3/ST4: applications open 10am Thursday 19 November and close 4pm Thursday 10 December 2026.
- Round 3, for posts starting January to March 2028: applications open 10am Tuesday 13 July and close 4pm Thursday 29 July 2027.
Do not stop at the national calendar
The national page sets the round framework. Specialty pages contain eligibility, person specifications, assessment method, evidence windows and other dates. Oriel and the recruiting office remain authoritative if a date changes.
A practical preparation sequence
- Identify the correct round and likely entry level.
- Read the current person specification and specialty page rather than reusing last year’s requirements.
- Work backwards from the application close, evidence window, assessment and interview dates.
- Record which evidence already exists and which outputs still need confirmation.
- Recheck the official page before every irreversible step.
Version note
These dates were checked on 10 August 2026. Recruitment timetables can change, so use the source link below as the live reference.
Practical close
Top tips for turning dates into a plan
- Choose the correct round and entry level before copying any date into your calendar.
- Work backwards from the close date to evidence, assessment and review milestones you can control.
- Keep the official source beside the saved date and recheck it before every irreversible step.
Original sources
- Recruitment timelines for 2027NHS England Medical Hub ↗
- Medical Specialty RecruitmentNHS England Medical Hub ↗
Sources last checked 10 August 2026. If an official source and this summary differ, use the official source.