Recruitment for 2026 will follow the Round 1 2026 timetable. The exact timeline has now been confirmed below.
Important to note – ST4 Thoracic Surgery
We like to inform applicants that 2026 recruitment (for posts starting in August 2026) will be the last year of recruitment to ST4 Thoracic Surgery posts.
After the 2026 recruitment cycle entry into this specialty will be at ST1 level only.
Key dates
Advert: 22/10/2025
Applications open: 10:00am 23/10/2025
Applications close: 4:00pm 20/11/2025
Interviews: 02/02/2026 and 03/02/2026
Application Documents and Links
Person Specifications – ST1 Cardiothoracic Surgery and ST4 Thoracic Surgery
ST1 Cardiothoracic Surgery Applicant Guide – 2026
ST1 Cardiothoracic Surgery Self Assessment Criteria – 2026
ST4 Thoracic Applicant Guide – 2026
ST4 Thoracic Self Assessment Criteria – 2026
ST4 Thoracic Multiplier for Self Assessment – 2026
ST4 – Alternative Certificate of Eligibility to Enter Higher Surgical Training
Post Numbers
We shall appoint up to twelve (12) ST1 posts in Cardiothoracic Surgery to commence in August 2026 as follows:
- one ST1 post will be hosted in Scotland
- one ST1 post will be hosted in Northern Ireland
the following seven ST1 posts will be hosted by up the following English Deaneries (one post in each region):
- London
- West Midlands
- Wessex
- East Midlands
- North West
- East of England
- South West
Three of the following six regions will have a 2nd ST1 appointed for August 2026:
- Scotland
- London
- West Midlands
- Northern Ireland
- North West
- South West
The top scoring ST1 applicant will have their first choice from the above list of training programmes – the final list of ST1 programmes available for 2026 recruitment will be made available after interviews. The next highest scoring ST1 applicant can then choose from the remaining posts until up to the top twelve applicants have all made their choices.
We shall appoint into two (2) ST4 posts in Thoracic Surgery to commence in August 2026 as follows:
Two ST4 posts will be hosted by two of the following seven Deaneries (with no more than one ST4 post at each Deanery):
- London
- Thames Valley
- East Midlands
- North West
- Wales
- Yorkshire and Humber
- South West
The top scoring ST4 applicant will have their first choice from the above list of training programmes . The second highest scoring ST4 applicant can then choose from the remaining posts.