Introduction
If you are aiming for a Vascular Surgery ST3 position and want clear, practical advice that reflects how selection actually works, you are in the right place.
Below you will find the full application journey, the scoring rules for self-assessment, what happens at the interview, and the kind of evidence that convinces assessors. Along the way, we will show you how to prep smartly with Medset’s Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Course so you arrive calm, organised and ready.
What Vascular Surgery Training Involves
Vascular surgeons prevent and treat disease of the arteries, veins and lymphatics. The scope is broad, from carotid disease and aortic aneurysm to limb ischaemia, venous insufficiency and diabetic foot care. You will work closely with interventional radiology, diabetology, stroke teams, renal medicine, and plastics for complex wounds. Expect a mix of acute emergencies and elective practice, with growing endovascular exposure alongside open surgery.
Typical week once in training
- Emergency cover with rapid assessment of limb threat, ruptured AAA, and post-operative complications
- Theatre lists that combine open and endovascular work, for example femoral endarterectomy, bypass, embolectomy, EVAR participation, and varicose vein intervention
- Outpatients and multidisciplinary clinics, such as diabetic foot and carotid TIA pathways
- Audit, QI, morbidity and mortality, simulation, and journal club
Training pathway
- Entry at ST3 following Core Surgical Training or CREHST route for equivalence
- Progression through themed vascular posts with endovascular training embedded
- CCT at the end of higher training, subject to satisfactory ARCPs and curriculum sign off
Why consider Vascular Surgery
- Immediate impact on patient outcomes. Correct decisions can save a life or a limb.
- Procedural variety. Open arterial work, endovascular skills, and venous intervention.
- Team-based care. You will work hand in glove with anaesthetics, IR, ICU, and community podiatry.
- Opportunity to lead service transformation. Vascular hubs, networked emergency pathways, and perioperative optimisation create leadership openings for motivated trainees.
If that sounds like you, let us walk through the practical steps to secure a training number.
Eligibility Checklist
Before you open Oriel, check if you meet the person specification for Vascular Surgery ST3.
- Primary medical qualification and full GMC registration by the start date
- MRCS passed by the offer date for this round
- Evidence of CT1 and CT2 surgical competences
- Either via satisfactory ARCP outcomes from UK Core Surgical Training
- Or via a completed Certificate of Readiness to Enter Higher Surgical Training if you followed a non-CST route
- Complete employment history since graduation
- Right to work, fitness to practise declarations, and language skills as required
Tip
If you are using CREHST, start the sign-off process early. Competences can be countersigned by more than one supervisor, but all must be signed by the time you submit. Keep your evidence pack clean, legible and dated.
How to Apply on Oriel
- Create or update your Oriel profile
Use a personal email that you check daily. Set alerts. - Complete the Vascular Surgery ST3 application
This includes your personal details, full employment history, qualifications, MRCS status, competences, and your portfolio self-assessment responses. - Self-assess and submit
You will answer ten self-assessment questions and select a score for each domain. Be honest and precise. You cannot change your score after submission. - Evidence upload
When the window opens, upload evidence for every claim. Follow the requested formats. Use clear file names that map to the domains. - Verification and appeal
Trained assessors adjust scores up or down to match the evidence. You can appeal within the stated window if you believe the score is incorrect. No new evidence can be added at appeal. - Shortlisting and interview invite
Invitations are issued to the highest verified scores in line with interview capacity.
2025 Recruitment Timeline
| Month | Milestone | When |
|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | Advert appears | By 5pm Wednesday 13 November 2024 |
| Applications open | At 10am Thursday 14 November 2024 | |
| December 2024 | Applications close | At 4pm Thursday 5 December 2024 |
| Evidence verification upload | Wednesday 11 December 2024 to Friday 3 January 2025 | |
| March 2025 | Programme preferencing window | Friday 21 March 2025 to Monday 7 April 2025 |
| Interview | Thursday 27 March 2025 | |
| April 2025 | Initial offeurs released all regions | By 5pm Tuesday 15 April 2025 |
| Hold deadline | At 1pm Wednesday 23 April 2025 | |
| Upgrade deadline | At 1pm Thursday 24 April 2025 | |
| May 2025 | Hierarchal deadline | At 4pm Tuesday 6 May 2025 |
| August 2025 | Training start date | August 2025, to be confirmed by employing trust |
Practical nudge
Log in to Oriel daily during live windows. Important actions and deadlines often arrive with tight turnarounds.
Competition Ratios
Vascular surgery remains competitive. In round 2 of 2024, there were 173 applicants for 34 posts, which is roughly 5 applicants per post. Ratios vary year to year and by region, but you should prepare for oversubscription and plan to score strongly at both self-assessment and interview.
Self-Assessment Guide
You will answer ten domains on the application form, then upload proof. Only completed achievements at the time of submission can be claimed. If the evidence does not match the claim, the score is set to zero for that domain. Keep everything verifiable and easy to read.
Domain 1. Months in Medicine after Foundation
You select a band based on your total months in Medicine in any post-Foundation role. Provide training confirmations or contracts which show dates.
Domain 2. Months in Vascular Surgery after Foundation
You select a band based on months in vascular. This rewards meaningful exposure without suggesting very long, non-training tenure. Provide contracts or training confirmations with dates.
Domain 3. Four month rotations in allied specialties
Credit is given for four month posts in allied surgical or acute specialties such as T & O, plastics, neurosurgery, ENT, cardiothoracic, A and E, ITU, urology or OMFS. Evidence is the rotation letter or contract.
Domain 4. Operative logbook
You can claim either appendicectomy numbers or femoral artery explorations. The higher of the two scores is used. Submit validated consolidation sheets and be ready with an index list that includes appendicectomies, inguinal hernia, cholecystectomy, and femoral artery dissection.
Practical tip: ensure each page is signed with a legible name and GMC number where required.
Domain 5a. First-author PubMed publications
Count only first-author papers in PubMed-indexed journals. Provide the PMID. Collaborative studies can count once if you show a significant design or steering role.
Domain 5b. Other PubMed publications
Non-first-author papers in PubMed-indexed journals. Provide PMIDs. Some schemes cap the number of collaborative papers per project.
Tip: if you contributed substantially, prepare a one-line description of your role. Do not duplicate the same paper in multiple domains.
Domain 6. Oral presentations at national or international level
Only oral presentations count here. Posters belong elsewhere if permitted. Upload the relevant programme pages with your name clearly visible.
Strong choices: vascular topics, national society meetings, or international congresses.
Domain 7. Four best audits or QIPs
You submit your four best projects. Scoring rewards larger projects, closed loops, change in clinical practice that benefits patients, and dissemination via national meetings or PubMed-indexed abstracts.
Evidence pack checklist:
- Title, dates, setting and standard used
- Your role across planning, data, intervention and re-measurement
- Measured outcome with numbers
- Proof of presentation or publication
- One or two slides that show the intervention and its effect
Domain 8. Higher degrees
Points are awarded for Masters degrees and higher, with additional credit for MD or PhD.
Evidence: degree certificates and proof of thesis or dissertation where required. For non-UK awards, include a letter that explains the examination by thesis and the level.
Domain 9. Leadership and management
Credit for formal roles that show sustained responsibility. Examples include rota coordinator, trainee representative, teaching lead, regional society officer, or charity trustee.
Evidence: appointment letters, role descriptions, and dates.
Tip: show outcomes, not just titles. For example, a rota redesign that improved training access, or governance work that reduced incident recurrence.
Domain 10. Teaching qualification
Two points for a recognised PGCert or equivalent. One point for a substantial interactive and practical course if mapped to expected learning outcomes.
Evidence: certificate and course outline that specifies learning outcomes and methods.
The N factor explained
Some vascular schemes adjust the final scores for publications and presentations by an N factor based on your total time in Medicine post-Foundation. The logic is to contextualise output over seniority. Where applicable, the final score for 5a, 5b and 6 is divided by your N band.
Worked example
You have 2 first-author papers and 2 co-author papers.
Unadjusted score example: 2 first-author x 2 points each equals 4, plus 2 co-author x 1 point each equals 2. Total 6.
If your N band is 3, the adjusted total for domains 5a and 5b becomes 6 divided by 3 equals 2.
Presentations are then adjusted in the same way.
Always check the wording on this year’s form to see which domains are adjusted and how rounding is handled.
Evidence Upload That Impresses
- Use a single PDF per domain if permitted, bookmarked by sub-sections
- Place the self-assessment descriptor you claimed on the first page
- Add a short index that signposts each piece of proof
- Check dates, names, and matching identifiers are visible
- For logbooks, include consecutive pages and sign-offs
- For publications, include the PubMed reference with PMID
- For audits, include the re-measurement and the change in practice
What to avoid
- Screenshots without identifiers
- Certificates without dates or context
- Over-claiming or double claiming the same item in multiple domains
- Incomplete logbooks or missing signatures
Interview format and timing
Interviews are remote. Plan for around 50 minutes with a panel of four consultants and sometimes a lay representative.
Format
- Station 1 Question 1. Clinical scenario
Five minutes to read, then ten minutes of structured questions. - Station 1 Question 2. Communication scenario
Ten minutes of questions. Often a professional phone call or clinic setting. - Station 2 Question 1. Management scenario
Five minutes to read, then ten minutes of questions on governance, leadership and safety. - Station 2 Question 2. Virtual skills
Ten minutes focused on operative steps, anatomy at risk, and dealing with complications.
What the panel is listening for
- Clinical safety, prioritisation, and escalation
- Clear, structured communication
- Understanding of governance, human factors, and team leadership
- Procedural insight and the ability to recognise and manage complications
Station-by-Station Preparation
Clinical Scenario
Use the systematic approach ABCDE for unstable patients. For stable patients however, use the quick three step pattern: immediate safety, focused investigations, and definitive management with escalation triggers.
Common themes
- Acute limb ischaemia
- Carotid territory symptoms and urgent pathways
- Ruptured or symptomatic AAA
- Graft infection or bleeding
- Post-operative pain, compartment syndrome, or atrial fibrillation with limb threat
Language that scores
- “I would call for senior help early and alert theatre if haemodynamic instability develops.”
- “I will start broad spectrum antibiotics based on local policy while source control is arranged.”
- “I will safety-net and set clear return parameters.”
Communication Scenario
Often either a phone call to a consultant after clinic or a handover scenario which requires prioritisation.
Use SBAR
- Situation. Who you are and why you are calling
- Background. Key diagnoses, allergies, and relevant results
- Assessment. What you think is happening and the risk
- Recommendation. What you want and the time frame
Professional tone
- Confirm identity and check it is a good time to speak
- Be concise and avoid reading the sheet verbatim
- Prioritise the sickest patients first
- Close with a plan and repeat back any instructions
Management Scenario
This is about safe systems and team working.
Use SPIES
- Situation. List all issues, including clinical, staffing, and training
- Priorities. Patient and staff safety first
- Interventions. Fact finding, immediate mitigation, and a plan that fits policy
- Escalation. Right person, right time, with documented handover
- Support. Debrief, learning points, QI cycle and feedback
Hot topics
- Theatre delays, on-call pressures, duty of candour, consent quality, documentation, and incident reporting
- Capacity and consent, mental capacity assessments, and safeguarding
- Blood borne virus exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis pathways
Virtual Skills
Expect applied steps, anatomy, pitfalls and bailouts. Think out loud.
Examples to rehearse
- Femoral artery exposure and endarterectomy
- Embolectomy steps and how to recognise residual thrombus
- EVAR planning considerations and when to convert or bail out
- Managing intraoperative bleeding, clamp placement, and nerve protection
Answer scaffold
- Indication and consent highlights
- Setup and positioning
- Key steps with landmarks
- Checks that confirm success
- Complications and how to handle them
- Post-operative care, monitoring and escalation triggers
Mark-Earning Habits at Interview
- Structure every answer. Pauses are fine if you then deliver a clear plan.
- Say what you will actually do in the next ten minutes, not just what could be done.
- Escalate early when there is risk. Name who you would call.
- Close loops. Hand back to nursing staff with clear parameters and documentation.
- Be professional throughout. Polite, concise, and steady is memorable for the right reasons.
Building a Strong Portfolio in the Months Before You Apply
Six months out
- Finish a closed-loop vascular or perioperative audit with measured change
- Target an oral presentation at a recognised surgical meeting
- Submit a short paper or letter to a PubMed-indexed journal
- Take on a formal leadership task with defined outcomes
- Start or complete a teaching qualification if you plan to claim points
Three months out
- Finalise logbook consolidation sheets and signatures
- Collect letters confirming roles, rotations and dates
- Prepare a one page index for each domain
One month out
- Dry run your evidence upload as a single PDF per domain if permitted
- Ask a colleague who is not in your specialty to check clarity
- Rehearse a two minute summary of the best item in each domain
Tried and Tested Resources
- Local governance and national vascular society guidance for common pathways
- Hospital consent policies, WHO checklist, and escalation routes
- Critical care referral processes and sepsis bundles
- Human factors basics and structured handover materials
- Journals for quick evidence refreshers on carotid disease, AAA management and limb ischaemia
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Over-claiming in self-assessment
If it is not fully completed or cannot be verified, do not include it. - Messy evidence packs
Use clear file names and an index. Make it easy for assessors to say yes. - Unstructured interview answers
Practise with time pressure and a simple scaffold for each station. - Forgetting escalation
Safe early escalation is valued. Name the senior and the reason. - Thin audit impact
Show what changed and by how much. Numbers persuade.
Medset’s Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Course
If you want focused practice that mirrors the real stations, our course covers the clinical, communication, management and virtual skills format in detail. You will work through realistic scenarios, model answers, and structured frameworks, with feedback from tutors who understand national selection.
Explore and book here: Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Course
What you get
- Station-by-station frameworks and checklists
- High-yield scenario bank with model responses
- Timed practice to build fluency and pacing
- Feedback on structure, escalation, and clarity
- Updates aligned to the current recruitment round
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Vascular ST3 application scored?
Your verified self-assessment score is used for shortlisting. Final offers are determined by your interview performance once you are invited.
Do I need MRCS at application?
You must have MRCS by the offer date for this round. If you are still awaiting results at application, follow the instructions in the form.
What counts as acceptable publication evidence?
PubMed-indexed papers with PMIDs. First-author goes to 5a. Other authorship goes to 5b. Include the reference and the PMID.
How do I present closed-loop audits?
State the standard, the baseline data, the intervention, the re-measurement, and the change observed. Include proof of presentation or publication.
How should I prepare for the communication station?
Rehearse SBAR. Practise prioritising a list of patients and calling a consultant with a concise plan. Close with agreed actions and safety netting.
I am an IMG without UK Core Surgical Training. Can I apply?
Yes, through the CREHST route if you can evidence all competences. Start early and have each competence signed clearly.
What happens if I disagree with my verified score?
You can submit an appeal within the specified window. You cannot add new evidence, so your original pack must stand on its own.
Final thoughts
Vascular Surgery ST3 is competitive, but it is also predictable if you prepare methodically. Score strongly on self-assessment by assembling clean, verifiable evidence that matches the descriptors. Then focus your interview practice on structure, safety and escalation. If you want targeted support that tracks the current format, Medset’s Vascular Surgery ST3 Interview Course gives you the frameworks and practice you need to walk in ready for success.
