A Complete Guide to IMT (Internal Medicine Training) Applications 2027

Introduction

Internal Medicine Training (IMT) is essential for UK doctors who want to specialise in internal medicine, and this guide is for the 2027 recruitment round. It is aimed at doctors coming out of Foundation Year 2 (FY2) or working at senior house officer level, and is a three-year programme that prepares trainees to become specialist medical registrars.

Internal medicine covers a wide range of specialties, and IMT gives you both a strong theoretical understanding and the practical skills to thrive as a specialist. It is competitive, so everyone who wants to apply should know how best to approach the process.

This guide supports your application. It covers the 2027 timeline, what has changed, how the application is scored, tips to improve your score and how to prepare for the interview. We also introduce Medset’s IMT Interview Course and our Train the Trainers course, whose live version can earn the training-in-teaching point.

IMT 2027 at a glance

• One round only: applications open at 10am on Thursday 22 October 2026 and close at 4pm on Thursday 19 November 2026. The IMT team says IMT has filled all posts in round 1 in recent years, so there is no plan for a second round.
• Interviews: online, on weekdays between 18 January and 12 February 2027. Exact dates are being confirmed.
• Prioritisation: the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act applies at shortlisting and at offers.
• Scoring: shortlisting is entirely your self-assessment, to a maximum of 30 points. The five points for applying only to IMT have been removed.
• Two vacancies: one for England, Northern Ireland and Wales and a separate one for Scotland. You can apply to only one of them.
• Application limit: in 2027 you can submit a maximum of five applications per recruitment round.

What’s new for IMT 2027? Key changes to the application process

The IMT team describes the 2027 process as largely unchanged, and the scoring matrix as largely unchanged. Four changes do affect how you plan your application.

1. The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act applies

The Act applies at both the shortlisting and offers stages. If applications exceed interview capacity, applicants are invited first by priority status and then in order of shortlisting score. The criteria for priority status are published on the NHS England Medical Hub, not on the IMT site. Read NHS England’s prioritisation page to see how it applies to you.

2. The five IMT-only points are removed

In 2026, applicants who applied only to the joint IMT/ACCS Internal Medicine vacancy in round 1 received five extra shortlisting points. In response to prioritisation, those points have been removed for 2027. Shortlisting now comes entirely from the self-assessment across the scored domains, to a maximum of 30.

3. Presentations and publications are rebalanced

These are the only material changes to the self-assessment matrix. The maximum for presentations and posters rises from 6 to 8, and the maximum for publications falls from 8 to 6. The lower-scoring options were adjusted to keep a spread of points. Abstracts and letters can no longer be claimed as a PubMed-cited “other publication”, though abstracts can still be claimed for the lowest option if they were not from a presentation or poster you claimed.

4. A separate Scotland vacancy continues

There are two vacancies for IMT/ACCS Internal Medicine: one for England, Northern Ireland and Wales and one for Scotland. Applications are considered for one vacancy only, so apply to your preferred one. If you hold live applications to both, the first one you submitted is withdrawn.

What does this mean for 2027?

The changes are smaller than in some earlier years. Without the unique-application points, your shortlisting score rests entirely on what you can evidence in the six scored domains. Check your self-assessment against the 2027 matrix, not last year’s. If you have limited research experience, look for chances to collaborate on academic projects, present at meetings or complete a quality improvement project with two cycles. Teaching can still be strengthened with a course such as the live version of Medset’s Train the Trainers (see Training in teaching below).

Recruitment timeline for IMT 2027

Get familiar with the timeline for IMT recruitment:

* Most IMT programmes start on this date, but some start as late as April 2028. The start date for each programme is shown when you select your programme preferences. Dates are subject to change, so check the IMT Recruitment dates and posts page.

The IMT application process: step by step

The IMT application is competitive and detailed, so prepare carefully and make the most of every part. Here is a breakdown.

Step 1: Eligibility criteria

Before you begin, check that you meet the basic eligibility criteria. They are set out in the IMT recruitment website and in the IMT person specification on the NHS England Medical Hub.

Eligibility requirements

• Foundation competences: you must have achieved the competences of a doctor who has completed UK foundation training, by the time the programme starts. If you have completed UK foundation training, your foundation competences must have been achieved within three and a half years of the post start date (since February 2024 for 2027 recruitment). If not, you need a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST).
• Experience: by August 2027 you must have at least 24 months’ experience working as a doctor, including at least 12 months after you were eligible for full GMC registration. Experience from any country or specialty can count.
• GMC registration: you need full GMC registration by the time you submit your application. You need a licence to practise by the post start date of an accepted offer.
• Right to work: doctors who need a skilled worker visa are eligible to apply. For 2027, however, the Prioritisation Act applies at shortlisting and offers, so applicants who meet the priority criteria are considered first. Check the criteria on the NHS England Medical Hub and make sure you have the documents you need before you apply.

Check the IMT eligibility pages for any updates that apply to your situation.

Step 2: The application form and scoring system

The IMT application form is where you list your credentials, experience and achievements. You select the most appropriate option for each scored domain, and your form is scored automatically from those selections. There are six scored domains.

1. Postgraduate qualifications

This section covers qualifications beyond your medical degree, such as an MSc or PhD. It scores up to 4 points (PhD or MD by research 4, master’s degree 3, other postgraduate diploma or certificate 1) and is unchanged from 2026. Non-medical postgraduate degrees can be claimed, for example a PhD in psychology. Teaching qualifications such as a PG Cert in medical education belong in the training in teaching section, and intercalated degrees and MRCP(UK) cannot be claimed.

2. Presentations and posters

Presenting novel data (research, a complex clinical case or a quality improvement project) at a medical meeting is scored in its own domain, worth up to 8 points in 2027. You must be first or second author. Presentations aimed mainly at teaching do not count.

3. Publications

Publications score up to 6 points. First, joint-first or corresponding author of PubMed-cited original research scores 6, and co-author 5. The matrix rewards the type of publication rather than the journal’s impact: original research scores more than editorials, reviews and case reports, which are “other publications”. These contributions show your participation in evidence-based medicine.

4. Teaching experience

Teaching is scored in two domains. Teaching experience is worth up to 5 points. The ability to teach and mentor junior doctors and medical students is a key skill for internal medicine specialists. This can include clinical teaching on ward rounds or in clinics, tutorials and lectures, and involvement in teaching programmes for foundation doctors and others. You need evidence of formal feedback for every option.

5. Training in teaching

This domain is worth up to 3 points and rewards training that focused specifically on teaching. It is separate from teaching experience (see Step 3).

6. Quality improvement (QI)

This domain is worth up to 4 points for taking part in a quality improvement project that uses a recognised method such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles.

Clinical experience: not scored at shortlisting

Clinical experience is not a scored domain, so it earns no points at shortlisting, and neither does leadership. It still matters: you must meet the minimum experience in the person specification, and your clinical reasoning is tested directly at interview.

Evidence and honesty

You are unlikely to be asked for evidence, but you must hold documents proving every claim, because you could be asked in a random audit or if there are concerns about your self-assessment. Applications are not routinely re-scored, and you must be able to justify each option you chose. Over-claiming that is blatant or persistent leads to a probity investigation and could be reported to the GMC. Only achievements completed by the time you submit count, except publications that are fully accepted and in press.

Step 3: Scoring and ranking

Your form is scored automatically from the options you select in each domain, to a maximum of 30 points. Here is how the 2027 scoring works.

• Total points: the 2027 shortlisting score is the sum of your selections across the six domains, to a maximum of 30. The five extra points for applying only to IMT no longer exist.
• Ranking: if applications exceed interview capacity, applicants are invited first by priority status under the Prioritisation Act, then in order of score, with tie-breakers for equal scores. A higher score improves your chance of an interview invitation within your priority group.
• Cut-off scores: the cut-off varies each year with the number of applicants and interview capacity. The IMT site says capacity was around 3,800 to 3,900 interviews in 2026 and is expected to be similar. The 2027 cut-off cannot be known until shortlisting is complete, by 5 January 2027, so aim to maximise your score in every domain.

For context, the IMT site reports 8,468 applications for 1,683 posts in 2026 (5.03 to 1, excluding the separate Scotland process) and 8,841 applications for 1,677 posts in 2025 (5.27 to 1).

Maximising your IMT application: key areas to focus on

To make your application as competitive as possible, focus on the six scored domains.

1. Postgraduate qualifications

An MSc, PhD or postgraduate diploma carries fewer points than presentations or publications (up to 4 points), but it still shows academic commitment. If you do not have one, focus on other areas such as presentations, publications and teaching.

• Tip: make sure any qualification is listed, and keep the certificate or a letter from the awarding body.

2. Presentations and posters

This is now the highest-scoring domain, at up to 8 points. A poster or oral presentation of research, a complex case or a quality improvement project at a national meeting is worth far more than a local one.

• Tip: national and international meetings must produce an abstract book, and you need to be first or second author, so check both before you submit.

3. Publications

Publications can score up to 6 points. Peer-reviewed original research, particularly as first author, scores most. Research in internal medicine or acute care shows your capacity for critical thinking.

• Tip: only PubMed-cited work scores in the higher options, and your authorship must be recognised in the PubMed citation. If you have not yet published, consider contributing to research projects or case reports.

4. Teaching experience

Teaching medical students, mentoring junior doctors or running clinical workshops is worth up to 5 points.

• Tip: collect formal feedback from every session. It is needed for all options, so teaching without feedback will not score.

5. Training in teaching

Structured training in teaching earns up to 3 points: 1 point for a course with at least six hours of live (synchronous) teaching time, and 3 points for a PG Cert or PG Diploma in teaching.

• Tip: a teaching course is one route to the 1-point option, but only if it provides at least six hours of live (synchronous) teaching time; on-demand material is not live. Medset’s live Train the Trainers course has six hours of live teaching in a virtual classroom plus online modules, so it meets the minimum. The self-paced online version does not. Keep your certificate and the course outline that shows the duration and how the course was delivered.

6. Quality improvement (QI)

Quality improvement is worth up to 4 points and needs a recognised method, such as PDSA cycles.

• Tip: take part in all stages of your project and keep the evidence, ideally a completed QIPAT form. Two completed cycles score the most.

What about clinical experience?

Clinical experience is not scored at shortlisting, but it is tested at interview. Keep a record of your rotations, challenging cases and your role in multidisciplinary teams. It will help you answer clinical and suitability questions, although it earns no points on the application form.

The IMT interview: what to expect

If your application is successful, you are invited to an online interview on Qpercom Recruit. It has two stations of about 11 minutes each, about 30 minutes in total including preparation time between stations, and the structure is the same for every applicant. Allow up to two hours on the day, because schedules can over-run.

Question types

• Application and suitability: Station 1 opens with a two-minute presentation of your achievements, with no slides or screen sharing. You are then asked questions about your suitability for IMT.
• Ethics, professionalism and governance: a situation read to you by the interviewers, underpinned by GMC Good Medical Practice. It lasts up to five minutes.
• Clinical scenario and handover: Station 2 is a clinical scenario read to you by the interviewers, with extra information given as it develops. Questions can cover investigations, differential diagnosis, treatment and communication, and last up to ten minutes. You then give a one-minute handover to a colleague.
• Communication: you are scored on communication in both stations, including how clearly you communicate with the interviewers throughout.

How to prepare

• Review your application form, achievements and experience, and plan your two-minute presentation.
• Stay up to date with the latest clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Practise communication techniques, especially breaking bad news and discussing difficult topics.
• Practise your handover: one minute, clear, concise and accurate.
• Do not use AI tools, virtual assistants or real-time transcription during the interview. The four-nation national recruitment board does not permit them, and applicants found using them are disqualified.
• You may take paper notes that you prepared yourself, but do not rely on them. Books and online resources are not allowed.
• Medset’s IMT Interview Course offers scenario-based practice and mock interview options with personalised feedback to build your confidence, communication and clinical reasoning.

Scoring for the IMT interview

You are assessed on seven areas. In each, two interviewers each give a mark from 1 to 5, so 14 marks in total and a raw score out of 70. The raw score is then weighted to give a total out of 96. A mark of 3 means satisfactory, the level expected during F2.

Application and achievements, suitability for IMT and the two communication marks carry the highest weighting, so spend time rehearsing your two-minute presentation and practising clear, structured communication throughout.

Appointability

To be appointable, you must meet all three of these: none of your marks is 1 out of 5, no more than two of your marks are 2 out of 5, and your raw interview score is 42 or above. If you miss any of them, your application goes no further in that round. This means a strong score in one area cannot make up for weak performance in another.

How Medset’s courses can help you succeed in IMT applications

Medset offers training to strengthen your IMT application, focusing on interview preparation and teaching skills.

IMT Interview Course

Our IMT Interview Course is built around the national interview format, with an online course and a mock interview option, to help you fine-tune your clinical reasoning, communication and delivery.

Train the Trainers course

The Train the Trainers course by Medset is CPD-accredited (12 CPD points) and comes in two formats: online and self-paced, or a live virtual classroom with six hours of live teaching plus online modules. For IMT, only the live format meets the six-hour live teaching requirement. Whether you are teaching medical students, mentoring juniors or leading quality improvement, it helps you develop and evidence your teaching.

Conclusion

The IMT application is competitive, but with the right preparation you can significantly improve your chances. Check your self-assessment against the 2027 matrix, evidence every claim, and prepare thoroughly for the interview.

Consider Medset’s IMT Interview Course for interview training, and the Train the Trainers course to strengthen your teaching portfolio. Good luck with your IMT application, and remember that preparation is the key to success.

Frequently asked questions

Does applying to other specialties cost me points in 2027?

No. In 2026 there were five extra points for applying only to IMT. They have been removed for 2027, and shortlisting is entirely your self-assessment. You can submit up to five applications per round.

How competitive is IMT?

The IMT site reports 8,468 applications for 1,683 posts in 2026 (5.03 to 1, excluding Scotland), 8,841 for 1,677 in 2025 (5.27 to 1) and 6,273 for 1,698 in 2024 (3.69 to 1). The 2027 figures will not be known until after the round.

How many interview places are there?

The IMT site says interview capacity was around 3,800 to 3,900 in 2026 and is expected to be similar, but capacity and application numbers can change.

Is there a second round?

No. There is one round for programmes starting in August 2027. The IMT team urges anyone interested to apply in round 1.

Do I need MRCP(UK) to apply?

No, and you cannot claim MRCP(UK) in the postgraduate qualifications domain. The IMT person specification lists MRCP(UK) Part 1 as desirable.