The Complete Guide to Radiology ST1 Applications (2027 Entry)

Introduction

If you’re an FY2 doctor or a Senior House Officer (SHO) looking for Radiology ST1 interview tips or how to apply for Radiology ST1 in the UK in the 2027 recruitment round, this guide is for you.

Radiology ST1 is very competitive: in 2026 there were 2,849 applications for 327 posts, a competition ratio of 8.71 to 1, according to NHS England. It requires detailed planning and thorough preparation.

Below, you’ll find all the necessary information you need about your Radiology ST1 application for the 2027 round, from eligibility requirements and timelines to building a strong portfolio and nailing your interview.

We’ll also show you how Medset’s Radiology ST1 Interview Course and Train the Trainers Course can support your application and your interview performance.

Understanding Radiology ST1 Training

Clinical Radiology involves interpreting medical images (X-ray, Ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET) to diagnose, treat, and monitor diseases. ST1 is the entry point for specialty training, which leads to a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and takes a minimum of five years, according to NHS Health Careers.

• Interventional Radiology (IR) training takes an indicative six years, according to the Royal College of Radiologists. You make a single application to Clinical Radiology and state your preference for the IR pathway from ST1, so you can preference both IR and Clinical Radiology-only posts.
• Multidisciplinary Focus: Radiologists collaborate with surgeons, oncologists, and other medical teams, influencing life-saving treatment decisions.
• Innovation & AI: Artificial intelligence is increasingly used for image analysis.
• Teaching & Research: Many radiologists engage in teaching junior staff, leading audits, or producing research papers.

Why Radiology?

It’s a tech-driven, problem-solving speciality perfect for doctors who enjoy interpreting data, working closely with other clinicians, and continuously learning new diagnostic methods.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying, confirm you meet all criteria set out by the Clinical Radiology ST1 Person Specification (2027). Core requirements include:

1. Primary Medical Qualification
   Recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC).
2. GMC Registration
   Full registration at the time of application, and a current licence to practise when the post starts (August 2027).
3. Foundation Competencies
   Evidence of completing Foundation Years (or equivalent) within the three and a half years before the post start date (February 2024 onwards for August 2027). If you need a Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST), you must submit it with your application. Both the 2024 and 2027 versions are accepted this year.
4. Radiology Experience
   No more than 18 months experience in radiology (excluding Foundation modules) by the start of ST1. If you did not complete Foundation training in a UKFPO-approved post, you can exclude only four months of post-graduation training as Foundation.
5. Right to Work in the UK
   International applicants should ensure they have the correct visas or work permits.

NHS England warns that your application can be withdrawn at any stage if it does not meet the essential criteria. Longlisting checks continue until shortly before offers in April 2027, so check your Oriel messages regularly from early February.

Tip: Strengthen your profile by attending taster weeks, audits, and short clinical placements in radiology. Document these experiences to showcase your genuine interest in the speciality.

Key Documents for ST1 Recruitment

A few essential pages outline the application process and scoring. All are on the NHS England Medical Hub:

1. Applying for Clinical Radiology ST1
   An overview of eligibility, longlisting, the MSRA, shortlisting and what has changed for 2027.
2. Person Specification for ST1 Clinical Radiology (2027)
   Details the exact criteria you must meet.
3. Clinical Radiology ST1 Portfolio Review Guidance
   Explains the five portfolio domains, the A to E categories you choose on Oriel, and the evidence you upload if you are invited.
4. Interviews and Appointability, preferencing and offers
   Explain the interview stations, how the final score is calculated and how offers are made.

You apply on Oriel. All the Radiology pages are under the Clinical Radiology section of the NHS England Medical Hub.

Application Timeline (2026–2027)

Being aware of deadlines is crucial, as missing any date can disqualify you. Below is the official timeline for this cycle. Dates marked “to be confirmed” had not been published by NHS England at the time of writing.

What Is New for 2027

• Final score: 30% portfolio, 70% interview. NHS England says the final scores used for ranking and offers will consist of 30% portfolio and 70% interview scores.
• Portfolio review, not self-scoring. You choose a category from A to E for each of five domains on Oriel and, if invited, upload evidence. An assessor reviews it as part of Station A of the interview. Domains 1, 4 and 5 have new wording.
• Two interview stations of up to 15 minutes each, online on Qpercom Recruit.
• Adjustments. You are asked separately about the adjustments you need at the MSRA and at interview, and must give medical evidence for each.
• Prioritisation. The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 applies at the offer of an interview and the offer of a place. For CT1/ST1 recruitment, the relevant qualifying UK programme is the UK Foundation Programme only. Your priority status is shown in Oriel the day after the application deadline. Read the criteria on the NHS England prioritisation page.
• Five applications. NHS England says applicants can submit a maximum of five applications per recruitment round in 2027.

Suggested Preparation Timeline

The Radiology ST1 application process can be stressful, but breaking it down into steps helps ensure you stay organised. Below is a recommended schedule to keep you on track:

Adjust based on personal circumstances (e.g., shift patterns or annual leave).

Applying via ORIEL

Applications go through the ORIEL online platform. NHS England asks you to be logged in to Oriel in only one browser window on one device:

• Register & Login: Create a profile or update existing details.
• Complete Application: Fill in personal details, education, employment history, and the supporting information for your portfolio. For each of the five domains you select a category from A to E and give the title and date of the evidence you will upload if invited.
• References: NHS England says references are requested automatically once you accept an offer. Check the Oriel form for any referee details it asks for at application.
• Submission: Double-check everything: mistakes can’t be changed once submitted, even by the administrative team.

Portfolio Preparation & Evidence Review

For 2027, your portfolio accounts for 30% of your final score (the interview accounts for 70%), and it remains a critical part of your application. You do not self-score. For each domain you choose the category (A to E) that best matches a completed achievement, and an assessor reviews your evidence before and during Station A of the interview. Category A scores 4, B scores 3, C scores 2, D scores 1 and E scores 0, and the Commitment to Specialty domain is double-weighted. If you choose category E for all five domains you will not be invited to sit the MSRA.

Domains and Categories

The five domains, with the top descriptors, are summarised below. Read the full wording in the portfolio review guidance, because small differences decide the category.

A significant exposure means at least three whole days attached to a clinical radiology department, such as a taster week, an elective or a radiology-based project with a radiologist supervisor. Multiple exposures must be meaningfully different. Achievements must be completed, dated after the start of your first relevant undergraduate degree, and within the ten years before the application closing date. Intercalated degrees do not score.

Evidence Rules

• You upload one continuous PDF for each domain, so five PDFs in total. Two pieces of evidence are accepted for Domain 1 category A and Domain 4 category A.
• The evidence must match the category and the exact title you entered on Oriel. Evidence that differs scores 0 for that domain, and vague titles such as “audit 1” invalidate it.
• You upload only if you are invited to interview or placed on the reserve list. Missing the upload deadline means your application is withdrawn, and you cannot amend your files after you select Finish and submit.
• The assessor has only 10 minutes to review all five domains before you enter Station A, so keep each PDF short and clearly titled, and keep file sizes small.

Portfolio Scoring Tips

• Choose the category you can prove: The assessor can award a higher or lower category if your evidence does not match, so pick the descriptor your evidence clearly supports.
• Focus on Quality, Not Just Quantity: Only one piece of evidence counts per domain, so upload your strongest.
• Reflect Radiology Interests: Where possible, emphasise radiology-oriented audits, committees, or short courses. Domains 1, 4 and 5 give their top categories to radiology-specific work.

Preparing for the MSRA

All eligible candidates must sit the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) in the first window. NHS England does not accept scores from previous sittings. The MSRA lasts 170 minutes and has two papers:

• Professional Dilemmas (PD): A situational judgement paper of 95 minutes that evaluates your decision-making in work-related dilemmas.
• Clinical Problem Solving (CPS): A 75-minute paper that assesses your ability to apply clinical knowledge.

MSRA Scoring & Cut-Off

For 2027, the MSRA is used only to shortlist candidates: you must score above the minimum cut-off of 201 on each of the two components to be considered for interview. The MSRA score does not contribute to your final ranking once you have passed the threshold. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds interview capacity, applicants are shortlisted, so reaching 201 does not guarantee an interview.

MSRA Preparation Strategies

• Use High-Quality Question Banks
  Practise under timed conditions and focus on areas you find challenging.
• Use the Official Practice Paper
  The MSRA team publishes a practice paper with an answer key and rationales.
• Familiarise Yourself with NHS Terminology
  The PD section revolves around ethical scenarios, GMC guidelines, and NHS protocols.
• Revise Foundation Knowledge
  The CPS section covers common acute presentations and basic pathophysiology.

Radiology ST1 Interview Tips

Interview Structure

If you pass the MSRA cut-off and are shortlisted within interview capacity, you’ll be invited to interview. The final score used for ranking and offers is split into:

• 70% Interview Performance
• 30% Portfolio Review

Interviews are conducted online via Qpercom Recruit, on a desktop or laptop, and involve two stations of up to 15 minutes each:

• Station A: An assessor reviews your uploaded portfolio evidence beforehand. The first two questions are about your portfolio; the remaining two scored sections cover areas of the person specification.
• Station B: Three sections of questions on areas of the person specification.

Together they assess your commitment to the specialty and communication skills. Expect ID checks and a camera sweep of the room before you start. Interviews cannot be recorded. You may take notes but must destroy them afterwards, and you have one hour after the interview to raise any concern through the support portal.

Common Question Types & Example Topics

These are Medset practice topics, not an official list.

• “Why Radiology?”
  Demonstrate awareness of the speciality’s challenges, AI innovations, and your personal experiences (shadowing, taster weeks, etc.).
• Your Portfolio Evidence
  Be ready to explain your role in each piece of evidence and why it fits the category you chose.
• Ethical Dilemmas
  Consent for imaging, dealing with incidental findings, or balancing resource constraints.
• Teamwork & Leadership
  Times you led a project or handled conflicts.
• Clinical Prioritisation
  Scenario-based questions: “Which imaging requests would you prioritise first and why?”
• Future of Radiology
  AI, teleradiology, workforce demands.

Interview Day Tips

• Structured Responses
  Use frameworks like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioural questions.
• Practise Out Loud
  Rehearse to keep answers concise. Time is limited, so avoid going off on tangents.
• Demonstrate Enthusiasm
  Show genuine interest, whether it’s via knowledge of the FRCR pathway or personal experiences in radiology.
• Get the Set-Up Right
  Test your camera and microphone, use a laptop or desktop with a reliable connection, and have photo ID ready.

Appointability, Ranking and Offers

NHS England decides whether you are appointable using your interview scores alone; the portfolio score is not counted. You need a minimum of 48 out of 80 overall, with at least 22 on both stations. You also need a combined unweighted score of at least 6 out of 10 for the clinical question and at least 4 out of 10 for each of the other questions. Appointable candidates are then ranked on 30% portfolio and 70% interview, and offers go out on Oriel by 6 April 2027 according to rank and preferences.

You then have 48 hours (excluding weekends) to accept, reject or hold an offer. Further offers follow in later iterations, and preferencing reopens between them. Scoresheets are released to all applicants on a set date.

Competition Ratios

Radiology ST1 is consistently oversubscribed. Below is a snapshot of recent competition from the NHS England Medical Hub:

In 2026 there were 2,849 applications for 327 posts, about 8.7 applications per post (NHS England, 2026 competition ratios).

Medset’s Radiology ST1 Interview Course

The Medset Radiology ST1 Interview Course is an online course created by Dr Alice Spencer, a clinical radiology registrar. The course page lists modules on:

• the application process, eligibility, competition and interview structure, plus communication and common pitfalls
• commitment to speciality, with common themes, follow-up questions and model frameworks
• radiology hot topics, such as artificial intelligence, skills mix, outsourcing, MDT meetings and NHS targets
• questions about you, including experience of radiology, taster weeks, managing the acute take, leadership, teamworking and teaching
• how to structure and discuss your portfolio, and answer frameworks for clinical prioritisation questions

Medset also lists a mock interview option on the course page; dates are posted there once they are confirmed, and the page carries feedback from previous candidates.

Train The Trainers Course: Boosting Your Portfolio

Teaching is vital in the NHS, and evidence of training in teaching can support your ST1 application. Medset’s Train the Trainers course carries 12 CPD points and comes in two formats:

• Online, self-paced: a two-day equivalent course with instant access.
• Live virtual classroom: six hours of live teaching plus online modules.

In Domain 3, category C is for “evidence of other training in teaching methods after study of at least 2 days (such as Train the Trainers)”, according to the NHS England portfolio review guidance. A postgraduate-level teaching qualification is category A. Medset’s course is a two-day course in both formats, so either format can give you evidence for category C. Keep your certificate and make sure the title you enter on Oriel matches the title on the evidence you upload.

Whether you are running teaching sessions for medical students or trust-wide induction programmes, evidence of training in teaching shows your commitment to education.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the ST1 Radiology application scored in the UK?

For 2027 the final score used for ranking and offers is 30% portfolio and 70% interview. The MSRA is used only to shortlist: you must score above 201 on each of its two components, but the MSRA score does not count towards your final score.

What is the MSRA pass mark for Radiology ST1?

The minimum cut-off for 2027 shortlisting is 201 on each of the two MSRA components, but always check official updates on Oriel. Meeting it does not guarantee an interview invite, so aim well above it.

How competitive is Radiology ST1?

Extremely. In 2026 there were 2,849 applications for 327 posts, about 8.7 applications per post, down from 11.3 in 2025 (NHS England). Thorough portfolio preparation and targeted interview practice can help you present your strongest application.

When are the Radiology ST1 interviews in 2027?

Interviews run from Thursday 11 to Wednesday 17 March 2027 (weekdays only), online on Qpercom Recruit. Interview invitations and the portfolio evidence upload dates are still to be confirmed.

When should I start preparing for the MSRA and interview?

Now. Applications close on 19 November 2026 and the MSRA window opens on 5 January 2027. Start portfolio and interview preparation in parallel, especially focusing on any knowledge gaps or less familiar clinical scenarios.

How can I strengthen my teaching domain score?

Domain 3 rewards a postgraduate teaching qualification (category A), a major contribution to a national or international teaching programme (B), other training in teaching methods after at least two days of study (C) and regional teaching (D). Gather feedback from teaching sessions you’ve led.

How long is Radiology ST1 training in the UK?

NHS Health Careers says specialty training to become a clinical radiologist takes a minimum of five years. The Royal College of Radiologists gives an indicative six years for interventional radiology.

Can I switch to Interventional Radiology later if I start in Clinical Radiology?

Yes, in some cases. Trainees who choose Clinical Radiology only can still apply for IR sub-specialty training from ST4 where posts are available, and IR-pathway trainees can revert to Clinical Radiology before ST4.

Can I use an MSRA score from a previous year?

No. NHS England does not accept MSRA scores from any previous sitting, so you must sit the MSRA in the January 2027 window.

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Pursuing Radiology ST1 is both exciting and highly competitive. By understanding the application process, focusing on the MSRA, meticulously building your portfolio, and practising for the interview, you can set yourself apart from thousands of applicants.

Key Takeaways

• Stay Organised Use checklists, set reminders, and keep essential documents readily available.
• Invest in Yourself Medset’s Radiology ST1 Interview Course and Train The Trainers course are two options for interview preparation and portfolio evidence.
• Demonstrate Commitment Radiology-related audits, shadowing, research projects, and active teaching experiences will help you stand out.
• Prepare Thoroughly Start MSRA revision early, practise structured interview responses, and keep updated on new developments in radiology (including AI).
• Watch the Source Check the NHS England Clinical Radiology ST1 timeline page for the portfolio upload, preferencing and invitation dates.

By following this comprehensive guide and making use of the resources available, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle every aspect of the Radiology ST1 application process, and one step closer to a fulfilling career in this innovative, high-impact speciality. Good luck, and we hope to see you in the radiology community soon!