Application and scoring
Follow the 2027 selection stages
Apply between 10am on 22 October and 4pm on 19 November 2026. The pathway uses MSRA shortlisting, verified evidence and a virtual assessment. Upload evidence during 18 January–2 February 2027; interviews are 22–23 March. All times are UK local time.
Check the complete 2027 person specification: full GMC registration at application, recent Foundation competence and no more than 30 months WTE ophthalmology experience by interview. The experience limit includes medical ophthalmology and overseas posts, but excludes Foundation modules.
Choose one vacancy: England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, or Wales. HEIW confirms the same selection process applies to the separate Wales advert.
Sit a fresh MSRA; previous-round results cannot be carried forward. Submit both the self-assessment proforma in your evidence folder and the separately requested online scores form.
Check Oriel priority status and recruitment messages. National prioritisation applies to interview invitations and offers, without changing performance rank.
Review your verified evidence feedback. Any appeal must use the original evidence and meet the 48-hour deadline.
Read your interview invitation, book the assessment and practise both consultation types.
Shortlisting
Published capacity: the top 350 MSRA-ranked candidates progress to evidence review. Unverified portfolio points are not added to MSRA for the 2027 shortlist.
Evidence review
The next ranking uses verified evidence alone, with 260 interview places published. Meeting a minimum score does not guarantee progression; national priority rules also apply.
Interview
Assessment criteria belong to the recruitment team; our practice framework is separate.
Final score
MSRA is not added to the final total.
Portfolio and evidence
Eight achievement domains, with an overall cap of 47
The evidence folder adds up to three assessor-awarded layout and quality marks. The domain caps below are ceilings, not automatic awards. Use the official descriptors and the portfolio calculator for item-level requirements; avoid counting the same work twice unless explicitly permitted.
Qualifications · up to 5
Eligible additional qualifications need duration and award evidence.
What to do: Check exclusions before counting an intercalated or membership qualification.
Prizes and awards · up to 5
Claims need objective award, ranking and cohort evidence.
What to do: Match the precise prize category.
Multi-source feedback · up to 2
Use a qualifying satisfactory report with appropriate validation.
What to do: Check dates, respondents and comments.
QI or audit · up to 5
Select your best eligible project and show your role and results.
What to do: Support improvement claims with data.
Presentations · up to 6
Credit depends on meeting scope, format and presenter/authorship role.
What to do: Use distinct work and check half-rate categories.
Publications · up to 6
Research, authorship, indexing and journal requirements all matter.
What to do: Complete the publication proforma.
Education and teaching · up to 5
Different activities have separate limits and supporting-evidence rules.
What to do: Show delivery, feedback and impact.
Specialty commitment · up to 13
Eligible exposure, examinations and other ophthalmology activities have nested caps.
What to do: Document dates, duration and reflection.
Interview process
Two consultations, each with protected preparation
Clinical knowledge and difficult communication or ethics are assessed in separate consultations. Assessors observe without speaking to you, and you may start with either component.
- Clinical knowledge
- Talk directly to a patient or carer
- Communication / ethics
- Discuss a difficult situation directly with a patient or carer
- Before each
- Five minutes to read and make notes, which you may refer to during the consultation
- Each consultation
- Up to ten minutes
What is assessed?
- Clinical knowledge in a patient-facing discussion
- Clear explanations
- Responding to the patient’s concerns
- Difficult communication
- Ethical judgement
2027 Round 1 · checked 30 October 2026
Before you submit: deadline, competence and priority status
Complete these national checks alongside the specialty's eligibility, evidence and selection requirements.
Application deadline and limit
Round 1 applications close at 4pm UK time on 19 November 2026. The national limit is five applications per recruitment round. Some specialties also require you to choose a single regional vacancy, so check the application route before submitting.
Foundation competence and CREST
If CREST is required, national guidance accepts valid 2024 or 2027 forms for 2027 recruitment. Required competence evidence must accompany the application; there is no later upload opportunity. Check validity against the specialty person specification and resolve any conflicting specialty instructions before relying on an older form.
Check your priority status in Oriel
For standard 2027 specialty recruitment, prioritisation applies to interview invitations and training offers. Check the status displayed in Oriel after applications close. Round 1 requests to review an incorrect status are due by 5pm UK time on 24 November 2026. Priority status does not replace eligibility or appointability requirements.
Application evidence
Work through your evidence one domain at a time
Check the evidence you already have, identify documents to obtain and separate confirmed achievements from plans.
Ophthalmology portfolio calculator and evidence guide
Review each domain's requirements and build an estimate. Assessors make the official judgement; the tool does not predict an interview or offer.
Free practice questions
Original practice tasks
These examples illustrate consultation skills. They are not recalled recruitment questions or a confirmed topic blueprint.
Clinical consultations
- Explore what a patient understands about a proposed investigation and explain the next steps.
- Discuss a treatment plan with a patient who is worried about possible side effects.
- Explain why a concerning symptom needs assessment and agree the next action.
Communication and ethics
- Discuss a complaint about a delayed appointment and agree what can be done next.
- Respond to a patient who is hesitant about a recommended plan without pressuring them.
- Discuss what information may be shared with a carer while respecting the patient’s wishes.
Preparation plan
Practise an adaptable conversation
- Use reading time to identify the task, available facts and likely patient concerns.
- Introduce yourself, check who you are speaking to and establish their understanding.
- Explain in short sections and check what the patient has understood.
- Acknowledge concerns and redirect sensitively when the conversation drifts.
- Leave time to summarise, agree the plan and offer appropriate safety-netting.
- After practice, identify one specific change for the next attempt.
Common questions
Ophthalmology ST1 recruitment FAQs
Do I speak to an examiner?
The published stations are medical consultations with an actor playing a patient or carer. Assessors observe without being seen or heard.
Can I take notes?
The guidance allows notes during the five-minute preparation period and permits you to refer to them in the consultation.
Is the scenario bank available?
The signed-in workspace contains 40 authored patient/carer consultations: 20 clinical knowledge and 20 difficult communication or ethics cases. With active access, you can study, type or dictate a non-live consultation, or practise spoken Coach and Interview modes. Feedback follows the consultation. Evidence-folder assessment is separate; there is no live portfolio station.
Official sources
Official recruitment sources
- NHS England: Ophthalmology ST1 selection processPublished 2027 consultation and selection process, checked 30 October 2026. Evidence-folder assessment is separate; there is no live portfolio station.
- NHS England: evidence-folder descriptors and submission requirements
- NHS England: scoring, ranking and offers
- NHS England: 2027 recruitment timetable
- NHS England: Ophthalmology ST1 person specification 2027
- NHS England: 2027 prioritisation rules
- HEIW: separate Wales advert and shared selection process