SmartST
‹ Back to specialtiesST1–ST5

Histopathology

Run-through · ~5 yrs to CCT (FRCPath)

Recruited by NHS England — London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex (via Oriel)

How Histopathology selection works
Histopathology (ST1) is selected in two steps and does not use the MSRA. First you are ranked on a scored self-assessment across ten domains, verified against uploaded evidence — the highest verified scorers are invited to interview. The interview alone then sets your final rank; the self-assessment is not carried into it.

Provisional — 2026/27 dates are based on last cycle's pattern. NHS England publishes confirmed dates around October 2026.

1
Apply985(100%)
22 Oct – 19 Nov 2026
2
Self-Assessment Score
Your self-assessment across ten domains is scored inside the Oriel application and locked at submission — it cannot be amended afterwards. There is no separate submission window; this declared score is what ranks you for interview, once your evidence is verified.
3
Evidence Verification
You upload your evidence to the verification portal. Every claimed point is checked against it — unsupported claims are reduced and a domain with no evidence scores 0. Only the first item you upload per domain is verified.
23 Nov – 30 Nov 2026
4
Ranking

You are ranked on your verified self-assessment score, and the highest scorers are invited to interview (plus a reserve list). If applications far exceed interview capacity, an earlier shortlist on the unverified scores can trim the field first.

Self-Assessment Verified100%
5
Interview—not publishedtop ranked applicants invited to interview
1–4 Feb 2027
6
Ranking

Your final rank is the interview alone — the self-assessment score is not carried into it.

Interview100%
7
Offer Released104(11%)top ranked applicants offered posts
by 23 Mar 2027
8
Post starts
Aug 2027
Sources