Applying to radiology training in the United Kingdom (UK) is through a centralised process for England, Scotland and Wales on Oriel. Northern Ireland's radiology training recruitment remains a separate process.

Applications are open to those completing or completing their Foundation Training or equivalent competencies by the commencement of the radiology training programme in August of that year.

The national recruitment programme's administration is coordinated through London Shared Services and accessed through the Oriel recruitment website.

Competition ratios

Radiology is a popular training programme, and this is reflected in the competition for places. Figures for the national recruitment since 2010 are available on the RCR website. In 2019, 967 candidates applied for 278 posts (3.48 applicants for each available post) ¹. In 2024, 3719 candidates applied for 312 posts (11.92 applicants for each available post)⁴.

There are equivalent applicant rates from Foundation training and those in core or specialty programmes.

Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA)

The multi-specialty recruitment assessment (MSRA) was introduced into radiology recruitment in 2016, following its use in other programmes, including general practice, ophthalmology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. 

There are two components to the MSRA including Professional Dilemmas, 58 questions (similar to the situational judgment test, SJT) and Clinical Problem Solving, 97 questions (based on FY2 level knowledge and practice) ³.

Since 2025 recruitment round, the MSRA score alone determines whether you will be invited for interview. The MSRA no longer contributes to your final application score. The final application score is made up of 60% Interview + 40% Portfolio.

Interview process

Interviews have been done online for the last few years but it is likely to return to being held in person soon which is usually in London.

Prior to the MSRA, the interview process was split into five sections lasting eight minutes each including commitment to specialty, portfolio / audit evaluation, radiology skills, ethics / professionalism, and a preparation station.

Since the MSRA, there are now two 10 minute interview stations (communication skills and commitment to specialty) which have varied in composition over the last few years but again cover a number of these themes:

Commitment and understanding of radiology as a career

This station tries to assess if you as a candidate know what you are signing up to. Questions can including asking about taster weeks or radiology courses you have attended, your knowledge of the examination diet for radiology, and about the various types of training scheme on offer in the UK (including academies).

Ethical scenarios

A number of clinical situations can be discussed in this section including professionalism, working with colleagues, consent, research ethics and communication skills. This was certainly included prior to the MSRA, but may be seen less frequently as a number of these domains will have already been assessed.

Portfolio evaluation

The candidates' portfolio will be assessed in this station showing evidence of presentations, publications, postgraduate qualifications, and courses attended. Taster weeks and other evidence of time in and working with radiology is becoming essential and can be highlighted in this station.

Radiology knowledge / skills

Image interpretation was historically included here, but has fallen out of favor. This section may include prioritisation skills for requests or critiquing a radiology report (which you may have had in the preparation station). Clinical scenarios can be discussed (also assessing professionalism). This is also a section where any teaching (with feedback) and research with radiology components can be assessed.

Timeline

Initial applications are usually accepted in November, with the MSRA taking place in early January. Interviews commence in mid-late February with successful offers circulated in early March ². Radiology training posts, like many other posts in the NHS, commence on the first Wednesday of August. However some posts are known to start in September such as Yorkshire and Humber, Northern, West Midlands, Norwich, and South West (Peninsula).