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ST3 Surgical Specialty

Plastic Surgery ST3 Interview Masterclass

Consent like a consultant, think up the reconstructive ladder, and manage expectations.

  • 2027 dates not yet published (2026: 10–11 February)
  • 30 minutes (one station, three consecutive sections, online)
  • Qpercom (online)
  • Interview panel; a lay representative may attend
Competition
6.69:1
Scenarios
15
Station
1
Open topic library Launch Plastic Surgery MockBrowse 4 scenarios & model answers

Competition: 281 applications for 42 posts (2025). Source: NHS England specialty recruitment competition ratios.

Recruited by NHS England national Plastic Surgery ST3 selection (not PHST).

Official recruitment information

Plastic Surgery ST3 recruitment

NHS England national Plastic Surgery ST3 selection. Round described: 2026 round (2026 entry).

Latest available recruitment information

Latest available recruitment information. NHS England has not yet published the 2027 Plastic Surgery ST3 details. Last checked against the sources below on 6 October 2026. Always confirm details with the recruiting office before your interview.

Interview (2026 round)

  • Online, on the Qpercom video platform; the 2026 interviews ran on 10–11 February 2026.
  • One 30-minute station with three consecutive sections and no breaks.
  • OSCE and Communications (10 minutes): a consent component (5 minutes) and a communication component (5 minutes).
  • Clinical Scenario (10 minutes): two cases.
  • Structured Interview (10 minutes): two or three questions.
  • Every section is scored from 0 (no evidence) to 5 (outstanding).
  • Final ranking weights: OSCE 30%, clinical scenario 25%, structured interview 25%, portfolio 20%.
  • Only applicants whose total score is above an agreed minimum can be appointed.

Self-assessment (2026 round)

  • Years since graduation (up to 3 points).
  • Clinical knowledge and experience: hand trauma, burns and skin cancer (up to 4 points each, 12 in total).
  • Higher qualifications, audit, publications, presentations, research roles and portfolio presentation (up to 20 points).
  • Section weighting was removed for 2026. Consultants verify the evidence; appeals are allowed within 72 hours.

Eligibility (2026 person specification)

  • MRCS by examination by the 'initial offers released by' date.
  • Core surgical competences (UK core surgical training, or the alternative certificate).
  • Desirable: at least 4 months of plastic surgery experience by the post start date.

Not yet published

  • 2027 dates, interview format and self-assessment scoring

Sources

Everything else in the Plastic Surgery library — model answers, frameworks, scenarios and the mock interview prompts — is StepUp preparation guidance, not an official mark scheme.

Plastic Surgery resource library

45 written topics and 4 scored practice questions, organised the way the interview is.

Members only

Interview Format & Strategy

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1
topic

Clinical Scenario

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15
topics

Suitability & Commitment

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4
topics

Surgical Experience & Logbook

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4
topics

Communication & Consent

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5
topics

Ethics & Professionalism

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6
topics

Academic & Research

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3
topics

Management & Leadership

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5
topics

Portfolio & Evidence

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2
topics

Scored questions

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4
questions

Mock circuit

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30
minutes

Plastic Surgery ST3 interview: common questions

What is the Plastic Surgery ST3 interview format?

In the 2026 round (the latest published) the interview was a single 30-minute online station in three consecutive sections: OSCE and Communications (10 minutes, split into consent and communication), Clinical Scenario (10 minutes, two cases) and Structured Interview (10 minutes, two or three questions).

How is the Plastic Surgery ST3 interview scored?

Each section is scored from 0 (no evidence) to 5 (outstanding). In 2026 the final ranking weighted the OSCE at 30%, the clinical scenario at 25%, the structured interview at 25% and the portfolio at 20%. Only applicants above an agreed minimum total score can be appointed.

What does the Plastic Surgery self-assessment cover?

In 2026: years since graduation, clinical experience in hand trauma, burns and skin cancer, and higher qualifications, audit, publications, presentations, research roles and portfolio presentation — 35 points in all, with section weighting removed for 2026.

How competitive is Plastic Surgery ST3?

In the 2025 round NHS England reported 281 applications for 42 Plastic Surgery ST3 posts, a competition ratio of 6.69.