Academic Clinical Fellowship 4th November 2025

Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) Interview Guide 2026

If you’re considering an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF), it’s worth knowing that these posts are among the most competitive in UK medical training. Each year, interest in combining clinical training with academic research continues to grow, and competition ratios can vary significantly depending on the specialty and deanery, in some cases reaching as high as 13 applicants per post.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how ACF recruitment works, key dates for the 2026 cycle, and what to expect at interview, so you can prepare effectively and give yourself the best possible chance of success.

What is ACF?

An Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) is a specialty training post that combines clinical practice with protected academic time. Typically, this means spending around 75% of your time in clinical work and 25% in academic research.

ACFs are usually three years long (or four years for GP trainees) and are designed to give you the experience, skills, and track record needed to compete for a doctoral fellowship (PhD or MD) and eventually pursue a clinical academic career.

ACF Key dates

ACF recruitment runs on a national timetable each year, coordinated through Oriel. Posts are advertised by local deaneries/IAT partnerships from October, with a main recruitment round followed by a re-advert window for any unfilled posts.

Timelines can vary slightly between specialties and regions, so always check both the NIHR ACF recruitment guidance and your local deanery website for the most up-to-date information.

Below are the key dates for the 2026 ACF recruitment cycle:

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ACF Eligibility & Entry Requirements

Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs) are available across most GMC-recognised specialties and at a range of training levels, most commonly ST1/CT1, ST3, and ST4. To be eligible, applicants must meet both the clinical person specification for the chosen specialty and the academic person specification set for the ACF.

If you do not already hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Designated Registration Number (DRN) for the specialty and level you are applying to, you will be appointed to the ACF and clinically benchmarked through the standard clinical recruitment process to ensure you meet the required clinical standards.

The ACF Application Process

Your first step is to find available posts on Oriel. Search for “Academic Clinical Fellowship” and filter by specialty or deanery. You’ll find some ACF posts are designated as competition posts, aligned with NIHR research themes, and may span up to three different specialties.
Next, you’ll need to submit your ACF application through Oriel. This form typically includes CV-style questions and requests evidence of your academic achievements, research experience, and relevant skills. Make sure all documentation is clear, concise, and accurately reflects your contributions.

If you do not already hold a National Training Number (NTN) or Designated Registration Number (DRN) for the specialty and level you are applying to, you’ll also need to submit a clinical application to the standard recruitment round for benchmarking. Offers for ACF posts may be conditional on successfully passing this clinical benchmark, so it’s important to complete this step carefully.

Shortlisting & interview

Once applications are submitted, candidates are first longlisted against essential criteria. Those who meet the minimum standards are then shortlisted and invited to interview if the competition is strong.

ACF interviews are typically around 30 minutes and follow the NIHR evaluation framework, although the exact format may vary slightly between deaneries. You can expect the interview to assess both academic and clinical elements, reflecting the dual nature of the ACF post. Panels also have discretion over the exact wording of questions and may include a brief clinical scenario relevant to your specialty.

Common academic stations

Interviews usually cover several academic areas. Candidates can expect to face questions such as:

• Critical appraisal – explaining a paper or dataset, and then summarising it for a lay audience.
• Academic achievements – summarising your research contributions and personal role in projects or publications.
• Research interests – discussing how your interests align with the ACF post or NIHR research themes.
• Practical research experience – outlining hands-on experience in study design, methodology, or analysis.
• Challenges of combining clinical and academic roles – reflecting on how you would manage dual responsibilities effectively.

How ACF interviews are scored

While each deanery may use a slightly different scoring criteria, panels generally assess candidates on:

• Scientific reasoning and data interpretation, including the ability to communicate complex findings clearly to both clinical and lay audiences.
• Academic track record and potential, appropriate for your career stage.
• Research knowledge and fit with the unit or NIHR theme.
• Practical research experience and methodological understanding.
• Professional skills, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and a realistic understanding of the ACF role.

Ready to maximise your score in the 2026 ACF interview? The Medibuddy ACF Question Bank contains targeted practice across all common academic stations and scoring domains.