Clinical Oncology 26th November 2024

Clinical Oncology ST3: Interview Guide 2025

Clinical Oncology ST3 remains an accessible and rewarding specialty for trainees, offering a balance of academic challenge and practical patient care. While many specialty applications can be highly competitive, Clinical Oncology ST3 is comparatively less so, making it an attractive choice if you have a strong interest in the field.

To provide context, the 2024 competition ratio was 1.78, with 232 applications for 130 posts—just under two applicants per post. Our guide covers every aspect of the application process, including the recruitment timeline, interview format, and how offers are made, ensuring you’re fully prepared to secure your first choice post.

Clinical Oncology ST3 Application

To be eligible for Clinical Oncology ST3, you must demonstrate achievement of core medical capabilities by the application round, through one of the following approved routes:

• UK Internal Medicine Stage 1 Training (IMT1)
• UK ACCS (Internal Medicine)
• UK Broad Based Training (medicine route)
• Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) internationally level 3 accredited equivalent IMT1 programme
• UK Core Medical Training (CMT) or ACCS (Acute Medicine)

You’re also required to complete the MRCP to be eligible. Therefore, it’s important that you complete MRCP Part 1 at the time of application and MRCP Part 2 by offer date.

You can find more information on the eligibility criteria in the 2025 Clinical Oncology ST3 person specification.

Clinical Oncology ST3 Application Scoring

Part of your Clinical Oncology ST3 application requires you to answer self-assessment questions, with 59 points available across the following 8 domains:

Each domain requires you to choose a response that most accurately reflects your experience, achievements and qualifications. After the application closing date, you will be required to provide evidence to support the self-assessment questions.

Boost your Clinical Oncology ST3 application score by Training in Teaching

Teaching qualifications will contribute to your Clinical Oncology ST3 application score. A 3-year master’s level teaching qualification will score you 6 points, while a higher qualification in teaching, such as a PG Cert or PG Diploma, will score you 5. However, if you don’t already have one of these qualifications, there are still options that allow you to pick up some points for this domain. An easy alternative is to attend a Teach the Teacher course, which will give you 1 point towards your application score.

Teach the Teacher Course by Medibuddy

This two-day CPD-accredited online course will earn you 12 CPD points on completion. It’s entirely flexible, so you can complete it in two days or multiple sessions over a longer period. On completion of the course, you’ll receive a certificate for your portfolio that is accredited for CCT, interviews and appraisals.

Find out more

Clinical Oncology ST3 Recruitment Timeline

The 2025 recruitment dates for round 1 of Clinical Oncology ST3 are below:

Clinical Oncology ST3 Interview Format

The 2025 Clinical Oncology ST3 interview will be conducted online via the Qpercom platform. You must ensure that you have a computer equipped with a camera and microphone for the interview, which will last approximately 30 minutes. It’s recommended to allocate an additional 30 minutes in case of unforeseen delays.

The interview will comprise three distinct stations, each designed to assess various aspects of your skills and experience:

Clinical station

This will include two clinical scenarios, each lasting five minutes. With a relatively short timeframe to cover each scenario, it’s essential that you’ve prepared for the structure of the interview and the scenarios you’re likely to encounter to ensure you can score highly in the time available.

Ethics and communication station

As with the clinical stations, this will be split into two questions focusing on ethical and governance issues, each lasting five minutes. You will also be scored on your communication skills throughout this station.

Portfolio station

For this station, you’ll be asked two questions relating to your portfolio and experience. You’ll have a total of ten minutes, so again, consider the time constraints when preparing your answers and ensure you’ve practised getting across your key points within the limit.

Each interview panel will include two assessors, with the possibility of a third panel member or Trainee Quality Assurer observing. Additionally, a lay representative may be present to oversee the quality assurance process, though they will not contribute to scoring.

Clinical Oncology ST3 Offers

After the interview, you will receive a unique ranking and be informed of the outcome of your application – either successful or unsuccessful – via Oriel. The preferencing window will open before offers are made, with the exact dates for this being confirmed closer to the time. For guidance on submitting preferences, you should refer to the Oriel Applicant User Guide.

Offers are made based on ranking and preferences. Initial offers will be released on ​​15 April 2025. You will then have 48 hours (excluding weekends) to accept, reject, or hold your offer via Oriel. After the hold deadline, only the accept or reject options will remain. References are requested only once an offer is accepted, and scoresheets will be released on a specified date without the need for a request.

Best of luck with your application and interview!