Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery ST3 · 2027 criteria

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery ST3 self-assessment 2027: points calculator and scoring guide

2027 criteria (T&O ST3 self-assessment scoring system, NHS England, PDF dated 8 Oct 2026) Last checked

Pick the option that fits your evidence at each step to see your score out of 37, and what you can still add before the deadline.

Applications expected to close 4pm, Thu 10 Dec 2026

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T&O ST3 points calculator

Answer one question for each scored domain. We add up your points with the published rules shown on each step, then show what you could still add before the deadline, with dates. It takes about two minutes.

We'll show your result and email you a copy.

When are you applying?

We use this to date your plan. Applying this round, it works back from the deadline. Applying next year, you get the long-run version instead.

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 37.

Maximum 8 pointsQ2 Months in trauma and orthopaedic surgery

By the end of July 2027, or by completion of Core Training if this is later, how many months will you have spent in total in a primarily Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery placement in any post foundation job in any country? Please do not include any other posts.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 8 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

10 to 36 months (full time equivalent) in primarily T&O placements after foundation, counted to the end of July 2027 or the end of core training if later, scores the maximum 8.

Watch out. Gaps count as T&O: 'Please note any time periods unaccounted for up to the end July 2027 will be assumed to be in Trauma and Orthopaedic employment.' An unexplained gap can push you past 36 months, from 8 to 4.

Caps. One band only (0-8). Peaks at 10 to 36 months. 'NB. All time periods refer to full time equivalent.' (page 1)

Maximum 2 pointsQ3 Complementary specialty posts

By the end of July 2027, or completion of Core Training, will you have spent at least 4 months in posts in these complementary specialties: Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, ENT Surgery, Cardiac/Thoracic surgery, Emergency Medicine, ITU, Urology, OMFS, Paediatric Surgery or General Surgery since completing your Foundation Programme?

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

At least 4 months in each of two listed specialties after foundation.

Caps. 0-2.

Maximum 4 pointsQ4 Fractured neck of femur operations (STS or STU)

At the time of application, how many wholly completed operations for fracture of neck of femur have you completed which have been done either STS or STU? These must be recorded in a consultant validated logbook.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

18 or more wholly completed NOF operations, done STS or STU and in a consultant-validated logbook.

Watch out. Consolidation sheets without 'the consultant’s name, signature and GMC number on each sheet'.

Caps. 0, 2 or 4. 2027 bands: 0 to 5, 6 to 17, 18 or more (2026: 0 to 6, 7 to 17, 18 or more).

Maximum 1 pointQ5 Validated PBAs for neck of femur operations

At the time of application do you have 6 or more ISCP consultant validated PBA level 2 or above for wholly completed operations for fracture of neck of femur

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 1 point. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Six ISCP PBAs at level 2 or above for wholly completed NOF operations, validated by a consultant or recognised trainer.

Watch out. PBAs validated by a registrar: 'Registrar trainers who do not have CCT will not be accepted.'

Caps. 0 or 1. New question for 2027.

Maximum 4 pointsQ6 First-author publications (best 2)

By the application closing date, since starting undergraduate medical school, please provide your best 2 first-author publications that have been published between starting undergraduate medical school and the application closing date. Do not include published abstracts, case reports, book chapters letters, or technical tips.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Two first-author papers with a PMID, in journals indexed in both PubMed and Web of Science, published by the application closing date.

Watch out. Cureus and similar: 'journals that are not currently indexed in both PubMed and Web of Science (e.g., Cureus) will be discounted.'

Caps. 0, 2 or 4. Only the best 2 count: 'Only the first 2 publications evidenced will be considered'.

Maximum 2 pointsQ7 Other publications or Associate PI (best 2)

By the application closing date, since starting undergraduate medical school, please provide your best 2 other publications (first or other author) that have been published between starting undergraduate medical school and the application closing date. Do not include any papers included under Question 6, or published abstracts, case reports, book chapters, letters, or technical tips. An Associate PI (principle investigator) role for an NIHR study can be counted as equivalent to one “other author” publication.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Two further PubMed papers not used in Q6, or one paper plus one NIHR Associate PI role with a validated letter.

Watch out. Reusing a Q6 paper: 'Do not include any papers included under Question 6'.

Caps. 0, 1 or 2. 'Only one Associate PI position will be considered.'

Maximum 4 pointsQ8 National and international presentations and posters (best 2)

By the application closing date, since starting undergraduate medical school, please provide evidence of your best 2 national and international presentations (including at virtually delivered established conferences) which you have given or have been given by another author. You must be a listed author of the work presented. You may include evidence of JAM (just a minute) sessions, poster walks, and poster presentations (digital or printed) at national or international conferences. MAXIMUM 2 pieces of work can be evidenced; additional evidence will be discounted.

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain. Only your best 2 count.

Group 1 | Presentation delivered by you at national/international conference | 22pts eachHow many
Group 2 | Presentation of work in which you were involved but delivered by another author at national/international conference | 11pt eachHow many
Group 2 | Poster walk, JAM session (just a minute presentation) at national/international conference | 11pt eachHow many
Group 2 | Poster presentation (digital or printed) at national/international conference | 11pt eachHow many

Two different projects you presented yourself at national or international conferences (virtual established conferences included) score 4. Posters, poster walks, JAM sessions and talks given by a co-author score 1 each.

Watch out. Uploading more than two: 'MAXIMUM 2 pieces of work can be evidenced; additional evidence will be discounted.' The same project presented twice counts once.

Caps. Best 2 pieces of work only, max 4. Response table: '0 presentations | 0', '1 x Group 2 Presentation only | 1', '1 X Group 1 Presentation only | 2', '2 X Group 2 presentations | 2', '1 X Group 1, and 1 X Group 2 presentations | 3', '2 X Group 1 presentations | 4'. 'Please be reminded that the maximum number of pieces of evidence is 2.'

Maximum 2 pointsQ9 Closed-loop audits, QIPs or collaborative projects (best 2)

By the application closing date, since completion of Foundation training, please provide evidence of your best 2 projects, which may be a closed-loop audit, a quality improvement project (QIP), or a collaborative project.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Two closed-loop audits or QIPs since foundation, with active involvement in both cycles, or a published collaborative project naming you as a collaborator.

Watch out. Evidence format: outcomes go 'on a single PowerPoint slide. Do not supply the full presentation.' 'Do not supply audit meeting agenda.'

Caps. 0-2. Counts projects since completion of Foundation training (2026: since starting medical school, 1 per cycle, divided by N).

Maximum 2 pointsQ10 Higher degree or PGCert examined by thesis

At the time of application, have you completed and been awarded a stand-alone UK higher degree or equivalent or post graduate certificate (see evidence below) examined by thesis/dissertation? (N.B. this does not include intercalated BSc degrees)

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

An awarded stand-alone higher degree or postgraduate certificate examined by thesis or dissertation.

Watch out. A PGCert counts only if 'examined by thesis/dissertation'; intercalated BSc degrees don't count.

Caps. 0-2. 'We are aware of organisations such as UK NARIC however the Selection Design Group will be the final arbitrators.'

Maximum 3 pointsQ11 Leadership or management within medicine

Please select one statement that best describes your involvement in leadership or management within medicine.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

A formal national or international role you were elected or competitively appointed to, held for 6+ months (3).

Watch out. Roles outside medicine: 2027 asks about leadership 'within medicine' (2026 accepted 'within or outside of medicine').

Caps. 0-3. 'The Selection Design Group will be the final arbiters'.

Maximum 3 pointsQ12 Teaching

Please select one statement that best describes your involvement in teaching up until the end of July 2027, or by completion of Core Training.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Teaching you deliver: regular formal teaching (1), a significant role such as fortnightly teaching or helping deliver a course (2), or a solely teaching post (3). Erudical is always looking for teachers for its Teach the Teacher course: contact us.

Watch out. Claiming a teaching course you attended: 'Attendance at teaching courses such as ATLS Instructor and Training the Trainer will not be counted'.

Caps. 0-3. 'Attendance at teaching courses such as ATLS Instructor and Training the Trainer will not be counted'. 'Selection Design Group will be the final arbiters'.

Maximum 2 pointsQ13 Evidence organisation (assessed by reviewer)

The presentation of your evidence uploaded will be assessed by the reviewer as specified in the written instructions regarding organisation, presentation and ease of locating evidence. Uploaded documents must be legible, clear and orientated.

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points. Pick the highest option you can evidence.

Legible, clear, correctly orientated evidence, with a summary first page for each domain.

Watch out. Sideways or blurred scans: 'Uploaded documents must be legible, clear and orientated.' This mark can't be appealed.

Caps. 0 or 2. Reviewer-assessed in 2027 (2026: a yes/no confirmation). 'Please note this question cannot be appealed'.

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The 2027 Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery ST3 self-assessment has 13 questions. Q1 is an unscored career summary and the other 12 carry points, which add up to 37; the scoring system itself doesn’t print a total. The N divisor that shrank papers, talks and audits in 2026 has gone, so every answer now maps to a fixed score, and posters count for the first time. In 2026, NHS England North East and Yorkshire ran the national round for posts across England and Scotland. T&O hasn’t published its own 2027 dates: national Round 2 runs from 10am on 19 November to 4pm on 10 December 2026, while in 2026 T&O closed later, at 4pm on Tuesday 16 December 2025. Papers, presentations and audits only count if they’re done “By the application closing date”.

T&O ST3 self-assessment (2027 'Self-Assessment Scoring System'; uploaded evidence is assessed by a reviewer) points at a glance

2027 criteria (T&O ST3 self-assessment scoring system, NHS England, PDF dated 8 Oct 2026) Last checked

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 37.

No N weighting in 2027. The 2027 scoring system has no divisor question and makes no reference to a weighting document (the 2026 form said 'see weighting document for details'); no 2027 weighting document was found. Q1 is now an unscored single-page summary: 'Please provide to the end of July 2027 a single page summary detailing your date of graduation, foundation training (or equivalent) and post-foundation training posts with job title, speciality and dates of employment, and less than full time training details (if relevant). Include details of any periods out of employment (sick leave, parental leave etc) Do not upload employment contracts.' 'NB. All time periods refer to full time equivalent.' No overall maximum is stated in the document; 37 is the sum of the Q2-Q13 maxima (8+2+4+1+4+2+4+2+2+3+3+2). How the self-assessment combines with the interview isn't in the document.

T&O ST3: every domain, what scores and the maximum
DomainWhat scores (official wording)Max
Q2 Months in trauma and orthopaedic surgery
  • 0 points 0 to 3 months | 0
  • 1 point 4 to 9 months | 1
  • 8 points 10 to 36 months | 8
  • 4 points 37 to 59 months | 4
  • 1 point 60 months or more | 1

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 8 points.

One band only (0-8). Peaks at 10 to 36 months. 'NB. All time periods refer to full time equivalent.' (page 1)

8
Q3 Complementary specialty posts
  • 0 points I will not have spent 4 months in any of these specialties | 0
  • 1 point I will have spent at least 4 months in a post in 1 of these specialties | 1
  • 2 points I will have spent at least 4 months in posts in 2 or more of these specialties | 2

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

0-2.

2
Q4 Fractured neck of femur operations (STS or STU)
  • 0 points 0 to 5 | 0
  • 2 points 6 to 17 | 2
  • 4 points 18 or more | 4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

0, 2 or 4. 2027 bands: 0 to 5, 6 to 17, 18 or more (2026: 0 to 6, 7 to 17, 18 or more).

4
Q5 Validated PBAs for neck of femur operations
  • 0 points 0 – 5 validated PBAs | 0
  • 1 point 6 or more validated PBAs | 1

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 1 point.

0 or 1. New question for 2027.

1
Q6 First-author publications (best 2)
  • 0 points No first author papers with PMID (PubMed identifier) | 0
  • 2 points One first author papers with PMID (PubMed identifier) | 2
  • 4 points Two first author papers with PMID (PubMed identifier) | 4

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 4 points.

0, 2 or 4. Only the best 2 count: 'Only the first 2 publications evidenced will be considered'.

4
Q7 Other publications or Associate PI (best 2)
  • 0 points No other papers with PMID (PubMed identifier) | 0
  • 1 point One other papers with PMID (PubMed identifier) | 1
  • 2 points Two other papers with PMID (PubMed identifier) | 2

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

0, 1 or 2. 'Only one Associate PI position will be considered.'

2
Q8 National and international presentations and posters (best 2)
  • 2 points each Group 1 | Presentation delivered by you at national/international conference | 2
  • 1 point each Group 2 | Presentation of work in which you were involved but delivered by another author at national/international conference | 1
  • 1 point each Group 2 | Poster walk, JAM session (just a minute presentation) at national/international conference | 1
  • 1 point each Group 2 | Poster presentation (digital or printed) at national/international conference | 1

Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 4 points for the domain. Only your best 2 count.

Best 2 pieces of work only, max 4. Response table: '0 presentations | 0', '1 x Group 2 Presentation only | 1', '1 X Group 1 Presentation only | 2', '2 X Group 2 presentations | 2', '1 X Group 1, and 1 X Group 2 presentations | 3', '2 X Group 1 presentations | 4'. 'Please be reminded that the maximum number of pieces of evidence is 2.'

4
Q9 Closed-loop audits, QIPs or collaborative projects (best 2)
  • 0 points None | 0
  • 1 point One closed loop audit, quality improvement project or collaborative project | 1
  • 2 points Two closed loop audits, quality improvement projects or collaborative projects | 2

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

0-2. Counts projects since completion of Foundation training (2026: since starting medical school, 1 per cycle, divided by N).

2
Q10 Higher degree or PGCert examined by thesis
  • 0 points No | 0
  • 1 point Masters (e.g. MSc, MMedEd, MS, MCh(Orth), ChM), PGCert | 1
  • 2 points PhD, MD | 2

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

0-2. 'We are aware of organisations such as UK NARIC however the Selection Design Group will be the final arbitrators.'

2
Q11 Leadership or management within medicine
  • 0 points I have no evidence of involvement in leadership or management | 0
  • 1 point I have performed a local role (eg rota co-ordinator, organising a Journal club) | 1
  • 2 points I have provided evidence from my portfolio of a significant local or regional leadership or management role within medicine since starting undergraduate medical school. | 2
  • 3 points I have provided evidence from my portfolio of a national or international formal leadership or management role within medicine since starting undergraduate medical school. | 3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

0-3. 'The Selection Design Group will be the final arbiters'.

3
Q12 Teaching
  • 0 points Little or none | 0
  • 1 point Regular engagement in provision of formal teaching during the last 2 years (minimum 4 sessions per year) with evidence from my portfolio. | 1
  • 2 points Significant role in teaching (delivering a teaching programme on a regular basis (minimum one session every other week) or involvement in delivery of a course or clinical fellow role with evidence in contract including a teaching element) | 2
  • 3 points Formal substantive teaching role (a role which is solely teaching and no clinical work other than on call sessions if in your contract for rota requirements) | 3

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 3 points.

0-3. 'Attendance at teaching courses such as ATLS Instructor and Training the Trainer will not be counted'. 'Selection Design Group will be the final arbiters'.

3
Q13 Evidence organisation (assessed by reviewer)
  • 0 points Poorly organised evidence | 0
  • 2 points Well organised evidence | 2

Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 2 points.

0 or 2. Reviewer-assessed in 2027 (2026: a yes/no confirmation). 'Please note this question cannot be appealed'.

2
TotalNot published as a single figure: this is the sum of the domain maxima.37

Dates for this round

  • Applications open (expected; 2027 T&O dates not yet seen) expected source 1 source 2
  • Applications close: papers, presentations and projects must be done by then (expected; Round 2 date) expected source 1 source 2
  • Date not published yet Self-assessment evidence upload (2027 dates not published) expected source
  • Date not published yet Interviews (2027 dates not published) expected source
  • Initial offers released by expected source

What you can still add before 10 December 2026

What each of these adds is the difference between the option you would reach and the one you already hold, so it can be nothing if you hold that option already. The calculator works out the gain from your own answers.

  • Q4 Fractured neck of femur operations (STS or STU). Log further NOF operations done STS or STU before you apply, and get the logbook consolidation sheets signed by a consultant (name, signature and GMC number on each sheet). The question counts operations 'At the time of application'.
  • Q5 Validated PBAs for neck of femur operations. Complete and get validated enough ISCP PBAs (level 2 or above) for NOF operations to reach six before you apply, validated by a consultant or recognised trainer with CCT. The question counts PBAs 'At the time of application'.
  • Q8 National and international presentations and posters (best 2). Submit an abstract (free) to NMERC 2026 at nmerc.org/submit and present it online on Sat 14 Nov 2026, on a project not already among your best two. An oral you deliver is Group 1 (2); a poster is Group 2 (1). Only your best two pieces count. Keep the certificate and evidence letter. The Selection Design Group is the final arbiter on legitimate conferences. Gets you to: Group 1: national/international presentation delivered by you; Group 2: national/international poster (digital or printed). The NMERC meeting on Sat 14 Nov 2026 comes before the expected close (Round 2 closes 10 Dec 2026), and presentations count 'By the application closing date'.
  • Q13 Evidence organisation (assessed by reviewer). Lay out your evidence before you upload: legible, clear and correctly orientated, with a summary first page for each domain. 'Uploaded documents must be legible, clear and orientated.' This mark can't be appealed.

Evidence traps

  • Teach the teacher courses still score nothing in T&O, by name. Attendance at teaching courses such as ATLS Instructor and Training the Trainer will not be counted source
  • Only your best two count in each research question. Extra papers or presentations are discounted, so upload your two strongest. MAXIMUM 2 pieces of work can be evidenced; additional evidence will be discounted. / Only the first 2 publications evidenced will be considered, additional evidence of other publications will not be considered. source
  • Papers in journals not indexed in both PubMed and Web of Science, such as Cureus, are discounted. Papers that have been published in journals that do not have a robust peer review process or in journals that are not currently indexed in both PubMed and Web of Science (e.g., Cureus) will be discounted. source
  • Unexplained gaps are counted as T&O time, and T&O months peak at 10 to 36 (8 points); 37 to 59 months drops to 4. Please note any time periods unaccounted for up to the end July 2027 will be assumed to be in Trauma and Orthopaedic employment. / 10 to 36 months | 8 / 37 to 59 months | 4 source
  • Evidence layout is marked by the reviewer and can't be appealed. Please note this question cannot be appealed: Selection Design Group will be the final arbiters source

Sources

What changed in the 2027 T&O scoring system

The 2027 document reads very differently from the 2026 draft. Q1 no longer sets a weighting: it asks for “a single page summary” of your graduation date, foundation and post-foundation posts, and you should “not upload employment contracts”. Months in T&O still peak at 8, but the top band is now 10 to 36 months, 37 to 59 months scores 4, and 4 to 9 months drops to 1. The lower neck of femur bands move down by one case, so 6 to 17 now scores 2 and 18 or more still scores 4, and a new Q5 adds 1 point for “6 or more ISCP consultant validated PBA level 2 or above” for those operations. Research is now a best-two system: two first-author papers score 4, two other papers score 2, and “An Associate PI (principle investigator) role for an NIHR study can be counted as equivalent to one “other author” publication.” Audits count only “since completion of Foundation training”, two projects at most. A PGCert examined by thesis or dissertation now scores 1 alongside a Masters. Leadership runs to 3 and must be “within medicine”, teaching runs to 3, and evidence layout is now marked by the reviewer and “cannot be appealed”.

T&O points you can still add before the close

Months, degrees and six-month roles are mostly set by now, so three questions are worth watching. A presentation is the biggest swing: Q8 keeps your best two pieces of work, and replacing a poster with a talk you deliver yourself, or adding a second talk, is worth up to 2. Neck of femur cases count “At the time of application”, so crossing from 17 to 18 lifts Q4 from 2 to 4, as long as each consolidation sheet carries the consultant’s name, signature and GMC number. Reaching six validated PBAs adds 1 in Q5, but “Registrar trainers who do not have CCT will not be accepted.” Teaching needs two years of regular sessions or a substantial role held for at least six months, so it can’t be built in the weeks left. Erudical is always looking for teachers for its Teach the Teacher course, if delivering teaching interests you; NMERC and Erudical roles may qualify. See the NMERC and Erudical websites and contact us for details.

T&O evidence rules that cost marks

The research questions now discard extras: for presentations, “MAXIMUM 2 pieces of work can be evidenced; additional evidence will be discounted”, and for papers, “Only the first 2 publications evidenced will be considered”. Choose your two strongest and upload only those. Papers in journals “not currently indexed in both PubMed and Web of Science (e.g., Cureus) will be discounted”, and you can’t reuse a Q6 paper in Q7. On time in post, “any time periods unaccounted for up to the end July 2027 will be assumed to be in Trauma and Orthopaedic employment”, so an unexplained gap could carry you past 36 months and from 8 points to 4. Audit outcomes go “on a single PowerPoint slide. Do not supply the full presentation.” Q13 asks that “Uploaded documents must be legible, clear and orientated”, with a summary first page for each domain.

Worked example: a CT2 on 24 of 37

Take a hypothetical CT2 with 18 months in T&O, at least 4 months each in general surgery and emergency medicine, 10 neck of femur operations and 4 validated PBAs. They have one first-author and two other papers in journals indexed in both PubMed and Web of Science, one national oral they gave themselves, two closed-loop audits since foundation, a rota co-ordinator role and two years of regular formal teaching, with no higher degree and well organised evidence. On the 2027 scoring system:

  • Q2 months in T&O: 10 to 36 months, 8.
  • Q3 complementary specialties: two, 2.
  • Q4 neck of femur operations: 6 to 17, 2.
  • Q5 validated PBAs: 0 to 5, 0.
  • Q6 first-author papers: one, 2.
  • Q7 other papers: two, 2.
  • Q8 presentations: one Group 1 talk, 2.
  • Q9 audits and QIPs: two, 2.
  • Q10 higher degree: none, 0.
  • Q11 leadership: a local role, 1.
  • Q12 teaching: regular formal teaching, 1.
  • Q13 evidence: well organised, 2.

That’s 24. A teach the teacher course adds nothing. If they deliver an oral on a different project at NMERC on 14 November, Q8 moves from one Group 1 presentation to two, from 2 to 4, so the total becomes 26, a gain of 2. A poster instead would make Q8 “1 X Group 1, and 1 X Group 2 presentations”, worth 3, a gain of 1. Two more validated PBAs before applying would add another 1. No cut-off score is published.

The calculator scores all 12 scored questions on the 2027 tables, gives your total out of 37 and shows what a presentation at NMERC would add. We’ll show your result and email you a copy.

Go to the T&O ST3 calculator at the top of this page

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Does a teach the teacher course count for T&O ST3?

No. The 2027 teaching question repeats the exclusion word for word: “Attendance at teaching courses such as ATLS Instructor and Training the Trainer will not be counted”. A teach the teacher course adds 0 to a T&O application whatever you already hold, and we don’t offer it for T&O. Q12 rewards teaching you give. “Regular engagement in provision of formal teaching during the last 2 years (minimum 4 sessions per year)” scores 1. A significant role, such as a programme with “minimum one session every other week” or “involvement in delivery of a course”, scores 2, and a post that is solely teaching scores 3. The 2026 tier for a 60-credit teaching qualification is gone, and a PGCert now only counts in Q10, if it was examined by thesis or dissertation. You can compare how each specialty treats teaching courses in our teaching points by specialty table.

NMERC and the T&O presentations question

The online NMERC conference on Saturday 14 November 2026 falls before the Round 2 close on 10 December. Any doctor or medical student can submit an abstract at nmerc.org/submit, every abstract is reviewed before it is accepted, and presenting is free. Q8 counts presentations “including at virtually delivered established conferences”, and a talk you give is Group 1, worth 2, while a poster is Group 2, worth 1. Only your best two pieces count, so the gain depends on what you already have: a talk adds 2 if you have fewer than two pieces of work, 1 if it replaces a Group 2 item, and nothing if you already hold two Group 1 talks. The project must be new to your list, since “Each project will only be counted once even if presented at more than one meeting”, and “The Selection Design Group will be the final arbiters regarding legitimate conferences and duplicate presentations”. Co-authors can benefit too: Q8 also counts “Presentation of work in which you were involved but delivered by another author” as Group 2, if you can show a significant role, and NMERC’s evidence letter and abstract book list every co-author with their author position. T&O asks for “a copy of the certificate of attendance at the relevant meeting”, so keep the certificate and letter you’re sent.

T&O ST3 self-assessment questions

How is the T&O ST3 self-assessment scored in 2027?

There are 13 questions. Q1 is an unscored single-page summary. The rest score months in T&O (up to 8), complementary posts (2), neck of femur operations (4), validated PBAs (1), first-author papers (4), other papers or an Associate PI role (2), presentations and posters (4), audits or QIPs (2), a higher degree or PGCert (2), leadership (3), teaching (3) and evidence organisation (2). That adds up to 37. Nothing is divided by N any more, and the document doesn’t say how the self-assessment combines with the interview.

How many points is a national poster or presentation worth for T&O ST3?

A presentation you deliver at a national or international conference scores 2. A poster, a poster walk, a JAM session or a talk of your work given by a co-author scores 1. Your best two count, so the most you can score is 4, from two talks you gave yourself.

When is the T&O ST3 deadline for 2027?

T&O hasn’t published its own 2027 dates. The national Round 2 window is 10am on 19 November to 4pm on 10 December 2026. In 2026, T&O applications opened at 10am on 20 November 2025 and closed at 4pm on 16 December 2025, evidence went up from 5 to 14 January, and interviews were held online from 24 to 27 March 2026.

Is ATLS needed for T&O ST3 in 2027?

Yes, by interview. The 2027 person specification lists as essential “Evidence of demonstrable and up-to-date competences in advanced trauma life support at the time of interview”, where the 2025 specification used in the 2026 round didn’t. Its desirable criteria include “A practical course devoted entirely to orthopaedic casting techniques aimed at orthopaedic trainees”. An ATLS Instructor course still scores nothing in the self-assessment.