Public Health ST1 · national recruitment
Public Health ST1 2027 application: what’s scored
Public Health does not score your CV. An assessment centre, then a selection centre, decide it. Here is how each works.
Applications close 4pm, Thu 19 Nov 2026
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How you’re selected
- “Publications and presentations are not requested because there is no scored application form shortlisting; all eligible applicants proceed to the assessment centre stage”
- “The computer based assessment comprises 3 timed papers: numerical reasoning, critical thinking and situational judgement.”
- “Applicants attending the selection centre are ranked by selection centre score.”
Source: Public Health National Recruitment Office pages on the Medical Hub, read 15 Oct 2026. Assessment centre 5 and 6 Jan 2027.
What Public Health scores
“Applicants must pass all 3 papers and rank highly enough to be invited to the selection centre.” “Please note that this assessment is not the same as the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) and completion of the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) will not count towards public health recruitment.”
At the selection centre, “The interview assesses essential criteria from the person specification.” Those criteria include commitment: “Demonstrates evidence of interest and realistic insight into public health, with an understanding of, and commitment to, public health principles in relation to interventions around the needs of an individual and the population in general.” “The confirmed number of interview questions, time allowed for each question and overall appointment length will be published when the 2027 selection centre format is finalised.”
In 2025 there were 2,710 applications for 95 posts on the Medical Hub basis, a ratio of 28.53.
Where NMERC fits
Presentations are not requested, so NMERC adds nothing to Public Health shortlisting. A population health project you have presented can still be useful to talk about at the selection centre, where commitment to public health and research understanding are assessed. The 2027 format is not yet published.
“In 2027, applicants will only be able to submit a maximum of five applications per recruitment round.” Other specialties in the round, such as IMT (IMT points calculator), Core Surgical Training (CST portfolio guide) and Clinical Radiology ST1 (Radiology ST1 portfolio points), score a national presentation. NMERC is an online national conference on Saturday 14 November 2026. It is free to submit and free to present, and it is open to any doctor or medical student. Every abstract is reviewed before it is accepted. Submit at nmerc.org/submit, and read more on the NMERC page.
Public Health ST1 2027: common questions
Does Public Health ST1 use the MSRA?
No. Public Health has its own assessment centre with three timed papers: numerical reasoning, critical thinking and situational judgement. “Completion of the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) will not count towards public health recruitment.”
Do publications or presentations count for Public Health ST1?
No. “Publications and presentations are not requested because there is no scored application form shortlisting; all eligible applicants proceed to the assessment centre stage”.
How are Public Health ST1 applicants ranked?
“Applicants must pass all 3 papers and rank highly enough to be invited to the selection centre.” At the selection centre, “Applicants attending the selection centre are ranked by selection centre score.” The 2027 selection centre format has not been finalised.
Checklist before you apply
- Prepare for numerical reasoning, critical thinking and situational judgement papers.
- Do not rely on an MSRA score: it does not count here.
- Think through your commitment to public health and your understanding of research.
- Choose your other applications (up to five) before 19 November.
