RCSI ST3 Pathway points: points calculator and scoring guide

If you’re a CST2 trainee going for ST3 on the RCSI Pathway, your progression score is out of 1000: your CST scores (500), your academic score (40) and your interview (460). The first two together are your shortlisting score, and you need a “Minimum 60% pre-interview score for shortlisting progression”. This page follows the RCSI Specialty Training 2027 Intake Applicant Guide A, which covers General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, ENT, Plastics and Vascular. Your CST scores are already set by your CAPAs, logbook, MRCS and OSCEs, so the academic 40 is the part you can still change. The guide says academic paperwork closes in January and gives “Interviews w/c 15 March 2027”.

The calculator scores the academic 40 on the 2027 tables and shows where a course would add marks. Peer-reviewed papers are graded by the panel at 6 to 20 each, so they’re listed but not counted. We’ll show your result and email you a copy.

Go to the RCSI ST3 (Pathway) calculator at the top of this page

Where Teach the Teacher counts for RCSI ST3 Pathway

The academic score has no teaching category. The nearest line is under “RCSI/Other Approved Education Programmes /Courses”, which reads “Specialty & relevant clinical Courses (5 each, max 10)”, and that’s where we claim the Teach the Teacher course. The guide doesn’t define “approved” or “relevant clinical”, so the academic scoring panel decides whether a teaching course counts. If it does, and you have fewer than two scored courses and are under 40 overall, it adds 5. The paperwork matters as much as the course. You need “an official course attendance certificate, indicating dates attended as well as signature of course director/organiser on the certificate”, and “Documents validating information supplied need to be received by the final academic information deadline to be eligible for scoring.” Use the certificate from the live teaching day: it shows the course date and carries the course director’s signature. One caution: the guide isn’t consistent about the value. The Pathway table says 5 each, but the ESR section of the same guide says “2 marks each max 10”, and the value column beside the Pathway line shows 10 and 6. We’ve used 5 because that’s what the Pathway line says; if it matters to your ranking, ask RCSI Surgical Training which value they’ll apply.

The other place teaching comes in is the interview. Under the academic table the guide adds: “Additional scores for this component can be credited at the specialty interview. Station 2: Commitment to academic advancement and lifelong learning.” Station 2 is worth 40 of the 460 interview marks for Pathway candidates, and it’s where your teaching training and the teaching you’ve done get discussed. The guide doesn’t say how many of those 40 marks, if any, relate to teaching.

Rules in Guide A that change a Pathway score

The six academic sections add up to 110: thesis degree 30, other higher degree 20, publications 30, presentations 10, research prizes 10 and courses 10. But the “Score for Academic Progression” is “Max 40”, so a PhD (30) and a Masters (20) already fill it, and nothing after that moves your shortlisting score. Presentations score “International / National ( 2 each, max 10)”, and you need evidence of the abstract naming you as “principal presenter”. A talk you haven’t given yet doesn’t count: “Future presentations and those with dates beyond the closing date of application will not be considered for scoring.” A paper counts only with “full and final acceptance”, and a letter asking for revisions isn’t enough. Plastics candidates get extra: “Plastic Surgery will award additional marks when published in a Plastics Journal.” At interview there are two floors: a “Minimum 60% Interview score in addition to achieving a pass in Station 4”, Decision Making in Surgery. Failing Station 4 makes you “not appointable, irrespective of performance in any other station”.

Worked example: a CST2 on 31 of 40

Picture a CST2 applying for General Surgery. They hold a relevant Higher Diploma (60 ECTS), have given two national oral presentations as principal presenter, have one published case report, won one national research prize and completed one specialty clinical skills course with a signed certificate. They have no thesis degree and no other papers. On the 2027 tables their academic score is:

• Higher degree by thesis: none, 0.
• Other higher degree: Higher Diploma (60 ECTS), 14.
• Publications: one case report, 2.
• Presentations: two national orals at 2 each, 4.
• Prizes for research: one national prize, 6.
• Courses: one specialty clinical course, 5.

That’s 31 of 40. If they complete Teach the Teacher with a signed, dated certificate and the panel accepts it as a relevant clinical course, courses go from 5 to 10 and the academic score from 31 to 36. Their CST scores don’t change. At interview, the course gives them something concrete to talk about at Station 2.

For the full Pathway tables and the 2027 dates on one printable page, add your email and we’ll send you the PDF.

RCSI ST3 (Pathway) Pathway academic scoring ('Pre-Interview Academic Score', max 40), part of the shortlisting score with the CST scores (500) points at a glance

RCSI Specialty Training 2027 Intake Applicant Guide A (HSTGUI2, RCSI Ref. AD9717a) · Last checked 30 October 2026

Your score is the total of the domain scores, out of a maximum of 540.

The progression score is out of 1000: 'CST Scores' 500 marks + 'Academic' 40 marks + 'Interview' 460 marks. 540 here is the pre-interview part (CST 500 + Academic 40), which the guide calls the 'Shortlisting Score' with a '60% Minimum Score'. Only the academic 40 is self-countable, so the calculator scores that and leaves the CST scores to RCSI. 'Minimum 60% pre-interview score for shortlisting progression.' 'Minimum 60% Interview score in addition to achieving a pass in Station 4.' The academic sections add up to 110 (30 + 20 + 30 + 10 + 10 + 10), but the 'Score for Academic Progression' is 'Max 40'. Interview stations (Pathway marks): Station 1 Quality and Safety 100; Station 2 'Commitment to academic advancement and lifelong learning' 40; Station 3 current issues 100; Station 4 Decision Making in Surgery 120 (must pass); Station 5 Professionalism and Probity 100; total 460. Under the academic table the guide says: 'Additional scores for this component can be credited at the specialty interview. Station 2: Commitment to academic advancement and lifelong learning.' Station 2 is where teaching training is discussed; the guide doesn't say how many of its 40 marks, if any, relate to teaching.

RCSI ST3 (Pathway): every domain, what scores and the maximum

Domain	What scores (official wording)	Max
CST scores (CAPA, logbook, MRCS, OSCEs), from your CST record	no fixed value Out of 425 Cumulative CAPA 1,2,3 + OSS + HFPS Score | Out of 75* Actual Total MRCS Score | Out of 500 Total Score Pre-Interview Scores the single best option you can evidence, up to 500 points. Out of 500: CAPA 1-3, OSS and HFPS out of 425, plus MRCS out of 75. 'The ST Admin /Sr. Team Lead and QA will populate the scorecard with the CST scores.' 'Following review, the TPD will sign off on all pre-interview scores. The ranking position of all pathway candidates is available at this stage.'	500
Academic score (max 40)	30 points Higher Degree by Thesis | PhD | 30 26 points Higher Degree by Thesis | MD | 26 20 points Higher Degree by Thesis | MCh | 20 16 points Higher Degree by Thesis | Submitted with verification | 16 20 points Other Higher Degree /Awards | Taught modular MCh (90 ECTS) | 20 20 points Other Higher Degree /Awards | Other relevant Masters degrees (90 ECTS) (e.g M.Sc., M.Ed., MBA) | 20 14 points Other Higher Degree /Awards | Relevant Higher Diploma (60 ECTS) | 14 10 points Other Higher Degree /Awards | Relevant Diploma (45 ECTS) | 10 6 points Other Higher Degree /Awards | Relevant Certificates (30 ECTS) | 6 no fixed value Publications | Peer reviewed scientific papers | 6-20 no fixed value Publications | Invited review article (max 8 depending on journal) | 8 4 points each Publications | Book Chapters (4 each, Max 4) | 8 2 points each Publications | Case reports (2 each, Max 4) | 4 2 points each Presentations at Scientific papers | International / National ( 2 each, max 10) | 6-20 | 10 (Max) 10 points each Prizes for Research | International | 10 6 points each Prizes for Research | National | 6 5 points each RCSI/Other Approved Education Programmes /Courses | Specialty & relevant clinical | 10 | Courses (5 each, max 10) | 6 | 10 (Max) Each item you can evidence adds its points, up to 40 points for the domain. Six sections with their own maxima (30, 20, 30, 10, 10, 10), then one cap: 'Score for Academic Progression Max 40'. Tick your highest thesis degree only. Peer-reviewed papers and invited reviews are graded by the panel (6 to 20, and up to 8) and are shown but not scored by the calculator. 'Note: Plastic Surgery will award additional marks when published in a Plastics Journal.'	40
Total	Not published as a single figure: this is the sum of the domain maxima.	540

Dates for this round

• October 2026 Intake applications open (October / November) expected source
• January 2027 Academic paperwork closes (January; no exact Pathway date published) expected source
• February 2027 Academic scoring (February) expected source
• 15 March 2027 Interviews, week commencing 15 March 2027 (Guide A) source
• 12 March 2027 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery interview expected source
• 18 March 2027 Plastic Surgery and Vascular Surgery interviews expected source
• 19 March 2027 Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery interview expected source
• 22 March 2027 Neurosurgery interview expected source
• 25 March 2027 General Surgery interview expected source

What you can still add

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.

• Academic score (max 40). Complete a specialty or relevant clinical course and get an official attendance certificate showing the dates attended and signed by the course director or organiser, so it reaches RCSI by the academic paperwork deadline. We claim the Erudical Teach the Teacher course here; the academic scoring panel decides whether it is a 'relevant clinical' course. Gets you to: Specialty or relevant clinical course (5 each, max 10). 'Documents validating information supplied need to be received by the final academic information deadline to be eligible for scoring.' The guide puts the academic paperwork deadline in January ('Submission closes for academic paperwork') but gives no exact Pathway date.

Evidence traps

• The academic sections add up to 110, but the academic score stops at 40. Once you're at 40, nothing else adds to shortlisting. Score for Academic Progression Max 40 source
• A course scores only with an official attendance certificate that shows the dates and carries the course director's signature, and it has to arrive by the academic deadline. This should take the form of an official course attendance certificate, indicating dates attended as well as signature of course director/organiser on the certificate. Documents validating information supplied need to be received by the final academic information deadline to be eligible for scoring. source
• A presentation you haven't yet given, or one dated after the closing date, scores nothing, and you need proof that you were the principal presenter. Evidence of abstraction on headed parent journal for meeting or conference and or presentation published including authorship and principal presenter on official meeting/ conference proceedings documents. Future presentations and those with dates beyond the closing date of application will not be considered for scoring. source
• Both halves have a floor: 60% before interview to be shortlisted, then 60% at interview plus a pass in Station 4, whatever your other stations score. Minimum 60% pre-interview score for shortlisting progression. Minimum 60% Interview score in addition to achieving a pass in Station 4. source
• A paper counts only with full and final acceptance. A letter asking for revisions doesn't count. Proof would take the form of an official email or headed letter from editor or their appointed representative indicating full and final acceptance of publication from author. This DOES NOT include editorial commentary suggesting any further revisions to manuscripts prior to acceptance. source

Sources

• RCSI Specialty Training 2027 Intake Applicant Guide A (General, Neuro, OMFS, ENT, Plastics, Vascular), 2027 intake. Document HSTGUI2, RCSI Ref. AD9717a; revision table runs to 'Oct 27' (the latest entry). Downloaded and text-extracted 30 Oct 2026; tables checked against page renders.
• RCSI General Surgery: Apply (entry routes and documents for the July 2027 intake), July 2027 start; page checked 30 Oct 2026
• RCSI ESR Application Form 2027 (Non-RCSI): interview dates by specialty, July 2027 intake. Used here only for the specialty interview dates ('Interview dates are subject to confirmation').

RCSI ST3 Pathway questions, answered

How is the RCSI ST3 academic score calculated for CST trainees?

Six sections count: higher degree by thesis (max 30), other higher degrees (max 20), publications (max 30), presentations (2 each, max 10), research prizes (max 10) and courses (5 each, max 10). Added up they can pass 40, but the academic score stops at 40. It’s added to your CST scores (out of 500) to give your shortlisting score, and you need 60% of that to reach interview.

Does a teaching course count for RCSI ST3 shortlisting?

There’s no teaching category. We claim the Teach the Teacher course under “Specialty & relevant clinical Courses (5 each, max 10)”, and the academic scoring panel decides whether a teaching course qualifies. Your certificate needs the dates attended and the course director’s signature, so use the one from the live teaching day. At interview, Station 2 is where teaching training is discussed.

What is the minimum score to be shortlisted for RCSI ST3?

60% of your pre-interview score (CST scores plus academic score). To be appointable you also need 60% at interview and a pass in Station 4, Decision Making in Surgery.

When are the RCSI ST3 interviews for 2027?

Guide A says “Interviews w/c 15 March 2027”. The ESR application form lists specialty dates that are “subject to confirmation”: OMFS on Friday 12 March, Plastics and Vascular on Thursday 18 March, ENT on Friday 19 March, Neurosurgery on Monday 22 March and General Surgery on Thursday 25 March 2027. Some of those fall outside the week of 15 March, so check with your specialty’s administrator.