MSRA (Multi Specialty Recruitment Assessment)

As of 2023, candidates wishing to apply for Core Surgical Training are required to sit the MSRA exam. This was originally a GP entry exam, which is now being adopted by multiple specialties.

Your score is used to short-list for interview.

Your overall CST score, and therefore ranking, is a combination of your MSRA, portfolio and interview scores. More information about this exam can be found here: Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) | Medical Hub.

 

MRCS

Historically, candidates wishing to apply for ENT Higher Surgical Training were required to hold the MRCS (ENT) Part B OSCE, formerly known as the DO-HNS Part 2 examination.

From the 2025 recruitment round, the MRCS (ENT) was removed from the ENT ST3 person specification as an essential qualification. The examination has subsequently been discontinued, with the final diet taking place in February 2026.

The intention of the Intercollegiate Board for Surgical Examinations (ICBSE) and the four Surgical Royal Colleges of the UK and Ireland is that the summative assessment required before entry to Higher Surgical Training should be consistent across surgical specialties.

Therefore, candidates planning to apply for ENT ST3 should complete the standard MRCS examination. This is a two-part examination:

· MRCS Part A – a written, multiple-choice examination covering applied basic sciences and principles of surgery.

· MRCS Part B – a clinical and practical examination assessing clinical and communication skills, as well as applied knowledge and practical skills.

At present, candidates who have already passed the MRCS (ENT) should not need to undertake further exams, as the qualification is currently accepted as evidence of eligibility for ENT ST3 applications. However, candidates who have not previously undertaken the MRCS (ENT) should pursue the standard MRCS Parts A and B. Further information relating to the MRCS can be found here: IMRCS & MRCS – IMRCS

The discontinuation of the MRCS (ENT) exam poses a potential lost learning opportunity for those wishing to enter ENT Higher Surgical Training. The AOT therefore runs an annual ENT EssENTials Course to aid with the transition between Core and Higher Surgical Training. Details will become available soon regarding our 2027 course.