Higher psychiatry (ST4) self-assessment score calculator

Tiers and points transcribed from NHS England's published guidance for February 2027 recruitment: domain breakdown and scoring overview. This is an unofficial estimate. Only the recruitment office's verification decides your score, and points are awarded only where the required evidence is uploaded and accepted.

1. Undergraduate training: additional degrees0 / 3

   BSc, BA or similar/higher additional degree3 pointsNon-psychiatry and non-medicine qualifications are accepted; a non-medical Master's is scored here.MD linked to the primary medical qualification0 pointsNo additional points where the MD is the primary medical qualification.None of the above0 pointsNo additional degree submitted.

   Evidence: Degree certificate (maximum 1 piece of evidence)

2. Undergraduate training: prizes and awards0 / 4

   Distinction (or equivalent) for the primary medical degree4 pointsAn exceptional standard of performance for the overall degree.Prize, merit or distinction during undergraduate medical training2 pointsAn award for high performance in a module, or a merit for the overall degree.No prize, merit or distinction awarded0 pointsNo undergraduate award achieved.

   Evidence: Degree certificate and/or transcript (maximum 2 pieces)

3. Postgraduate medical qualifications0 / 5

   Master's qualification5 pointsFully completed qualifications only, with a certificate or official letter of proof.Postgraduate diploma4 pointsFully completed only.Postgraduate certificate in a relevant field3 pointsRelevant fields include quality improvement, patient safety, leadership and management.None of the above0 pointsNo postgraduate qualification.

   Evidence: Degree certificate or exam pass (maximum 1 piece, only one qualification scores)

4. Postgraduate training: prizes and awards0 / 4

   Personal award from a nationally recognised medical body4 pointsThe body must be making the award in a national capacity.Personal award from a local or regional recognised medical body2 pointsRegional or local bodies making awards.None of the above0 pointsNo postgraduate award.

   Evidence: Award certificate, or a headed and signed letter (maximum 1 piece)

5. Leadership role within an organisation0 / 4

   Leadership role at national level for at least 6 months4 pointsWider scope than psychiatry alone: roles outside the specialty count.Leadership role at local level for at least 6 months2 pointsLocal-level leadership roles.Less than 6 months, or no leadership role0 pointsInsufficient duration, or no role held.

   Evidence: Headed letter from the organisation confirming the nature and duration (maximum 1 piece)

6. Clinical governance, audit and quality improvement0 / 5

   QIP or complete audit cycle resulting in national change5 pointsInvolvement must be more than data collection.QIP or complete audit cycle resulting in regional change4 pointsRegional-level impact demonstrated.QIP or complete audit cycle resulting in local change3 pointsLocal-level impact demonstrated.Complete cycle, but no resulting change evidenced2 pointsProject completed without a measurable impact.No complete audit cycle or QIP0 pointsNo project undertaken.

   Evidence: Project summary, QIP registration, and a supervisor or audit lead letter (maximum 3 pieces)

7. Research0 / 6

   Completion of a PhD involving original research6 pointsMust be awarded for full marks: completed, examined and results awarded.Significant research involvement (2-year MD), or chief investigator on a peer-reviewed grant5 pointsThe MD cannot be a standard component of training.Personal and direct involvement leading a postgraduate research project4 pointsLeadership of the project must be demonstrated.Ongoing commitment as co-investigator, or significant patient recruitment3 pointsCo-investigator role or substantial recruitment.Involvement with recruitment or data collection1 pointParticipation in data collection.No research participation0 pointsNo involvement.

   Evidence: PhD certificate, supervisor letter, project summary, or MD standard confirmation (maximum 3 pieces)

8. Teaching0 / 5

   Master's in medical or clinical education with a major dissertation5 pointsCertificates, diplomas and Master's degrees must be completed by the closing date.Major contribution to a regional or national teaching programme4 pointsMust include an organising component.Postgraduate diploma in education or teaching4 pointsFully completed qualification.Major contribution to a local teaching programme3 pointsMust include an organising component.Postgraduate certificate in education or teaching3 pointsFully completed qualification.Formal teaching of health professionals, such as lectures2 pointsTeaching health professionals, or health-related topics to a non-medical audience.Teaching the Teachers course or similar2 pointsAttendance at a formal training course.Informal teaching of colleagues1 pointInformal peer teaching.No teaching contribution0 pointsNo involvement.

   Evidence: Degree certificate, headed letter confirming involvement, or lecture overview and feedback (maximum 3 pieces)

9. Academic publications0 / 5

   First author on multiple peer-reviewed publications, or sole author of book chapters5 pointsPostgraduate publications. Case reports count as one point in total.First author on one peer-reviewed publication, or sole author of a book chapter4 pointsPostgraduate publication or book chapter.Co-author on multiple peer-reviewed publications, or co-author of a book chapter3 pointsPostgraduate co-authorship.Co-author on one peer-reviewed publication, or an undergraduate publication2 pointsA single co-authored work, or undergraduate publication.One or more abstracts, articles, e-publications or published letters1 pointPublished content at any level.No publications0 pointsNo published work.

   Evidence: Copy of the abstract or publication, plus peer review evidence or journal information (maximum 4 pieces)

10. Presentations and poster presentations0 / 5

    Regional, national or international meeting presentation5 pointsThe classification level is set by the body holding the meeting.Local meeting presentation on multiple occasions3 pointsMore than one local presentation.Local or departmental presentation1 pointA single departmental presentation.No presentations or posters0 pointsNo presentation activity.

    Evidence: Presentation slides with the event programme, acceptance letter or conference abstract (maximum 4 pieces)