Application and Selection
Selection Regulations for the 2023 Intake, conducted during 2022
Selection into the Surgical Education and Training (SET) Program in Neurosurgery is a competitive process which occurs annually.
The Selection Regulations establish the principles, terms and conditions for the selection process. The Selection Regulations available below are applicable for the 2023 intake conducted during 2022 only. These Selection Regulations may be changed from year to year and cannot be relied on for the intakes conducted in future years for the SET Program. Any regulations for the SET Program from any previous years are not applicable and cannot be relied on for meeting the SET Program requirements for the 2023 intake unless specifically stated in the Selection Regulations.
Full details can be found in the Selection Regulations available here
Step 1 – Registration for Selection
Opens Wednesday 12 January 2022 (12.00 noon AEDT)
Closes Wednesday 9 February 2022 (12.00 noon AEDT)
Anyone intending to apply for selection must register their intention to apply by the closing date above. At the time of registration, applicants must be able to meet all generic eligibility requirements available on the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) website. A registration fee is payable to the RACS by any applicant who is not a current SET Trainee or RACS Fellow. All registrations are conducted online through the RACS website. The Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (NSA) is not involved in the registration process and any questions should be directed to the RACS.
Full details on the registration process and generic eligibility requirements can be found here
Step 2 - Apply for Selection
Opens Wednesday 2 March 2022 (12.00 noon AEST)
Closes Wednesday 30 March 2022 (5:00 pm AEDT)
Applications can only be submitted by registered applicants (see step 1) using the neurosurgery online application form. Applications must be submitted prior to the advertised closing date for applications. No other form of application will be accepted. Registered applicants will receive a link to apply by email on the opening date.
Applicants must pay a selection application fee of $AUD985 prior to the advertised closing date for applications to be considered for selection. This fee is non-refundable and is inclusive of the examination fee. Failure to pay the selection application fee by the communicated due will result in the application being withdrawn.
Full details can be found in the Selection Regulations available here
Step 3 – Selection Process
Selection Tools
The selection process uses four selection tools, each contributing the following weightings to the overall selection score out of 100:
- Structured Curriculum Vitae 10%
- Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination 30%
- Reference Report 30%
- Neurosurgery Semi-Structured Interview 30%
Full details can be found in the Selection Regulations available here
Structured Curriculum Vitae
The Structured Curriculum Vitae (the application submitted) will be scored in accordance with the Selection Regulations. Applicants must score a minimum of 50.00% (5.5 out of 11 points) for the Structured Curriculum Vitae to be deemed suitable for selection. It is envisaged that results for the Structured Curriculum Vitae scoring will be released in late April 2022.
Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination
The Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination will be held on Monday, 11 April 2022. Applicants must score a minimum of 70.00% (168 out of 240 marks) for the Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination to be deemed suitable for selection. There have been changes to the number and mix of question types compared to previous years. It is envisaged that Examination results will be released in late April 2022.
Click here to view the Examination venues and times
Click here to view information relating to the Examination including sample questions and the rules
First Short Listing
Applicants who satisfy the standards for the Structured Curriculum Vitae and Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination will be ranked according to their combined score for the Structured Curriculum Vitae and the Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination with the selection tool weightings applied (which equates to a score out of 40 points). All other applicants will be deemed unsuitable, will not be ranked and will not proceed further in the selection process. The top 34 suitable applicants will then proceed to the Reference Report process. All other applicants will be deemed unsuccessful and will not proceed further in the selection process. It is envisaged that short listing announcements will be released in late April 2022.
Reference Report
The Reference Report will be prepared and scored in accordance with the Selection Regulations. Applicants must score a minimum of 70% (49 out of 70 points) for the Reference Report to be deemed suitable for selection. It is envisaged that results for the Reference Report scoring will be released in mid-June 2022.
Second Short Listing
Applicants who satisfy the Reference Report standard will be ranked according to their combined score for the Structured Curriculum Vitae, Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination and Reference Report with the selection tool weightings applied (which equates to a score out of 70 points). All other applicants will be deemed unsuitable, will not be ranked, and will not proceed further in the selection process. The top 24 suitable applicants will then proceed to the Neurosurgery Semi-Structured Interview (shortlisted applicants). It is envisaged that short listing announcements will be released in mid-June 2022 at least two weeks prior to the scheduled Interview date.
Neurosurgery Semi-Structured Interview
Shortlisted applicants for the Interview will be advised in writing of their Interview date and time at least two weeks prior. Each Interview will be approximately one hour in duration and consist of four scenario and experience-based sections, each with multiple questions designed to assess the suitability of the applicant. Shortlisted applicants must score a minimum of 50% (8 out of 16 points) for the Interview to be deemed suitable for selection. It is envisaged that results for the Interview scoring will be released in early July 2022.
The provisional date for the Interview is Thursday, 30 June 2022 as face-to-face interviews with the venue to be determined. This date is subject to change.
Step 4 – Final Ranking, Special Measures and Offers
Applicants who satisfy the standard for the Interview will be ranked according to their combined score for the Structured Curriculum Vitae, Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination, Reference Report and Interview with the selection tool weightings applied (which equates to a score out of 100 points). All other applicants will be deemed unsuitable, will not be ranked and will not proceed further in the selection process.
Following the final ranking, offers for selection will be made applying the following process:
It is envisaged that offers will be made in early July 2022.
Details regarding the special measures can be found in Section 1 of the Selection Regulations.
Previous Selection Intakes
The download below shows the outcome of the last six selection processes.
Selection Statistics