Application and Selection 

 

Selection Regulations for the 2024 Intake, conducted during 2023

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 of the selection process.  The Selection Regulations available below are applicable for the 2024 intake conducted during 2023 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 2024 intake unless specifically stated in the Selection Regulations.     

In the event of any inconsistency in the information on this webpage or from another source with the Selection Regulations, the Selection Regulations will prevail. 

Full details can be found in the Selection Regulations available here

Questions 

The Selection Regulations are designed to assist applicants with their application and most questions can be answered with reference to the Selection Regulations. Our team cannot provide career guidance on what applicants should or should not do in preparation for their application beyond the guidance provided in the Selection Regulations.  Our team cannot score components of an application in advance of the selection process, however the Selection Regulations provide detailed guidance to enable applicants to make their own assessments prior to applying. 

If an applicant has a question which is not addressed in the Selection Regulations, it must be submitted in writing to [email protected].  No advice will be given over the phone. 

Step 1 – Registration for Selection - Closed 

Opens Tuesday 10 January 2023 (12.00 noon AEDT)
Closes Tuesday 31 January 2023 (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. 

Step 2 - Apply for Selection - Closed 

Opens Wednesday 1 March 2023 (12.00 noon AEDT)
Closes Wednesday 22 March 2023 (12.00 noon 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. Once an application is submitted, it cannot be changed. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their application is complete and correct at the time of submission. 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.

Step 3 – Selection Process - In Progress 

Full details can be found in the Selection Regulations available here

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%

Structured Curriculum Vitae - Complete 

The Structured Curriculum Vitae (the application submitted) was be scored in accordance with Section 8 of the Selection Regulations.  Applicants must score the Minimum Standard of 50.00% (5.5 out of 11 points) for the Structured Curriculum Vitae to proceed further in the selection process. 

The Structured Curriculum Vitae results were released on 6 April 2023. If you do not have your results please contact [email protected]  

Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination - Complete 

The Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination was held on Wednesday, 29 March 2023.  Applicants must score the Minimum Standard of 70.00% (168 out of 240 marks) for the Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination to proceed further in the selection process. The Examination was scored in accordance with Section 9 of the Selection Regulations. 

The Examination results were released on 6 April 2023. If you do not have your results please contact [email protected] 

First Shortlisting - Complete 

Applicants who satisfy the Minimum Standards for the Structured Curriculum Vitae and Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination will be ranked according to their combined score for the two selection tools 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 ranked applicants (and ties) will be shortlisted for the Reference Report.  All other applicants will be deemed Unsuccessful and will not proceed further in the selection process. 

The First Shortlisting  results were released on 19 April 2023. If you do not have your results please contact [email protected] 

The current provisional average selection scores for the tools completed are provided below for guidance.  They are subject to change and the final average selection scores will be published in July 2023.

Selection Tools	Average Selection Scores
Structured Curriculum Vitae Selection Score (max 10 points)	7.64
Neurosurgery Anatomy Examination Selection Score (max 30 points)	26.83
Combined Score (max 40 points)	34.46

Reference Report

The Reference Report will be prepared and scored in accordance with the Section 10 of the Selection Regulations.  Applicants must score the Minimum Standard of 70% (49 out of 70 points) for the Reference Report to proceed further in the selection process. 

It is envisaged that results for the Reference Report scoring will be released in mid-June 2023.

Second Shortlisting

Applicants who satisfy the Minimum Standard for the Reference Report will be ranked according to their combined score for the Structured Curriculum Vitae, 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.

A total of 24 applicants will be shortlisted for the Neurosurgery Semi-Structured Interview (Interview). The Interview shortlisted spots will be allocated in order of overall ranking of suitable applicants.  

It is envisaged that short listing announcements will be released in mid-June 2023 at least 14 days prior to the scheduled Interview date.

Neurosurgery Semi-Structured Interview

 The provisional date for the Interview is Thursday, 29 June 2023 as face-to-face interviews in Melbourne. This date and location is subject to change.

Applicants shortlisted for the Interview will be advised of their Interview time at least 14 days prior to the Interview date. 

Applicants must make themselves available at the scheduled Interview time. Applicants who do not participate in the Interview at the scheduled time will not be considered further in the selection process and their application will be withdrawn.  

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.  
Applicants must score the Minimum Standard of 50% (8 out of 16 points) for the Interview to proceed further in the selection process.

Step 4 – Final Ranking, Special Measures and Offers

Applicants who satisfy the Minimum Standard in the Interview will be ranked according to their combined score for the Structured Curriculum Vitae, 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.

Selection offers will be made applying the following process: 

• the top ranked applicant from each Undersubscribed Home Region (if any) applying the Undersubscribed Home Regions special measures; and 
• the top ranked Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant (if any) applying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait special measures; and
• the remaining in order of the overall ranking subject to the application of the Diversity and Gender Equity special measures if substantive gender equity would otherwise not be met for female applicants based on ranking alone. 

It is envisaged that offers will be made prior to 5pm AEST on 30 June 2023.

Undersubscribed Home Regions for the 2024 intake (conducted during 2023) are as follows: 

• Australian Capital Territory 
• Northern Territory 
• Queensland (Northern)
• Western Australia

Previous Selection Intakes

The download below shows the outcome of the last six selection processes. 

Selection Statistics