Radiology in Scotland

Are you interested in how imaging helps with managing clinical conditions? Radiology is an exciting and expanding clinical speciality – looking for enthusiastic young trainees just like you!

Information regarding eligibility, the application process, interesting statistics on applicants/posts and all things relevant to Radiology training in the UK is available at the Royal College of Radiology website – rcr.ac.uk

Radiology training in Scotland is delivered in 4 main centres: East of Scotland (Dundee), North of Scotland (Aberdeen), South East Scotland (Edinburgh) and West of Scotland (Glasgow).

Information about each scheme is available via the Scottish Medical Training website. Applications and interviews are run nationally through London, further information is in the SMT link. Applications typically open in November, with interviews following in January and offers from March.

In the last few years the competition ratio to get a training post has been increasing – in 2016 there were around 3.5 applicants per post whereas in 2023 there were 8.77 applicants per post.

Working in radiology in Scotland has many advantages. There are opportunities for work across all of our diverse centres, with major hospitals across the country. Scotland was one of the first nations to operate with a National PACS, with growing collaborative reporting practices using this between sites and health boards. There are four popular training schemes, and a number of affiliated universities and research opportunities.

Outside of work, Scotland is a beautiful country with plenty to offer everyone, from the internationally famous Edinburgh Festival and Glasgow’s Celtic Connections to the new V&A museum in Dundee and the North Coast 500.

More information on working and living in Scotland is available on the Scottish Government and Scottish Medical Training pages. Dedicated radiology job postings are available at the NHS Radiology Consultant Recruitment Website.

Once you get into the training scheme, it’s a time for exciting learning and of course passing the necessary examinations.

Information regarding the examination structure and process is available via the Royal College of Radiologists. The exam format was updated in Spring 2018, with new Scottish sites available for Part 1 and the written components of the final 2B examinations.

Interesting sites for information and study resources include:

• The Society of Radiologists in Training
• Radiology Cafe
• Radiopaedia.org

Are you a medical student or foundation doctor who is wanting to find out more about radiology and the life of a radiologist? Why not join us for an SSC, elective or taster week? You are also welcome at the SRS meetings which run twice a year.

The Scottish Radiology Transformation Programme (SRTP) was an ambitious programme of work that aimed to transform the way that radiology services are delivered in Scotland. The SRTP’s vision for Radiology in Scotland was: “A world class, person-centred, sustainable radiology service that continually improves the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland”.

In September of 2022, the Board of Chief Executives gave their approval for the creation of the Scottish Strategic Network for Diagnostics (SSND). The objective is to leverage the successes of ongoing and previous transformation initiatives, including the efforts of the SRTP. Consequently, as part of this initiative, the Scottish Radiology Transformation Programme has been stood down.