Guide to the O&G ACF interview

Interview Format

The ACF interview in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is structured to assess both your clinical suitability for specialty training and your potential as a future clinical academic. Most interviews are conducted online via video conferencing platforms.

This is a panel-based interview and typically lasts 30–40 minutes, depending on the deanery. The interview is usually divided into two main parts:

Structure of the Interview

1. Academic Station

Assesses your academic interest, experience, and potential for research.

2. Clinical Station

Assesses your clinical judgment and commitment to O&G training.

In some deaneries, a third domain is assessed separately: Commitment to Clinical Academic Medicine or a brief Portfolio Review, but the structure may vary.

Time Breakdown (Approximate)

Stage	Time
Academic Station	15–20 minutes
Clinical Station	15–20 minutes
Total Interview Time	30–40 minutes

Academic Station

This station explores your academic background, achievements, and potential for future research. The panel typically includes clinical academics and research-active consultants.

You’ll be asked to present a short abstract, which is usually provided in advance of the interview. You will need to explain it in two ways:

1. To a panel of academic clinicians – using appropriate scientific language

2. To a lay audience – using simple, accessible language

This tests your understanding of research methodology and your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and appropriately — a key skill in academic medicine.

You may also be asked to:

• Summarise your own academic experience (e.g., research, teaching, audits)

• Propose an area of future academic interest

• Discuss your understanding of the NIHR ACF structure and expectations

• Highlight your academic achievements (publications, presentations, etc.)

Tips for the Academic Station

Tip #1: Practice delivering the abstract in both technical and lay-friendly formats. The latter should avoid jargon and focus on clarity, impact, and relevance to the public.

Tip #2: Prepare a brief summary of your academic background: research involvement, SSCs, audits, teaching, or leadership.

Tip #3: Understand the structure of an ACF — particularly how the protected academic time is used and how you plan to develop as a clinical academic.

Tip #4: Be able to speak about a realistic research interest, ideally aligning with local or national priorities (e.g., NIHR themes).

Tip #5: Show both enthusiasm and potential — your track record doesn’t need to be perfect, but your motivation and clarity of purpose should be strong.

Clinical Station

This station closely resembles the standard ST1 structured interview and will assess:

• Commitment to O&G

• Clinical reasoning and communication

• Teamwork, leadership, and ethical judgment

You may be asked:

• Why O&G? Why now?

• Tell us about a challenging clinical situation.

• How do you deal with stress and uncertainty?

• What leadership roles have you taken?

• How would you manage a specific clinical or ethical scenario?

Tips for the Clinical Station

Tip #1: Structure your answers using STAR for personal examples, and be sure to emphasise safety, escalation, and communication in clinical scenarios.

Tip #2: Demonstrate your understanding of the O&G training pathway, including curriculum, competencies, exams, and key challenges in the specialty.

Tip #3: Balance your answers — show that you're clinically competent and academically motivated. Your goal is to be seen as a future academic clinician, not just a researcher or just a doctor.

Tip #4: Have an evidence-backed understanding of the pressures within O&G and how academic skills (e.g. QI, evidence-based practice) can support better care.

Final Tips for ACF Applicants

• Know your CV inside out — you may be asked to elaborate on any listed experience.

• Tailor your responses to reflect both clinical and academic goals.

• Practice speaking about your research in simple, structured terms.

• Be enthusiastic — passion for the specialty and academic medicine really matters.

• Do your homework — look up the local research infrastructure, potential supervisors, and clinical rotations for the ACF.