December 12, 2025

Key Job Dates for Doctors in 2026 & 2027: The Ultimate Recruitment Guide


Below is your complete 2026-2027 medical recruitment calendar for interns, RMOs, registrars, IMGs, GPs, and specialist trainees. Clear, updated, and written for doctors who want fast, accurate information without fluff


 Search-friendly terms including doctor jobs Australia, RMO applications, medical recruitment 2027, IMG doctor pathways, GP training dates, specialty training 2026.




Internships (2026 Intake)


For final-year medical students preparing for a 2026 start, the national internship timeline is:

  • Applications Open: Early May 2025
  • Applications Close: Early June 2025
  • Interviews (if required): June – August 2025
  • First-Round Offers: Mid-July 2025
  • Second-Round Offers: Late July – Early August 2025
  • Late Vacancy Management: November 2025


IMG Insight: The Commonwealth Private Hospital Stream continues to provide strong internship opportunities for international medical graduates.


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RMO Recruitment: 2026 Applications for 2027 Intake


If you will be completing internship or continuing as an RMO, these are the updated timelines for 2026 applications for the 2027 RMO intake.


Western Australia

  • Applications: May 2026
  • Referees Due: June 2026
  • Offers: July 2026


Queensland

  • Applications: June 2026
  • Interviews: July – August
  • Offers: July – August 2026


South Australia

  • Expressions of Interest: June 2026
  • Interviews: August 2026
  • Offers: September 2026


Victoria

  • Applications Open: Mid-July 2026
  • Applications Close: Mid-August 2026
  • Offers Released: November 2026


New South Wales

  • Main Round Opens: July 2026
  • Interviews: September 2026
  • Second Round: From October 2026


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*Royal Australasian College Of Surgeons


GP Fellowship Programmes (2026/2027 Pathways)


For doctors moving towards general practice training, these are the key dates for the 2026 GP Fellowship Support Programme:


  • Applications Open: 15 January 2026
  • Applications Close: 5 February 2026
  • Eligibility Outcomes: 6 March 2026
  • Offers Begin: May – July 2026


Programmes like PEP and MRCGP International continue to have no expiry period for eligibility, providing added flexibility.


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Specialist Training Programmes (2026–2027 Cycle)


For doctors pursuing training in medicine, surgery, emergency, anaesthetics, ICU, radiology or psychiatry, these dates apply:


  • Applications Open: March 2026
  • Applications Close: April 2026
  • Interviews: June – July 2026
  • Training Commences: February 2027


Basic Physician Training (BPT) – Special Date Set

  • Applications Open: December 2025
  • Applications Close: 28 February 2026
  • Late Applications Accepted Until: 31 March 2026


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Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) 2026 Timeline


For those applying for surgical training:


  • Registrations Open: 7 January 2026
  • Applications Close: 31 January 2026
  • Referee Reports: April – May 2026
  • Final Offers: 7 November 2026


Early preparation of referees, logbooks and portfolio items remains essential for surgical applicants.


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How to Stay Ahead in 2026–2027 Recruitment


Doctors who secure the positions they want consistently follow these principles:


1. Stay Updated


Recruitment dates change frequently. Check state health sites and college portals regularly or engage a medical recruitment agency to monitor timelines.


2. Prepare Documentation Early


Keep these items current at all times:

  • Medical CV
  • Referees
  • Mandatory training
  • Portfolio and logbooks
  • English language results (for IMGs)


3. Apply Early


Many systems triage or timestamp applications.


4. Prepare for Interviews


Refresh clinical scenarios, conflict resolution, communication, and hospital-specific motivations.


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Whether you’re planning an internship, RMO progression, GP training, or specialist college applications for 2026–2027, the best time to prepare is now.


 If your recent searches include doctor jobs Australia, how to get onto training, RMO application dates, or even am I on AI, you’re in the right place.


Get in touch
If you’re exploring a career in psychiatry, or you’re an emergency doctor thinking about a change, reach out for a chat.


Email: hello@blugibbon.com.au


At Blugibbon, we believe in meaningful connections, long-term relationships and helping doctors find roles that make a real difference. That’s what this work is all about.

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