Table 1.
Selection process into surgical training for the 23 studied countries
| Country | Selection process for surgical training |
|---|---|
| Australia | National system |
| Referee report, interview scores and review of CV | |
| Belgium | Direct application to a university. It is usual to have an examination and interview as part of the selection process |
| Canada | Direct application to individual centres after completion of the Royal College Surgical Foundations examination and curriculum |
| Colombia | Usually competitive entrance test, interview and psychotechnics test, but can vary depending on the institution |
| Denmark | Regional interviews |
| Germany | Direct application to a hospital |
| Greece | Direct application to a region |
| Guatemala | Standardized postgraduate entry examination, interview scores and review of curriculum |
| Grades are ranked and slots assigned to each hospital | |
| India | Entrance examination and interview‐based entry into MCh programmes (national level with or without a different examination for each institution) |
| Ireland | National application and interview |
| Ranking to match with candidate's choice of region for training | |
| Italy | National examination; score determines choice of one of three desired schools |
| Kuwait | Interview with programme directors |
| New Zealand | National system |
| Referee report, interview scores and review of CV | |
| The Netherlands | Interview appointed per region. Can apply to two regions per year |
| Russia | Direct application to regions |
| Saudi Arabia | Interview with programme directors |
| South Africa | Expected to have passed ‘primary’ College of Surgeons examination before applying. Applications and interviews take place at individual hospitals |
| South Korea | Direct application to a hospital. Selection process determined by the hospital |
| Internship national examination used for selection processes | |
| Sweden | Direct application to a hospital, usually an interview‐based process |
| Switzerland | Direct application to university centres |
| UK | National application and interview |
| Ranking to match with candidate's choice of region for training | |
| USA | Must have completed United States Medical Licensing Examination |
| National application and interview | |
| Ranked through the National Resident Matching Program, which ultimately matches applicants with a programme | |
| Zambia | National application |
CV, curriculum vitae; MCh, Master of Surgery.