Spine Surgery Fellowship

Spinal Surgery Fellowships at the Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery (CSSS)

The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery (CSSS) at Nottingham University Hospitals offers one of the most comprehensive and well-established spinal fellowship programmes in the United Kingdom. Designed for surgeons seeking advanced subspecialty training, our fellowships provide exceptional exposure to the full spectrum of spinal pathology within a high-volume tertiary referral centre. Fellows benefit from close consultant supervision, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research and academic activity. Graduates of our programme have gone on to take consultant and academic positions across the UK and internationally.

About the Centre

The Centre is based at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), part of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. With more than 1,700 beds across both sites (QMC and the City Hospital), Nottingham University Hospitals is one of the largest university hospitals in the UK.

The Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery is the designated regional AOSpine Centre of Excellence for Spinal Surgery. CSSS is also accredited fellowship site of the Spine Society of Europe and is recognised by the European Spine Society as a Centre of Excellence in degenerative, tumour, infectious/inflammatory/metabolic disease, spinal trauma, and spinal deformity surgery View the Surgical Spine Centre of Excellence certificate (PDF).

The Centre provides a dedicated 24-hour spinal on-call service and performs the entire range of spinal surgery, encompassing trauma, deformity, tumour, degenerative, and intra-dural procedures. Each year, CSSS undertakes over 1,000 surgical cases and manages more than 4,000 new outpatient referrals, serving a specialist catchment population of approximately four million.

Fellowship Overview

Thank you for your interest in the CSSS Fellowship Programme. Offered once a year, this highly competitive programme attracts applicants from across the globe and provides structured, hands-on experience under the supervision of an experienced multidisciplinary spinal team.

The fellowship is approved by the Royal College of Surgeons and supports six senior full-time fellows each year. Appointments commence in February and August.

Applicants must have completed an Orthopaedic or Neurosurgical residency and are expected to perform at junior consultant level. Fellows are allocated to consultants in six-month rotations, gaining exposure to spinal deformity, degenerative conditions, trauma, and tumour surgery.

Each fellow takes an active leadership role in clinical practice, participates in the dedicated spinal on-call rota, and receives structured feedback through six-monthly appraisals.

Fellowship Pathways

Fellows typically progress through a two-year structured programme, beginning as B Fellows (with a research component) and advancing to A Fellows in the second year.

Junior Fellowship

  • Duration: 6–12 months
  • Responsibilities: Participation in on-call duties, active involvement in departmental research, and engagement in academic meetings and teaching
  • Requirement: Publication of at least one academic article in a spinal journal during the fellowship period
  • Current cohort: 6 Junior Fellows
  • Note: Not all Junior Fellows progress to Senior Fellowship posts

Senior Fellowship (Royal college accredited)

  • Duration: 12 months
  • Certification: Jointly recognised by the Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery and the Royal College of Surgeons of England
  • Focus: Consolidation of surgical confidence and advanced operative experience
  • Current cohort: 6 Senior Fellows

Application Process

The fellowship is advertised annually on the NHS Jobs website (www.jobs.nhs.uk).
Applicants are encouraged to register on the site and set up customised alerts to receive notifications when relevant posts are advertised.

Candidate Selection

Successful applicants are typically distinguished by:

  • Evidence of good, purposeful and structured career progression
  • Academic achievements, including research, presentations, and publications
  • A demonstrated commitment to spinal surgery, supported by relevant course attendance, publications 

Registration and Sponsorship

CSSS works in close collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to provide dual sponsorship. Administrative support is available to assist with registration formalities; however, applicants must hold a valid English language competency certificate to register with the General Medical Council (GMC).

Recruitment Timeline

We aim to recruit into positions 10 to 18 months from the date of the advertisement for the fellowship. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, which may be conducted by telephone, via Microsoft Teams, or in person, depending on individual circumstances.
We hope this information provides clarity regarding the fellowship structure and application process. We look forward to welcoming dedicated and ambitious surgeons to Nottingham, and we wish you every success in your application and future career.