Receiving an offer: how to accept, decline or hold

What this article is about
This article explains what to do when you receive an offer for a training post.

Who this is for
Applicants who have received an offer through a postgraduate medical or dental training recruitment process.

What you need to know

• Offers are usually released through the recruitment system or applicant account.
• The offer communication should explain whether you can accept, decline, hold or accept with upgrades, depending on the process.
• Not all recruitment processes allow all offer options.
• You must respond within the deadline.
• If you do not respond in time, the offer will expire and be treated as declined.
• Subsequent to accepting an offer, details will be passed to the employing region and employer for post-offer checks, employer onboarding and HET training registration.
• A conditional offer may depend on required checks and evidence being completed.

What to do

1. Read the offer communication carefully.
2. Check the deadline and available response options.
3. Log in to the recruitment system or applicant account.
4. Select the option you want to take, such as accept, decline, hold or accept with upgrades if available.
5. Check the consequences of your choice before confirming it; accepting or holding one offer can impact on your application to a separate vacancy
6. Ensure your action has been completed - offer decisions are a two-step process; your Oriel application status will change once a decision is made on an offer.
7. Save or screenshot confirmation if permitted.
8. Respond to any post-offer requests for information.

If this does not work
If you cannot accept, decline or hold an offer because of a system issue, raise a query immediately through the recruitment support route before the deadline wherever possible.

If you have missed making a decision and your offer has expired, please contact the lead recruitment team as soon as possible who will be able to reinstate your application; although it cannot be guaranteed whether or not it will be possible to get an offer, or the same offer, back as it may have been offered to another candidate.

Who to contact
Use the recruitment support route set out in the offer communication or applicant guidance.

What HET can and cannot help with
HET can help with

• Supporting local post-offer processes after recruitment information is received.
• Advising on local training registration where HET is responsible.
• Directing applicants to the correct recruitment support route.
• Reinstating applications an offer deadline is missed for vacancies managed by HET.

HET cannot help with

• Accepting, declining or holding an offer on your behalf outside the process.
• Extending offer deadlines.
• Guaranteeing that an expired offer will be made again.
• Reinstating a declined offer; which is not usually possible.
• Confirming employment arrangements before the employer has completed its process.

Related articles

• Deadlines and timelines for accepting an offer
• What to do if your offer is withdrawn or expires
• New starter registration: what happens after you accept an offer

Last reviewed
 Last reviewed: 25 September 2026