Poster competitions are a great opportunity to showcase your skills and understanding, as well as get an edge for your future career development.
We are currently accepting abstract entries for poster competitions across many of our conferences.
The top submissions will be invited to present their entry as part of the conference with the winner announced at the end. All other accepted abstracts will feature as part of a digital showcase. All shortlisted entrants will be required to attend the conference. For those who aren’t already Members of the College, membership starts at just £16 a year and allows you to benefit from a discounted registration fee.
Full submission guidelines can be found in the drop downs below relative to the conference.
Hear from a participant
"The posters have been nice and informative, and I like the kind of snappy nature of them. I also really like the panel Q&A, because you can stimulate a discussion of sorts within the field with people that can answer those questions.
"It's a really good networking opportunity to ask people about their poster, and people can come and ask you – a nice way to meet people that have a similar research interest to potentially set up a working relationship"
- Henry, poster competition participant (far right)
Submitting your abstract
To help you structure your abstract, Dr Richard Hull, Vice President (Medical), takes you through his top tips. Please refer to the video and guidelines below before starting your submission.
All abstract submissions will be reviewed by our committee, with the top submissions being selected for a short oral presentation. All other accepted abstracts will be displayed on a digital showcase throughout the event.
Entries for the poster competition should relate to case report, an audit, a quality improvement project or a clinical trial/study.
Once you are ready to submit your abstract, you can email it to the conference coordinator. Each coordinator and their details can be found on the respective conference page.
Please note that the poster competition is only open to applicants who attend the event (either face to face or digitally).
If your abstract is accepted, at least one author will be required to register for the conference.
- Abstracts should be a maximum of 300 words with no more than 1 table included
- Submissions must be typed, single spaced on one page with font of at least 11
- Give the initials and the last name of every author, but omit title, degree and position
- The person presenting the paper should have their name mentioned first and underlined
- Indicate the name and address of the institution where the work was carried out
- Include the author’s email address, telephone number, address and specialty on a separate page
- Abstracts will be assessed anonymously with no identifiable information included in the title or text
- All abstracts including patients' case histories should have approval from the relevant ethics committee (if appropriate) and informed consent from participants
- Avoid duplication of abstracts using the same data unless they are substantially different
Lay out as follows:
| Title | This should not contain the name of an institution or geographical region |
| Author | Only authors who have made a substantial contribution to the work should be included |
| Institution | This should contain the department and institution and should not appear elsewhere |
| Text | Vancouver |
| References | A maximum of 2, given in Vancouver style |
The text should be arranged as below without the use of subtitles:
- Aim/Objectives
- Methods
- Results
- Conclusions (it is not acceptable to state "results will be discussed")
A conclusion is required for all types of presentations, including case reports
Use standard abbreviations:
- Place abbreviations in parentheses after the full word, the first time it appears.
- Very common abbreviations do not need to be defined, but they should be in general use across all specialties.
- Please use generic names of drugs.
- Proprietary name may be put in parentheses.
References (no more than 2) should be listed numerically in the text e.g. (1) (2) and then placed at the bottom of the text using Vancouver format. Do not use a separate heading for references.
Abstracts that do not meet the above requirements will not be accepted. Modification of abstracts will not be possible after the deadline.
For the authors who are chosen to present, please ensure that your poster is landscape, with dimensions 16:9 and that the image/file or PDF is of high quality. Posters may contain logos of institutions.
Upcoming poster competitions
There will be poster competitions at some of our upcoming conferences, as follows. Take a look below to see if poster competitions are open for entry.
Abstract submission deadline: Friday 7 August 2026.
Guidelines can be found on the conference page.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
Abstract submission deadline: Friday 15 May 2026
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
This poster competition is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract.
Closed submissions
Once a submission deadline has passed you will no longer be able to submit an abstract. The guidelines will remain on the respective conference page for the use for future submissions as you may have the opportunity to submit to a competition next year.
"A lot of what we've gathered here can actually be put into practice by all of us when we work in the hospitals – that's been the main takeaway from this."
Gallery
Images from previous poster competitions.
Frequently asked questions
While entries are accepted from all participants, we strongly encourage in-person attendance at the event. Being there on the day allows you to present your work directly to judges and delegates, network with peers and College Fellows and gain valuable feedback that can enhance your professional development.
Many of our conferences are also available to join online, making them more accessible to attend if you live far away and can’t make it to the College in person. If your entry is accepted and you join online, your entry will still be displayed in person on the day of the event.
Yes. Preparing and presenting a poster counts as a valuable CPD activity. It shows a commitment to reflective learning and professional growth, helping you meet development goals set by your College or professional body.
There is no fee to submit a poster. However, if your poster is selected for display or presentation at an event, you may be required to register for that event.
If you have any questions about eligibility, submissions or judging, please contact the event coordinator. Details can be found on the corresponding event pages above.
Entering a poster competition is an excellent way to share your work, gain recognition and develop your professional and academic skills. It allows you to communicate your ideas to a wide audience and demonstrate your contribution to improving healthcare practice.
Participating in a poster competition enhances your professional profile. It demonstrates initiative, critical thinking, and engagement with research or quality improvement – qualities that strengthen applications for training posts, fellowships or academic positions.
Yes. Please ensure your poster uses clear fonts, sufficient contrast, and accessible colour schemes. Avoid colour combinations that may be difficult to read for individuals with visual impairments. The College encourages inclusive design in all competition submissions.
Once your poster has been submitted, no edits or updates can be made. Please review your poster carefully before uploading, to ensure it is final and complete.
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