Higher Specialist Diploma

Portfolio submission

Your portfolio must include:
✔ Personal professional profile – 500 words (±10%)
✔ Two essays – 3,000 words each (±10%) based on published titles
✔ Clinical case study & managerial report – 1,500 words each (±10%)
✔ Evidence of an oral presentation, including:

• Presentation slides and notes
• Feedback from two senior colleagues (one must be your line manager)
• A reflection on the presentation’s success
  ✔ Reflective learning statement – 2,000 words (±10%)

📌 Full portfolio requirements can be found in the HSD Study Guide.

Written examination

The HSD exam consists of four papers:

1️⃣ Discipline-specific short-answer questions

• Answer four mandatory questions in 60 minutes

2️⃣ Generic paper (common to all candidates)

• Answer three questions in 120 minutes
• One mandatory pre-seen question (available on the IBMS website three weeks before the exam)

3️⃣ Discipline-specific essay paper

• Answer two out of five questions in 120 minutes

4️⃣ Discipline-specific case study paper

• Answer questions on three case studies (one pre-seen, two unseen) in 120 minutes
• The pre-seen case study questions will be published three weeks before the exam

📌 Candidates must sit the exam at their place of work and arrange invigilators.

Key dates (2026)

📅 Portfolio application deadline – 27 February (for those wanting to submit in 2026)
📅 Re-sit application deadline – 1 May
📅 Portfolio submission deadline – 8 May (submissions open from 1 April)
📅 Pre-seen exam questions published – 31 July
📅 Exam dates – 7 & 8 September (held at your workplace)

Candidate preparation days

• HSD Preparation Event - Portfolio and Generic Paper  – Future dates will be advertised here when available

Preparation events provide guidance on:
✔ Portfolio requirements
✔ Examination structure
✔ Workshops with IBMS examiners
✔ Insights from successful HSD candidates

📌 Generic and discipline-specific preparation events are held annually. Contact [email protected] to register your interest.

Did you know?

The IBMS Company Members Prize is awarded annually to the candidates who achieve the highest marks in each specialist subject of the Higher Specialist Diploma (HSD) examination.

The IBMS R J Lavington Prize is awarded annually to the candidate who achieves the highest overall mark in the Higher Specialist Diploma (HSD) examination across all specialisms.

These prestigious IBMS awards recognise excellence and outstanding performance in IBMS qualifications.

Prizes

• IBMS Company Members Prize – £250 cheque and certificate
• IBMS R J Lavington Prize – £500 cheque, medal, and certificate

To be eligible, candidates must be sitting the examinations for the first time.

All prizes are presented at the IBMS Annual General Meeting (AGM).

How to apply

To apply for the IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma, submit the following to [email protected]:
✔ Completed application form
✔ Payment of £429

Fees and payment options

Fees can be paid via:

• Credit or debit card – Call +44 (0)207 731 0214
• Purchase order – Issued by your hospital trust

Once your application is accepted, you will receive confirmation of your candidacy and a reminder of the portfolio submission deadline.

Please note: If you withdraw from the qualification at any point, a £50 administrative fee will be applied to any refund.

Portfolio submission

• Essays must be chosen from the approved titles for your discipline.
• If registered to submit in 2026, you may select titles from 2025 or 2026.
• If you deferred from 2025, one essay may come from 2024, but the second must be from 2025 or 2026.

Deferrals, withdrawals, and mitigating circumstances

📌 To defer, withdraw, or report mitigating circumstances, contact [email protected] as soon as possible.