NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP)

The Scientist Training Programme (STP) is the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) route to becoming a clinical scientist in the NHS. Trainees are employed for three years in a scientific department, normally in the NHS, on Agenda for Change Band 6, while completing a part-time, fully funded master's degree, workplace training recorded in an online e-portfolio and a final assessment; graduates are eligible to register as a Clinical Scientist with the Health and Care Professions Council. In outline, direct entry applicants need a 1st or 2:1 honours or integrated master's degree in a pure or applied science relevant to the specialty (medical degrees are accepted only for Life and Physiological Science specialties), or a relevant higher degree together with a 2:2 honours degree in any subject; NSHCS lists further rules, such as dental technician registration for Reconstructive Science. NSHCS says applications generally open in January for a September start, through Oriel. Every applicant then takes an online situational judgement test (SJT) on the Pearson website in a set window after the application closing date, after accepting a non-disclosure agreement. The SJT has 25 hypothetical scenarios relevant to healthcare science, each with 4 to 8 responses rated from 1 (Very Appropriate) to 5 (Very Inappropriate). Applicants have 50 minutes, and the only reasonable adjustment is 25% extra time. It measures empathy and compassion, professional integrity, team collaboration and adaptability. Marks are given by how close each answer is to the answer key, with no negative marking. Applicants must score above the required threshold to be longlisted, and at shortlisting, when required, the SJT score is used as a tie breaker where scores are the same. Pearson provides a sample test beforehand. ProSyllabus is an independent practice provider, not affiliated with NHS England or the National School of Healthcare Science.