NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP)

The STP with the National School

of Healthcare Science

What is the STP?

The Scientist Training Programme is a three-year, fixed term of work-based and academic learning, undertaking a university accredited master’s degree. The training posts offer excellent broad-based clinical scientific training across a range of rotations in different themed pathways before specialising in one area in the latter part of the training.

What can the programme offer me?

If you are committed to improving the health of patients by applying your science, a career as a healthcare scientist in the NHS could not be a more rewarding choice. This patient-focused role offers plenty of scope for personal development, great career prospects and a wide range of opportunities to use specialist scientific skills and interests for the benefit of patients.

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What does the STP entail?

Excellent training opportunities are available within this national postgraduate training programme, located in hospitals and health services throughout England and Wales. You will work directly with patients as well as being involved in innovation, research and development, and education and training to the benefit of the future scientific workforce.

Postgraduate training for the STP leads to an accredited master’s degree and certification of achievement of work-based training within one of the following areas:

• Life sciences: infection control and epidemiology, mycology, virology, bacteriology and parasitology, clinical biochemistry, haematology/transfusion science, immunology, histopathology, cytopathology, reproductive science, genetic sciences.

• Physiological sciences: audiology, neurophysiology, ophthalmic and vision sciences, cardiac science, respiratory and sleep science, vascular science, gastrointestinal physiology and urodynamic sciences, critical care science.

• Physical sciences: rehabilitation engineering, clinical measurement and development, device risk management and governance, radiation safety, radiotherapy physics, imaging with ionising radiation, imaging with non-ionising radiation, clinical pharmaceutical science, reconstructive sciences (maxillofacial prosthetics – applicants for maxillofacial prosthetics will require dental registration).

• Informatics: genomics, physical sciences, health informatics.

What are the requirements of joining the programme?

We want people who can undertake complex scientific and clinical roles, defining and choosing investigative and clinical activity, and making key judgements about complex facts and clinical situations. Successful applicants might have a variety of relevant qualifications and experience. Applicants must have an honours degree (1st or 2:1) in a pure or applied science area relevant to the specialism for which they are applying. Applicants with a relevant 2:2 degree will also be considered if they have an MSc or PhD in the specialism for which they are applying.

You must ensure you review the job description and person specification for the training, and the information about your preferred healthcare science specialism. You then need to ensure that you match the skills and knowledge required to the content of your degree and the specialism you wish to apply for.

For all candidates, evidence of research experience (for example, in the form of a higher degree or equivalent evidence of scientific and academic capability) is considered desirable.

How can I apply to join the STP?

For further information about the programme and details on how to apply, please visit: