The National School of Healthcare Science, in collaboration with colleagues at all provider universities, would like to clarify the position in relation to study time for trainees.
Preparations are made at the start of each academic year and there may be changes to the way teaching is delivered by the universities. Each university will inform its own students how their programme will be delivered.
Where teaching is delivered online rather than face to face, the amount of time dedicated to study should be the same as for previous cohorts of trainees. Trainees this year will need the same number of hours released for study as they would have had for the face to face teaching.
Scientist Training Programme and Echocardiography Training Programme
Trainees will still need 20% of their time as protected private study time throughout the programme. It is a requirement of the programme that all trainees engage with the prescribed learning and that employers respect the trainee’s supernumerary status and ensure study time is provided. At the beginning of the programme, as soon as the teaching arrangements are known, trainees and training officers should between them agree how sufficient time will be allocated for study bearing in mind:
- Study time should be available for completing academic work and e-portfolio activities.
- Trainees are expected to attend university where the mode of delivery and/or the curriculum requires it. The amount of time required may vary across universities.
- Any time required to attend university is in addition to the 20% study time which should be protected within the training plan.
- Trainees should agree with their training officers the location of their study leave e.g., in the workplace or working from home, this could vary from week to week.
- Trainees and training officers should discuss and agree how to manage the 20% study time which can be taken flexibly for example as 1 day per week or as a block of time if required when preparing for exams.
Higher Specialist Scientist Training
Trainees will still need their 52 days per year as protected private study time throughout the programme. At the beginning of the programme, as soon as the teaching arrangements are known, trainees and training officers should between them agree how sufficient time will be allocated for study bearing in mind:
- Study time should be available for completing academic work and e-portfolio activities.
- Trainees are expected to attend university where the mode of delivery and/or the curriculum requires it. The amount of time required may vary across universities.
- Any time required to attend university is in addition to the study time.
- Trainees should agree with their workplace supervisors the location of their study leave e.g., in the workplace or working from home, this could vary from week to week.
- Trainees and workplace supervisors should discuss and agree how to manage the 52 days per year study time which can be taken flexibly for example as 1 day per week or as a block of time if required when preparing for exams.