FAQs about applying to the HSST

You should refer to the general careers information available on the Health Careers website, curricula on the NSHCS Curriculum Library and the Scaling for Heights document to evaluate whether you think the training programme is right for you. You are also advised to seek advice from clinical and academic mentors if at all possible.

Employers will set the salary for both the direct entry and in-service posts that they are providing.

Employers will also attract a training allocation of £13,796 per year for each Clinical Scientist in a NHS England Local Team commissioned HSST post. This funding will be used by employers to cover the costs of the doctoral training programme and other training costs.

Trainees can only be appointed to centres that meet the NSHCS standards for accreditation established for HSST training. Partnerships and consortia arrangements may be necessary in the case of smaller centres and the NSHCS will be able to advise on individual cases. If an employer wishes to support HSST for one of their clinical scientists, they must have achieved or be part of an accredited programme in order to do so.

For in-service trainees, assuming your employer agrees, it is anticipated that your ongoing employment with that employer will continue.

Satisfactory completion of the programme will make you eligible to enrol on the Higher Specialist Scientist Register (HSSR) and that in turn will make you eligible to apply for available consultant clinical scientist posts, but there is no guarantee that such a post will be available or that you will necessarily be appointed to such a post.

The Manchester Academy for Healthcare Scientist Education (MAHSE) deliver the doctoral level academic programme for the HSST having been selected through a rigorous tendering and assessment process led by NHS England.

No, NHS England funds the academic fees for all NHS England commissioned HSST posts to access the Professional Doctorate in Clinical Sciences.

No. Deferrals can only be considered for statutory reasons such as maternity. As part of the application you are asked to declare that you are available to start in the coming October.

The HSST is a 5 year funded programme, with 52 days per annum allocated for study leave. You will be required to attend the relevant University, inline with the teaching/delivery timetable provided by them.

If you are applying through the In-Service route, you will not have to go through shortlisting. You will however, still need to demonstrate your suitability to the course throughout the recruitment process and, at interview stage to be successfully offered the post.

Applications must be submitted through Oriel, the online application portal.

It is unlikely that there will be any flexibility on the dates applicants are invited to attend the interview. The dates of the interviews for each specialty will be made available online as early as possible in the process.

Yes. In-service applicants are required to complete the online application form, and demonstrate they have the support of their employer along with the required experience at interview stage to ensure that they have the appropriate skills and experience for the training scheme.

Interviews may be competitive depending on a number of factors, including HEI capacity, NHS England funding availability and whether the specialty is deemed a priority in the current recruitment year. Please see the recruitment guidance for applicants for the latest information.

The recruitment timeline will be published on the website once confirmed. We advise applicants to regularly check the recruitment timeline throughout the recruitment period as all dates may be subject to change.

Applicants may only apply for one HSST post. In-service applicants will only be eligible to apply for the post for which your employer has nominated you for.

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) have agreed that there will be a process to recognise prior academic learning (APL) where this is appropriate, although university regulations do not allow research or dissertations submitted previously for a degree to be used in submitting for another.

Those who hold a PhD recognised by the National School of Healthcare Science as both timely and relevant to the trainee’s pathway may choose not to undertake the research component of the doctoral programme. However they will then not be eligible to receive the full award of DClinSci but will be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Professionalism and a certificate of completion of HSST.

No, there is no age limit for applying to an HSST programme.

Where possible, applicants must establish their right to work and study in the UK before applying. The National School of Healthcare Science do not provide sponsorship and are unable to advise on visa queries. Please see the UK Visa and Immigration website for further information.

It is essential that all applicants have the required level of communication skills to enable them to undertake the role effectively and to assure the delivery of safe services to patients.

There are a number of ways you can demonstrate that you meet the English language requirement, for instance:

• Be a national of a majority English speaking country or have worked in an organisation/institution where English was the primary language used for communication
• Pursued as part of your education in the UK
• Hold a degree or relevant educational qualification that was taught in English by a recognised institution abroad
• Pass an English language competency test

Applicants whose first language is not English will also be required to satisfy the Higher Education Institution (HEI) that they have the necessary knowledge of English to meet the entry requirements to enrol on to the doctoral programme associated with the HSST programme.

Individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who make an application under Tier 2 of the points-based immigration system will be required to demonstrate their English language ability as part of the visa application process. You will therefore need to provide evidence that you have passed an appropriate test listed by the Home Office.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate they are able to achieve the standards of proficiency outlined for Clinical Scientists by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). For further information, please visit the HCPC website.

Applicants will usually require a minimum of 12 months employment in the NHS or relevant healthcare setting between programmes. This is to ensure that patient services benefit from the investment being made in a programme and that individuals have an opportunity to consolidate their learning before completing any additional programmes.