Check the entry requirements
There are 2 entry routes to the HSST, either as a Clinical Scientist or as a Biomedical Scientist and both routes must abide by the following criteria.
- All applicants must review the HSST core person specification to self-assess that they meet the eligibility criteria before applying.
- Any postgraduate qualifications must have been successfully awarded by the start of the programme. It is a requirement of the Higher Education Institutions that applicants must not be enrolled on 2 academic programmes by start date of the programme.
- There is a requirement for a minimum of 12 months employment in the NHS between programmes (for example following completion of the Scientist Training Programme), this means that NHS England will not fund consecutive programmes without this break. This is to ensure that the NHS benefits from the investment being made in a programme and that learners have an opportunity to consolidate their learning before completing any additional programmes.
Before starting your application
Plan your time. Work out how long it will realistically take to complete the application form. For example, you will need to get feedback from colleagues and that may take time.
Check application deadlines
Key application dates are available online, together with frequently asked questions, person specification, curricula and all other necessary HSST information.
How to apply to the HSST
The application consists of an online form in which applicants must provide information on how they meet the person specification, details of their qualifications, experience and motivation
Additional guidance on applying to the programme is available in the HSST Frequently Asked Questions.
Register on Oriel, the online application portal
You can register on Oriel as early as you wish but you will not be able to apply until the application window for vacancies opens.
- Visit the Oriel website at https://www.oriel.nhs.uk/Web/
- Click on ‘Account Registration’ to create a user account.
- When you have registered an account, click ‘Proceed to Applicant Registration’ – this will allow you to complete further registration details which will be used to auto-populate parts of the application form.
- Use an email address that we can contact you on up until the programme start date, rather than a work or university email address.
We use direct messaging in Oriel to contact you about applications in progress. We may also use the email address supplied to us via Oriel, but your main source of information throughout will be Oriel. Make sure you check your Oriel account on a regular basis to stay informed.
Minimum browser requirements for Oriel
| Browser | Version |
| Apple Safari | v12+ |
| Google Chrome | v77+ |
| Microsoft Edge | All |
| Mozilla Firefox | 68+ |
Search for a vacancy
Once registered and logged into your Oriel account, search using ‘Higher Specialist Scientist Training’. Select the vacancy you want to apply for and click ‘To Apply’.
In-service applicants require a code to apply. The NSHCS will send this to your employer to pass onto you.
Non-UK applicants
Please refer to national guidance from NHS England and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to confirm whether you are eligible to apply.
The application form
You can save and return to your application form as many times as you like before submitting it.
The application form has initial screening questions, and you must meet and be able to evidence the minimum eligibility criteria to be able to proceed with the application. You must provide details on the following:
- personal information
- academic history
- work experience
- general employment history
- equality and diversity data
You may have already provided some of this data when completing the registration process and Oriel will auto-populate your application form.
The ’employment history’ section requires you to enter an end date for your current employment. If you are in current employment and will need to leave your job to join the programme, enter the date 31 August 2025.
You then complete a series of short answer questions to demonstrate your suitability, understanding and motivation for the programme. You will also be asked to choose your specialty.
Add any work experience, including voluntary work, to the supporting information section.
Fitness to practise
The fitness to practise questions in the application form cover things such as criminal convictions. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you are required to email further information to england.hcsapplicants@nhs.net. We must receive this no later than the closing date of the vacancy. Please mark your email as ‘confidential’. If you are successful at the interviews the information you have provided will be considered by a panel. They will decide whether the information you have provided makes you unsuitable for the programme.
False declaration
Any false declarations will invalidate your application and you will be removed from the recruitment process.