Changes to the HSST end date
A lot can happen over the course of 5 years and there are a variety of reasons why the HSST end date may be adjusted.
Statutory leave – Any statutory leave results in a pause in the programme and the HSST end date is adjusted by the number of months taken. You should inform the school as soon as possible of statutory leave dates. The pause in the programme is just for the time period while you are on statutory leave. If you wish to pause for longer it would be considered a step-off. See below for more details on step-off/deferral.
Less than full-time working – For those working less than full-time hours, the 5 years and funding can be distributed pro-rata. As the programme is full time at the point of entry, the school needs to approve these arrangements and work with you to calculate the HSST end date. We can also advise of any impact on training plans or assessments as required, so please get in touch if you are seeking to reduce your hours. Generally trainees on the programme need to be working a minimum of 0.6WTE or 22.5 hours per week and must agree flexible working arrangements with their employer in line with local employment policies.
Extensions – Additional programme time may be given due to exceptional extenuating circumstances (EEC) where there has been a continuation of training activity. This is applied for through the EEC process. Click this link to view the EEC policy.
Step off/deferral – A pause of the programme may be granted due to exceptional extenuating circumstances which precludes an individuals engagement with training e.g., service pressures/reconfiguration or prolonged ill health. No additional funding is received during the period of absence from the programme and no direct training activity, including academic work, should be undertaken. This is applied for through the EEC process. Click this link to view the EEC policy.
Your HSST end date
If you think you may qualify for a change to your end date due to one of the reasons above but have not yet contacted us, please do so as soon as possible. Retrospective requests for extensions will be considered however, it is much easier to justify and evidence requests closer to the time. It is not possible to reach the end of the programme and then apply for circumstances that occurred years before.
The processes described above allows for a great deal of flexibility in the HSST programme. The result of this is that many HSST trainees will not have the same end date as the rest of their cohort. In fact, your end date should be considered individual to you and it is essential that you know and plan for your own HSST end date and completion deadline.
End dates and completion deadlines are now identified as part of the Annual Review of Progression (ARP) that all trainees participate in between years 2 to 4, and at the beginning of year 5. Check the dates identified each time you complete your ARP return to determine if they meet your expectations, and if not contact the school to clarify any differences/discrepancies.
Timing of the HSST final assessment
For Physiological, Physical and Bioinformatics trainees
- The final assessment is the Independent Assessment of Professional Skills (IAPS).
- To apply to sit the IAPS you must have completed and signed off evidence for all of Standards of Proficiency on OneFile and put together a showcase.
- The assessment is held in May (showcase deadline is February) and November (showcase deadline is August).
- Based on a straightforward September to September timeline there are 3 opportunities to sit the IAPS prior to the completion deadline. In May of the fifth year and in November and May of the sixth year.
- To allow for re-sits before your completion deadline, you should take the first sitting of the IAPS in May before your HSST end date and submit your showcase of evidence by February before your HSST end date.
- If you have an adjusted HSST end date, you should plan to take your first sitting of the IAPS prior to your adjusted HSST end date.
For Life Science trainees
- The final assessment is the RCPath Part 2 examination.
- To apply to sit the Part 2 exam you must have passed the Part 1 exam for your specialty.
- The RCPath exams run in Spring and Autumn. However, not all specialties run the Part 1 and Part 2 examination twice a year. Be aware that the schedule does vary from year to year, as do the application deadlines, so please visit the RCPath website for the latest information.
- You are entitled to 3 re-sits of the Part 2 examinations.
- In order to allow for re-sits you should plan to take the Part 2 exam as soon as you are ready, and take the first attempt before your HSST end date.
Issues with achieving your completion deadlines?
It is important to take responsibility for understanding the completion requirements of the programme and plan proactively to achieve the deadlines set. This should include regular reviews with your supervisor, ongoing and regular communication with the programme leads in the University and engaging with the Annual Review of Progression (ARP) managed by the school.
We appreciate that issues can arise and things will change for you over a 5 year period. The school always seeks to support trainees and will communicate regularly in relation to completion deadlines via ARP or other means. It is important that you review and take note of these communications to check that you are still on target and to raise issues early if you feel that your completion deadline is not achievable. Our advice is to plan, review, be aware of the requirements and let us know of any concerns early so they can be addressed and resolved to support you to complete the programme successfully.