Your HSST curriculum

The HSST curriculum delivers a mastery of higher scientific knowledge together with clinical and scientific competence.

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About the curriculum

During the 5 year programme you are required to contribute to innovation or improvement through service delivery, patient safety, care, public communication/outreach and quality management. The curriculum delivers both personal and professional development in:

  • high-level leadership skills
  • management
  • teaching
  • values, attitudes and behaviours

All of which are appropriate for higher professional practice in the NHS.

The HSST curricula was developed through joint working with:

  • the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
  • individual medical royal colleges
  • senior scientists
  • scientific professional bodies
  • employers and patients

Its underpinning academic doctoral programme was established through joint working with the Council for Healthcare Science in Higher Education and workforce commissioners.

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The curriculum library

The Curriculum Library lists the modules you are required to complete while on the programme, for each individual specialty.

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The Curriculum Library
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Main components of the curricula

The 3 main components of the HSST curricula reflect the 5 domains of Good Scientific Practice (GSP):

  1. Clinical and scientific skills, values, behaviours and attitudes relating to professionalism and the delivery of scientific/clinical services (Domains 1 and 3).
  2. Scientific content (Domain 2).
  3. Contribution to research, innovation and leadership in healthcare science (Domains 4 and 5).

The 3 components, mapped to GSP, cover both professional and specialty-specific syllabuses and the related assessment programme. This includes an Innovation in Clinical Sciences (ICS) project. Together they comprise the curriculum for the attainment of the standards required, for a successful exit from the programme.

For those in physical sciences, physiological sciences and clinical bioinformatics, the Certificate of Completion of HSST indicates that:

  • the underpinning doctoral programme/award (DClinSci or PgDip with previous PhD) has been achieved
  • the Independent Assessment of Professional Skills (IAPS) has been achieved

For those in life sciences, the Certificate of Completion of HSST indicates:

  • achievement of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath)
  • the ICS project, work-based learning outcomes and the underpinning doctoral award (DClinSci or PgDip with previous PhD) has been achieved

Details of the examination requirements for FRCPath are available on the Royal College of Pathologists website.

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Royal College of Pathologists
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FAQs about the curriculum

Answers to some specific questions about the HSST curriculum.

What does the HSST curriculum deliver?

For all specialties the HSST curriculum delivers a mastery of higher scientific knowledge and clinical and scientific competence and has a requirement during the 5-year programme for the individual to contribute to innovation or improvement through service delivery, patient safety, care, public communication/outreach and quality management. It delivers both personal and professional development including high-level skills in leadership, management, teaching, and the values, attitudes and behaviours appropriate for higher professional practice in the NHS.

The HSST curricula has been developed through joint working with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, individual medical royal colleges, senior scientists, scientific professional bodies, employers and patients. Its underpinning academic doctoral programme has been established through joint working with the Council for Healthcare Science in Higher Education and workforce commissioners.

You can access all of the HSST curricula in the Curriculum Library.

What if I already have a doctorate or I have undertaken leadership or management programmes?

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.

If you already hold a Ph.D. which is recognised by the School as both timely and relevant to the trainee pathway, you may choose not to undertake the research component of the doctoral programme. However you 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.

Further information about the approval process for prior PhDs is available.