General entry requirements
The degree
To apply to the Scientist Training Programme (STP) you must have a 1st or 2:1 in either an undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master’s degree. Both options must be in a pure or applied science subject relevant to the specialty for which you are applying. Medical degrees are only accepted for Life and Physiological Science specialties. However, you may submit an application if you have a higher degree (a degree completed after a Batchelors degree, at a more advanced level e.g. MSc) in a relevant subject for the specialty being applied to, and have a 2:2 honours degree in any subject.
Applicants for Reconstructive Science posts
In addition to the above applicants for reconstructive science posts (maxillofacial prosthetics) must hold current registration as a dental technician with the General Dental Council.
Skills and knowledge
Review the job description and person specification to make sure that you have the relevant skills and knowledge required. Add any work experience, including voluntary work, to the supporting information section of your application.
Research experience
Evidence of any research experience is also desirable. This can be in the form of a higher degree (a degree completed after a Batchelors degree, at a more advanced level e.g. MSc) or equivalent evidence of a scientific/academic basis.
What should I do if I don’t have my degree results?
If you haven’t yet received your degree results, please provide us with your predicted results. Your predicted results must still be a 1st or 2:1 as per the entry requirements. If your final results do not meet the entry requirements any offers made may be withdrawn. When you receive your final degree result, email us to confirm your grade within 5 days of being notified by your university.
Any postgraduate qualifications included in your application must have been successfully awarded by the start of the programme. Higher Education Institutes state that applicants must not be enrolled on two academic programmes at the start of the STP.
Relevant degrees
Due to the extensive variation in degrees it is not possible for us to provide a definitive list of relevant degrees but the most commonly accepted degrees are below. If you successfully get through the initial application stages, the national shortlisting panels will judge which applicants closely match the person specification.
Life Sciences
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Biology / Human Biology
- Biomedical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Clinical Bioinformatics Genomics
- Clinical Science
- Computer Science
- Clinical Microbiology/ Microbiology
- Forensic Science
- Genetics / Human Genetics
- Healthcare Science
- Life Sciences
- Medicine
- Optometry
- Physiology
- Physiotherapy
- Public Health Science
- Radiography
- Reproductive Science
Genomic Counselling
One of the biological or equivalent sciences:
- Biology
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Medicine
- Midwifery
- Nursing
- Psychology
If your degree did not include a genetics module, we would advise you to demonstrate that you have a grounding in genetics.
In order to understand the specialty, relevant experience in a care or counselling role is extremely advantageous and candidates are less likely to be shortlisted without this. This may be gained through previous professional work (e.g. nursing/social work) or in a related voluntary capacity (e.g. a patient support group or telephone counselling service). Your application will be strengthened if you use the supporting information section of the application form to describe the extent of your experience. You should also reflect on the insights it has given you, which are relevant to genomic counselling.
Awareness of, or basic training in, counselling skills may also be advantageous. Outcome research consistently supports the importance of the counselling relationship in delivering complex information. Having some introductory experience and insight can be hugely beneficial for applicants understanding too that the pathway is quite different from other related pathways such as genomics and bioinformatics.
Physical Sciences
Medical Physics or Clinical Engineering
If you are applying for either the Medical Physics or Clinical Engineering specialties and are a successful applicant, you may be allocated to a post which may have a predetermined relevant specialty or one in which the specialty will be decided after the first year of training.
Clinical Informatics (formerly known as Clinical Bioinformatics – Health Informatics)
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Clinical Bioinformatics (Health Informatics)
- Data Science
- Engineering
- Genetics
- Health Informatics (degree courses with significant IT content or equivalent)
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Software Engineering
- Statistics
- Any physical or life science degree with significant mathematical content
Clinical Scientific Computing (formerly known as Clinical Bioinformatics – Physical Sciences)
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Electronic Engineering
- Mathematics (that contains a significant level of mathematical and computer programming knowledge and skills)
- Physics
- Scientific Engineering
- Any physical or life science degree with significant mathematical content
Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Clinical Laboratory Quality Control
- Life/Biological Sciences which are Chemistry related (e.g. Biochemistry or Pharmacology)
- Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmacy/Pharmacology
Applicants do not require a Pharmacy degree but this specialty is open to those with a Pharmacy qualification.
Clinical Engineering
- Applied Mathematics
- Engineering
- Pure or Applied Physics
A relevant engineering degree is one whose content would satisfy the majority of the Engineering Council’s requirements as stated in their guidelines under ’The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes: UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence’.
Medical Physics
A degree that contains a high level of physics and whose content would satisfy the majority of the Institute of Physics requirements as stated in their guidelines. The Institute also publishes a register of accredited courses.
Reconstructive Science
A relevant dental technology qualification that enables dental technician registration with the General Dental Council. Applicants must have the registration by the start date of the programme.
Physiological Sciences
- Anatomy
- Biology or Human Biology
- Biomedical Science
- Engineering
- Human Physiology
- Natural Science
- Nursing
- Physiology
- Pure or Applied Physics
- Radiography
- Sports Science (if significant scientific content)
Requirements when applying from outside the UK
Before you start your application visit the UK Visas and Immigration Service to check whether or not you are eligible to apply. Make sure that you have established your right to work and study in the UK for all 3 years of the programme and this must be in place before you start.
If you require a Skilled or Health and Care Worker visa to work and train in the UK as a healthcare scientist visit the Home Office website for the latest guidance on visas. Should you be successful and receive an offer, you must meet the minimum of 70 points under the new Points Based system. Sponsorship should be arranged with the employing organisation.
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