Entry requirements for in-service applicants

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To be eligible for the STP, an in-service applicant must meet the following educational requirements:

  • A 1st or 2:1 in either an undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master’s degree, in a pure or applied science subject. The degree subject must be relevant to the specialty for which they are applying. Science degrees related to medicine may also be considered suitable for some of the specialties.

or

  • A 2:2 honours degree in any subject PLUS a higher degree in a subject that is relevant to the specialty they wish to apply for.

They must also match the core person specification for the role.

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Additional entry requirements for in-service applicants

In-service applicants will ordinarily have the same entry requirements as direct entry STP applicants. However, the School acknowledges there may be in-service applicants who possess appropriate professional experience but do not meet the academic entry requirements for the STP. For 2025 recruitment, in-service applicants who are unable to apply for equivalence via The Academy for Healthcare Science or Association of Clinical Scientists, will be considered for entry on to the STP if evidence of the following is provided:

  • the proposed training centre have successfully trained at least one trainee to completion of the STP
  • the proposed in-service STP applicant must supply confirmation in writing from the NHS England commissioned university, that they will be accepted for admission in 2025
  • the expression of interest (EOI) for the post is successfully agreed
  • the Trust recruitment and selection processes have been followed
  • any other required documentation requested by the School Recruitment Team

This option is only available for in-service applicants and does not apply for direct entry applicants.

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Further requirements

Discussions with the university should be held prior to the nomination of the in-service applicant. If not already known, the name of the relevant programme director and the university that offers the academic portion of the Scientist Training Programme can be obtained by emailing england.hcsrecruitment@nhs.net.

All required evidence should be provided, along with the details of the nominated applicant, in time for the applicant to submit an application before the published deadline.

If the proposed in-service applicant cannot meet the entry requirements for the designated STP MSc programme, or the training centre has not already successfully trained a Clinical Scientist via the STP route, then the proposed in-service applicant cannot enter the programme.

If the proposing training centre is unhappy with the decision made by the university with regard to Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), then it will have to follow the university’s relevant appeal process, as the university APEL processes are independent from the School. The applicant will need to provide evidence that they will be accepted onto the academic programme and this will be required prior to the application process.

Applicants relying on non-UK qualifications will need to provide UK ENIC equivalence at the time of application. Further information is available via the UK ENIC website.

Required level of communication skills

In-service applicants must have the required level of communication skills to undertake the role effectively and deliver safe care to patients. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate they can achieve the standards set for clinical scientists by the Health and Care Professions Council.

The following will help demonstrate meeting these standards:

  • Being a national of a majority English speaking country or having worked in an organisation/institution where English was the primary language.
  • Part of university level education was pursued in the UK.
  • Holds a degree or relevant educational qualification that was taught in English by a recognised institution abroad.
  • Passed an English language competency test.

If you have obtained a Skilled Worker visa to apply to the programme, you will have already demonstrated English language skills as part of the visa application process. You can provide evidence of passing the test set by the Home Office to demonstrate your level of English competence.

If English is not your first language, you will also have to demonstrate to the Higher Education Institution (HEI) a necessary knowledge of English to meet the entry requirements and enrol on the MSc course.

Support required from NHS employer

In-service applicants need the support of their employer in consideration of current and future workforce needs. They do not have a choice of post location or specialty and will only be able to apply for the training place for which their current employer is sponsoring them. The employer must provide confirmation of support, and we will give the employer an in-service application code to pass onto their nominated applicant. The code is only issued once the required information and copies of qualifications have been received and checked. The applicant must enter this code when applying for the post.

Any applicant who does not meet the above entry requirements will not be able to proceed with the recruitment and selection process.

Provision of the master’s degree

The master’s degree is provided by one of the universities commissioned by NHS England. Most of the specialty programmes are provided by only 1 university and no alternative is offered. In a small number of cases more than 1 university provides a specialty and in these cases employers may state a preference. However, employers and proposed applicants do not have the final choice, NHS England will allocate the university place. NHS England will pay the full cost of the master’s degree.