Sexuality of direct entry applicants at each stage of STP recruitment

Graphs detailing the sexuality of applicants throughout recruitment to the Scientist Training Programme in 2023.

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About the stages of recruitment

Scientist Training Programme (STP) applications are processed through 4 stages of recruitment. To understand the data in context we have provided details below the graphs of what applicant data is available at each stage.

All stages of the recruitment process are implemented and managed by the School with standardisation and fairness as a top priority. The roles of shortlisters and interviewers are largely undertaken by volunteer scientists from the training departments and are supported by School staff.

The interviews were a competitive process with a ratio of 2 applicants interviewed per post; plus further reserves where necessary.

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Applicants sexuality numbers

Graph data

Bisexual Gay Heterosexual Lesbian Prefer not to say
Applied 592 175 5511 98 717
Longlisted 344 90 2565 50 376
Shortlisted 163 49 1176 26 170
Interview 88 21 571 12 86
Offer accepted 47 12 288 7 35
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Applicants sexuality percentages

Graph data

Bisexual Gay Heterosexual Lesbian Prefer not to say
Applied 8.35% ≤5% 77.70% ≤5% 10.11%
Longlisted 10.04% ≤5% 74.89% ≤5% 10.98%
Shortlisted 10.29% ≤5% 74.24% ≤5% 10.73%
Interview 11.31% ≤5% 73.39% ≤5% 11.05%
Offer accepted 12.08% ≤5% 74.04% ≤5% 9.00%
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Application

Direct entry applications are open to all who believe they meet the entry requirements for the programme, including those with international qualifications. There are no restrictions in place to prevent anyone from applying. Applications can include speculative applications, those with limited information or from individuals who do not meet the entry requirements.

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Longlisting

All submitted applications progress to this stage as long as the applicant completes the required Situational Judgement Test (SJT). Applications are longlisted based on the SJT score. Answers are scored by an external expert provider with access to answers only and no other application data.

Once longlisting is complete the performance of the SJT questions are independently analysed, along with anonymised data of protected characteristics to identify any questions that may not perform fairly for certain groups. If any such questions are identified they are not used in the assessment of all applicants.

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Shortlisting

Applications that score adequately on the SJT progress to shortlisting. Only the higher education and supporting information sections of the application are made available to shortlisters for scoring. They do not have access to personal data. Each application is scored independently by 2 shortlisters. International qualifications are checked against entry requirements. Any applications with international qualifications that do not meet the UK equivalence for the minimum entry requirements, do not proceed any further.

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Interview

Applications are ranked based on the scores achieved in the recruitment process. They are matched to interviews by rank against an applicants location choice. Interviewers are required to be compliant with mandatory training in equality and diversity and are also signposted to additional online resources on unconscious bias. Interviewers do not see the application before the interview. Scores are awarded based on the answers given to standardised questions covering scientific knowledge, values, behaviours and leadership in addition to communication and are aligned to the STP person specification.

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Access to earlier data

Data prior to 2021 can be found in the publications section by using the ‘content type’ filter and selecting ‘data’.