Now that the Scientist Training Programme is open for applications, Laura Aldridge (careers adviser) answers some key questions which students may have about making an application to the STP.

What is the Scientist Training Programme (STP)?
The Scientist Training Programme (STP) is one of the routes for science graduates into healthcare scientist roles in England within the NHS.  Those who are successful in gaining a place on the STP will be employed within the NHS on a three year paid training programme which includes work-based and academic learning.  The STP also provides successful applicants with an opportunity to complete a funded, part time Masters degree at a university relevant to their chosen specialism.

Which scientific specialisms does the Scientist Training Programme enable applicants to train in?
The STP offers science graduates the chance to train in a broad range of scientific specialisms.  You can find a full list of these specialisms here.  When you apply to the STP, you can only choose one specialism so you should make sure that you research it as much as possible before applying.  You can research the different healthcare science specialisms in more depth here. 

Some examples of specialisms which LJMU students have applied to in the past include:  cardiac science, clinical biochemistry, clinical immunology, clinical microbiology, clinical pharmaceutical science and haematology and transfusion science. 

What degree classification or degree subject do I need to apply to the Scientist Training Programme?
To apply for the Scientist Training Programme you must have or be predicted either a first or 2:1 honours degree, relevant to the specialism which you are applying to.  Therefore, you can apply if you are in your final year, and if you have not yet graduated, although if you receive a job offer this will be on condition of you achieving a 2:1 or above in your degree.   Evidence of research experience either in the form of a higher degree (such as a Masters) is desirable but not essential.  (If you have completed your degree and have obtained a 2:2, you would only be eligible to apply to the STP if you have also studied or are studying a higher degree i.e. a Masters or higher-level qualification).

Before you apply to your chosen specialism for the STP, you should check the job description and person specification, to ensure that you match the skills and knowledge relevant for the specialism which you wish to apply to.  There is also a list of relevant degree subjects which the NHS accepts for the different specialisms of the STP programme here.

Is there a high level of competition for places on the STP?
Yes, there are extremely high levels of competition for the places on the STP although some specialisms receive more applications than others – you can find details here of how many applicants there were per specialism in recent years.  Therefore, if you are applying to the STP you should most definitely apply to other options as well, such as other job opportunities or Masters Courses, for example. 

What is the application process for the Scientist Training Programme?
You would firstly need to register on the online application portal, Oriel.  You will need to complete your application form by the closing date of Monday 22^nd February at 16:00.    You will also need to complete situational judgement tests (SJTs) before the closing date of Wednesday 24^th February at 16.00.  The National School of Healthcare Science website states that; ‘the SJT score will be used to determine whether applicants will be invited to the next stage of the STP selection process (shortlisting).  An applicant’s answers within the application form will be taken into consideration, together with the results of the SJT.

How can I prepare for the situational judgement tests (SJTs)?
Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs) are designed to assess a candidate’s judgement about situations which you may encounter in the workplace, or during your training as a clinical scientist.  When you complete the SJTs you will face a series of hypothetical scenarios and you will have to decide upon your possible responses.  When preparing for the SJTs, it may be helpful to reflect upon your own values and behaviours, and also those values which it is  important to uphold when working with patients and NHS service users.  You can read examples of SJTs for STP applicants here.

You can also find some generic examples of SJTs on our Careers Zone 24-7 site.   There are a number of articles on this site, about why employers use psychometric tests (such as SJTs) and some tips about how to prepare for them.  You can also refer as well, to our mini guide about psychometric tests.

What happens at the interview for the STP and how can I prepare for it?
If you are selected for an interview, this will be conducted by video.  You will usually face two interviewers and an observer.  The interviewers will be professionally qualified and experienced scientists who are already employed in the NHS department which you will be allocated to, if you are successful.

Please read our article about virtual job interviews.  You can find a range of resources to help your prepare for interviews on our Careers Zone 24-7 site.  Furthermore, you can also book a mock interview with Laura or another member of the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team, to help you prepare for your actual STP interview. 

What can I do to improve my chances of success for the STP?
Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to complete your application form.  You can also have this checked by one of our employability advisers.

You should make sure too, that you find out as much as possible about the role of a healthcare scientist within the NHS.  The NHS Health Careers website provides more information about what the different healthcare science specialisms involve. When writing your supporting statement, you should show how you match some of the key elements of the STP person specification.  You should also try and make your answers specific to the scientific speciality which you are applying to.  

Do I need experience?
Although some laboratory-based experience may be helpful, it is not essential as the STP is aimed at recent graduates. If you are selected for interview, some prior knowledge of healthcare services may also be an advantage and may inform your answers to certain types of questions.  It is most important to demonstrate that you meet the person specification for the specialism which you are applying to.  On their website the NHS state that; ‘successful applicants may have a variety of relevant qualifications, experience and potential, and in the past the cohort of successful applicants has included both new graduates and those with more experience’.

The STP application form includes a section about ‘transferable skills’.  Clearly it is valuable if you can write about any skills which you have gained from a healthcare setting, but you can also write about those which you have developed in other settings, for example through other types of part-time work or extra-curricular activities which you have taken part in (such as volunteering or involvement in student societies, for example).

Have LJMU graduates been successful in gaining a place on the STP in the past?
Yes, despite the high levels of competition LJMU graduates have received offers of places on the STP in the past.  A number of sport and exercise science graduates (who had also studied the MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology) have previously received job offers for the cardiac or respiratory science specialism, and have subsequently started working in hospitals in the NHS.  Recently, one biomedical science graduate received a job offer for the haematology and transfusion science specialism.  A forensic science graduate previously obtained a job offer for the clinical pharmaceutical science specialism.  Please refer to the relevant career planning guides, to read about LJMU graduates who have previously been successful in gaining a place on the STP.

What are my other options if I do not gain a place on the STP?
There are other ways into healthcare science if you are not successful in gaining a place on the STP.  For example, biomedical science graduates may also look for jobs as a trainee biomedical scientist, which are advertised on www.jobs.nhs.uk.  Such roles can lead to HCPC registration.  For more information about how to become a registered biomedical scientist, please refer to the Institute of Biomedical Science website.

Some science graduates may also look for jobs as a medical laboratory assistant or biomedical support worker, as a way into a laboratory setting, and then apply for other more senior roles once they have gained some experience.  Please see our mini guide about ‘laboratory work experience’ for more information.

For sport and exercise science graduates, there are other routes into cardiac science careers within the NHS such as the healthcare science practitioner route – please read the article on pages 48 to 50 of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences Career Planning Guide for further information. 

Important: all the above information was correct as of 04/02/21.  Students are also advised to refer to the National School of Healthcare Science STP website before making an application to the Scientist Training Programme, to obtain the most updated information. 

If you have further queries, you can make an appointment to see Laura Aldridge or another member of the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team.  Our employability advisers can check through your STP application form (and provide feedback about it) before you submit it.  We are currently operating a virtual service from 9am to 4.30pm which includes video and telephone appointments.  To arrange a one to one appointment, please telephone us on 0151-231-3719/2048 (9.30am-2.30pm) or email careers@ljmu.ac.uk

Recently, Chloe Bishop (a trainee clinical scientist who is current on the Scientist Training Programme, vascular science specialism) delivered an interesting presentation about the STP, and you can access the recording of this presentation here: https://ljmu.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=5cc2451a-9c4a-4ec4-b916-ac8000f25226

References   Health Careers (2021): Roles in healthcare science.  From the Health Careers website: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/Explore-roles/healthcare-science/roles-healthcare-science   National School of Healthcare Science (2021): Scientist Training Programme.  From the National School of Heathcare Science website: https://nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/programmes/stp/