nhs scientist training programme 2014/15

Where and what degree did you guys do?

Also has anyone got any tips for getting lab experience while at university?

I did Pharmacology at University of Leeds and covered quite a lot of neuroscience, hence why I was able to make it relevant to Audiology. I think going for a specialism most relevant to your experience helps things along.

I opted for an industrial placement year between my second and third years of university, and I did it in a neurophysiology lab at uni. It was fairly easy to get as I just asked around some of my lecturers who also do research, and although it was unpaid, I got a bursary of £900 and my usual university loans. Other people on my course managed to get experience in big pharmaceutical company labs, which paid a lot. I'm sure any research experience is preferable to none though - even if you're just shadowing someone for a few weeks. I think they like NHS experience too, although I didn't have any and managed to get an offer.

Hey I have a offer to study Biomedical science what areas could I possibly apply for with this degree? I was thinking about bloodsciences or microbiology.

Does it matter which uni you got to?

Biochemistry people - have any of you heard much from your trusts yet (or has anyone doing any specialism heard much)? I've met my future training officer before and so I emailed her to let her know I'd been offered the post at UHB, and she replied a week later. I didn't reply for a while as I was busy but it's been over a week now since I did reply asking her if she had an idea of a start date, and I could do with knowing that and where I'll be based for the MSc so I can start sorting out housing etc. Especially now as I have my degree result confirmed & I've met the conditions of the offer, I have no idea what stage the employment checks must be at!

Hey,

I'm doing Biochem at Sandwell and West Brum :-)
I had a phone call yesterday from a senior training officer asking me to arrange a date to go in and do my DBS check and other pre-employment stuff.

Anyone here doing Medical Physics in Brighton?

I am! Ionising radiation. You there as well?

Yes, radiotherapy. Have you heard anything yet? For example a start date?

Hello everyone, I have been reading this thread for around 3 hours now!

I have just finished my second year of university, I passed with a 2:1 this year - and I have been accepted to do a year long placement at Manchester Royal Infirmary for Haematology and then do my final year at university afterwards - my degree is accredited by the IBMS and I will be doing my training portfolio this year.

I am looking at this thread because after my degree I am thinking of applying to the STP - but I have a few questions!

At the very start of the thread a lot of people were saying how the system is unfair etc to biomedical scientists or people who have PhDs; if I am correct, then why is it? I think it was regarding job progression? or is it in regards to being accepted by the STP.

Also the question I need to ask the most is what is the main differences between a biomedical scientist and a clinical scientist and what are the different routes to becoming a clinical scientist after being a qualified biomedical scientist?

Thanks in advance

Hey,
Sounds to me like you'll be in a really strong position to get onto the STP after your degree!
In terms of the system being unfair, for Biomedical Sciences I think it's because your degree covers many specialisms, but is broad so at the same time doesn't always necessarily get considered as a "relevant degree" - as opposed to someone with a Biochemistry degree applying for Clinical Biochemistry. As long as you're able to tailor your application to your choices, especially with your placement, it shouldn't be too much of a problem!
In terms of PhDs, I think there's a bit of a myth that you have to have a PhD to get on the STP, as it's so competitive, but this really isn't the case - if you look at the NSHCS Annual Reports, near the bottom it shows the number of people with different qualifications who apply, and the number who get places (it's roughly 1/3rd each for degree, masters and PhD).
I'm not sure what the deal is with career progression... Maybe it's about being overqualified and having to do a masters again? I don't know!
I'm afraid I can't really answer your main question! It might help you to find the flowchart for the STP career progression (I think it's called Modernising Scientific Careers) and look at the different entry points.
Hopefully someone else here might be able to answer for you :-)

Would doing prep of UKCAT/BMAT style questions be useful for the aptitude tests?

Also the question I need to ask the most is what is the main differences between a biomedical scientist and a clinical scientist and what are the different routes to becoming a clinical scientist after being a qualified biomedical scientist?

Hi Charlotte,

That's exactly what I did to prepare, but only the numerical and abstract reasoning ones are relevant. For me they were massively helpful and I don't think I would of passed if I hadn't done quite a bit practice beforehand.



I asked this to a consultant when I visited a lab before my interview. My understanding is that BMS do the majority of the routine analysis in the lab, whereas clinical scientists tend to do a smaller number of more specialized techniques. Also an important part of clinical scientists work is engaging with clinicians (and sometimes patients) to relay test results and help with data interpretation, this becomes more important further on in the career. This was in clinical biochemistry lab though and it could different within other departments. Unfortunately the STP is the only route into clinical science even for a qualified BMS, but if you got a job in the NHS after your degree it could be possible to apply as an "in- service" candidate whereby your employer basically sponsors you to do the training programme. I don't have a background in BMS but I understand that this is quite a rare event though.

Good luck!

Thank you for your reply it was really helpful! can you recommend a certain book for these sort of questions? I have 2 years ~ left to apply but im starting now !Also as the intake for this year is now over, what were the questions like for the interview? x

I didn't use a book for the tests, but there are lots of free online practice tests which were really helpful, when it's closer to the time I'd start with those and then buy a book when you cant find any more. Even though the recruitment for this year is over I still don't feel comfortable talking about specifics about the interview. The whole recruitment process follows roughly the same format as med school interviews, so I bought a book aimed at med school applicants and used that to help prepare, particularly for the leadership and NHS values station. The thing that helped me the most was visiting a couple of different labs, it sounds like you're going to get some experience as part of your undergrad training so that will help. I'm sure the consultant clinical scientists on your placement will be able to give some really good advice too