NHS Scientist Training Programme 2016 applicants!

Hi,

I applied last year and was offered an interview for Audiology and was a reserve for Neurophysiology and I have a generic Biology degree with only a little neuroscience content. If you look at the personal specification a lot of it is based transferable and scientific skills rather then theoretical knowledge of the subject area, however it will help to have some theoretical knowledge of the area you are wanting to apply for.

Thanks that really helps, I've been brushing up on areas I think they could expect me to know but i'm hoping that'll be enough!

I also get the impression that it is more the transferable skills they're interested in, as at the open days so far they've been saying the introduction week at uni should bring everyone up to the same level in your subject.

Thanks for reassuring me though! and good luck this year!

Genetics has changed to genomics, ugh!

Do you guys think if they had two applicants of roughly the same calibre but one went to Westminster and the other Kings for example they would always pick the kings applicant? Or would they look at other things

Also does anyone know anyone who was successful from a lower ranked uni.

In the NHS core person spec, does 'assessed by A, I, and R' mean application, interview and review? Or is A for assessment?

Do you guys think if they had two applicants of roughly the same calibre but one went to Westminster and the other Kings for example they would always pick the kings applicant? Or would they look at other things

Also does anyone know anyone who was successful from a lower ranked uni.

Your qualification itself is probably the least important thing, as long as you have it. Everyone has a degree, it'll be how you answer your essay questions - experience, motivation, how you've researched the STP, etc - that will determine whether you get an interview over another candidate.

I saw this too and freaked!!

Will this change the way the course is done? genomics has also changed its name. I really hope they give us some more information soon, the genetics scheme is the only one I'm really interested in!

Where you got the qualification is not really important but the degree itself has to be relevant. For example a degree in Biology for the Clinical Biochemistry discipline would score as not relevant; a degree in Biomedical Science would score as relevant but could be argued higher depending on the actual chemistry content and the most desirable degree is Biochemistry. Also your grade is marked as well- a 2.1 is good enough and doesn't get you rejected, a first gets you a higher mark and the best grade is having a first with relevant post-graduate knowledge (usually a research degree for clinical biochem). Your university is not part of the criteria they assess. I hope this helps people.

I have a degree in Virology and an MSc in Drug Design and Biomedical Science. So my best chances are probably with the likes of Microbiolgy and Immunology right?

So people who mark the application have a grid of all the criteria that are being assessed and then grade each criteria against the evidence you provide in your application. As far as I know, everything is graded equally so even if you applied for something where your background will score you low and then knock it out the park by demonstrating that you know exactly what the training entails, what a clinical scientist in your area does and how perfectly you fit the role, there should be no reason you wouldn't get shortlisted. Although the competition is fierce and so you don't really want to be losing points. I guess the majority of people apply for something they know about and just focus on that one, but in all previous threads people will say they applied for something they didn't have much experience of/applied for two different streams and got interviews for both so it all comes down to how well you can show you deserve to be picked for interview. Then as someone has said, when it gets to interview, the interviewers know nothing about you, your background, your score in the application, it's only what you tell them and your responses to the questions that get you a place.

Hello everyone I've been stalking in the background.

I've got a first class BSc (Hons) Human Biology and have recently graduated with a M.Med.Sci Assisted Reproductive Technology with a high merit. I applied during my masters last year and got through to the reserve list for interview. The online tests were OK, they let you have practice goes as many times as you want before you take the real test. The logic one I was like "aaaahhh these shapes don't fit into any pattern you've given me!" and the maths test was fine, you just have to be quick on working out percentage increases, decreases, ratios and stuff like that.I found it really confusing to figure out what they were looking for, I've had different work experience placements in hospitals, hospices, IVF labs etc; I'm just hoping now I've actually finished my masters, had more independent research experience with my thesis and I've had some work experience in pharma that I will make it through to interview! I'm gunna be applying for Repro Sciences obviously but I was thinking about applying for Cytology as well!?
GOOD LUUUUUCK!!