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NHS Scientist Training Programme 2016 applicants!

Hello everyone, I'd like to take the opportunity to start this thread in hopes of sharing our experiences with the application process for this cycle! I hope this finds everyone interested!

A bit about me: currently a final year Biomedical Sciences student (did a 9 month placement) with an interest in the neurosciences.

I have thought long and hard about this scheme and how I can put forward the strongest application possible, as I know that these guys don't waste time in selecting the best of the best. My plans for after my degree other than this scheme is to enter academia with one of the large research councils, preferably with a funded studentship.

Enough about me, if you find this please share!

Regards,
Thatslogik.

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Reply 1
I've decided to go for this again, applying for genomics and genetics. Applied in 2012 straight after graduating, but my degree was broad and I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do so just applied for genetics and immunology. Made it to the reserve list, but didn't get an interview.

Now I'm in the last year of my PhD and have decided I don't want to stay in academia. The STP in genomics looks new - it wasn't an option the first time I applied - so I've decided to go for that. I have plenty of experience in DNA sequencing and bioinformatics so I'm quite optimistic about it.
Reply 2
I am a third year Biomedical Genetics Student stufying in Newcastle and am really keen to apply for the genetics strand in 2016.
Reply 3
Hey guys, nice to meet others stressing about the same thing. I am a final year Genetics student, but I did a one year placement doing Immunology/Oncology research and a tissue engineering internship afterwards, and I enjoy those much more. So I am going to apply for either histocompatibility and immunogenetics, or hematology/reproductive sciences depending on availability.

How's everyone feeling about the aptitude tests? I find the time limit on the numeracy one quite harsh...
Hi everyone!

I am a final year Biomedical Sciences student who doesn't really know what I want to do! I'm considering undertaking a PhD and then doing an STP to improve my chances of getting one and also to broaden my career options. I've only recently considered an STP through a friend as I really want to work with patients.

Do you know if they consider career breaks like 5 years post-PhD that didn't involve working in a lab/hospital?

Also what are these tests we have to do and when do we do them by? I didn't think they release very much information before January of each cycle.

Thanks in advance :smile:
Hi!

I am a final year Genetics student and I will be applying for the Reproductive Sciences strand. I have 6 weeks full time work in an IVF research lab and a few one-off day clinical placements, by I'm really worried my experience isn't enough to to get me in? I'm hoping my knowledge and enthusiasm can make up for that though? How much has other people done?
Will be applying for a MSc also as a back up!
Reply 6
Hey guys,

I am a final year Cardiac Physiology PTP student and am planning on applying to upgrade to the STP program :smile: So by the time I graduate I will have 50 weeks clinical experience in cardiac outpatients and already have covered half the STP course which is slightly annoying!
(edited 8 years ago)
Reply 7
Hi everyone!

I'm applying for the Reproductive science scheme as an in-service candidate (already working in an IVF clinic).

Am absolutely bricking it thinking about the aptitude tests! I find the numerical one really hard, I am rubbish at maths. The logic one isn't too bad but still harder than I thought it might be.

A couple of my friends have done/are doing the STP training and they said the interviews are quite interesting, that it's very much like speed dating!

I don't have any other plans apart from applying for this, if I don't get on then I'll just carry on in my current job. BUT I would be absolutely gutted!

Am trying to cram in as many extra bits as possible before application time, but can only do so much!

Any other in-service applicants out there, be great to hear how you're feeling about it!
Reply 8
Original post by kiwi27
Hi everyone!

I'm applying for the Reproductive science scheme as an in-service candidate (already working in an IVF clinic).

Am absolutely bricking it thinking about the aptitude tests! I find the numerical one really hard, I am rubbish at maths. The logic one isn't too bad but still harder than I thought it might be.

A couple of my friends have done/are doing the STP training and they said the interviews are quite interesting, that it's very much like speed dating!

I don't have any other plans apart from applying for this, if I don't get on then I'll just carry on in my current job. BUT I would be absolutely gutted!

Am trying to cram in as many extra bits as possible before application time, but can only do so much!

Any other in-service applicants out there, be great to hear how you're feeling about it!


Hi! I am soooo nervous for the tests too! They sound horrid from last year's comments.
When you say in-course candidate, do you mean you're applying to the Higher Specialist Scientific Training Programme? I am also applying for the Reproductive Sciences strand but as a graduate.
Best of luck!
Reply 9
Original post by KB974
Hi! I am soooo nervous for the tests too! They sound horrid from last year's comments.
When you say in-course candidate, do you mean you're applying to the Higher Specialist Scientific Training Programme? I am also applying for the Reproductive Sciences strand but as a graduate.
Best of luck!


No its still entry at the graduate level, but in-service is for people already working in a department that want a new STP trainee. It basically means that as you already work there, you arent in competition with anyone for a post as its essentially 'reserved' for you. So as long as you pass the aptitude tests and pass the average mark at interview then you get the job. And you arent shortlisted against anyone else, as no one else can apply for your position.

What is your degree in? Do you have any work experience in a clinic? If you could get some before applications start it helps you stand out from the crowd. Reproductive science is one of the most competetive specialisms as there are very few places that are advertised each year, and it seems quite popular compared to some of the other specialisms.
(edited 8 years ago)
Reply 10
Original post by kiwi27
Hi everyone!

I'm applying for the Reproductive science scheme as an in-service candidate (already working in an IVF clinic).

Am absolutely bricking it thinking about the aptitude tests! I find the numerical one really hard, I am rubbish at maths. The logic one isn't too bad but still harder than I thought it might be.

A couple of my friends have done/are doing the STP training and they said the interviews are quite interesting, that it's very much like speed dating!

I don't have any other plans apart from applying for this, if I don't get on then I'll just carry on in my current job. BUT I would be absolutely gutted!

Am trying to cram in as many extra bits as possible before application time, but can only do so much!

Any other in-service applicants out there, be great to hear how you're feeling about it!


Hi :smile: I'm an in-service applicant too! I applied last year for direct entry and made it to interview stage - it was a weird experience, and tbh most of the preparation I had done was useless as the questions were so unusual and require you to think on your feet. I thought I did terribly but only just missed out on a place, so it's really not as bad as you might think. Where are you currently working?
Reply 11
I'm currently doing MSc Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine at UCL and will be applying for either genetics or reproductive science. I've got a few visiting days booked so I can make a decision which one to go for!
Hi all, glad to see the STP threads are still going strong. I applied last year for Clinical Biochemistry but didn't get to interview. Was gutted for ages because it was what drove me to do a PhD and I didn't really have a backup if I got rejected!
The tests aren't really that hard but you have to be really quick, I think for the maths questions there will be 4 or 5 sets of 4 questions and you get a minute to answer the first question of the set and 30 seconds for every other of the set after that, so even if you can't answer, don't skip and try to take in as much info as possible. The maths questions usually have caveats if the question is in table format, like ticket prices being reduced by 25% on every second Monday or money off for over 10 tickets bought etc so once you think you have the final answer, it's normal for there to be another step.
The life sciences are by far the most competitive to get into - Biochem, Haem, Genetics, Cell Path, Microbiology, with biochem being the most oversubscribed at about 800 people applying for 20 positions. In the previous thread, someone has posted the absolute numbers for people who applied for the 2014 intake.
I was told by the consultant in my current job that if you are applying with a PhD, they would ideally want you to have had the viva and completed your degree because I still have my viva to go and he said that could have been a reason I didn't get an interview (I did a biomed degree, am HCPC-registered and was trained in a clinical biochemistry lab, my PhD is biochemistry-based). Of course there's always the chance my application was rubbish or I just scraped the tests so there's that as well!
Good luck to everyone who's taking the plunge this year, I'm quite enjoying my current job so I probably won't be applying this year but I might have another bash at it closer to the time.
Reply 13
Original post by rjojo
Hi :smile: I'm an in-service applicant too! I applied last year for direct entry and made it to interview stage - it was a weird experience, and tbh most of the preparation I had done was useless as the questions were so unusual and require you to think on your feet. I thought I did terribly but only just missed out on a place, so it's really not as bad as you might think. Where are you currently working?

Hey, sorry for the weird question, just wondering what did you after you didn't get a place last year? I have my heart set on the STP scheme, been preparing for a long time now, but I have no idea what I'm going to do if I don't get a place. But I'll definitely re-apply next year, so will probably try to get another job with the NHS. What job are you doing atm that allows you go apply as an in-service candidate?
Reply 14
Original post by tsvety
Hey, sorry for the weird question, just wondering what did you after you didn't get a place last year? I have my heart set on the STP scheme, been preparing for a long time now, but I have no idea what I'm going to do if I don't get a place. But I'll definitely re-apply next year, so will probably try to get another job with the NHS. What job are you doing atm that allows you go apply as an in-service candidate?


Hi! Well STP isn't the be all and end all, which took a while for me to realise too. There are other jobs in the fields you're looking at applying for, so you would be fine if you weren't successful (but fingers crossed!). Even if you don't end up doing the STP for a few years (and in the mean time the accreditation system may change anyway) it doesn't mean you'll be unemployed and not progressing. I got a job at an IVF clinic as a lab tech, and they wanted someone internal to eventually train as an embryologist!
Reply 15
Original post by kiwi27
Hi everyone!

I'm applying for the Reproductive science scheme as an in-service candidate (already working in an IVF clinic).

Am absolutely bricking it thinking about the aptitude tests! I find the numerical one really hard, I am rubbish at maths. The logic one isn't too bad but still harder than I thought it might be.

A couple of my friends have done/are doing the STP training and they said the interviews are quite interesting, that it's very much like speed dating!

I don't have any other plans apart from applying for this, if I don't get on then I'll just carry on in my current job. BUT I would be absolutely gutted!

Am trying to cram in as many extra bits as possible before application time, but can only do so much!

Any other in-service applicants out there, be great to hear how you're feeling about it!


Hi! I'm applying this year to reproductive science as an in-service applicant too, as I'm currently working in an IVF clinic :smile:. I applied directly last year during my MSc and got to the interview stage, but was only a reserve for a position in the end!

Do you think the application process will be the same for both an in-service and a direct applicant? I wonder how they work out a cut off point for the aptitude tests for in-service applicants.. because surely they don't want to fail 40/50% us!
What is your job in the IVF clinic at the moment? I worked as a andrologist for a year and looking to apply for the STP in reproductive science! I am so scared as well! Does anyone have any advise on the aptitude tests? Good luck everyone!
Reply 17
Original post by rjojo
Hi! Well STP isn't the be all and end all, which took a while for me to realise too. There are other jobs in the fields you're looking at applying for, so you would be fine if you weren't successful (but fingers crossed!). Even if you don't end up doing the STP for a few years (and in the mean time the accreditation system may change anyway) it doesn't mean you'll be unemployed and not progressing. I got a job at an IVF clinic as a lab tech, and they wanted someone internal to eventually train as an embryologist!


Thanks a lot! This is a very good idea indeed and my new back-up plan. Everyone around me's applying for phd-s right now, and they make it sound as if there are no other options out there. But I don't want to spend another 3/4 years doing pure research. Anyway, I do know what my realistic chances of getting a place are, read last year's stats, but it's still my number one.
Good luck with your application and the aptitude tests!
Reply 18
Original post by kiwi27
No its still entry at the graduate level, but in-service is for people already working in a department that want a new STP trainee. It basically means that as you already work there, you arent in competition with anyone for a post as its essentially 'reserved' for you. So as long as you pass the aptitude tests and pass the average mark at interview then you get the job. And you arent shortlisted against anyone else, as no one else can apply for your position.

What is your degree in? Do you have any work experience in a clinic? If you could get some before applications start it helps you stand out from the crowd. Reproductive science is one of the most competetive specialisms as there are very few places that are advertised each year, and it seems quite popular compared to some of the other specialisms.


Hi, thanks for the reply!
Oh really, I didn't know there was such a thing as an in-service application! Did you find it difficult to get a job in an IVF clinic and how much experience did you have before-hand? Very reassuring to know there is an alternate route to embryology with direct STP being so competitive.

My degree is in Biomedical Science and I am currently studying for my MSci (integrated masters) and expected a first. I have limited experience in a clinic, (just a few shadowing days) as I have found getting clinical experience difficult but I have a lot of lab experience and volunteer in a hospital, so am hoping that is enough.
Reply 19
Original post by KB974
Hi, thanks for the reply!
Oh really, I didn't know there was such a thing as an in-service application! Did you find it difficult to get a job in an IVF clinic and how much experience did you have before-hand? Very reassuring to know there is an alternate route to embryology with direct STP being so competitive.

My degree is in Biomedical Science and I am currently studying for my MSci (integrated masters) and expected a first. I have limited experience in a clinic, (just a few shadowing days) as I have found getting clinical experience difficult but I have a lot of lab experience and volunteer in a hospital, so am hoping that is enough.


I found it quite difficult to get a job in an IVF clinic, but that's because I really didn't want to move. So I was waiting for a position to come up close enough for me to commute to!

Before I got my current job I worked as a lab tech in a biochemistry lab, but decided it wasn't for me so I did an MSc whilst working there in Reproduction and Development, then luckily my current job came up and I got it! They were aware when I stated that I wanted to progress so it's always been the plan really.

It's really hard getting work experience, especially in IVF clinics but volunteering in a hospital is great! Are you only applying for reproductive science?

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