Scientist Training Programme (STP) Applicants 2025

100% last year I took the time to annotate the specification and think of examples of how I can show this through work and volunteering ect. Even though I lack lab experience it was amazing to see how many transferable skills I've gained and could talk about in my application.

If anyone requires any help - I’m first year cancer genomics STP. Good luck to everyone.

Hi, I'm planning to apply to the STP for 2025. I would like to know when the application date will be. The speciality I am interested in is only available in Newcastle and Manchester, so I was wondering if I would have to relocate or if posts would be available in hospitals out of these areas. I could just commute/relocate for theory blocks. Thank you!

Hi, I'm interested in applying to the STP for the first time but I don't know what to expect. I mainly wanted to ask what the application process is like and how many location preferences you can have.

Hi 🙂
I applied last year and made it through to the interview where I was ultimately unsuccessful but I can tell what the application was like up until then.
The initial application is in January and offers don't come out until July (if you pass the situational judgement test and interview) so it's a pretty long process and honestly a lot of just waiting to find out.
Once you've submitted your application you'll get invited to do an online situational judgement test, where they ask you questions to see how you would act in a working environment. It's workplace scenarios and then questions based off them to see if your choices align with what they would expect from a trainee on the program.
If you pass the test your application will change to long listed (I believe around 30% fail at this point of the application).
You then receive a rank based of your application/statement and then I think in a case of a tied rank they look at your sjt score (I could be wrong though).
In previous years it seems they interviewed as many people as there were positions for each specialty however last year it was pretty much 2x the amount of interviews for each post, making them more competitive.
The interview is held by someone at one of the trusts offering your specialty and has a mix of specialty and general science questions.
You can chose as many locations as you like but only in one specialty. You rank them in order of preference, then they work their way done the ranked applicants. So if you you ranked 1st after interview you get your first choice, the person in second they look at their first choice and they get it if still available if not they look at the applicants 2 choice of location and so forth down the line.
You have 2/3 days to accept an offer, if you decline you can't ask for another location, you are simply finished for this year. So it's important to only select locations you're willing to move to for three years. If someone declines an offer they go to the next highest ranked applicant you didn't get on offer originally.
Sorry it's so long

Thank you, you have been far more helpful than the website. This system sounds heavily flawed, especially the long waiting times. How technical are the specialist questions from your experience? I’m thinking of applying to the pharmaceutical science programme and some of the specialisms are quite hard to learn about unless you have work experience.

is anyone willing to start a discord/ whatsapp group for 2025 entry so that it is more easy to look at updates regarding the applications process?

Hi everyone! It's my second year applying for the STP. I applied for the cancer genomics STP last year but this year I am thinking of applying for the Histopathology specialism 🙂 I was hoping someone who applied for histopathology might have some tips?

Hi everyone,
I'm starting a thread for anyone applying to the STP 2025 programme.
For me this will be my second time applying. I applied to the histopathology specialism for the 2024 entry and got ranked 8th (shortlist reserve). Although I didn't get an interview I am proud of getting this far for my first time trying with only 2 posts available for the specialism.
I'm not sure if I want to apply to the same or a different specialism this year but will give it a shot.
Here's a link to last year's thread which may be useful: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7388612
All information regarding the applications and dates for the 2025 cohort will be found here: https://nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/programmes/stp/applicants/

Hi, I'm interested in applying for STP but I cant figure out how. I've looked at the NHS school of healthcare science website and read about the different specialties but I can't find anywhere where I can fill out an application form. I've also made an Oriel account and tried searching for grad schemes like STP on it but it kept saying none were available. Am I looking in the wrong place, or are applications just not open yet?

Hi all,
This will be my first year applying for STP + graduating (hopefully 😅) in July 2025 with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences. I did a placement abroad which was heavily lab based and got very interested in the clinical/patient prospects which are involved in genomic counselling.
However, I don't have any counselling/care experience so I was wondering what my best plan of action would be. Should I apply for a lab based STP speciality and see how I do in the application process whilst gaining care experience? Or should I just apply for genomic counselling and see how that goes? I understand my odds are not the best but would love some advice!
Thank you ☺️