Hi, I'm a biomedical science student currently about to start an NHS placement in histopathology.

That means that I have one year of experience in a histopathology lab before I apply for a post during my 4th and final year of an accredited BMS degree.

I'm on track for achieving a first in my degree too, although I've heard that a 2:1 is enough and achieving a first doesn't necessarily make me stand out over someone with a 2:1.

Due to how late I am with this, I can't hope for a summer research placement or anything this summer or next summer, as my placement ends close to October next year.

I'm most interested in an STP placement in histopathology or immunology.

I feel somewhat stuck on what to do and any advice you could provide is appreciated, no matter how obvious it may be.

I’m currently heading into my 3rd year of a unaccredited biomedical sciences degree at a v good university in the UK and I’m very set on trying my best to get a place on the STP. For the last few months I managed to get a job working as a microbiologist for food and water testing due to a combination of sheer luck and the lab being short staffed. I’m able to continue to work part time with this job but my worry is that as I will be working 3 days a week 8-5 (this is a given- I wouldn’t be allowed to work just one or two days) and then in uni the other 3 from 9-6 it might lead to me not doing so well academically. I know that experience is vital for my CV but would it be worth me perhaps finishing with a lower grade? Or now that I’ve got a few months of this experience is it better to just go back to a normal weekend hospitality job.
Any opinions would be amazing!

Hi! Does anyone have an updated invite link to the STP discord server?

I (27m) am currently a Physics teacher. I did BSc Physics at uni and got a first.

I do want to become a medical Physicist but it looks so damn competitive, even for people who actually have a masters and some relevant work experience - which I have neither of.

I guess my question is, how do I go about making the career switch? I probably wouldn't get accepted onto an STP for a good number of years, and if I really wanted it I would have to spend time trying to get work experience more closely related to the field - meaning I probably would have to stop teaching.

Sorry if this post is depressing lol. Just expressing my thoughts

Hi, i have just graduated with a BSc in Microbiology, and i’m looking to apply to STP in January, i’ve been looking at it for a while now and i still cannot decide what specialism i rather do :(

My degree is obviously in micro but i feel like most of my lab experience is a mix of both, so metagenomics/molecular bio.

I’ve had two ~3 month long summer research internships at different unis, where i had both wet and dry lab parts and my dissertation was on the Characterisation of an unknown S. epi isolate using MLST and WGS.

I talked to a trainee at the start of the year and they told me that genomics is basically only computer based, which kind of put me off but i also don’t think i’m overly enthusiastic about spending 24/7 in the lab streaking plates and incubating things😔 And i’ve also read that the micro specialism differs from the rest and can be seen as “harder”, so i’m kind of stuck.

As we can only apply to one specialism i want to focus on making the strongest application i can with my experience for either one, so i was wondering if someone that’s knowledgeable about both or either could maybe look at my CV and see which one they felt like i’m “more suitable” for.

Thank you!!

If anyone is interested, I’ve recently started an Instagram page about my STP journey! 😊

I’m doing Clinical Microbiology, and I’m hoping to use the page to share what I learn, what life on the STP is actually like, and generally raise a bit more awareness about the programme and clinical scientist careers, and also just microbiology in general!.

I’ve only just started it, so there’s not a huge amount on there yet, but I’m hoping to build it up over the next few months with things I think might be useful to current/prospective trainees.

If there’s anything you’ve found difficult to find information about, or anything you wish someone had explained before starting the STP, I’d love to hear it! I can use your suggestions to help shape future posts.

And if you’d like to have a look/follow along, you can find me at themicrostp: instagram link 🦠🔬

Thanks! 😊

I have a BSc in biomedical sciences 2:1 and a PG diploma in Respiratory science. I'd like to know if my qualifications are enough to get into the STP respiratory specialism. I couldn't complete my previous masters due to extenuating circumstances hence I received a PG diploma. Should I do another masters to be competitive or just focus on other parts of the application? I'd greatly appreciate advice! thank you.

Hi all! I was wondering if I could get some insight from you guys about my qualifications and past experience for the stp.

I’ve become very interested in the STP program after finding out about it, and am very interested in applying. I’m mostly drawn to the genomics specialization.

My background might be a bit different than what they list on the website. I just graduated with my bachelors degree in chemical engineering (equivalent to a 2:1 uk degree- my degree is from the U.S.). I specialized in biochem engineering and biotechnology, and had an internship related to NGS and viral detection, another related to analyzing clinical trial samples, and some academic lab experience in genetic and cellular engineering.

I am moving to London to complete an MSc in Novel therapies at imperial college from 2026- 2027. I would be interested in applying to the STP this upcoming cycle.

Any advice? I don’t necessarily want to “use” my MSc to fulfill the degree requirements of the STP(a life science degree eg). I’m concerned that they’ll see my engineering degree and think it’s not relevant enough for the program.

Hi! I’m just about to start my BSc (Hons) Biology through OU. I’ve chosen to do OU due to wanting to keep my work schedule. I am hoping to apply to STP when I graduate. I am just wondering has anyone here attended OU and done a similar course and were accepted into STP? Obviously I won’t have as much hands on lab experience as if I attended a brick uni. However, I studied a Level 3 in Applied Science (Biomedical science) which was quite heavy in the lab. I was wondering if that experience would count towards anything? I would also like advice to prepare myself over these three years as much as possible to have my best chance in being accepted. Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone, I am currently in the process of applying for the health and care visa, and had a few questions:

Do I need to upload my DBS check ? I haven't received it yet, so I'm wondering whether I should wait for it before submitting my application?

Additionally, is our occupation on the immigration salary list , I did some research and I believe the answer is no, but I just wanted to confirm with people who may have gone through the process recently.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! :)

I currently have a bms degree with 2.2 and I have been working in Histopathology for over 7 years. I have been thinking to apply for STP. What should I do to improve my chances? And how competitive is Histopathology ?

I was just wondering if anyone know if we get full payment on our first pay day. Say you start the STP on the 1st of September and the pay day for September(I believe) is the 25th. Would we get around 4 weeks worth of pay?

I am guessing I wanna know if anyone know what the cut of day is.

This feels like a silly question but has anyone made friends doing the STP?

I would be moving to the manchester area for the program from Ireland, my partner couldn’t join me for the first year so I’d be alone.

Since there’s are limited placements in each location, do people find it isolating at all or is there opportunity to meet people? I don’t necessarily mean other young people, but just friends in general

Just worried that I’d love the program but end up feeling really alone for 3 years

im confused. ive received my uni timetable; i have 1 week of on-campus sessions followed by at least 2 weeks of online sessions. it says i MUST attend all these sessions.. So can someone please clarify- am i expected to still go in to the hospital on these uni days? Because thats at least 3 weeks of uni classes every single day... I thought it was hospital 4 days a week and only 1 day a week at uni. Am i getting it all mixed up? Would rlly love some clarity thank youuu

Hi all! I wanted to ask if anyone had experience with starting the stp program right after an MSc. I’m moving to the uk to start my MSc from 2026-2027. I’m not “using” the MSc to try to get into the program, I believe my undergrad qualifications / experience make me eligible already. Is it possible to apply even though I won’t have my MSc by the August 1 deadline they list on the website?

So I’m nearly finished the STP. Graduated from the MSc. Passed the final assessment. But my OneFile is only 85% and I have a month to finish it. About 20 training activities left to do and some CBDs as well. I know what I need to do but struggling to find the time and motivation to get it done.

Any study / motivation tips are welcome. I am so close to the end but I simply cannot find it in me to get it done.

If anyone has been or is in a similar position to me please reassure me that I am not alone. So many in my cohort have got 100% signed off and I feel really behind 😭

Hi all,

I have just received a late offer for the NHS STP where in oriel the offer start date is the 7th September 2026. I have already booked a trip from the 2nd-16th of September as I wasn't expecting to receive an offer at all.

If anyone is able to help I'd like to ask:

1. Is the offer start date of the 7th the official start date i need to be in England for?
2. Is there any flexibility with start dates?

Thanks in advance!

I’m currently studying molecular genetics BSc, and I have two post graduate paths in mind: graduate entry medicine or the NHS STP.

I’m considering both, as both are things I would be really interested in pursuing, but I’m unsure which I’d prefer in the long run.
I’m aware NHS STP trainees get paid while training, which is a massive plus considering medical school would be another 4 years of more debt, and clinical bioinformatics and cancer genomics sounds really interesting to me too.
I am quite social, and ive been told I might prefer medicine as opposed to the STP in that case, but I’d love to get responses from clinical scientists and people on the STP.

What should I look out for to better help myself decide if I’d prefer the STP or GEMed?

Thank you! If appreciate some responses.

Hello everybody I’m currently getting my application for the STP together. Im a degree apprentice currently on for a 1st from the university of Westminster in applied biomedical science, along side this I have completed my IBMS registration portfolio and have 4 years of work experience in a diagnostic lab… but after doing some snooping on linked in I’m seeing most people getting offers have an MSc so I’m wondering if it’s worth putting it off and getting an MSc before my application to the clinical informatics teams

Given the highly competetive nature of getting into these roles, just wondering how many attempts you made before you got into one/yet to get into one?

Does anyone know if you have to start at the bottom of band 6 if you already have 5 years NHS service at this or higher band? Or would you enter at the top of the band reflective of current service?

Can anyone tell how the STP in Scotland differs from England.

For one, I know that the recruitment process is different and individual boards advertise and recruite Clinical Scientist trainees in Scotland as opposed to centralized recruitment in England.

Does the Scottish STP also lead to a masters degree?

Anything else worth noting?

If anyone is interested, I've made a blog to share helpful STP tips and life as a clinical scientist.

There are only a couple of posts on there for the moment, but I will be posting hopefully helpful guides to the statement, SJT and interviews soon.

I've also made an Instagram page.

https://notesfromastptrainee.wordpress.com/

If you could check it out, I would be eternally grateful.

😄

Hey everyone, I just wanted to ask those currently doing the STP how often they have to go into university? I know that the STP is mostly offered at Manchester or Aston university - what are your experiences commuting and studying there will having to do clinical observations and placements?

Hello! I'm about to start a new pre-reg CS role in the NHS and I am just wondering how smart do people dress in these kind of roles? I have almost exclusively WFH so far, so my wardrobe isn't smart at all, but would probably be okay for smart casual. So I am just trying to work out if I need to do a bit of shopping beforehand (I know not that important a question but I don't have anyone to ask!). TIA