If you are aiming for the 2026 Scientist Training Programme (STP), understanding how the selection process works is just as important as polishing your CV or personal statement. The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is a key hurdle, so it pays to know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.
This guide explains what the STP is, how the 2026 recruitment cycle works, and how the SJT fits into it, with pointers to practice tests you can use to get ready.
What is the NHS Scientist Training Programme?
The NHS Scientist Training Programme is a national scheme for science graduates who want to become Clinical Scientists. It is:
- A three year programme of work based learning
- Combined with a fully funded part time master’s degree in clinical or healthcare science
- Run by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) as part of NHS England
Trainee Healthcare Scientists are usually:
- Employed by an NHS trust on a three year fixed term contract
- Paid at Agenda for Change Band 6
- Rotated through different departments before specialising
On successful completion of the STP, you can apply for HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist.
There are two main routes into the STP:
- Direct entry for external applicants
- In service for existing NHS staff who are seconded to the programme
2026 STP recruitment overview
Recruitment to STP posts is coordinated nationally by NSHCS and managed through Oriel, the NHS online recruitment system.
For the 2026 direct entry STP in England, the key dates are:
- Applications open: Tuesday 6 January 2026, 11:00
- Applications close: Friday 16 January 2026, 16:00
- SJT test window opens: Tuesday 27 January 2026, 06:00
- SJT test window closes: Thursday 29 January 2026, 23:59
The main stages are:
- Online application via Oriel
- Longlisting and eligibility checks
- Situational Judgement Test (SJT), taken online during the January window
- Shortlisting based on SJT score and application
- National interviews for shortlisted candidates
Exact details can vary slightly each year, but if you are applying for the 2026 STP you should plan around these dates and keep an eye on the NSHCS website for any last minute changes.
Step 1: Online application via Oriel
You apply for the 2026 STP through Oriel. In that single application you will:
- Select your STP specialism and preferred locations
- Enter your degree and academic details
- Describe any relevant work, voluntary or research experience
- Answer application questions that test your motivation and suitability
You can only apply for one STP specialism in the 2026 round, so your choice of field and location is important.
Competition is strong, with thousands of applications for a limited number of posts, so it is worth taking your time over the written sections rather than treating them as a simple form.
Step 2: The STP Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
Once applications for the 2026 STP close, eligible direct entry applicants are invited to sit the SJT. Completing the SJT during the January 2026 test window is mandatory if you want to remain in the process.
You will sit the SJT:
- Online, usually from home or another quiet location
- Through the Pearson VUE testing platform
- At any point within the 27–29 January 2026 window
The SJT is designed to assess:
- Professionalism and integrity
- Commitment to patients and service users
- Teamwork and communication
- Ability to manage pressure and competing demands
- Alignment with NHS values
It is an important part of the selection process, because it provides a standardised way to see how you are likely to behave in realistic work situations.
2026 STP SJT format
For 2026, the STP SJT format is expected to remain:
- A short on screen tutorial and non disclosure agreement (untimed)
- The main SJT:
- 25 scenarios about realistic situations in healthcare science
- For each scenario, 4 to 8 response options
- You rate each response option on a scale from “very appropriate” to “very inappropriate”, rather than ranking them against each other
- 50 minutes total for the SJT questions
A few key points to remember:
- You consider each response independently, not as a set you need to put in order
- More than one option can be acceptable, but some are clearly better than others
- Your job is to choose ratings that match how a good trainee healthcare scientist should behave, rather than how you might personally feel in the moment
Your final SJT score is combined with your 2026 application to decide whether you are shortlisted for interview.
How to prepare for the 2026 STP SJT
Good preparation for the 2026 STP SJT has two parts:
- Understand what is being assessed
- Read the latest STP person specification and NHS values
- Think about how a first year trainee scientist is expected to respond to ethical dilemmas, workload issues and team problems
- Practise the SJT format
- Get used to reading scenarios quickly and picking out the key issue
- Practise rating response options on a 1–5 scale for appropriateness
- Work under the 50 minute time limit so you can maintain your pace across all 25 scenarios
Because the SJT is specific to the STP, you will not find official full length practice papers from the NHS. Any practice tests you use for the 2026 STP SJT will be produced by third party providers and are not endorsed by NSHCS or the NHS. They can still be very useful for:
- Building familiarity with the rating style questions
- Learning common themes that appear in healthcare scenarios
- Developing a feel for what counts as “very appropriate” versus “somewhat appropriate” or “inappropriate”
- Reducing anxiety on the day because the format feels familiar
2026 STP SJT practice tests
If you want structured preparation for the 2026 STP SJT, you can use a dedicated third party practice package such as JobTestPrep’s NHS STP SJT PrepPack:
Practise for the 2026 STP SJT with JobTestPrep
The NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) SJT PrepPack gives you targeted practice for the SJT element of the application.
The PrepPack includes:
- Two full-length SJT simulations with 146 STP-style questions that closely mirror the real test format and difficulty
- In-depth SJT study guides that explain the structure of the STP SJT, common scenario types and how the rating scale works
- Expert solving tips and strategies to help you decide what counts as a “very appropriate” versus “inappropriate” response in typical healthcare science situations
- Detailed explanations and personalised score reports so you can see where you are losing marks and how your judgement compares to recommended responses
- Access options for 1 week, 1 month or 3 months, plus a money-back guarantee if you feel the pack has not prepared you adequately
Step 3: Shortlisting and interview
After the January 2026 SJT window closes, NSHCS will:
- Combine your SJT score with your 2026 application
- Rank candidates within each specialism
- Invite the highest scoring applicants to national interviews
Interviews are usually held online and focus on:
- Your motivation for the STP and chosen specialism
- Your understanding of what healthcare scientists actually do
- Professional behaviour, insight and reflective ability
- How you apply scientific thinking to clinical and service problems
Performance at interview then determines your final ranking and whether you receive an offer for the 2026 intake.
Final tips for 2026 STP applicants
If you are targeting the 2026 STP round, you can give yourself an advantage by:
- Blocking out the key dates in January 2026 for your Oriel application and SJT window
- Drafting your written answers early, then refining them before submission
- Reading the STP person specification and NHS values so you know what “good looks like”
- Working through at least one full length third party 2026 STP SJT practice test under timed conditions
- Reflecting on your own experiences so you have strong examples ready for interview
You do not need to spend huge amounts of time or money to prepare, but treating the 2026 SJT as a serious exam and using targeted practice can make a real difference to both your confidence and your score.
