2026 EMPLOYER GUIDES7 min read

The Complete Guide to NHS Early Careers 2026

Here’s what you’ll uncover in this guide:

1. NHS Early Careers

What early programs does the NHS offer?

NHS offers the following two major types of early career programs for all university students to upskill them and make them job-ready:

Let’s start our discussion with the first NHS early career programme: the NHS apprenticeships.

NHS Apprenticeships

What are the NHS apprenticeships?

The NHS apprenticeships are 1-5 year-long programmes, available from level 2 to level 7 across different locations in the UK. They help you develop skills necessary for a career in healthcare through a mix of classroom and on-the-job training.

In which business areas can I apply for NHS apprenticeships?

The NHS apprenticeships are available in the UK for the following areas, including:

NursingMidwiferyPharmacyAllied Healthcare
PsychologyDentalAmbulance servicePhysician associate

Where can I apply for NHS apprenticeships?

While NHS apprenticeships are available year-long with application deadlines varying across roles and locations, not all apprenticeships are available everywhere. Some of the locations where NHS apprenticeships are commonly available are:

  • Sheffield
  • Doncaster
  • Gorleston
  • Rotherham
  • Fakenham

Who can apply for the NHS apprenticeships?

The NHS apprenticeships’ eligibility varies depending on the NHS employer, type and level of the apprenticeship you are applying for. For example: Those candidates who meet the minimum criteria, including the following, can apply for the NHS apprenticeships:

  • You are 16 years of age
  • A minimum of 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9-4/A-C or equivalent qualifications, including Maths, English, and Science.

What is the NHS apprenticeships application process?

The NHS apprenticeships application process includes the following stages, though this may vary depending on the location you are applying to the NHS:

  1. Online Application
  2. Online Assessments
  3. Virtual Assessment Centre

After apprenticeships, let’s discuss our next NHS early career program, i.e. the NHS graduate scheme.

NHS Graduate Scheme

What NHS graduate schemes are available?

The NHS graduate schemes are typically of 1-3 years, depending on the programme and job role. Here are two of the major NHS graduate schemes available in the UK:

  1. NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme (GMTS)
  2. NHS Scientific Training Programme (STP)
  3. NHS Accelerated Programme

Let’s discuss all these NHS graduate programmes, starting with the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme.

NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme

What is the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme?

The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme is a 2-year-long programme that commences in the summer or early fall each year. This NHS graduate scheme programme helps you develop skills for a career in health service management with hands-on experience.

In which business areas can I apply for the NHS Graduate Management Training Programme?

The NHS graduate management training is available in the UK for the following areas, including:

General ManagementFinanceHuman ResourcesHealth InformaticsHealth AnalysisPolicy And Strategy

Where can I apply for the NHS Graduate Management Training Programme?

You can apply for the NHS Graduate Management Training Programme in the UK across the following 7 locations:

  1. Midlands
  2. South West
  3. South East
  4. London
  5. East of England
  6. North West
  7. North East, Yorkshire, and Humber

Who can apply for the NHS Graduate Management Training Programme?

You require a 2:2 degree in any discipline to apply for the NHS Graduate Management Training Programme.

What is the NHS Graduate Management Training Programme hiring process?

The NHS GMTS hiring process includes the following stages:

Online Application:

This involves registering for the role and completing a short application form online.

NHS Future Potential Assessment:

This online assessment will take you about 45 minutes to complete, although it’s not timed. This will help you learn more about the work you’d be doing in the role. The NHS team will provide an opportunity to practice each question type before you begin, and will provide a feedback report upon completion.

NHS GMTS Alignment Assessment:

This assessments include video responses, and will take up to 60 minutes to complete. While the video-based questions are timed, you will be allowed to prepare and practice each question type before you start.

Virtual Assessment Centre:

During this half-day online assessment centre, the NHS recruiters will ask you to complete exercises and have the opportunity to meet the team. Following the BAC, you will receive feedback and either receive an offer, be put on the reserve list or be unsuccessful.

After the graduate management training programme, let’s discuss our next NHS graduate scheme: the NHS Scientific Training programme.

NHS Scientific Training Programme

What is the NHS Scientific Training Programme?

The NHS Scientific Training Programme is a 3-year-long programme that prepares science and engineering graduates for senior healthcare science roles. Here, you will get workplace-based training and obtain a master’s degree to apply for clinical scientist positions.

What areas can I apply for in the NHS Scientific Training Programme?

The NHS Scientific Training Programme is available in the UK for the following specialisations/areas, including:

Clinical BioinformaticsLife SciencesPhysical SciencesBiomedical EngineeringPhysiological Sciences

Where can I apply for the NHS Scientific Training Programme?

You can apply for the NHS Scientific Training Programme in the UK across:

  1. England
  2. Wales and
  3. Northern Ireland

Who can apply for the NHS Scientific Training Programme?

The NHS Scientific Training Programme as its eligibility criteria requires you to have a 1st grade or 2.1 undergraduate honours degree or an integrated master’s degree in a pure or applied science subject relevant to the area for which they are applying.

What is the NHS Scientific Training Programme hiring process?

The NHS Scientific Training Programme application process includes the following stages, though this may vary depending on the location of the NHS you are applying for:

After covering the NHS Scientific Training Programme and its hiring process, let’s discuss our next NHS graduate scheme: the NHS Accelerated Programme.

NHS Accelerated Programme

What are the NHS accelerated programmes?

The NHS accelerated programmes are typically 2-year programmes available for certain clinical professions, like nursing and the allied health professions. They help you get prior experiential learning (APEL) from your university to complete your training in two years.

In which can I apply for the NHS accelerated programmes?

The NHS accelerated programmes are available in the UK for the following specialisations/ areas, including:

Nursing (various areas)Diagnostic and therapeutic radiographyDieteticsSpeech and language therapyProsthetics and orthotics
Occupational therapyOrthoptics and OsteopathyPodiatryParamedicinePhysiotherapy

Where can I apply for NHS accelerated programmes?

You can apply for the NHS Scientific Training Programme in the UK across the following:

  1. London
  2. Edinburgh
  3. Manchester
  4. Birmingham

Who can apply for the NHS accelerated programmes?

To apply to the NHS accelerated programmes, you need to satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

  • Professional qualification or degree relevant to the healthcare sector.
  • Registration with any of the relevant regulatory bodies (HCPC, NMC, GMC, or GDC), depending on the role.

Read on to discover the application process for the NHS early career roles.

2. NHS Recruitment Process

What is the NHS application process?

From publicly available resources, it shows that the NHS recruitment process for early career roles typically includes the following stages:

  1. NHS Online Application
  2. NHS Numeracy and Literacy Test
  3. NHS Logical Reasoning Test
  4. NHS Situational Judgement Test
  5. NHS Virtual Assessment Centre

Discover all the stages of the NHS application process here!

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Before you start your NHS application process, explore the FAQs section below for more answers about the NHS recruitment process.

3. NHS Early Careers FAQs

1 What is the NHS Health Leadership model?

The NHS Health Leadership model includes the following 9 dimensions:

  • Inspiring shared purpose
  • Leading with care
  • Evaluating information
  • Connecting our service
  • Sharing the vision
  • Engaging the team
  • Holding to account
  • Developing capability
  • Influencing for results

2 How competitive is the NHS Graduate Scheme?

The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme is highly competitive. The applications for the scheme far exceed the positions available. Their average acceptance rate is around 3%. However, a dedicated practice will help you ace the NHS recruitment process.

3 How long does the NHS GMTS last?

The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme programme lasts generally for 2 years, but finance trainees in the GMTS programme will require an additional six months, making the total duration 2.5 years, to accommodate the necessary studies for related qualifications.

4 How should I dress for my NHS early career interview?

Whether going for an NHS interview or assessment centre, it’s always best to go with formal casual attire. It’s also recommended to look into the NHS employee dress code to demonstrate your ability to blend in with the organisational environment.

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This article was last updated on 9 June 2026. All information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, based on publicly available sources. For the most up-to-date details, please verify directly with the employer.

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