STP 2027 key dates: applications, the SJT window and what comes next
Last updated 11 October 2026
STP recruitment runs on a compressed timetable. In 2026 the whole stretch from applications opening to longlist outcomes took seven weeks, and the situational judgement test sat inside a three-day window. This page gives the 2026 dates as the best guide to 2027 and explains what each stage involves.
Recruitment for 2026 entry has concluded. The National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) has said that applications for 2027 are expected to open in January 2027. Until it publishes the 2027 timetable, treat the dates below as the shape of the process rather than the exact days.
The 2026 timetable
| Stage | 2026 dates | Status for 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open on Oriel | 6 January 2026 | Expected January 2027 |
| Applications close | 19 January 2026 | Expected January 2027 |
| SJT window | 6am 27 January to 11:59pm 29 January 2026 | Expected late January 2027 |
| Longlist outcomes (by specialty) | 23 to 27 February 2026 | To be confirmed |
| Shortlisting and interviews | Spring 2026 | To be confirmed |
Two weeks to apply and a three-day test window leave little room. Draft your supporting information before January, and book the SJT as soon as the window is confirmed.
What happens at each stage
| Stage | What happens | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Application (Oriel) | Three supporting-information questions of 500 words each. NSHCS recommends using the full allowance. AI-generated answers are prohibited and applications may be screened. | You |
| SJT (Pearson VUE) | All applicants sit it. A cut score longlists. There is no fixed percentage: competition is within specialty, so a small specialty where everyone scores well can all go through. | External scoring against an NSHCS key |
| Shortlist | Specialty panels score your education and supporting information, two scorers per application. The SJT score is the tie-breaker. | Volunteer scientists |
| Interview | Allocated by shortlist rank. Interviewers do not see your application. Standardised questions on scientific knowledge, values, behaviours, leadership and communication. | Employing departments with NSHCS |
| Offer | From rank one downwards, matched to your location preferences. | NSHCS |
Why the SJT is the stage to prepare for
The SJT is the only stage you can rehearse. Your application is a writing task you control, the interview depends on a panel, and the offer is arithmetic. The test, by contrast, has a published format and scoring approach, and candidates improve at it with practice. It is also the stage that removes the most applicants: in 2025 it cut the field from 7,861 to 3,525, after which every later stage removed roughly half of those remaining.
Because longlisting is per specialty with no fixed cut, the score you need depends on which specialty you applied to. A candidate in a specialty with over 200 applicants per post needs to be near the top of the SJT distribution. One in a specialty with a handful of applicants per post needs to clear a much lower bar.
Suggested preparation timeline
- October to November. Read the NSHCS attributes and the frameworks the test rests on: HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (2024) and Good Scientific Practice (v1.7). Sit a diagnostic to find your bias.
- December. Draft the three 500-word supporting-information answers. Work through rated scenarios in short sessions, concentrating on the attribute where you lose most points.
- Early January. Submit the application in the first days of the window. Sit a full-length timed mock.
- The week before the SJT. One more full mock under the clock, then rest. Book an early slot in the three-day window so a technical problem leaves you time to rebook.
Start with the free diagnostic
Ten original scenarios across all four attributes, timed, with a near-miss report that shows whether you rate harsher or more leniently than the key.
Start the free diagnosticFrequently asked questions
When do STP 2027 applications open?
NSHCS has said applications for 2027 entry are expected to open in January 2027. In 2026 the window ran from 6 to 19 January, so plan for a two-week window and have your supporting information drafted before it opens.
When is the STP SJT?
About a week after applications close, in a three-day window. In 2026 it ran from 6am on 27 January to 11:59pm on 29 January. Expect a similar late-January window in 2027.
How long after the SJT do I hear about longlisting?
Around four weeks. In 2026 longlist outcomes were released by specialty between 23 and 27 February.
Can I use AI to write my application?
No. NSHCS prohibits AI-generated answers to the supporting information questions and says applications may be screened for AI. Write your own answers and use the 500 words.
How long will my STP Practice access last?
Until the SJT closing date for 2027 entry, which we currently set as 31 January 2027. If NSHCS publishes a later date we extend access to match.