General Information

The Scientist Training Programme (STP) is made up of two elements – the academic programme (MSc in Clinical Science) and a workbased programme. Both elements are required in order for a trainee to complete the STP and register with the HCPC as a Clinical Scientist. The University is only responsible for the academic programme.

Admission on to the STP programme is through a national process run by the National School of Healthcare Science that takes place in January each year. For further information, please visit the NHS Careers website.

Within the MAHSE partnership, there are seven academic programmes on offer in 19 specialist areas. Select the relevant tab for further information about the programme or specialism you are interested in:

Theme Specialism
Blood Sciences
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Clinical Immunology
  • Haematology and Transfusion Sciences
  • Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics
CCVRS Sciences
  • Cardiac Science
  • Critical Care
  • Respiratory and Sleep Science
Cellular Sciences
  • Cytopathology
  • Histopathology
  • Reproductive Science (Andrology)
  • Reproductive Science (Embryology)
Clinical Bioinformatics
  • Genomics
  • Health Informatics
  • Physical Science
Clinical Pharmaceutical Science
  • Clinical Pharmaceutical Science
Genomic Sciences
  • Genomics (formerly Genetics)
  • Genomic Counselling
  • Cancer Genomics
Neurosensory Sciences
  • Audiology
  • Neurophysiology
Reconstructive Science
  • Reconstructive Science


Blood Sciences


The MSc Clinical Science (Blood Sciences) programme is delivered by the University of Manchester (UoM) in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University (ManMet). The majority of the programme is taught by UoM with elements of the Haematology and Transfusion Sciences and the Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics pathways being delivered by ManMet.

All degrees are awarded by the UoM with the exception of Haematology and Transfusion Sciences that is awarded by ManMet.

All trainees complete a common first year and then specialise in years 2 and 3 in one of four areas: Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Immunology, Haematology and Transfusion Science, or Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. An outline of the 3-year programme structure is given below:

Year 1

Professional Practice
[15 credits]

Analytical Methods
[15 credits]

Introduction to Blood Sciences
[30 credits]

Year 2

Specialist Unit 1
[15 credits]

Specialist Unit 2
[15 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]

Specialist Unit 3
[15 credits]

Specialist Unit 4
[15 credits]


CCVRS Sciences


The MSc Clinical Science (CCVRS Sciences) programme is delivered by Manchester Metropolitan University (ManMet).

All degrees are awarded by ManMet.

All trainees complete a common first year and then specialise in years 2 and 3 in one of the following areas: Cardiac Science, Critical Care or Respiratory and Sleep Science. An outline of the 3-year programme structure is given below:

Year 1

Integrating Science and Professional Practice
[20 credits]

Introduction to Cardiac, Critical Care, Vascular, Respiratory and Sleep Sciences
[40 credits]

Year 2

Research Methods
[10 credits]

Specialist Unit 1
[20 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Specialist Unit 2
[30 credits]

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]


Cellular Sciences


The MSc Clinical Science (Cellular Sciences) programme is delivered by Manchester Metropolitan University (ManMet). The majority of the programme is taught by ManMet with elements delivered by outside experts in the field. All degrees are awarded by ManMet.

All trainees complete a common first year and then specialise in years 2 and 3 in one of three areas: Cytopathology, Histopathology or Reproductive Science. An outline of the 3-year programme structure is given below:

Year 1

Integrating Science and Professional Practice
[20 credits]

Introduction to Principles and Practice of Histology, Cervical Cytology and Diagnostic Cytopathology
[20 credits]

Principles and Practice of Reproductive Science and Diagnostic Semen Analysis
[10 credits]

Genetics and Molecular Science
[10 credits]

Year 2

Research Methods
[10 credits]

Specialist Unit 1
[20 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Specialist Unit 2
[30 credits]

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]


Clinical Bioinformatics


The MSc Clinical Science (Clinical Bioinformatics) programme is delivered by the University of Manchester (UoM) in collaboration with Nowgen and the National Genetic Reference Laboratory (NGRL). Elements of the first year of the programme are delivered at the University of Liverpool. In years 2 and 3 of the Health Informatics pathway some teaching is delivered at University College London (UCL).

All degrees are awarded by the University of Manchester with the exception of Physical Sciences which is awarded by UoL.

All trainees complete a common first year then specialise in years 2 and 3 in Genomics, Health Informatics or Physical Sciences. An outline of the current 3-year programme structure is given below:

Genomics and Health Informatics

Year 1

Professional Practice
[15 credits]

Clinical Bioinformatics 1
[15 credits]

Clinical Bioinformatics 2
[30 credits]

Year 2

Specialist Unit
[15 credits]

Specialist Unit
[15 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Specialist Unit
[30 credits]

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]

Physical Sciences

Year 1

Professional Practice
[15 credits]

Clinical Bioinformatics 1
[15 credits]

Clinical Bioinformatics 2
[30 credits]

Year 2

Specialist Units
[60 credits]

Year 3

Research Project
[60 credits]

 


Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences


The MSc Clinical Science (Clinical Pharmaceutical Science) programme is delivered by the University of Manchester (UoM). Elements of the programme are delivered by Kings College London.  All trainees graduate with a degree from the University of Manchester.

This is a single specialty programme and an outline of the current 3-year programme structure is given below:

Year 1

Professional Practice
[15 credits]

Introduction to Clinical Pharmaceutical Science 1
[15 credits]

Introduction to Clinical Pharmaceutical Science 2
[30 credits]

Year 2

Applied Pharmaceutical Science
[30 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Advanced Pharmaceutical Science
[15 credits]

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]


Genomic Sciences


The MSc Clinical Science (Genomic Sciences) programme is delivered by the University of Manchester (UoM) in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University (ManMet), University of Liverpool (UoL), Liverpool Health Partners, Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine and the North West Coast NHS Genomic Medicine Centre. The majority of the programme is taught by UoM with elements of the first year delivered by ManMet and elements of the third year delivered by UoL.

All degrees are awarded by the University of Manchester.

An outline of the 3-year programme structure is given below:

Year 1

Introduction to Healthcare Science, Professional Practice and Clinical Leadership
[30 credits]

Introduction to Genomics and Clinical Practice
[30 credits]

Year 2

Specialist Unit 1
[15 credits]

Specialist Unit 2
[15 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]

Specialist Unit 3
[15 credits]

Specialist Unit 4
[15 credits]

In year 1, Genomics trainees will study two rotations from six options (usually chosen by the workplace). The six rotational units are: Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Immunology, Cytopathology, Haematology and Transfusion Science, Histopathology, and Reproductive Science.
In year 1, Genomic Counselling trainees will study one rotation from three options (usually chosen by the workplace). The three rotational units are: Clinical Biochemistry, Histopathology, and Reproductive Science.


Neurosensory Sciences


The MSc Clinical Science (Neurosensory Sciences) programme is delivered by the University of Manchester (UoM) in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University (ManMet). The majority of the programme is taught by UoM with elements of the Neurophysiology pathway being delivered by ManMet.

Audiology is awarded by the University of Manchester and Neurophysiology is awarded by Manchester Metropolitan University.

An outline of the 3-year programme structure is given below:

Year 1

Professional Practice
[15 credits]

Neurosensory Sciences
[15 credits]

Clinical Applications of Neurosensory Sciences
[30 credits]

Year 2

Specialist Unit 1
[15 credits]

Specialist Unit 2
[15 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]

Specialist Unit 3
[15 credits]

Specialist Unit 4
[15 credits]


Reconstructive Science


The MSc Clinical Science (Reconstructive Science) programme is a joint programme between Manchester Metropolitan University (ManMet) and King’s College London (King’s). Therefore, all degrees are jointly awarded by ManMet and King’s.

An outline of the 3-year programme structure is given below:

Year 1

Integrating Studies in Reconstructive Science
[30 credits]

Introduction to Reconstructive Science
[30 credits]

Year 2

Medical Devices and research methods in Reconstructive Science
[30 credits]

Research Project – part 1
[30 credits]

Year 3

Prosthetic Rehabilitation
[30 credits]

Research Project – part 2
[30 credits]