Current Opportunities

NHS Healthcare Science Band 7-9 Development Bursary 2025

About the Bursary

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is offering a competitive bursary of up to £5,000 for NHS Healthcare Science staff (AfC Band 7 and above) to support professional development activities in the 2025–26 financial year.

The NES Healthcare Science Development Bursary is designed to support a broad range of professional development activities that contribute to the advancement of Healthcare Science services across NHS Scotland. The bursary may be used to fund:

• Postgraduate academic programmes of study
  (e.g. MSc modules, accredited postgraduate qualifications)

• Course fees for professional qualifications
  (including programmes that enhance specialist or advanced practice)

• Applications to sit professional examinations
  (e.g. FRCPath or equivalent assessments required for professional progression)

• Applications for entry to recognised professional registers
  (such as the Higher Specialist Scientist Register or HCPC registration processes, where fees apply)

• Delivery of a defined research project that supports service innovation
  (including project-related costs where these are clearly justified and directly linked to service improvement)

Applications Open: Monday 3rd November 2025
Deadline: Friday 12th December 2025, 5pm

Notification of Outcome: Early January 2026

Who Can Apply?

• Eligibility: Permanent NHS Healthcare Science staff at AfC Band 7 or above. Full eligibility criteria are detailed in the applicant guidance (see Appendix 1).
• Manager & Supervisor Approval: Applicants must have agreement from both their line manager and supervisor before submitting an application.

How to Apply

• Application Method: Submit your application via the dedicated MS Forms link. The form cannot be saved and returned to later—please ensure you have all required information ready before starting.
• Required Information: You will need:
  • Details of the programme, qualification, examination, registration, or research project for which you are applying
  • Names, job titles, and email addresses of your line manager and supervisor, plus their agreement for you to undertake the proposed activity
• Post-Award Requirements: If successful, you must:
  • Register with the NES HCS team via the NTN MS Form
  • Participate in NES HCS Quality Assurance processes, which may include Quality Assurance surveys, Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) monitoring, and Exit Surveys, where applicable
  • Ensure your department completes a Training Centre recognition self-assessment if not already completed, and where this is required for the activity being funded

Preparing Your Application

Before starting the online form, draft concise answers to these four key questions:

1. Have you explored other avenues of funding for the programme, qualification, examination, registration, or research project?
2. How does this programme, qualification, examination, project, or registration align with your personal career aspirations?
3. How does this programme, qualification, examination, project, or registration align with your department’s future service delivery plan?
4. Does this programme, qualification, examination, project, or registration align with any national strategies within Healthcare Science? If so, please provide details.

Further Information

• Full guidance, eligibility criteria, and quality assurance requirements are available on the NES HCS website.
• Ensure your line manager and supervisor are aware of and agree to all requirements before applying.
• Applicant guidance is available by selecting this document link.

For detailed scoring criteria and further guidance, please refer to the full applicant guidance document.