NHS England early careers: how to get in
Last checked 2026-10-04 against NHS England's own careers pages. Every stage below links to where it was read. GoRizzume is independent and not affiliated with NHS England.
At a glance
- No published deadlineVisa sponsorship: Not published5 stages
How NHS England recruits
2027 entry (applications close 28th October; scheme starts first Monday of September 2027). 5 stages, from NHS England's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-04. Test providers are named only where NHS England names them.
Registration and application form
Application form
Register and complete an application form.
“Registration and application form”
Stage 1 Future Potential Assessment (online)
Online tests
Online strengths assessment of about 45 minutes, untimed, with practice of each question type and a feedback report for all candidates.
- about 45 minutes
“This online assessment will take you approximately 45 minutes to complete – although it’s not time limited.”
Stage 2 NHS GMTS Alignment Assessment
Recorded video interview
Online assessment of about 60 minutes including recorded video responses; only video questions are timed, with preparation time before recording. Responses are reviewed by people, not AI.
- about 60 minutes
“This stage will include video responses, giving you a great opportunity to show us more about you as an individual. Stage 2 will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. Only the video-based questions will be timed, but don’t worry – you’ll have plenty of time to prepare before recording your answers. [...] Our team manually review all video interview responses as we do not use artificial intelligence for this process.”
Stage 3 Virtual Assessment Centre (VAC)
Assessment centre
Half-day virtual assessment centre with several exercises, January to February 2027; feedback report for all.
“During this half-day VAC, we’ll ask you to complete several engaging exercises.”
VAC outcome, allocation, offer and onboarding
Offer
Successful VAC candidates get an immediate offer or a reserve-list place, then are matched to placements and onboarded.
“1. Successful at VAC – an immediate offer will be made”
Visa sponsorship
NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme
NHS's national graduate leadership scheme never says whether it sponsors visas, it just requires you to already have the right to work for the whole two-plus years.
“All candidates must have the right to work in the UK for the entire duration of the Scheme.”
NHS England on the Home Office sponsor register
This is general information, not immigration advice. Check gov.uk and the employer's own FAQ before you apply: rules change.
Common questions
- What is the NHS England graduate scheme application process?
- NHS England's own careers pages describe 5 stages: Registration and application form, then Stage 1 Future Potential Assessment (online), then Stage 2 NHS GMTS Alignment Assessment, then Stage 3 Virtual Assessment Centre (VAC), then VAC outcome, allocation, offer and onboarding.
- Does NHS England use a recorded video interview?
- Yes. NHS England lists a recorded video interview stage ("Stage 2 NHS GMTS Alignment Assessment").
GoRizzume is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by NHS England. Names are used only to identify NHS England's recruitment process. Practice in GoRizzume is original material written in the style of common assessment formats, not the employer's or provider's actual tests. Processes change, so always check NHS England's official careers site before applying.
Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.