Health service manager: Entry requirements

The National Health Service (NHS) Graduate Management Training Scheme is open to internal and external graduates of all disciplines. In England, there are four specialisms:

• general management;
• human resource management;
• health informatics management;
• finance management.

Each requires a minimum 2:2 degree in any subject or an alternative equivalent health or management-related qualification. A full list of accepted qualifications is available on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme  website.

In England, applications open in August of the year before the scheme begins and candidates need to apply by early December of that year. The graduate scheme starts in September. Candidates for schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should check recruitment schedules and procedures by contacting the:

• NHS Scotland Management Training Scheme  
• Gateway to NHS Wales  or
• Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland: General Management Training Scheme  

NHS employees, provided they meet the basic requirements, may apply for the scheme after gaining relevant experience in other roles. Graduates with complex or senior management experience should see NHS Gateway to Leadership  for further information, although note that this programme is not currently running.

Entry is very competitive. England has the largest NHS graduate programme and recruiting figures vary depending on requirements.

Some private sector providers, such as BUPA, also have their own graduate management training schemes. For more information, see BUPA Graduate Opportunities .

Entry and progression are also possible (with an appropriate degree and background) into specialist areas, such as property management, human resources (HR), IT and information management.

Some staff with backgrounds in areas other than management can progress into management by gaining qualifications and experience. It is also fairly common for medical professionals, such as nurses, doctors and therapists, to move into general management roles, particularly those involving clinical services. Unlike the Graduate Management Training Scheme, this is not a formalised process, but works on an individual basis. Others with management experience who are working outside the NHS may also apply for management positions.

People with an HND qualification can enter management roles within the NHS, although they are not normally eligible to enter any of the graduate training schemes. Entrants can also join the NHS at administrator level with GCSEs or equivalent qualifications and work their way up, gaining promotion through junior management roles.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• communication skills, both oral and written, as you will need to communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals and professional groups;
• listening skills and the ability to negotiate with and persuade others;
• motivation, interest in the sector and identification with the common values and aims of the NHS;
• patient/customer focus;
• an emphasis on achievement of results and both energy and enthusiasm to ensure that objectives are met;
• initiative and leadership skills, and the ability to gain the trust, commitment and cooperation of others;
• teamworking skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with others;
• the ability to grasp clinical issues, including the understanding of treatments and evolving medical technologies;
• organisational skills to deal with a diverse range of challenges;
• flexible and creative problem-solving ability;
• decision-making ability, particularly in sensitive areas such as the allocation of funds or organising staff levels for a unit;
• numeracy and the ability to analyse complex issues, absorb information, understand data and identify underlying trends;
• adaptability and readiness to challenge existing practices and find alternatives;
• the ability to cope with pressure, stress and ongoing change in the form of new medical technology and treatments, policies, practices and reorganisation.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.