At a glance
Our people need the best medical minds at work. You’ll get a fully-funded degree in a specialist area and, once you’ve qualified, join a multi-disciplinary medical team and work all over the world.
Profession
Healthcare & Medical Rating (Student)
Get paid to study and gain all the skills and qualifications you need for a career in healthcare and medicine.
- No qualifications
- Medical
- Rating level
£25,200
Earn at least this amount whilst studying at university
£38,000
Earn at least this amount after university and initial training
Extra pay
For every day spent at sea
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
Free
Medical and dental care
Travel
All around the world
I’m multi-disciplinary, which means I get really varied work, whether I’m on board ship, or in an NHS hospital.
Profession details
What you could do
Joining the Royal Navy as a Healthcare and Medical Rating (Student) means you’ll get a salary and a fully-funded specialist degree or diploma. You’ll complete initial naval training before starting university and learn alongside other military students. Once qualified, you’ll work within a specialist team. Healthcare and Medical Ratings (Student) can specialise in biomedical science, mental health, nursing, operations department, or radiography. Whatever your pursuit, you’ll start your medical career at the top.
Your role
- Practise all the major laboratory disciplines, whether you’re in a hospital in Birmingham, or on board a ship off the coast of Bahrain
- Combine your degree with military training to prepare for life in the Navy
- Play a key role in supporting deployed personnel as well as those stationed in the UK
- Be part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces
Pay & benefits
- A salary of up to £25,200 while studying at university
- Earn at least £38,000 after university and initial training
- An excellent pension scheme
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- Free medical and dental care
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
- An opportunity to study further at Degree level 6 and Masters level 7 to top up your professional portfolio
- How to support medical teams with clinical lab service, wherever they are in the world
- Experience every laboratory discipline, and develop throughout your career
Eligibility
- Aged 17 to 39
- 2 at min grade 4/C to include Maths, English Language and Science - Functional Skills or key skills not accepted
- You must be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen, or a Dual National - Dual Nationality restrictions apply
- Minimum height of 145cm
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
Skills & interests
- An aptitude for technical thinking in the clinical environment
- A caring and compassionate nature
- A passion for helping people
- A team player
- An adventurous spirit
Joining process
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
Step 1
Submit an application
Once you’ve registered your interest in a Profession, and have satisfied some basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.
Step 2
Interview
A formal Selection Interview assessment will be conducted , and discussion of the role you are qualified for. It will also cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.
Step 3
Qualified Mental Health Nurse Assessment Board
This is a 1-day Assessment board where you will be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation on a clinically related subject, participate in a Group exercise and sit a competency-based interview led by Nurse Education Advisor and Medical Specialist Recruitment Team. Assessment Boards are conducted subject to requirement.
Step 4
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including assessments of your Fitness and your Medical eligibility , it is a pass or fail course.
Step 5
Start training
Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh to commence your initial training.
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day