Application guidance

Understand more about our recruitment process, the assessment criteria and identifying your sponsor.

The application process will require completion of an online application fund.

To support you in your application, we recommending reviewing the:

• digital health leadership skills framework
• 4 P’s framework
• organisational digital maturity and readiness for change matrix

These frameworks have been designed as part of the assessment process to help shortlisters and assessors to review candidates' current digital health leadership capabilities and their future potential through the completion of the programme. Each framework includes a description to help guide prospective candidates on the key criteria that we are looking for in Cohort 7. 

Your senior sponsor 

You will need to identify a senior sponsor during your application. It is your responsibility to maintain an effective relationship with your sponsor throughout the programme.

If you are struggling to a identify a sponsor, please contact [email protected].

Role and responsibilities of a senior sponsor: your relationship and throughout the programme

Your senior sponsor will support you throughout the programme, provide you with the space and time you need to complete the course, and work with the you to identify opportunities to use your learning in practice. Your sponsor will be the named person who ensures these responsibilities are fulfilled. However, your organisation will also be responsible for working with you to ensure sufficient support is provided.

Eligibility to become a senior sponsor

The skills and qualities of a sponsor are listed below.

• The senior sponsor does not need to be your line manager but should be an active participant in your development and involvement in the programme. 
• A sponsor does not have to have a specific job title. However, it is anticipated that the sponsor would be at an executive level or a senior team member at your organisation.
• The sponsor should have experience of creating new models of care or integrated working to support practical application of large-scale change.
• The sponsor should have interest in digital, ability to influence decisions about digital transformation, and ideally be experienced in digital transformation.

Expectations from the organisation

We expect that you woud have discussions with your sponsor and organisation regarding your participation on the programme and provides the support you require to complete the programme. For example, time allotted to study. This will be individual to each learner.

Successful applications

If you are successful in your application, you will begin your enrolment process with Imperial College London in May 2024 prior to starting the course in September 2024. It is important that you begin the enrolment process in good time to ensure everything is set up prior to starting the course.

You will need information referenced in the Imperial College London Application and Admissions process for enrolment. We advise all candidates to have this information collated as early as possible to ensure a smooth on-boarding process.

Enrolment

During enrolment you will need to:

• demonstrate your capability for English Language (usually by demonstration that you have GCSE or equivalent in English, or that your degree was conducted in English)
• upload your application form for the Digital Health Leadership Programme
• provide 2 referees
• provide verified, physical copies of your highest qualifications if you have a UK Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) at 2.2 or equivalent. For this, you will need to locate your documentation. If you achieved your qualifications prior to 2000, please ensure you contact your university in good time
• undertake an interview and written assessment if you do not have a UK BSc at 2.2 or equivalent - we do not want degrees to be a barrier to applying for this programme, so having a previous degere is not a pre-requisite    

If you are an overseas applicant

If you are an overseas applicant, you will need to upload your passport and visa, or Indefinite Leave to Remain documentation - you must be able to demonstrate proof of right to study in the UK for the whole duration of the eligibility period for the cohort (that is, through to March 2026).

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Imperial College London team at [email protected].

Unsuccessful applications

If you are unsucessful, you will receive a letter with further details.

Inclusive recruitment

We are continuously improving our approach to developing our recruitment processes. We are guided by evidence, and introduce initiatives which aim to encourage a diverse range of individuals to both apply and be successful in securing a place on the Digital Health Leadership Programme.

Distributing offers

The Digital Health Leadership Programme is usually highly over-subscribed. We therefore ask sponsors to carefully consider before endorsing an application to help ensure that the most suitable candidates are put forward.