The selection committee

Named publicly, because an applicant who is turned down is entitled to know who decided and on what basis.

External members

Academics from universities across the region. They score the files. They are not employed by Next Step.

Next Step members

They run the process — screening, logistics, compliance — and do not score files.

How decisions are made

• Each surviving file is scored independently by at least two external members before any discussion.
• A member with a family, teaching or financial connection to an applicant recuses themselves from that file, and the recusal is recorded.
• Regional quotas are filled from the ranked list within each region. A high score in one region cannot take a seat from another.
• The chair votes only to break a tie.
• Every applicant is told the outcome, and an applicant who is not selected can ask for the reason in writing.