Clinical Attachment in the UK: The Complete Guide for IMG Doctors
Updated: 21 hours ago
A clinical attachment is often the first step for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who want to work in the NHS. It gives you real UK hospital experience, NHS knowledge to talk about in applications and, often, your first UK reference.
This complete guide explains what a clinical attachment in the UK is, who can do one, the visa rules, how to get one step by step, and how to turn it into a paid NHS job.
Clinical attachment in the UK: quick answer
What it is: a short, unpaid observational placement with an NHS hospital team, usually a few weeks long. You observe; you do not treat patients.
How to get one: most are not advertised. Email consultants, or the medical education department of the trust you want, with a short personalised request and your CV.
Cost: there is no national fee. Most Trusts charge an administration fee, from a few hundred pounds up to about £1,600, plus checks such as a DBS check or police clearance and occupational health.
Visa: if you are outside the UK, you usually need a Standard Visitor visa and a written offer first. Always check GOV.UK for the current rules.
Why it matters: it gives you UK experience to mention on NHS applications and can help you build evidence for your first job. Full details on each step are below.
What is a clinical attachment?
A clinical attachment is a short, unpaid placement in an NHS hospital department. You join a clinical team under the supervision of a consultant, observe how patients are assessed and managed, and learn how the NHS works day to day.
During a clinical attachment you will usually:
Join ward rounds, clinics and multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings
Observe handovers, documentation, referrals and discharge planning
Learn UK guidelines, protocols and NHS values in practice
Build relationships with consultants, registrars and the wider team
On a clinical attachment you observe; you do not treat patients.
Clinical attachment vs observership: what is the difference?
The two terms are often used for the same thing. In the UK, "clinical attachment" is the usual term, although some Trusts, such as Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Barts Health, call their schemes observerships to make the no-patient-contact rule clear. Both describe an unpaid, observation-based placement where you learn without taking clinical responsibility for patients. Our full comparison of clinical attachment vs observership also covers electives and externships.
Why do a clinical attachment in the NHS?
A clinical attachment does not guarantee a job, but it can make your applications much stronger:
UK experience: shortlisting panels look for NHS exposure, and an attachment gives you real examples to write about.
A UK reference: a consultant who has seen your work can support your first job application.
NHS knowledge: you learn documentation standards, referral pathways, MDT working and safety-netting.
Networking: you meet the people who hear about vacancies first.
Confidence: you arrive at interview already familiar with how the NHS works.
Who can do a clinical attachment? (eligibility)
Requirements are set by each hospital, so they vary. Many trusts ask for some or all of the following:
A primary medical qualification
Progress towards UK registration, such as passing PLAB 1 or a Royal College exam
An up-to-date CV
Occupational health clearance
A background check: if you live in the UK, you will need a DBS check. If you are applying from your home country, a police clearance certificate from that country is usually enough.
Proof of identity and the right immigration status for an unpaid placement
Always check the specific requirements of the hospital you apply to.
Clinical attachment visa rules
If you are not already in the UK, you need to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa for your clinical attachment (unless your nationality allows you to visit without one). Apply only once you have a written offer from the hospital.
The Standard Visitor rules on GOV.UK currently allow graduates of a medical school to do an unpaid clinical attachment for up to 6 months, as long as:
you do not treat patients
you have written confirmation of the clinical attachment offer
you have not already done a clinical attachment in the UK
The same page explains how passing the PLAB test can allow a longer stay. Visa rules change, so always check the official GOV.UK page before you book travel.
How much does a clinical attachment cost?
There is no national fee. Some Trusts charge nothing, but most charge an administration fee, from a few hundred pounds up to about £1,600 for the bigger London programmes. For example, Leeds Teaching Hospitals charges a one-off £350 for an observership of up to 12 weeks, and Barts Health charges £1,600 for four weeks. On top of the Trust fee, budget for your DBS check or police clearance certificate, occupational health checks, your visitor visa if you are coming from abroad, and travel and accommodation. Always confirm the full cost with the hospital before you accept. Compare current fees and requirements Trust by Trust in our NHS clinical attachment directory. Looking for a paid option? See paid clinical attachments in the UK: what actually exists.
How to get a clinical attachment in the UK: step by step
Most clinical attachments are not advertised like jobs. You usually secure one by contacting hospitals directly.
Choose your specialty and location. Focus on the specialty you want to work in, and hospitals you can realistically reach.
Find the right contact. Clinical attachments are usually arranged through a trust's medical education department, postgraduate centre or medical staffing team. Check the trust website or call the switchboard.
Email consultants directly. A polite, personal email to a consultant in your chosen specialty is often the fastest route.
Attach a clear CV. Keep it short and up to date, with your exams and clinical experience.
Apply to many hospitals at once. Replies are slow, and a few positive answers from twenty emails is normal.
Follow up once. If you hear nothing after one to two weeks, send one short, polite follow-up.
Complete the paperwork early. Ask about occupational health, DBS, honorary contracts and any fees as soon as you get an offer.
Clinical attachment request email template
Want more than one version? Our guide to clinical attachment emails to consultants has three templates (first email, secretary or medical education team, and a follow-up) plus the mistakes that get emails ignored.
Subject: Clinical attachment request – [Specialty] – Dr [Your Name]
Dear Dr [Consultant's surname],
I am an international medical graduate with [X] years of clinical experience in [specialty] and I have recently passed [PLAB 1 / exam]. I am writing to ask whether you would consider supervising me for an unpaid clinical attachment in your department for [2–4 weeks] from [month].
I would value the opportunity to observe your team, learn NHS practice and contribute where appropriate, for example by supporting an audit or a teaching session. I have attached my CV and would be happy to complete any checks the trust requires.
Thank you for considering my request.
Kind regards,
Dr [Your Name]
[Phone] | [Email] | GMC number (if registered)
Personalise every email with the consultant's name and specialty. Generic mass emails are easy to ignore.
Struggling to find a clinical attachment? Career Pro can help
Sending dozens of emails and hearing nothing back is frustrating. Career Pro can assist you in finding and arranging a clinical attachment in the NHS.
How we work:
Tell us what you need. Email us your CV, your preferred specialty and the locations you can travel to.
We find the right placement. We match you with clinical settings that fit your career goals and contact hospitals on your behalf.
We guide you through the paperwork, from the application to DBS or police clearance and occupational health.
We prepare you to stand out, so you make the most of your attachment and turn it into strong evidence for your NHS job applications.
Email cvreviewexperts@gmail.com to get started.
See exactly how it works on our NHS clinical attachment support page, or compare official Trust programmes, fees and requirements in our free NHS clinical attachment directory.
How to make the most of your NHS clinical attachment
Before you start: set goals
Decide what you want from your clinical attachment: clinical skills, NHS knowledge or relationships for a future job. Break this into daily and weekly objectives, and keep a log of what you observe and the feedback you receive.
On your first day
Introduce yourself briefly and professionally to every team member.
Arrive early with a notebook and pen, ready for handover.
Respect every role. Consultants, nurses, pharmacists and administrative staff all contribute to patient care.
On the ward
Ward rounds: observe how the team assesses patients and communicates plans, and ask thoughtful questions at the right moment.
MDT meetings: review the cases beforehand and note how each professional contributes.
Help where you can: support the team with appropriate tasks, without getting in the way.
Stand out
Volunteer for teaching, for example a short session for medical students.
Suggest a simple audit or quality improvement project (QIP). Even a small project gives you strong evidence for job applications.
Ask for specific feedback, act on it quickly and thank your supervisor.
How to turn your clinical attachment into an NHS job
Keep a reflective log of cases, skills and feedback. These become examples for your application form and interviews.
Record achievements such as teaching delivered or audit work, with your role and the outcome.
Ask for a reference before you leave, from a supervisor who knows your work.
Stay in touch with a thank-you message and occasional updates.
Use it in your application. Describe what you learned about NHS documentation, referral pathways, MDT working and discharge planning in your supporting statement.
Prepare for interview using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) with real examples from your attachment.
Next, read How to Apply for NHS Jobs After GMC Registration and How to Write an NHS Supporting Statement as an IMG Doctor.
Most IMGs use their attachment experience to apply for a first non-training post. Read Junior Clinical Fellow Jobs for IMGs to see what these posts are and how to get shortlisted, and Trac vs NHS Jobs for where to find and apply for them.
Build NHS-ready evidence alongside your attachment
A clinical attachment shows you understand how the NHS works. You can strengthen that further with structured learning on UK professional standards. Our free online Good Medical Practice course explains the GMC standards every NHS employer expects, and our other free CPD courses for doctors cover safeguarding, communication, confidentiality and more. Each one gives you a verifiable certificate of completion and a model paragraph to use in your supporting statement.
Clinical attachment FAQs
Is a clinical attachment paid?
No. A clinical attachment in the UK is unpaid, and most NHS trusts charge you a fee to take part.
How much does a clinical attachment cost in the UK?
There is no national fee. Some Trusts charge nothing; most charge an administration fee from a few hundred pounds up to about £1,600 for the larger London programmes. You should also budget for checks, a visa if needed, travel and accommodation.
How long is a clinical attachment?
Most last a few weeks, often 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the hospital and department. Under the UK Standard Visitor rules, an unpaid clinical attachment can last up to 6 months.
Do I need GMC registration for a clinical attachment?
Not usually, because you observe and do not treat patients. Many hospitals do prefer candidates who have passed PLAB 1 or are working towards registration.
Can I treat patients on a clinical attachment?
No. A clinical attachment is observation-based. You must not treat patients.
Does a clinical attachment guarantee an NHS job?
No, but it gives you UK experience, NHS knowledge and a potential reference, which can make your applications much stronger.
How do I find a clinical attachment in London?
Contact the medical education departments of London NHS trusts and email consultants in your specialty directly. London is popular, so apply widely and consider hospitals outside London too.
What should I write in a clinical attachment request email?
Keep it short and personal: who you are, your experience and exams, the specialty and dates you want, and an offer to help with audit or teaching. Use the template above.
Do I need a DBS check for a clinical attachment?
If you live in the UK, yes, you will need a DBS check. If you are applying from your home country, a police clearance certificate from that country is usually enough. Check what your hospital accepts.
Do I need a visa for a clinical attachment?
If you are not already in the UK, you need to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa (unless your nationality allows you to visit without one). The visitor rules allow an unpaid clinical attachment of up to 6 months, with no treatment of patients. Apply once you have a written offer.
What documents do I need?
Usually your CV, passport, medical degree certificate, exam results (such as PLAB 1), a DBS check or police clearance certificate, occupational health clearance and, if you are travelling from abroad, your visitor visa and the hospital's written offer.
How long does it take to arrange a clinical attachment?
It varies by hospital. Finding a placement, completing checks and getting a visa can take several weeks to a few months, so start early.
Is a clinical attachment worth the fee?
For most IMGs, yes, if you use it well. Done properly, it gives you UK experience, NHS knowledge, a reference and examples for your applications and interviews.
Can Career Pro arrange a clinical attachment for me?
Yes. Career Pro can assist you in finding and arranging a clinical attachment, and guide you through the paperwork. Email cvreviewexperts@gmail.com with your CV and preferred specialty.
Free NHS Clinical Attachment Success Guide
Download our free NHS Clinical Attachment Success Guide for a full step-by-step plan: NHS structure and values, setting goals, ward rounds and MDTs, teaching and QIPs, working with HR, building your CV and preparing for interviews.
Career Pro helps IMGs with clinical attachment guidance and NHS job application support. Email cvreviewexperts@gmail.com or visit careerproservices.co.uk to get your free guide.
Have a question about clinical attachments?
Ask it in the comments section below and our team will answer. No question is too small, whether it is about fees, DBS, visas or how to choose a hospital.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Read how we research and update our guides.
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