Clinical Attachments in London for IMG Doctors: Where to Find One and How to Apply

CareerPro UK Team

Oct 24

7 min read

London is the first place many international medical graduates (IMGs) look for a clinical attachment, but there is no central booking system and places are limited. This guide explains which London NHS trusts publish official programmes, who to contact, what it costs, the visitor visa rules and where else to look.

Quick answer

International medical graduates can find clinical attachments and observerships in London through the medical education or international education teams of individual NHS trusts. Barts Health, Imperial College Healthcare, UCLH, King's College Hospital and Great Ormond Street publish official programmes. Most charge fees, need PLAB or English test results and run set application windows, so apply early and also consider trusts outside London.

What is a clinical attachment (and how is it different from an observership)?

A clinical attachment is a short, unpaid placement where you shadow a consultant to see how the NHS works day to day. The BMA describes it as usually lasting a few weeks to a few months, with no clinical responsibility: you cannot make clinical decisions or give clinical advice. Typical activities include ward rounds, clinics, multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, theatre and teaching.

Many London trusts now call these placements observerships. In practice the two terms overlap, but an observership is usually strictly observational, while a few trusts offer hands-on "clinical attachments" that require full GMC registration.

Key points from the BMA's clinical attachments guidance:

A clinical attachment is not required for GMC registration or an NHS job.
It can help you understand NHS systems, gain a UK reference and talk confidently about the NHS at interview.
The BMA suggests doing one shortly before PLAB 2 or after passing it.
The BMA does not support paid attachments, but explains them so you can make your own choice.

For a wider overview, see our clinical attachment UK guide.

Where can international medical graduates find clinical attachments in London?

There is no UK-wide search tool, so you need to go trust by trust. The London trusts below have official pages for observerships or attachments (checked October 2026). Details change, so always read the current page before applying.

1. Barts Health NHS Trust – Clinical Observership Programme

The Barts Health Education Academy observership page offers a 4-week, observation-only programme for overseas postgraduate doctors.

At least one year of postgraduate hospital experience and registration in your home country.
PLAB 1 pass if you qualified outside the EEA/Switzerland; IELTS or OET at 7.5 if English is not your first language.
Stated cost: £1,600 for 4 weeks (a £500 non-refundable deposit plus £1,100 balance).
Three application windows a year; applications outside them, or arranged directly with consultants, are not accepted.

2. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust – Clinical observership programmes

The Imperial clinical observership page is for postgraduate doctors qualified and registered in their home country. UK registration is not required, but hands-on work is not allowed.

Maximum 12 weeks; allow at least three months for processing.
IELTS 7 or above in each part, occupational health clearance and a signed supervision agreement.
Documents include a criminal records check, two references and proof of a UK address.
The page did not state a fee and listed the application window as closed when checked.

3. University College London Hospitals (UCLH) – International visiting clinicians

The UCLH international visiting clinicians page covers clinical fellowships and shorter clinical attachments.

Stated cost: £1,400 per person per week for clinical attachments.
Requires at least two years' experience in your specialty, GMC registration and a visa that allows UK work, so it suits experienced, sponsored doctors more than recent graduates.

4. King's College Hospital – International observership and fellowship programmes

King's College Hospital runs the King's International Observership Programme through its commercial arm. Fees and eligibility are not listed on the main page, so check the linked pages or enquire directly.

5. Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) – International Observership Programme

The GOSH International Observership Programme is for qualified professionals, mainly relevant if you are interested in paediatrics.

1 to 12 weeks; IELTS 7.0 or OET grade B.
Stated cost: £900 for the first week, then £750 per additional week, with possible reductions for eligible lower-middle-income countries.
You arrange your own visa.

Royal Free London announced a two-week IMG clinical attachment programme in 2024. Check the trust's website for any current cohort before applying.

Who offers clinical attachment placement support in NHS trusts?

Within each trust, clinical attachments are handled by one of these teams:

Medical education / postgraduate medical education – the most common route.
International education or "visiting professionals" teams – common at large London teaching hospitals.
Medical staffing or recruitment – some trusts process clearances, honorary contracts and occupational health through HR.
Commercial or education academy arms – some trusts run paid observerships as commercial courses.

Some trusts want you to find a consultant supervisor first. Others, such as Barts Health, only accept applications through their official window. Read each trust's rules carefully, because contacting the wrong person can slow things down.

Outside the NHS, the BMA publishes free guidance for IMGs. CareerPro UK offers clinical attachment guidance alongside NHS application support.

How to apply for a clinical attachment in London

Check your eligibility. Look at PLAB stage, English test score, years of experience and whether GMC registration is needed.
Shortlist 4–6 trusts and note each one's application windows, fees and documents.
Prepare your documents early. Most trusts ask for a CV, passport, medical degree and registration certificates (with certified English translations), a criminal records check or certificate of good standing, two references and occupational health clearance.
Write a short, specific cover letter. The BMA suggests including your background, career goals, why you want the attachment, what you hope to gain and your GMC registration stage.
Apply through the official route. Use the trust's form or email, not personal contacts, unless the trust asks you to approach a consultant.
Wait for clearance before booking travel. Honorary contracts, DBS and occupational health checks can take weeks or months.

A clear, NHS-style CV helps a lot. Our guide to the NHS person specification explains what reviewers look for.

Typical requirements and costs

Across the London pages above, these requirements come up again and again:

Primary medical qualification and registration in your home country
PLAB 1 (sometimes PLAB 2) or GMC registration for hands-on roles
IELTS 7.0–7.5 or OET equivalent
Criminal records check (DBS or home-country police certificate)
Occupational health and immunisation clearance
Two professional references
An honorary contract, which gives indemnity cover but is unpaid

Costs vary widely. Stated fees range from about £1,600 for a 4-week observership at Barts Health to £1,400 per week for a UCLH clinical attachment. On top of that, budget for accommodation, travel, visa fees and living costs in London, as none of the programmes above include them.

Visa basics: the Standard Visitor route

If you are not a UK resident, you will usually come on the Standard Visitor route. According to the Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities (PA 10.1), overseas medical graduates may do clinical attachments as long as they are unpaid and involve no treatment of patients. Visitors may also sit PLAB in the UK.

Under Appendix V: Visitor (V 11.1), you must provide written confirmation of your attachment offer and confirm you have not done a clinical attachment in the UK before. In practice, this means you can usually do only one attachment as a visitor, so choose carefully.

Other points from GOV.UK:

Visitors can usually stay up to 6 months.
Depending on nationality, you may need a visa, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) or neither. Use the GOV.UK checker.
A Standard Visitor who passes PLAB may be allowed to stay longer for a clinical attachment, up to 18 months in total (V 17.3(e)).

Always check the current GOV.UK pages before you apply, because immigration rules change.

Competition in London and alternatives outside London

London places are heavily oversubscribed. When Royal Free London piloted its IMG clinical attachment scheme, it received over 580 applications for 20 places. Many London programmes also have short windows, high fees or strict experience requirements.

Trusts outside London may have cheaper places, more flexibility and less competition. Examples with official pages include:

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton – no fee for attachments of four weeks or less (£300 above four weeks); PLAB 2 required; find a consultant supervisor first.
East Sussex Healthcare – up to 4 weeks, £500 in total; PLAB 1 required.
Walsall Healthcare – up to 12 weeks; PLAB 1 and 2 needed and you must live in the West Midlands during the placement.
Frimley Health – a 4-week IMG clinical attachment at Wexham Park Hospital, £1,000, for GMC-registered IMGs who don't yet have an NHS job.

Remember that a clinical attachment is optional. Many IMGs go straight into NHS jobs after GMC registration. See how to apply for NHS jobs after GMC registration and our guide to junior clinical fellow jobs.

Frequently asked questions

Where to find guidance on NHS clinical attachments in the UK?

Start with the BMA's clinical attachments guidance and the visitor rules on GOV.UK. Then check each trust's medical education page for its own criteria. CareerPro UK's clinical attachment UK guide gives a practical overview.

Do I need GMC registration for a clinical attachment in London?

Usually not for observation-only placements. Barts Health and Imperial accept doctors registered in their home country. Hands-on attachments, such as UCLH's, require GMC registration.

Are clinical attachments in London free?

Most London programmes with official pages charge fees, from about £1,600 for four weeks to £1,400 per week. Some trusts outside London charge little or nothing for short attachments.

Can I do more than one clinical attachment on a visitor visa?

The visitor rules require you to confirm you have not previously done a clinical attachment in the UK. Plan for one attachment and choose the trust and specialty carefully.

Does a clinical attachment guarantee an NHS job?

No. It can strengthen your CV and interview answers, but shortlisting still depends on a strong application. See why NHS job applications get rejected and how to write an NHS supporting statement as an IMG. You can also download our free 24-page supporting statement guide or take our free CPD courses.

If you'd like your NHS application reviewed and rewritten (£35), email cvreviewexperts@gmail.com or contact CareerPro UK.

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