NHS Clinical Attachment Directory: Official Trust Programmes for IMGs (2026)
There's no single UK-wide system for finding an NHS clinical attachment. Each Trust runs its own process, with its own rules, fees and application windows, and most IMGs spend weeks searching hospital websites to work out who offers what. We've done that research for you.
This directory lists NHS Trusts and Health Boards that publish an official clinical attachment or observership programme for international doctors, with the key requirements, fees and length of each, and a link to the official page. We checked every entry against the Trust's own website in November 2026. Rules change, so always confirm the details on the Trust page before you apply.
Quick answer: NHS clinical attachments are arranged Trust by Trust. Some Trusts run structured programmes with application windows and fees (for example Barts Health, Doncaster and Bassetlaw, and Guy's and St Thomas'). Others ask you to find a consultant supervisor first and then apply (for example Derby and Burton, Coventry and Warwickshire, Walsall, and Mersey and West Lancashire). Fees range from free to around £1,600. Most programmes are observational, last 4 to 12 weeks, and need PLAB or GMC registration, English language evidence, a police check and occupational health clearance.
NHS clinical attachment programmes (checked November 2026)
Region: London
Requirements: At least one year of postgraduate hospital experience; registered in your home country; PLAB 1 if outside the EEA/Switzerland; IELTS or OET 7.5
Fee: £1,600 (£500 deposit + £1,100)
Length: 4 weeks
How to apply: Online form in one of three yearly application windows. Observerships cannot be arranged directly with consultants.
Region: London
Requirements: Clinical attachment: GMC registered. Clinical observership: GMC registration not required
Fee: Not stated
Length: Clinical attachment usually 6–48 weeks; observership 6 weeks to 1 year
How to apply: Online VPP application form
Region: East Midlands
Requirements: PLAB 2 passed; a named UHDB consultant supervisor; GMC registration not required
Fee: Free for 4 weeks or less; £300 for longer attachments
Length: Up to 8 weeks, September to June
How to apply: Secure a supervisor first, then complete the online form. Give at least two months’ notice.
Region: Yorkshire
Requirements: IMG without GMC registration, graduated within 5 years; PLAB 1 and 2 (or working towards PLAB 2) if non-EU; IELTS 7.5 or OET; overseas police certificate
Fee: £400 (£100 deposit + £300)
Length: 4 weeks
How to apply: Email the application form, CV and evidence during your chosen cohort’s application window.
Region: West Midlands
Requirements: International doctors applying for jobs or preparing for PLAB 2; GMC registration not required
Fee: Not stated (unpaid, non-contact)
Length: Usually 4–6 weeks
How to apply: Get acceptance from a supervising consultant. Check the page for when applications reopen.
Region: West Midlands
Requirements: No previous attachment or NHS work; PLAB 1 and 2; IELTS 7.0; graduated within 4 years; living in the West Midlands for the placement; visitor visa; two references; DBS or letter of good standing
Fee: Not stated
Length: Up to 12 weeks
How to apply: Email the lead clinician in your specialty with your CV. Processing takes 8–12 weeks, and there is no processing from June to October.
Region: North West
Requirements: Registered in your home country; IELTS 7 in each part or PLAB; visa if non-EU; police check; occupational health; two references
Fee: £130 for pre-placement checks (plus a DBS fee for some UK residents)
Length: Up to 3 months
How to apply: Agree a placement with a consultant, then submit the online request. Allow two months.
Region: South East
Requirements: PLAB 1 and 2 passed; GMC registered; no NHS job yet
Fee: Not stated
Length: 4 weeks
How to apply: See the Trust’s Education Academy page.
Region: South West
Requirements: Not stated
Fee: Not stated
Length: Usually 2–3 weeks
How to apply: Enquire through the Trust’s medical staffing team.
Region: Wales
Requirements: GMC registered; recognised medical qualification; not currently employed in the NHS. There is a separate route for refugee doctors.
Fee: Unpaid; no applicant fee stated
Length: 2–4 months
How to apply: Use the Clinical Attachment Placement route on the Health Board’s page.
Region: West Midlands
Requirements: Guidance for overseas doctors; placements are arranged by individual Trusts
Fee: Not stated
Length: Not stated
How to apply: Contact the relevant Trust directly.
For Trusts in Wales, see our NHS Wales clinical attachment guide. For London, see clinical attachments in London. We also have regional guides for Manchester and the North West, Birmingham and the Midlands and Yorkshire.
What these programmes have in common
They're observational. You shadow a consultant and their team. You won't treat patients or make clinical decisions, even if you're GMC registered.
Most need a supervisor or an application window. Some Trusts want you to find a consultant first; others only accept applications at set times of year.
Checks take time. Expect a police certificate or DBS, occupational health clearance, references and ID checks. Several Trusts say to allow two months or more.
Fees vary a lot. From free (short placements at some Trusts) to £1,600, before visa, travel and accommodation.
English and exams matter. Most ask for PLAB, GMC registration or a high IELTS/OET score.
The BMA's guidance is that most attachments are unpaid placements of a few weeks to a few months, that you'll usually need a standard visitor visa if you're coming from outside the UK, and that there's no UK-wide search tool, so you need to approach Trusts directly. It's worth reading their clinical attachments page before you pay any fee.
How to use this directory
Shortlist by eligibility. Start with each Trust's requirements. If you don't have PLAB 2 or GMC registration yet, focus on programmes that don't need them.
Check the dates. Some programmes only open at certain times of year or need two months' notice.
Prepare your documents early. CV, passport, qualification certificates, English test results, police certificate, references and vaccination records.
Write a short, specific request. Where you need a consultant supervisor, explain your background, why that specialty, and what you hope to learn. Our UK clinical attachment guide includes an email template.
Plan how you'll use it. A clinical attachment is most valuable when it gives you NHS examples, a UK reference and evidence for your job applications.
Can't find a placement?
Most Trusts don't publish a programme at all, and many requests to consultants go unanswered. Our clinical attachment support service helps IMGs find and arrange an NHS clinical attachment: we match you with suitable placements, contact hospitals on your behalf and guide you through the paperwork. Email your CV, preferred specialty and the locations you can travel to at cvreviewexperts@gmail.com.
Once you've secured a placement, make it count for your applications with our guides on writing an NHS supporting statement and getting your CV NHS-ready.
Frequently asked questions
Which NHS Trusts offer clinical attachments for IMGs?
Trusts with published programmes include Barts Health, Guy's and St Thomas', Derby and Burton, Doncaster and Bassetlaw, Coventry and Warwickshire, Walsall, Mersey and West Lancashire, Frimley Health, Gloucestershire and Cardiff and Vale. Many other Trusts accept requests directly through a consultant or their medical education team.
How much does an NHS clinical attachment cost?
It depends on the Trust. In this directory, fees range from free (for placements of four weeks or less at Derby and Burton) to £1,600 at Barts Health. Visa, travel and accommodation are extra.
Do I need GMC registration for a clinical attachment?
Not always. Some programmes require it (for example Guy's and St Thomas' clinical attachments and Cardiff and Vale), while others accept doctors registered only in their home country, sometimes with PLAB 1 or PLAB 2.
How long is a clinical attachment?
Usually 2 to 12 weeks. A few programmes run longer, up to several months.
Is a clinical attachment paid?
No. Clinical attachments and observerships are unpaid, and many Trusts charge a fee.
How often is this directory updated?
We checked every entry against the official Trust page in November 2026. If you spot a change or know of a programme we've missed, email us and we'll update it.
CareerPro UK is independent and not affiliated with any NHS Trust, Health Board, the NHS or the GMC. Information is taken from each organisation's public website and may change.
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