Writing an Effective Observership CV
Key elements to include to make your CV stand out to UK hospitals.
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This website has been prepared as a research and reference guide for doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals who are looking for observerships, clinical attachments or similar observational opportunities in UK hospitals and NHS Trusts.
The information included in this website has been collected from information that is publicly available on official hospital, NHS Trust, NHS Health Board and other relevant public websites. The purpose of the website is to make it easier for applicants to identify hospitals and organisations that may offer observership or clinical attachment opportunities and to find the appropriate publicly available contact details.
It is important to understand that there is no single UK-wide database of hospital observerships. The British Medical Association (BMA) specifically states that there is no UK-wide tool for finding clinical attachments and recommends searching individual NHS hospitals and Trusts.
Therefore, this list should not be regarded as a complete or guaranteed list of every hospital in the UK that may accept an observer. Some hospitals have formal international observership programmes with published application procedures. Others may consider clinical attachments or observerships only when a consultant or department is willing to supervise the applicant. Some hospitals may also have opportunities that are not advertised publicly.
Responsibility of the Applicant
The applicant is responsible for contacting the hospital or NHS Trust directly to enquire about the availability of an observership.
The contact details provided in this document are taken from publicly available sources. Applicants should use the hospital’s official website and the relevant email address or telephone number to:
- Confirm whether the observership programme is currently accepting applications.
- Ask whether the applicant’s specialty is available.
- Confirm the available dates and duration.
- Confirm eligibility requirements.
- Ask whether there is a programme or administration fee.
- Confirm the documents required for an application.
- Ask whether the hospital requires GMC registration, PLAB, IELTS/OET, occupational-health clearance, police clearance, references or other documentation.
- Confirm whether the placement is purely observational or whether any supervised clinical activity is permitted.
- Confirm visa requirements and whether the hospital can provide any supporting documentation.
- Confirm whether accommodation is available or whether the applicant must arrange accommodation independently.
A hospital may have offered observerships in the past but may not have capacity at the time an applicant contacts them. Conversely, a hospital that does not advertise a general observership programme may still be able to arrange an attachment through a particular department or consultant.
Contacting Hospitals Directly
Applicants should not assume that inclusion in the information means that a place is available. The list identifies hospitals and programmes where publicly available information indicates that an observership, clinical attachment or related opportunity exists or has been offered.
The applicant should contact the hospital themselves and make an individual application in accordance with the hospital’s current procedures.
Where a hospital publishes a dedicated observership email address, that address is included in this website. Where no dedicated observership email is publicly available, the site provides the most appropriate publicly available contact route that could be identified. Applicants should check the official hospital website before sending important documents or making any payment.
For example, UCLH states that capacity for clinical attachments and observerships is limited and directs qualified doctors to contact the relevant department or service. Similarly, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust publishes a dedicated email address for enquiries relating to clinical internships, clinical attachments, observerships, shadowing and honorary contracts.
Information May Change
Hospital policies, application windows, fees, eligibility requirements, available specialties and contact details can change. Some programmes operate only during particular periods of the year, while others may close applications once they reach capacity.
For this reason, applicants should always verify the information directly with the hospital before applying.
The information in this document should therefore be regarded as a starting point for identifying potential opportunities, rather than as confirmation that an observership is available.
Observerships and Clinical Attachments
The terminology used by UK hospitals varies. One hospital may call the opportunity an observership, another a “clinical attachment”, while another may use terms such as “clinical observer”, “international observer”, “honorary clinical attachment” or “visiting clinician”.
The scope of these placements also varies. Some are strictly observational, with no patient contact or clinical responsibility. Others may allow limited supervised activities subject to local policies, risk assessment, occupational-health clearance and the appropriate regulatory requirements.
Applicants should therefore never assume that they are permitted to undertake clinical duties simply because they have been accepted as an observer. The exact activities permitted must be confirmed with the supervising department and hospital before the placement begins.
The BMA explains that clinical attachments generally allow an IMG to observe NHS medical processes and systems and that the doctor does not normally have responsibility for patient care or clinical decision-making.
No Guarantee of Acceptance
Inclusion of a hospital, NHS Trust or department in this document does not constitute a recommendation, endorsement or guarantee of acceptance.
Each hospital makes its own decision regarding whether to accept an applicant. Acceptance may depend on:
- Specialty and departmental capacity
- Availability of a supervising consultant
- Applicant’s qualifications and experience
- English-language ability
- Occupational-health requirements
- Immigration/visa requirements
- Criminal-record or background checks
- Professional references and good standing
- Hospital policies
- Availability of honorary contracts
- Patient-safety and information-governance requirements
Applicants should therefore contact the hospital directly and follow the hospital’s current instructions.
Publicly Available Contact Information
The telephone numbers, email addresses and website links included in this document are provided because they are publicly available contact details published by the relevant hospital, NHS Trust or other official source.
They are included to help applicants make their own enquiries. Applicants should use the official hospital website to verify the contact information before submitting personal documents, paying fees or making travel arrangements.
The document does not provide private or confidential contact information.
Recommended Approach for Applicants
A good approach is to identify several hospitals and departments that match the applicant’s specialty rather than contacting only one hospital.
The applicant should prepare a concise enquiry including:
- Full name and country of qualification.
- Medical degree and current professional position.
- Current specialty and years of clinical experience.
- Whether the applicant is GMC registered or is pursuing GMC registration.
- PLAB status, if relevant.
- IELTS/OET status, if relevant.
- Preferred specialty and department.
- Preferred dates and proposed duration.
- Purpose of the observership.
- A current CV.
- Any relevant references or professional documentation.
The BMA similarly recommends that a request for a clinical attachment explain the applicant’s medical background, career ambitions, reason for choosing the specialty, what they hope to gain from the attachment, clinical experience and GMC-registration status, together with a current CV.
This hospital list is intended to save applicants time by bringing together publicly available information in one place. It is not intended to replace communication with the hospital.
The most important next step is for the applicant to contact each hospital directly, confirm that the programme is currently available, and ask the hospital for its latest application requirements and availability.
Applicants are encouraged to contact several suitable hospitals because observership places can be limited and some programmes are highly competitive. For example, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust currently states that its 2026 clinical-attachment applications are closed because of high application volumes.
In summary, the website identifies potential observership opportunities; the hospital decides whether an applicant can be accepted.
Useful UK-wide guidance
British Medical Association (BMA): Clinical Attachments in the UK for IMGs — explains what a clinical attachment is, typical requirements, visas, costs and how to approach NHS Trusts.
Royal College of Pathologists: Securing Observership Posts — confirms that a number of NHS hospitals and Trusts organise clinical observership programmes and provides examples.
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About Clinical Observerships
Clinical Observerships is an independent information platform for healthcare professionals interested in clinical observership opportunities in the UK.
Our aim is to bring together useful information about UK hospitals and clinical observership opportunities in one accessible place, making it easier for doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals to explore potential opportunities relevant to their profession and clinical specialty.
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- NHS & University Experience
- Supporting International Professionals
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