General enquiries
What is the difference between a clinical attachment and an observership?
The observership placement will give you the unique opportunity to observe and shadow our clinicians in clinics, whereas a clinical attachment allows you to engage in a hands-on clinical practice.
Do you offer scholarships, bursaries or discounts?
The fee for the visiting professional programme is a fixed amount and we currently do not offer scholarships, bursaries or discounts for these placements.
Will I get a certificate at the end of my placement?
A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to you upon the end of your placement.
Is it possible to combine two specialties as part of my placement?
Yes, as long as both departments can accommodate you for the dates you require, you can have a combined placement.
Do the fees cover accommodation, travelling expenses and meals?
The fees do not cover accommodation, travelling expenses or meals, however we do provide more details on accommodation here.
COVID-19
Update on COVID-19 testing for arrivals into the UK
From 11 February 2022, all testing requirements will be removed for all eligible fully vaccinated arrivals into the UK. Only a Passenger Locator Form will be required.
Arrivals who do not fulfil the criteria for being fully vaccinated will need to take a pre-departure test and then complete a PCR test within two days of their arrival in the UK. You will not need to self-isolate on arrival, and will only need to isolate should you receive a positive result.
If you arrive in the UK before 4am, 11 February you must follow the current rules for the nation you are travelling to – see the guidance for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For information on self-isolation rules for travellers who have been vaccinated overseas, please see the end of this section.
Travel from non-red list countries if not fully vaccinated
Passengers who do not qualify under the fully vaccinated rules; are partially, or not vaccinated must follow these rules. Before they travel to the UK, they must:
- take a pre-departure COVID-19 test – to be taken in the 3 days before you travel to the UK
- book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test – to be taken after arrival in the UK
- complete your passenger locator form – any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK
After they arrive in the UK, they must:
- take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 – self-isolation is only necessary should you receive a positive result.
What counts as fully vaccinated when travelling to the UK
Fully vaccinated means that you have had a complete course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in the UK. The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.
The vaccine must be administered under either:
- the UK vaccination programme
- an overseas vaccination programme with an approved proof of vaccination for travel to the UK
- vaccines administered outside the UK, which are recognised under the UK’s inbound travel policy and feature on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Emergency Use Listing
Even if you are not fully vaccinated, the fully vaccinated rules apply if you:
- are under 18 and resident in the UK or one of the countries or territories with approved proof of vaccination
- are taking part in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial in the UK or the USA (US residents only for USA trials)
Approved vaccines
You must have had a complete course of one of the following vaccines at least 14 days before you arrive in the UK:
- Oxford/AstraZeneca
- Pfizer BioNTech
- Moderna
- Janssen
- Covaxin
- Novavax (Nuvaxovid and Covovax)
- Sinopharm Beijing
- Sinovac-CoronaVac
Formulations of these vaccines, such as AstraZeneca Covishield, AstraZeneca Vaxzevria and Moderna Takeda, also qualify as approved vaccines.
2 dose vaccines
If you were vaccinated with a 2 dose vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca, or a combination of them), you must have had both doses to be considered fully vaccinated for travel to the UK.
This applies in all cases, even if you’ve recently recovered from COVID-19 and have natural immunity.
Those who have had COVID-19 and have only had one dose of a 2 dose vaccine must follow the rules for unvaccinated arrivals.
Where 2 doses of a vaccine are required for a full course, you can:
- mix 2 different types of vaccine from the above list, for example Oxford/AstraZeneca and Moderna
- have the 2 vaccinations under 2 different approved programmes, for example Australia and Japan, UK and USA, France and Canada
Single dose vaccines
If you had an approved one dose vaccine (the Janssen vaccine), you are fully vaccinated.
Proof of vaccination
You must be able to prove that you’ve been fully vaccinated under a vaccination programme with approved proof of certification.
There are several ways to prove vaccination status:
- the NHS COVID pass if you live in England
- the EU Digital COVID Certificate
- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination card for US residents
- a vaccine certificate
Vaccine certificates only
If you use a vaccine certificate as proof, it must be issued by a national or state-level public health authority, be in English, French or Spanish, and include, as a minimum:
- Forename and surname(s)
- Date of birth
- Vaccine brand and manufacturer
- Date of vaccination for every dose
- Country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issuer
If your document from a public health body does not include all of these, you must follow the non-vaccinated rules. If not, you may be denied boarding.
If you are fully vaccinated in the US, you will also need to prove that you are a resident of the US.
If you are fully vaccinated, but do not qualify under these fully vaccinated rules, you must follow the non-vaccinated rules.
Children resident in countries with approved vaccination status
Children under 18 who are residents of countries with approved vaccination status also do not need to quarantine.
They must follow the same rules as children and young people from the UK, as outlined by England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (depending on the country they are visiting).
Self-isolation rules for individuals who have been vaccinated overseas
Current as at 26 January 2022
What are the rules for fully vaccinated international arrivals who are subsequently identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case?
The rules remain that in order to be exempt from self-isolation as a recent close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, you would need to be:
- fully vaccinated;
- below the age of 18 years 6 months;
- taking part or have taken part in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial; or
- not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons.
If you are aged 5 years and over and have been identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19, but are not legally required to self-isolate, you are strongly advised to:
- take a lateral flow test every day for 7 days, or until 10 days since your last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier take this daily lateral flow test before you leave the household for the first time that day
For further guidance please visit the UK Government website
What if individuals have had one vaccination dose abroad and another dose in the UK – are they exempt from self-isolation if they are a close contact?
Where two doses are recommended, you will be considered fully vaccinated as long as each vaccine dose meets one of the three criteria listed above for being fully vaccinated. You must be fully vaccinated in order to be exempt from self-isolation if you are identified as a contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
If you are visiting Great Britain and Northern Ireland from any country, you must complete a Public Health Passenger Locator Form that collects the following information:
- Your passport details or the travel document you’ll use when you arrive at the UK border
- Your travel details, including times and dates
- The address where you will stay in the UK (if applicable)
- Booking reference numbers for any COVID-19 tests you must take after arriving in the UK
- The invoice number for your quarantine hotel booking if you need one
The form must be completed online and submitted no earlier than 48 hours before your arrival.
After you complete the form
After you complete and submit the form you’ll receive a confirmation email with a document attached. Before you arrive at the border, you must either:
- print a copy of the document
- download the document on your phone
You’ll need to show this document when you arrive in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Border Force officers will scan the QR code at the top of this document to check you have completed the form successfully. For further information, including what to do if you develop coronavirus symptoms while travelling, and how to complete the form if you are travelling with someone under 18, please visit the official government information page
Travel by public transport – facemasks
The wearing of facemasks is compulsory in certain settings, such as on public transport and in shops.
For further information, please visit the dedicated websites for England
What to do in an emergency
You should dial 999 in an emergency to reach police, fire and ambulance services, as well as the coastguard. You will need to indicate which service you need. Further services such as mountain rescue and Britain’s voluntary coastguard service, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, can also be accessed via this number.
Calls are free from any phone, but should only be made in genuine emergencies.
Police
If you are lost, ask a policeman or woman for assistance – they are courteous, approachable and helpful. Traffic wardens may also be able to help you with directions. If you have been the victim of a crime, contact the police by dialling 999 or 101 for non-emergencies.
Police community support officers also work alongside the police, and can also provide advice and guidance, alongside directions and other key information.