Honorary Clinical Fellowship and Clinical Observership

2024/12/18

The main objectives of these attachment programmes are for candidates to gain exposure in the Singapore healthcare industry, develop and strengthen the regional referral network, and learn specific clinical skills.

The table below summarises the differences between Clinical Fellowship and Clinical Observership:

Requirements/ Scope of training	Honorary Clinical Fellowship	Clinical Observership
Scope of Training	Allowed to be involved in patient care, write case notes, communicate care plans & perform procedures under direct supervision	Only allowed to assist in procedures under direct supervision
Period of training allowed	Maximum 12 months	Maximum 6 months
Fulfil English proficiency test (if medium of instruction for basic degree is not in English)	Required	Not required
Requirements	Must be sponsored by either the government, regional health authority or an appropriate institution in your home country (your current employer)	Not required
Prior Experience	Require 3 years post-housemanship experience / post-internship experience as a medical officer or have a postgraduate diploma or degree	Require at least 12 months housemanship / internship with a certificate of satisfactory completion of housemanship or equivalent

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Programmes

The Fellowship / Clinical Observership Programmes at National University Hospital (NUH) offer foreign doctors attachments to various specialties. You may view the list of training programmes by clicking here.

Eligibility Criteria

The NUH Fellowship Desk will assist to obtain temporary medical registration from the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) and Training Employment Pass (TEP) from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), after SMC’s approval is obtained. We would appreciate that you note that SMC and MOM are very strict with their guidelines. Please visit their websites for more information & check your eligibility before submitting your application.

NUH Fellowship will charge a processing fee of S$560 (GST included)^ only after acceptance by NUH. Additional miscellaneous fees may be applicable to certain departments. The processing period is approximately 6 to 9 months.

You will be required to submit the following:

A recognised medical degree
At least 3 years' experience as a Medical Officer after Housemanship or Internship
* Please note that you must be sponsored by either the government, regional health authority or an appropriate institution in your home country (your current employer) to undergo the fellowship training in Singapore.
* If the teaching medium in your Basic Medical Degree is not in English, an English Proficiency Test result is required, subject to a 2-year validity period based on the date of the test *:

Language Proficiency Test

Minimum Requirements

IELTS (UK)
(International English Language Testing Systems)

At least 7 in each of the four components (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) for the academic module.

TOEFL (US)
(Test of English Language as a Foreign Language)

Only TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) will be accepted.

TOEFL iBT score of at least 25 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking). The overall score must be at least 100.

OET (Australia)
(Occupational English Test)

At least Grade B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

Good academic record and at least 2 referees' reports

Proof of citizenship in your country or permanent residents of Singapore

Upon acceptance by SMC:

Permit issued by MOM in Singapore
Health insurance coverage for yourself during the attachment
Valid malpractice insurance cover
Valid BCLS Certification in Singapore (ie, to apply when on-board)
Documentary proof of vaccination date records / serology report for the followings (as per Ministry of Health directive - self declaration of past illness or vaccination NOT accepted as evidence of immunity):
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Varicella
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
Pertussis
Influenza
HIV Antibody
Chest X-ray

^ Fee adjustment as of 1 Jan 2025

*Only applicable to Honorary Clinical Fellowship programmes

For enquiries and applications, please email to: [email protected].

Global Fellows Alliance

The National University Hospital Global Fellows Alliance provides clinical fellows and clinicians who had trained in the hospital with networking opportunities, knowledge sharing and extensive resources to professional development and mentoring programmes.

You can find more information here.