Observerships

Introduction

St Mark’s Hospital was one of the world’s first specialist hospitals and has made a significant contribution towards the understanding of intestinal and colorectal diseases. The St Mark’s Academic Institute was established in 1993 due to an increasing need to bring teaching and research at the hospital together. Choosing to study with us will give you valuable experience, you will be learning alongside a world-renowned team of clinicians and researchers, many of whom have contributed towards some of the greatest advancements in our understanding of bowel disorders.

Honorary Clinical Assistants

St Mark’s surgeons and robotic surgery

International Trainee Fellowships at St Mark’s Hospital

Renowned worldwide for excellence in colorectal care, St Mark’s Hospital offers an exceptional opportunity for ambitious international doctors to train at the forefront of clinical practice, research, and innovation within the UK National Health Service (NHS). St Mark’s Hospital is proud to welcome outstanding international doctors seeking to advance their clinical expertise through immersive, hands-on experience within the UK’s NHS system. Our International Trainee Fellowship Programme offers a unique opportunity for suitably qualified international medical graduates to receive structured, high-quality training in a subspecialty in coloproctology or gastroenterology, supported by a Royal College, providing unparalleled exposure to specialist practice under the mentorship of leading consultants at a globally respected centre of excellence.

This prestigious programme is designed for postgraduate doctors who are keen to gain meaningful clinical exposure. Trainees may apply for fellowship posts in surgery or medicine, enabling them to actively participate in clinical practice while also having the opportunity to engage in research and academic activity. Throughout their placement, fellows are warmly invited to attend nearly all hospital-based academic meetings, teaching sessions, and courses, free of charge—ensuring a rich and comprehensive educational experience.

Each International Trainee Fellow is formally attached to a member of the consultant staff, who will act as their dedicated supervisor. During the fellowship, trainees become an integral part of the consultant’s surgical or medical team, gaining invaluable insight into NHS practice. There may also be opportunities to attend additional clinics and specialist sessions, subject to consultant approval.

Duration

• Minimum placement: 3 months
• Typical duration: 6–12 months
• Maximum placement: 2 years

Professional Registration and Funding

This is a self-funded post. Applicants must be registered with one of the Royal Colleges, which will sponsor the candidate for GMC registration with a licence to practice. While GMC registration is required, fellows will not undertake unsupervised patient care or on-call duties.

Visa Information

The programme operates under the UK Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa within the points-based immigration system.

Fees

The cost of visiting as an Honorary Clinical Assistant depends on the length of stay:

• 3–6 months: £4,300
• 7–12 months: £6,500

apply now to join an internationally recognised programme and take the next step in advancing your specialist training at St Mark’s Hospital. Please contact us to give you more information.

Observers

We offer observerships of varying length which provide clinicians with the opportunity to observe the work of St Mark’s Hospital in a limited capacity.

Visitors who have been approved to observe may attend clinical activities but are not permitted to scrub in or be involved in any direct or indirect patient care or management. You may be granted access to attend clinics, endoscopy and physiology sessions as an observer however this is at the discretion of the consultant concerned.

The typical duration of an observership is one month, however it is possible to stay for a shorter or longer period of time. The maximum time of an observership is 6 months. There are 3 terms where observerships are accepted: The Winter Term (January to March), Summer Term (September) and Autumn Term (November to December).

Prerequisites: To be eligible to attend as an observer applicants should be in at least the third year or above of speciality training, have a special interest in intestinal and colorectal diseases, and have a good knowledge of written and spoken English language.

Cost: The cost of visiting as an Observer depends on the amount of time you stay with us: 1 to 5 days is £40 per day, 1 week is £185 and 1 month is £740 (£640 per additional month).

Postgraduate teaching term

St Mark’s Academic Institute has run highly prestigious teaching terms for intestinal and colorectal surgeons for many years. Our postgraduate teaching term is a four week programme suitable for surgeons with an interest in intestinal and colorectal disease.

During your four weeks with us, you will attend lectures and open seminars given by our expert staff of consultant surgeons and gastroenterologists, nurses, radiologists and dietitians. While you study with us you are invited to observe in theatres and outpatients departments, and are given the opportunity to spend time in the various hospital departments. You will also meet our current research fellows and learn about the experience of studying and carrying out research at St Mark’s.

All postgraduate teaching term delegates are able to attend routine hospital meetings such as grand rounds (weekly in-house educational talks), IBD multidisciplinary meetings, research forums, and radiological and pathological reviews.

Prerequisites: To be eligible for the postgraduate teaching term applicants should be in at least the third year or above of speciality surgical training, have a good understanding of spoken English, and be able to work effectively in a team.

When: June 2026 is our next available term time.

Cost: The cost of attending our teaching term is £3,090. All delegates receive a St Mark’s Hospital certificate of attendance upon completion of the teaching term.

Expenses

St Mark’s cannot cover the cost of travel, accommodation or other living expenses such as meals and transportation. Students must self-fund, unless individuals can obtain educational sponsorships or funding from their training universities.