The Essential Guide for IMGs Starting a Clinical Attachment in the UK NHS
Struggling to Make Your NHS Dream a Reality?
Start cracking the NHS code with Clinical Attachment Success for International Medical Graduates
Learn how to navigate your clinical attachment in the UK`s NHS.
Start building a career you can be proud of in the UK`s NHS.
Learn how to avoid wasted time, make a real impact, and turn your attachment into a launchpad for your NHS career.
If you’re an international medical graduate preparing for your NHS clinical attachment — you’re probably feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
How do you find the right supervisor? What should you focus on each day? How do you stand out without seeming pushy? And most importantly — how can you turn this short experience into something that actually helps your future career?
This eBook was written exactly for you — to take the guesswork out of your attachment and replace it with clarity, confidence, and a proven step-by-step approach.
Who is this book for?
I am determined to be a good doctor. I have invested a lot of time, energy, and, yes, money in my studies. I want my parents to feel proud of me, and I'd like to be recognised for my clinical skills and kindness. I am unsure what the future holds at home, and I am now curious about a career in the UK's NHS, having just completed my MBBS.
MBBS Graduate
Georgia
I have my MBBS, but I'm stuck in a rut. Sometimes, I don't feel personally safe, and my career prospects are uncertain. My work conditions don`t feel protected either, and there`s no clear path ahead. I want to learn & be rewarded for hard work. I would love to learn from some of the best doctors in the world if only I could get the opportunity.
MBBS Graduate
India
✔️ Why a clinical attachment isn’t just a formality — it’s a career-defining opportunity
✔️ How to choose the right clinical attachment that aligns with your long-term goals
✔️ What to do before you start — and what to prioritise on day one
✔️ The proven strategies top IMGs use to build trust, get mentorship, and stand out
✔️ How to complete audit and QI projects that actually matter (and get noticed)
✔️ What UK consultants really look for — and how to become unforgettable
✔️ How to avoid the most common IMG mistakes (that quietly ruin your chances)
✔️ Practical tips for CV-building, LinkedIn, feedback, and more
✔️ How to turn your attachment into long-term opportunity: electives, PLAB prep, job offers
✔️ The exact questions to ask, templates to use, and frameworks to follow
Building a career you’ll love through the UK`s NHS
“Written by a Consultant Neurosurgeon with over 30 years of NHS experience and mentoring IMGs.”
"As a registrar, I have had the pleasure of working with Mr Andrew Kay at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. It is always a teaching moment - his eye for detail and focus on developing the clinical acumen of trainees are remarkable.
One of the most useful skills I learned while working for Mr Kay was how to debias my clinical decisions and identify my blind spots. He is a meticulous surgeon when it comes to skull-base surgery. His safe operative approach, detailed preoperative planning, and the personalised care he offers his patients ensure the best outcomes.
He is always respectful and available to offer advice to his juniors, and he helps out his peers in situations that require an experienced perspective; he is undoubtedly England’s finest. I recommend him as an excellent skull-base surgeon and an equally great mentor and clinician."