The paperwork is not the hard part of a UK medical elective. The hard part is starting late and discovering you needed something you do not have.
This is the complete document checklist for international medical students planning a UK clinical elective. It covers what every student needs, what some students need, what we provide for you, and roughly how long each item takes to prepare. Use it as a planning tool, not a substitute for the specific instructions you will receive once your placement is confirmed.
The Short List
Every student needs these documents. Most can be prepared in advance, before you even apply.
| Document | Who needs it | Typical prep time |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Everyone | 6 to 12 weeks if applying or renewing |
| CV (UK format) | Everyone | A few hours, plus review |
| Proof of medical school enrolment | Everyone | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Bank statements (3 to 6 months) | Everyone | Same day |
| Immunisation records | Everyone | 2 to 8 weeks |
| Trust-specific forms | Some trusts (e.g. St George's) | Same day after issue |
| Two professional references | Most students | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Indemnity insurance | Most students | Same day to 2 weeks |
| University approval letter | Most students | 2 to 6 weeks |
| TB test certificate | Some nationalities | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Police clearance certificate | Trust-dependent | 1 week to several months |
The rest of this guide explains each item: what it is, why hospitals ask for it, and how to get it.
Documents Every Student Needs
Valid Passport
Your passport must be valid for the full duration of your placement, with at least six months of validity remaining at your intended return date. If your passport is close to expiring, renew it before you apply. Renewal can take up to six weeks in many countries, and longer in some.
Take a clear digital photograph of the photo page and the personal details page when you receive your passport. You will be uploading this multiple times during the application and visa process.
A Strong CV in UK Format
Your CV is the document hospitals scrutinise most carefully. It is also the gate that controls every other step: until your CV is approved by our team, you cannot pay a deposit and we cannot confirm a placement.
UK hospitals expect a particular format. Two pages maximum, reverse-chronological clinical experience, clearly labelled rotations with dates and supervisors, your medical school details, evidence of English ability if your medical school is not English-speaking, and any research, publications, or relevant extracurriculars. Keep it focused. Save the full academic record for separate transcripts.
Common mistakes that delay CV approval: photographs at the top, vague rotation descriptions ("medical rotation" with no specifics), missing dates, US-style three-page CVs, and decorative formatting that does not survive being printed in black and white at the trust office. Our full guide to writing a medical elective CV walks through the format and these mistakes section by section.
If your CV needs structural changes, expect a week or two of back and forth. If it is already in good shape, expect approval within a few working days.
Proof of Medical School Enrolment
A letter from your medical school or registrar confirming that you are currently enrolled, your expected graduation date, and that the elective is part of or compatible with your course of study. Some universities issue these on a standard template. Some require you to request one specifically. Build in one to two weeks for your university to produce it.
The letter should be on official letterhead, signed and dated, and ideally in English. If it is in another language, you will likely need a certified translation for the visa application.
Bank Statements
For your visa application, you will need three to six months of bank statements showing you can support yourself during your stay. They should be in your name, show consistent income or savings, and not feature any unexplained large deposits in the weeks before your application. If a parent or sponsor is supporting you, include their statements along with a signed letter explaining the arrangement.
If your statements are not in English, you will need certified translations. Allow time for this.
Immunisation Records
NHS hospitals require evidence of immunity to several diseases before you can begin a clinical placement. The standard list is:
- Hepatitis B (a completed course plus serology showing immunity)
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (two doses of MMR, or serology showing immunity)
- Varicella (two doses, or serology showing immunity)
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster within the last ten years)
- Tuberculosis screening (within the last 12 months: BCG scar, chest X-ray, or an interferon-gamma release assay as indicated)
If you do not have a complete record from your medical school's occupational health department, your GP or a private travel clinic can fill the gaps. Building immunity to Hepatitis B from scratch takes around six months on the standard schedule and one month on the accelerated schedule, so plan ahead. Hepatitis C and HIV serology are not routinely required for observation-only electives.
You will be asked to produce these records before you arrive, and again at the trust's occupational health office on or near your start date.
Documents Most Students Need
Indemnity Insurance
Indemnity insurance covers you for any clinical incident during your placement. Most NHS trusts now require indemnity in writing before they will allow a student onto the wards, even for observerships.
The simplest options for international medical students are the Medical Protection Society and the Medical Defence Union, both of which offer student elective cover. Premiums for a four-week elective are typically £30 to £100 depending on the scope. Some home medical schools include elective cover in their existing student indemnity, so check with your university first before paying twice.
We have a backstop arrangement that covers most students if you cannot arrange your own indemnity, but we recommend bringing your own where possible.
Trust-Specific Forms (e.g. St George's)
Some trusts have their own internal paperwork that sits alongside the standard documents. St George's, for example, asks for two forms before it will issue a placement letter:
- Occupational Health Declaration — confirming your immunisations and fitness
- Model Declaration — a criminal records self-declaration
We provide these forms in your portal once your placement is reserved. You complete and sign them, upload them back to us, and we send them on to the trust.
Two Professional References
Most NHS trusts ask for two academic or clinical references as part of their elective paperwork. At St George's, references are arranged as part of your placement paperwork, and your coordinator will confirm the current step. At other trusts, references may be requested as standalone letters or via an online form sent to your referees directly.
Either way, line up your two referees early. Pick a clinical supervisor or consultant from a recent rotation and an academic referee from your medical school. Give them a heads-up before listing them, and give them at least two weeks. The detail you will need from each: full name, title, institution, and email address on a verifiable domain (a personal Gmail or Yahoo address will not be accepted).
University Approval Letter
Many medical schools require formal approval before a student can do a UK elective, and they will issue a letter confirming this. Some trusts ask to see this letter as part of their internal process. Even if your trust does not ask, your home university will usually want it on file. Build in two to six weeks for the approval process at your medical school.
Documents Some Students Need
TB Test Certificate
If you are applying for your visa from a country on the UK government's tuberculosis testing list, you must provide a TB test certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic before you can submit your visa application. Without it, your visa application will be refused.
Approved clinics are listed on the gov.uk page for each country. Cost is typically £50 to £150. Allow one to four weeks to schedule and receive your certificate.
This requirement is separate from the immunisation records the NHS hospital will ask for. You may need both.
Police Clearance Certificate
Some NHS trusts ask for a criminal record check before you start; others do not. International students cannot apply for the UK's own DBS check from outside the country, so trusts that do ask will accept a police clearance certificate from your home country in its place, dated within the last six months.
We do not require this to confirm your placement. If the trust hosting you needs one, your placement coordinator will tell you in writing once your dates are set, with enough lead time to request it. Processing varies from a few days to several months depending on your country, so if you want to be safe, request it as soon as your placement is confirmed.
Occupational Health Forms
Some trusts have their own occupational health forms that need to be completed before you can start. These usually overlap with the immunisation records you have already prepared, but the trust will give you their specific paperwork after your placement is confirmed. Turn them around quickly.
Specialty-Specific Documents
A small number of placements require additional paperwork. For example, surgical placements may ask for evidence of recent suture practice or a logbook from your home rotations. Paediatric placements occasionally ask for additional safeguarding declarations. Your placement coordinator will tell you if anything specific applies.
What We Provide for You
You do not have to source the following yourself. They are issued by us once your deposit clears.
- UK Medical Electives invitation letter. Confirms your placement details, dates, hospital, department, and the unpaid educational nature of the attachment. On letterhead and signed by our Medical Director.
- Hospital-specific invitation letter. Issued on trust letterhead, with the supervising consultant named, dates confirmed, and the trust's authorisation. Required for the visa application.
- Step-by-step visa guidance for your nationality. Tailored instructions for your specific situation, with the latest fees, processing times, and document requirements.
- Pre-arrival briefing pack. Practical information on the hospital, the area, public transport, what to bring on day one, and who to contact if anything goes wrong.
For a full picture of the visa process itself, see our step-by-step visa guide. For the timeline that ties all of this together, see when to apply for a UK medical elective.
A Realistic Document-Prep Order
If you are starting from a standing start, this is the order that works best:
- First week: Apply on the website. Upload your CV. Request your university enrolment letter and approval letter.
- Weeks two and three: Iterate on your CV with our team. Begin gathering bank statements and immunisation records.
- Week three or four: CV approved. Pay deposit. Receive invitation letters.
- Weeks four to six: Begin visa application (if needed). Schedule TB test if required. Request a police clearance certificate if your trust has asked for one.
- Weeks six to ten: Visa biometrics, processing, decision. Sort indemnity insurance.
- Final two weeks: Trust occupational health forms, final hospital paperwork, accommodation, flights.
Start your application when you have your CV in usable shape. Everything else can be sorted in parallel once the application is in.
For more context on the full process, see how it works or explore the placements available.
Document requirements current as of April 2026. NHS trust requirements vary by hospital and change periodically. Specific requirements for your placement will be confirmed in writing once your deposit clears.