Apply: International applicants

Do I have to know coding, programming, or AI to be eligible?

No. Prior experience of coding, programming, or AI is not part of the essential criteria of the Person Specification. Previous fellows have been recruited without such experience.

Do I apply to the GSTT International Clinical Fellowship Programme or to the NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI first?

You must have applied to the GSTT International Clinical Fellowship Programme before you apply to this fellowship. The ICFP considers applications throughout the year with no fixed deadline or start date, so apply as early as you can. See how to apply to the ICFP. The International Application Form asks you to confirm that you have discussed your eligibility with the ICFP, and which clinical attachment you have discussed with or requested from the ICFP team.

Do I need to have an idea for a clinical AI project when I apply to this fellowship?

No, but you can apply with one. AI projects and hosting teams in the NHS are proposed to the faculty by AI supervisors, and successful applicants are matched to these projects following the interview stage. If you already have an idea for a project, you can arrange a pre-allocated project with a named supervisor, ringfenced for you.

Do I need a sponsor?

Yes. All applicants require the support of their overseas employer, government, or other sponsoring body. The ICFP also requires applicants to have an institutional sponsor.

Can I sponsor myself?

No. Self-funded applications are not accepted for the Dual International Clinical AI Fellowship.

How much does the dual fellowship cost?

The course fee is £80,000, met by the applicant’s sponsor. The application form asks whether your sponsor has approved this funding in principle.

Can the faculty help me to identify a suitable sponsor?

No. Due to the high volume of applicants, the faculty cannot help with such requests.

Can you accommodate a bespoke arrangement through sponsorship?

Potentially yes. Please contact the faculty if you require a bespoke arrangement through sponsorship. Note that last minute requests for bespoke arrangements are difficult to accommodate due to logistics.

I represent the sponsor for a prospective international applicant, how do I proceed?

Please read the information for international sponsors then contact the faculty to discuss potential arrangements as early as possible.

How competitive is recruitment?

Recruitment for sponsored international applicants is not competitive. If an applicant meets the Essential criteria of the Person Specification at interview, they can join the programme.

What is the format of the interview?

Interviews are conducted remotely. The interview consists of questions and problem-solving tasks designed to assess an applicant’s suitability for the fellowship based on the Person Specification. The interview panel consists of fellowship faculty, AI supervisors, and regional education leads.

How should I prepare for the interview?

Interviewees are assessed according to the Essential and Desirable criteria of the Person Specification. Consider how to show evidence of meeting these criteria with real-world examples, particularly through participation in digital transformation projects in healthcare.

When will the interviews happen?

The interviews are planned for 13-29 January 2027. Applicants proceeding to interview will be sent a link to book their interview slot.

How does project matching happen?

Applicants will rank the projects they are eligible to be matched to. The highest scoring applicant from the interview stage in each regional pool will be matched to their highest ranked project. International applicants are entered in the ‘London’ regional pool unless otherwise specified. The next highest scoring applicant is matched to their highest ranked project remaining, etc. until all posts are filled.

Do I need to already work at a particular NHS Trust to be matched to a project based in that NHS Trust?

No. You do not need to have an existing affiliation to a host site for an AI project. Where necessary, fellows will hold an honorary contract or Letter of Access with the host NHS Trust for the duration of their fellowship in order to work on the project.

What should I do if I only want to do a specific project in the fellowship?

An international applicant may arrange a pre-allocated AI project with a named supervisor. A submission of a project proposal is required and the supervisor and applicant should contact the faculty when applying in this case.

To be matched to a specific project through competitive project matching, an applicant should go through the normal application process. There will be an opportunity to rank projects by preference. The applicant should rank only projects they would want to do on the fellowship year. If the applicant scores highly enough in the interview stage, they will be matched to such a project. Otherwise, if there are no projects remaining that the applicant has ranked when it comes to the matching step, they will not have a post on the fellowship.

What if there are no projects that directly align with my clinical specialty or background?

Many fellows work on projects outside their usual specialty area on this fellowship. Clinical AI is still a growing field and clinical specialties are not equally represented in the available projects due to different levels of digital maturity. The experience from any project will involve significant amounts of transferable knowledge and skills which will equip you to adopt clinical AI in your own career.

What’s the specific time commitment?

A minimum of 0.4 Full Time Equivalent unbanded, i.e. 2 days (15hrs) per week, on the NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI for 12 months, from 11 August 2027 to 10 August 2028. Dual fellows spend the rest of the week on their clinical attachment through the ICFP. The weekly split is 4 weekdays clinical, and 1 weekday plus 1 weekend day on AI. This is tailored to each fellow with the faculty. Workshops and other educational activities, e.g. e-learning modules, are expected to be done within this 0.4 FTE alongside AI project work. Fellowship time is not allocated to non-fellowship activity, which includes but is not limited to exam preparation, dissertation-writing, and other projects outside the scope of the fellowship.

Can I do the fellowship at a lower time commitment than 0.4 FTE?

No. Having a lower time commitment is not suitable for the learning objectives of the programme. The educational activities and project placements are structured to deliver the learning objectives of the fellowship curriculum based on a 0.4 FTE unbanded working pattern. International applicants are able to do this placement at a higher time commitment than 0.4 FTE. This is tailored to each fellow with the faculty.

Can I compress the fellowship into a shorter and more intensive placement?

No. For the same reasons as above.

Are the workshops compulsory, and when do they take place?

Yes. Attendance at masterclass workshops is a compulsory part of the fellowship, and a register of attendance is kept. Recurring workshops are scheduled on Mondays through the fellowship year: indicatively, the third Monday of each month, excluding national holidays. Multiple workshop days are delivered together in a residential ‘bootcamp’ at the start of the fellowship, to front-load foundational knowledge in clinical AI. Workshops are delivered in a mix of in-person, hybrid and remote settings.

What if I go on sick leave, parental leave, or any other extended leave during the fellowship year?

This fellowship is a time-bound opportunity that runs for 12 months between the dates specified. The educational activities and project placements hosted by AI supervisors are structured to deliver the learning objectives of the fellowship curriculum within this period. Project supervisors propose projects related to cohort dates and are not required to provide supervision beyond these dates. In general, interrupted time on the fellowship year cannot be added on beyond the end of the fellowship year. Individual situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the faculty.

Can I begin the fellowship later in the year than the listed start date?

No. This fellowship is a time-bound opportunity that runs for 12 months between the dates specified. The educational activities and project placements hosted by AI supervisors are structured to deliver the learning objectives of the fellowship curriculum within this period. If you have exceptional circumstances relating to this issue, please contact the faculty.

Can I defer entry to the fellowship to a future cohort if I apply in this cohort?

No. The offer for a fellowship post must be accepted for that cohort’s recruitment cycle. An applicant would newly apply for the following year.

What certification do fellows receive at the end of the fellowship year?

Fellows receive a certificate of completion of the fellowship issued by the faculty. During the course of the year, fellows will also receive clinical safety training at the level of the Digital Clinical Safety Practitioner course, for those looking to become a Clinical Safety Officer. This covers the clinical risk management activities and documentation required by DCB0129 and DCB0160.