Training and Fellowships

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We are proud to put training and fellowships at the heart of our organisation. Fostering the development of trainees and researchers is our passion. We are dedicated to support each generation of trainees to surpass the last. We offer a wide range of short and long-term training and fellowships across the spectrum of academic neuroscience and clinical neurosurgery. If you want the highest level of training and to contribute to our world leading programmes then come and join us.

International Exchange Programmes

We are excited to offer exchange programmes with esteemed institutions incluidng the University of Toronto and Columbia University. These programmes provide an invaluable opportunity for our trainees to gain international experience, collaborate on research, and broaden their clinical skills. Participants from The Division will have the chance to work in cutting-edge facilities abroad, while we welcome trainees from Toronto and Columbia to benefit from our world-class programme in London.

Visiting Student Electives

We welcome international and UK medical students to our electives programme. The aim of this programme is to enable visiting students to pursue in depth an area of their own interest, and to gain experience of clinical practice in the UK healthcare system with the same rights, duties and responsibilities as our own medical students. We would encourage such students to engage in research alongside their clinical practice. 

To find out more visit the Visiting Student Electives page.

Specialised Foundation Programmes (SFP)

UCL hosts the Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) from the North Central and East London Foundation School (formerly North Central Thames Foundation School). The Neurology and Neuroscience rotation allows for neurosurgical research and is intended to be particularly beneficial to trainees who have an academic interest.

To find out more visit the Specialised Foundation Programme page.

Observerships and Clinical Research Fellowships (CRFs)

Foundation year and other doctors may apply for an observership (or "taster week") within the Division of Neurosurgery, and these are best arranged by contacting consultants directly. Please note that the availability of these observership opportunities is limited.

We also regularly offer clinical research fellowships through the BRAIN group which are ideally suited to doctors between their foundation years and specialty trainees that have an interest in academic neurosurgery. 

Clinical research fellowships will be advertised on the UCLH jobs page, usually in the Spring. 

Academic Clinical Fellowships (ACFs) and Clinical Lecturers (CLs)

UCL Neurosurgery encourages all neurosurgical trainees to approach our patients with an academic mindset. This is supported by world class infrastructure. From a clinical perspective, trainees benefit from experience at the UK’s largest dedicated neuroscience’s hospital. Academically, UCL Neuroscience is at the cutting edge, currently rated second in the world by ISI Essential Science Indicators.    

We will do our best to support the integration of academic training into our trainees’ programmes, whether they are in one of our formal integrated academic training (IAT) programmes or not.    

We have a limited number of IAT positions in neurosurgery. All post-holders are expected to excel in their clinical training as well as in their academic pursuits. Academic Clinical Fellow (ACF) posts are held in the first 3 years of training (ST1-3), during which the clinical:research split is 75:25. We are generally flexible in the arrangements for dividing time: this will be discussed with the post-holders as it will depend on the type of project to be undertaken. Projects can range from fundamental bench science to clinical research to global neurosurgery, for example. The ACF is an excellent time to lay the groundwork for PhD studies, which could be undertaken after ST3.    

Clinical Lecturer (CL) posts can be up to 4 years in duration, and at UCL would usually start no earlier than ST5. The clinical : research split is 50:50, and, like with the ACFs, the timetabling is flexible through the duration of the programme. These are post-doctoral positions, and successful candidates are expected to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for supervision and resources. Particular sub-specialties may be targeted for any given post. These posts are expected to be a major stepping stone towards an independent career as a neurosurgeon-scientist. Early discussion with the academic lead of our IAT is encouraged, perhaps beginning over a year prior to intentions.  

These positions will be posted by HEE page when available: ACF positions will usually be advertised in autumn, and CL positions in spring.

To see our current fellows see our IAT page. You may also wish to read the UCL guide on Integrated Academic Training for further information.

Senior Clinical Fellowships

The Division of Neurosurgery in the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, through its close partnership with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, is committed to advancing neurosurgical care for the current and next generations of patients through world class research, excellent training and education, and top quality clinical care.  

The Division currently offers Neurosurgical Fellowships within several neurosurgical sub-specialties under the Royal College of Surgeons Senior Clinical Fellowship Scheme, including: Pituitary, Skull Base, Neurovasuclar, Hydrocephalus and Functional. There are two further fellowships comissioned internally within the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: Spine and Epilepsy.

Senior Clinical Fellowships will be advertised on the UCLH jobs page, and we advise you to contact surgeons within your subspecialty of interest directly to express interest.