The International Medical Graduate Training Initiative (IMGTI) provides a possible route for international doctors wishing to undergo structured postgraduate medical training within the public health service in Ireland. It enables suitably qualified overseas postgraduate medical trainees to undertake a fixed period of active training in clinical services in Ireland.

The purpose of the IMGTI is to enable trainees from overseas to gain access to clinical experiences and training that they cannot get in their own country, with a view to enhancing and improving the individual’s medical training and learning and - in the medium- to long-term - the health services in their own countries.

This initiative helps doctors to access a structured period of training and experience developed by an Irish postgraduate medical training body (PGMTB) to specifically meet the clinical needs of participants as defined by their home country’s health service. The period of clinical training provided under the IMGTI is ordinarily 24 months, after which the doctor will be expected to return to their country of origin to further enhance the health service in their home country.

The primary goal of the scholarship programme is to provide opportunities for doctors from a range of countries to develop skills, experience, and knowledge that can be used to enhance, support, and grow local and national health services in their country of origin. It is not intended that the scholars remain in Ireland after the programme. However, during their time here, trainees will work in a broad range of areas. In general, trainees will work at senior house officer (SHO) level during their first year and then at registrar level during their second year (provided they meet the relevant milestones set by the medical training bodies). for the scholarship programme is through the Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies, in conjunction with the HSE-NDTP, which liaises with the relevant international training body in November each year. Successful applicants then commence their programme in July of the following year.

At present, the scholarship is open to trainees from Pakistan and Sudan. In 2011, the HSE signed a memorandum of understanding with The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) to develop a partnership agreement for recruiting doctors from Pakistan to work in the Irish health service.A similar agreement was signed between the HSE and The Sudan Medical & Specialisation Board (SMSB) in 2017.

The purpose of these agreements is to permit Pakistani and Sudanese graduates to complete part of their training in Ireland. As a result, successful candidates will be supported in the ongoing development of their knowledge base and the enhancement of their medical skills and competencies within their chosen specialty. They will have direct exposure to the health system in Ireland and an opportunity to learn about alternative approaches to delivery of healthcare services.

Training is available in the specialties of anaesthesia, emergency medicine, general medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, paediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery. Structured training in these specialties is provided for two years and this training is recognised by the CPSP and SMSB. Each trainee will have access to logbooks, exams, study days, assessments, etc., as would any other trainee.

Co-ordination of communication between all the stakeholders is organised centrally through the Forum of Irish Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies and HSE-NDTP. During the two-year programme, each trainee is expected to rotate to a different clinical site each 12 months, subject to completing an annual assessment by the respective training body and feedback from hospital sites. The trainees then return to their home country to complete their training.

For information on the entry requirements and criteria, download the supporting IMGTI document (PDF).

https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/leadership-education-development/met/ed/img/entry-criteria-imgti-scholarship-programme1.pdf

The Fellowship IMGTI provides training opportunities for doctors who will be fully funded by their home country for the duration of their training. These doctors are generally at a more advanced stage of training and are employed at specialist registrar level in hospitals nationally. This cohort of doctors is recruited directly through the relevant medical training body and is supernumerary to the staff compliment of the sites the doctors are assigned to. As with the scholarship programme, it is not intended that the fellowship will lead to settlement in Ireland.

Training under this initiative can be provided in clinical departments approved for postgraduate specialist training in Ireland, provided the position is incorporated into an IMG training programme that is tailored to meet doctor’s educational and training objectives and takes into account the needs of the health service in the their home country.

Further information on participating countries and specialties is available directly from the relevant Irish medical training bodies or atpostgraduatemedicaltraining.ie. https://postgraduatemedicaltraining.ie/

If you are currently on a training programme in Pakistan or Sudan and would like to participate in the IMGTI Scholarship, please contact your home country training body to begin the process. Requirements at the time of acceptance of a position under IMGTI Scholarship must include successful completion of the Intermediate Module Exam (IMM) and IELTS certification. Further information is available from your training body.

If you are funded by your home country and wish to participate in the IMGTI Fellowship, please contact your home country medical training body with any queries.

The Irish College of General Practitioners Clinical Fellowship Programme (ICGP-CFP) provides a route for overseas doctors wishing to undergo structured and advanced postgraduate medical training in Ireland. The ICGP-CFP enables suitably qualified overseas postgraduate clinical fellowship doctors to undertake a fixed period of active training in clinical services in Ireland. The programme is normally offered over one or two years of clinical training, after which the overseas doctors will be required to return to their country of origin. In limited certain circumstances, the period of training may extend to three years.

The purpose of the ICGP-CFP is to enable overseas clinical fellowship doctors to gain access to structured training in active clinical environments that may not be available in their own country. It is hoped that the trainee will have the opportunity to enhance and improve their medical skills, knowledge, and competence. The aim is to assist the trainees to become clinical leaders in their chosen career pathway in their home country.

This programme allows participants to access a structured period of training and experience as developed by the ICGP, meeting the specific clinical needs of participants as defined by their home country's health service.

Example application deadlines and start dates

Where the application deadline is 30th April 2023, the fellowship start date would be 4th March 2024.

Prerequisites

To demonstrate the necessary characteristics and qualifications, applicants should have:

• studied a basic medical degree in English
• completed a postgraduate training programme in family medicine in their home country
• completed a minimum of one further year working full-time in the specialty of family medicine in their home country
• passed all examinations that are appropriate for doctors in family medicine in their home country (for example, Saudi Board exam)
• confirmed government sponsorship in their home country
• achieved an overall band score of 7.0 or greater in the IELTS, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each of the four domains. The IELTS test taken must be 'Academic' and completed within the last two years. Alternatively, an OET certification with a minimum B in all four domains is accepted.
• a high level of motivation and a strong desire to develop new skills in the chosen specialist area.