Overview
The Global Health Volunteer Fellowships (GHVF) programme enables doctors in NHS training to undertake clinical work as a volunteer for 4-6 months in supervised clinics and hospitals in Africa.
The aim of the programme is to make a contribution to improving health outcomes in resource limited communities and to develop the clinical skills of doctors in training in England. The clinical sites are chosen with these aims in mind, in particular to promote professional development of doctors in training by working alongside international colleagues. It is expected that those undertaking this fellowship will gain skills in leadership, teamwork, decision making, resilience, cultural competency as well as enhanced learning in their clinical skills, which they will bring back to their NHS training scheme on completion of the GHVF programme.
Eligibility
This programme is hosted by the East of England Deanery, but is available for any doctor undertaking specialist training, who has completed at least 2 years of training (e.g. ST/CT 2 +). Processes may be different if you are in a recognised deanery run training program or training via alternative pathways, such as via locally employed posts (LEDs). For example, doctors in formal training must have agreement from their current Training Programme Director to be able to take an Out of Programme break (via usual OOPE or OOPP processes).
Doctors training in any speciality are considered, but there are currently greater availability of posts for those training in GP, paediatrics, emergency medicine, anaesthetics and internal medicine.
Current GHV fellowship sites include rural and urban South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, and Sierra Leone. Doctors need to be prepared to work and live in these countries for 6 months to undertake this fellowship.
It is expected that anyone accepting a GHV Fellowship will undertake a working pattern/ rota similar to a local doctor at a similar level of training.
Benefits
The clinical sites in Africa are well vetted to be able to provide a supported ongoing training environment. For those who arrange this fellowship via OOPP, competencies may be considered as part of their training portfolio.
GHV will be supported with the practical processes of preparing to undertake volunteer medical work abroad and to maximise the learning from this opportunity.
How to Apply
The next round of recruitment to the GHVP open 4th June 2026 and will close at 11:59pm on 8th August 2026 for those wishing to apply for a fellowship start from February 2027.
Applications for the following year are likely to re-open in January 2027.
Those accepted onto the programme will be expected to attend a pre-deployment course in April 2027 in Cambridge.
Before applying to the programme and attending an interview if short listed please consider how you would be able to finance your placement as there is no NHSE stipend associated with the programme at present and to have read the FAQs.
Please contact GHF email to ask for more details england.global.fellowships@nhs.net
Global Heath Volunteer Fellowship Programme FAQs
ApplyReflections of a Global Health Fellowship
Please see below the reflections of some of the Global Health Fellowship Volunteers who have recently returned from a volunteer programme.
Reflections of a GHF Volunteer South Africa
Reflections of a GHF Volunteer Sierra Leone