Support for refugee psychiatrists
This page provides information on a range of resources available to support refugees and asylum seekers towards working as a psychiatrist in the UK.
You'll find information on getting your license to practice, developing your work skills and available resources and wellbeing support from the college.
If you are new to the UK as a refugee, please find the following support pages:
- Refugee Council offers guidance on employment, mental health, and integration.
- Doctors of the World UK (DOC) offers free and confidential support for signing up with an NHS family doctor (GP) and/or getting healthcare.
- BMA Refugee Doctor Initiatives may be able to support you as a healthcare professional.
You can find information on how to apply for registration with a licence to practise on the General Medical Council's help for refugee doctors.
This includes how to apply for a refugee status using claim asylum in the UK and where to find help with registration fees.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has provided three steps to becoming a doctor in the UK in their help for refugee doctors page.
- Passing english language tests: IELTS or OET
- Passing PLAB tests
- Clinical attachment unpaid work experience
It also includes the BMA's refugee doctor initiative scheme application form (PDF)which provides free support for doctors establishing their career in the UK.
- The Refugee Council provides employment-preparation workshops and work experience opportunities on their supporting refugees into employment page.
- RefuAid provides support for people who have claimed asylum in the UK to return to their previous careers. This includes support with language, education and access to employment opportunities.
- NHS Health Education England (HEE) provides a clinical apprenticeship placement scheme (CAPS) and REACHE scheme to support refugee and asylum seeker doctors into NHS employment.
- NHS education for Scotland provides a refugee doctors' programme (PDF) to assist registration to practice in Scotland.
- Health education and improve Wales provides advice for refugee doctors.
