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Observerships and short-term visiting programs

OBGYN Observership Programs for International Doctors

Compare 109 observership programs in 36 countries: duration, fees or funding, eligibility, deadlines and the official application page for each.

109 programs36 countries74 open to international applicants

What is an OBGYN observership?

An observership is a short, usually non-hands-on clinical placement in which a visiting physician shadows a department, attends clinics, theatres, ward rounds and teaching, and is not responsible for patient care. Many are unpaid and charge fees, need an invitation letter or institutional agreement, and do not count as accredited training. Some societies (ESGE, ENYGO, IUGA, ISUOG) run short-term visiting schemes across host centres, and some hospitals offer clinical attachments that allow limited supervised practice for registered doctors.

Observerships by country

France 9United Kingdom 9Germany 7Spain 6India 6Japan 5Italy 5Taiwan 5Singapore 5United States 5South Korea 4Belgium 3Thailand 3Australia 3Poland 3Israel 3Brazil 3Austria 2Switzerland 2Greece 2Turkey 2Canada 2Multi-country (global) 2Europe (multi-country) 1Norway 1Hungary 1Portugal 1Slovenia 1China 1United Arab Emirates 1Czechia 1Hong Kong SAR, China 1Ireland 1Lebanon 1South Africa 1Egypt 1

Observerships by specialty

Gynecologic Oncology 27MIGS & Endoscopic Surgery 26General & Global OB-GYN 22Urogynecology & Pelvic Reconstruction 18Maternal–Fetal Medicine 7Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility 6Obstetric & Gynecologic Ultrasound 2Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology 1

Related pathways

Research fellowships 42All OBGYN fellowships 1989

OBGYN observerships

Europe (multi-country)

ENYGO Short Clinical Visits (Observership)

European Network of Young Gynae Oncologists (ENYGO/ESGO) – host centres incl. Gustave Roussy Paris and Královské Vinohrady Prague

SpecialtyGynecologic Oncology
Duration3 days
Application timing2026 places full; next cycle 2028
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Multi-country (global)

IGCS Expanded Training Initiative - Global Observership

International Gynecologic Cancer Society (host sites assigned by IGCS; list not published)

SpecialtyGynecologic Oncology
DurationSix to eight weeks (typically up to two months)
Application timing2026 round closed July 10, 2026 11:59 PM CDT; future rounds not announc…
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Multi-country (global)

IUGA Linda Cardozo Observership Grants

International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)

SpecialtyUrogynecology & Pelvic Reconstruction
Duration2 to 4 weeks at the host site, timing agreed between applicant and host
Application timing2026 cycle closed; next cycle opens January 2027 (no date published)
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Israel · Ashdod

Urogynecology Fellowship / Observership (IUGA host site)

Assuta Ashdod University Hospital (Ben-Gurion University) – Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

SpecialtyUrogynecology & Pelvic Reconstruction
DurationFlexible, 6 weeks to 6 months
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Thailand · Bangkok

Short Training Course / Clinical Observership (Gynecologic Oncology Unit; Siriraj Scholarship for ASEAN and Developing Countries)

Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University – Gynecologic Oncology Unit

SpecialtyGynecologic Oncology
DurationCustomised; applicant states preferred dates and duration (a 1-month placement at the unit is documented in a Siriraj news post)
Application timingSubmit at least 4 months and no more than 6 months before intended star…
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Thailand · Bangkok

Clinical Observership Program in Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University – Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit

SpecialtyMaternal–Fetal Medicine
Duration1 month (2019 cohort ran 1-30 August)
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Spain · Barcelona

Postgraduate Training Stays for Gynaecologists (observer rotations)

Dexeus Mujer – Hospital Universitari Dexeus (Dexeus Campus)

SpecialtyGeneral & Global OB-GYN
Duration1 week to 3 months (rates published for 1, 2, 3 weeks and 1, 2, 3 months); foreign residents via Ministry route: generally max. one month per area
Application timingRolling for private stays (specialists); foreign-resident route: applic…
InternationalConfirm eligibility
View program →Official source linked
Spain · Barcelona

Short-Stay Advanced Training (Observer) in Obstetric Ultrasound

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron – Obstetrics Service (Hospital de la Mujer)

SpecialtyObstetric & Gynecologic Ultrasound
Duration2 months (Mon–Fri, full time, not exclusive)
Application timingNot a fixed deadline: 'to be confirmed, depending on availability'; pla…
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Spain · Barcelona

Short-Stay Advanced Training (Observer) in Assisted Human Reproduction

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron – Obstetrics Service (Hospital de la Mujer)

SpecialtyReproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
Duration2 months (no applications accepted for August and December)
Application timingNot a fixed deadline: 'to be confirmed, depending on availability'; pla…
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Lebanon · Beirut

Observer Visiting Resident Elective Rotation in Obstetrics and Gynecology

American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

SpecialtyGeneral & Global OB-GYN
DurationNot less than 4 weeks and not more than three months per academic year (department page: not to exceed 1 month per academic year)
Application timingApplication at least three months prior to the elective start date
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
India · Bengaluru

Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine (hybrid, with clinical attachment)

Medline Academics (clinical posting at Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals; lists affiliation with Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education and Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth)

SpecialtyReproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
DurationPages conflict: 1 year on one page; theory within 9 months plus 15-30 day clinical attachment and a 6-month figure in the FAQ
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Germany · Berlin

Hospitation at the Endometriosis Centre

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin – Fächerverbund Frauenheilkunde, Endometriosezentrum

SpecialtyMIGS & Endoscopic Surgery
DurationNot published; confirm with program
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalConfirm eligibility
View program →Official source linked
South Africa · Cape Town

Urogynaecology Observership / Fellowship (IUGA-approved host site) - Groote Schuur Hospital

University of Cape Town / Groote Schuur Hospital - Urogynaecology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

SpecialtyUrogynecology & Pelvic Reconstruction
DurationNot published by the unit; IUGA grant-funded observerships are 2-4 weeks
Application timingRolling (approval process about 6 months); IUGA grant cycle opens Janua…
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
United States · Cleveland

International Physician Preceptorship Program - GYN (observership)

Cleveland Clinic, Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Institute (Center for International Medical Education)

SpecialtyGeneral & Global OB-GYN
Duration4 weeks (program-wide preceptorships can be arranged for 1-8 weeks); GYN program not available in June and December
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Germany · Düsseldorf

Hospitation for Foreign Physicians (Frauenklinik)

Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf – Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe

SpecialtyGeneral & Global OB-GYN
Duration1–3 months (clinical placement)
Application timingNone stated; applicants specify desired period
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
United Kingdom · Eastbourne / Hastings

Clinical Attachment in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (observation only)

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust – Obstetrics and Gynaecology

SpecialtyGeneral & Global OB-GYN
DurationMaximum 4 weeks; one attachment per person; 80% attendance for certificate
Application timing2026 applications closed (2026 periods: 2–27 March, 11 May–5 June); lat…
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked
Germany · Essen

GESEA Level 3 Oncology clinical attachment / observership – Universitätsklinikum Essen (Duisburg-Essen)

Universitätsklinikum Essen (Duisburg-Essen) – Klinik für Frauenheilkunde

SpecialtyGynecologic Oncology
DurationClinical attachment of minimum four weeks (GESEA Expert Level 3 Oncology); centre-specific length: Not published; confirm with program
Application timingContact the centre 3 months before the observership
InternationalConfirm eligibility
View program →Official source linked
United States · Houston

Gynecologic Oncology Visitor Program (Observer)

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine

SpecialtyGynecologic Oncology
DurationObserver appointments 6 to 90 days (4 and 6 week options described for surgery observerships)
Application timingRolling
InternationalConfirm eligibility
View program →Official source linked
Poland · Kraków

GESEA Expert Level 3 Oncology – Observership (clinical attachment) at Jagiellonian University Medical College

Jagiellonian University Medical College, University Hospital – Department of Gynaecology and Oncology

SpecialtyGynecologic Oncology
DurationObservership component of the GESEA Expert Level 3 Oncology Diploma: 4 weeks within one year, minimum one week per centre; applicants already working in an existing centre must spend 2 weeks in a different centre
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalConfirm eligibility
View program →Official source linked
France · Lille

ESGE Short-Term Visiting Programme – CHU de Lille

CHU de Lille (gynaecological surgery department)

SpecialtyMIGS & Endoscopic Surgery
Duration2–12 weeks, by agreement between applicant and host centre
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalConfirm eligibility
View program →Official source linked
United Kingdom · London

International Observership in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine (King's Commercial observership placements)

SpecialtyMaternal–Fetal Medicine
DurationMinimum 2 weeks, maximum 6 months
Application timingNot published; confirm with program
InternationalMay be considered
View program →Official source linked

Frequently asked questions

Is an OBGYN observership the same as a fellowship?

No. An observership is generally a short, non-hands-on placement without a salary, accreditation or board eligibility. A fellowship is structured, usually paid training. Always read the official wording on each listing.

Can an observership help me apply for a fellowship?

It can: it builds familiarity with a department, a letter of recommendation and sometimes a contact for later positions, but it never guarantees selection and rules differ by country.

How many OBGYN observerships are listed?

OBGYN Fellow lists 109 observerships in 36 countries, most of them in France (9), United Kingdom (9), Germany (7), Spain (6). Counts come from official programme pages and change as listings are verified.

Which specialties offer observerships?

Listings span 8 specialty areas: Gynecologic Oncology (27), MIGS & Endoscopic Surgery (26), General & Global OB-GYN (22), Urogynecology & Pelvic Reconstruction (18), Maternal–Fetal Medicine (7), Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (6), Obstetric & Gynecologic Ultrasound (2), Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology (1).

Can international doctors apply for these observerships?

74 of 109 listings state that international applicants may be considered. Registration, visa, language and fee rules differ by programme, so confirm with the official contact.

Verify before you apply.

OBGYN Fellow is an independent, source-led directory. Listings are not endorsements or accreditation decisions—always confirm current details on each official program page. Suggest a missing program.