What to expect before you start your clinical placement

  1. Summary
  2. What are clinical placements?
  3. What to expect before you start your clinical placement
  4. What to expect during your clinical placement
  1. Different types of clinical placement
  2. What’s expected of you during your clinical placement
  3. How to raise concerns about your clinical placement

Before you start your clinical placement, you should:

  • get a timetable with teaching opportunities
  • know what the learning outcomes of the placement are
  • receive a local induction from your placement provider
  • be given information on how to raise safety or quality concerns, and information on how to access support networks, such as wellbeing services
  • be introduced to the clinical team
  • be shown around and give ward access cards
  • get access to IT systems, changing facilities and rest areas.  
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Related content

Guidance on undergraduate clinical placements Read our guidance for medical schools and placement providers about how to plan and deliver undergraduate clinical placements. Medical students can use it to understand what to expect from their placements.
Clinical placements - What to expect as a medical student Download the guidance