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Rolling admission · Istanbul · Delivered in English

Paediatrics Observership & Fellowship general paediatrics, neonatology and the paediatric subspecialty clinics

Observe a full child health service — general paediatric clinics, the neonatal unit, the inpatient ward and subspecialty clinics in cardiology, endocrinology, neurology and oncology — at a university teaching hospital in Istanbul.

  • 21 specialties
  • Observership 1–4 weeks
  • Fellowship 12–24 months
  • English-medium · proof required
Apply nowAll twenty-one specialties
Paediatric ward round at a teaching hospital, clinicians reviewing a child's chart
Routes
Observership 1–4 weeks · Fellowship 12–24 months
Format
Observation only — no patient contact
Language
English, with official proof of level
Location
University teaching hospital, Istanbul
Admission
Rolling — apply 3–6 months ahead
Certificate
Attendance (observership) · completion (fellowship)

What will you observe?

What you see depends on the department's clinical calendar during your placement; the list below describes the department's usual scope, not a guaranteed programme.

  • General paediatric outpatient clinics: growth and development review, acute presentations and follow-up of chronic conditions
  • Neonatal unit rounds — care of preterm and term newborns, respiratory support and feeding progression — where the unit's infection-control policy allows
  • Inpatient ward rounds and handover: respiratory illness, acute infections, gastroenteritis and dehydration, febrile presentations
  • Subspecialty clinics — paediatric cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, gastroenterology, haematology and oncology — where scheduled during your placement
  • Acute paediatric assessment on admission: triage, fluid management and the decision to admit or discharge
  • Bedside diagnostics observed alongside the relevant subspecialty team: echocardiography, EEG reporting and lumbar puncture where scheduled
  • Well-child care: immunisation schedules, growth monitoring and developmental screening
  • Departmental teaching where held: morning case presentations, journal club and grand rounds

Where the placement takes place

  • General paediatric outpatient clinic
  • Neonatal intensive care and special care unit
  • Paediatric inpatient ward
  • Subspecialty clinics — cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology
  • Departmental case conference and multidisciplinary meetings

Focused observership pages in Paediatrics

Pages for a single procedure family or subspecialty in this department: what an observer can follow, how the cases are decided and what to ask before applying.

Who applies, and which route fits?

Clinical Observership

Students weighing paediatrics as a career, and graduate physicians preparing for paediatric residency or examinations who want to see how a university department organises clinics, ward rounds and neonatal care across the whole age range.

Clinical Fellowship

Paediatricians and family physicians seeking extended exposure to subspecialty practice — neonatology, paediatric cardiology, endocrinology, neurology or oncology — over a full clinical cycle, within an observational role.

Which route is right for you?

Choose the route that matches your stage. Both are delivered in English at the same host hospital and both are applied for through one online application.

The two routes side by side
Clinical ObservershipClinical Fellowship
Duration1, 2 or 4 weeks (extension possible on request)12 to 24 months, agreed with the host department
Who it is forMedical students in clinical years and graduate physicians from outside TurkeyRecognised specialists and family physicians seeking advanced exposure beyond standard specialty training
FormatFull-time, strictly observational — outpatient clinics, operating theatre, ward rounds, case discussionsExtended observational attachment to one department: daily practice, service structure and specific techniques
CertificateCertificate of attendance issued by the host hospital and signed by its Medical DirectorCertificate on completion issued under the accreditation of the affiliated university school of medicine
StartRotations typically begin on a Monday; dates are agreed individuallyStart date planned around the date you request and the department's capacity

Clinical Observership

  • Follow the complete patient pathway: pre-operative assessment, theatre, post-operative care
  • Attend departmental case discussions and multidisciplinary meetings
  • One department for the whole placement, agreed before arrival
  • Working hours follow the department, usually 08:00–18:00 on weekdays

Clinical Fellowship

  • Longitudinal exposure to a department's case mix across a full clinical cycle
  • Structured observation of advanced techniques and service organisation
  • Eligibility requires a recognised specialist qualification and proof of English
  • Fee and terms confirmed in writing after the host department's review

English is the working language — and you will be asked to prove it

The programme is delivered exclusively in English. Clinical teaching, case discussions and all coordination take place in English, so fluent spoken and written English is a condition of admission for both routes.

Every applicant is required to evidence their level with an official document. A placement may be ended early by the host department if language ability proves insufficient for safe participation.

Accepted evidence

  • A recognised English-language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, OET, Cambridge or equivalent), ideally at CEFR B2 or above
  • An official document confirming a degree taught and examined in English
  • Other official proof issued by a recognised institution, assessed case by case

This page is available in French, Russian and Arabic for information only. The placement itself, the application documents and all correspondence with the host hospital are in English.

How does the application work?

  1. 01

    Apply on this page

    Start with your personal details; we email you a personal link. Then add your education, the route, the specialty, your preferred duration and start window, and upload your documents — in five short steps, at your own pace.

  2. 02

    Eligibility screen by ATDERA

    Once your programme choice is in, our coordination team reviews your details against the route criteria and replies, typically within two working days, with anything still missing from your file.

  3. 03

    Host-department review

    Your complete file is submitted to the host hospital. The department confirms whether it can accept you, in which dates, and communicates the fee for the placement.

  4. 04

    Payment

    Once the placement is confirmed you pay the programme fee. Cancellation terms are set out in writing with the fee quotation; a visa refusal does not alter them, so apply early.

  5. 05

    Letter of acceptance and visa

    The letter of acceptance is issued after payment and supports your visa application. Obtaining the visa is your responsibility; host staff can advise on the documentation.

  6. 06

    Arrival and orientation

    Your placement begins with an orientation on the first day: access card, scrubs, locker and an introduction to the department's schedule.

Apply three to six months ahead

Departments accept only one or two observers at a time and files are reviewed in order. Submitting your application three to six months before your intended start date makes it far more likely that you get the dates you want.

What do candidates ask about this specialty?

Can I observe in the neonatal intensive care unit during a paediatrics observership?
Yes, where the unit's infection-control policy allows. The neonatal unit falls within the department's usual scope, and observers typically join the morning round and handover with the neonatal team. Access can be restricted during outbreaks or when the unit is at capacity; the supervising consultant decides on the day. You observe from the bedside without handling infants or equipment.
Do I need prior paediatric experience to apply?
No. Eligibility covers medical students in their clinical years and graduate physicians from outside Turkey; a prior paediatric rotation is not a requirement, though the host hospital reviews every application. Applicants state their objectives — for example neonatology or a subspecialty clinic — and the department places them where the calendar allows. The fellowship route, by contrast, is for recognised paediatricians and family physicians.
Which paediatric subspecialty clinics can I attend?
Typically the clinics running during your placement weeks: paediatric cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, gastroenterology, haematology and oncology are within the department's usual scope. You may name a preferred area in your objectives, and the department allocates sessions accordingly where the timetable allows, but a placement follows the department as a whole rather than a single clinic.
Is the observership hands-on?
No. Both the observership and the fellowship are strictly observational. You do not touch, examine or treat patients and you do not perform or assist in procedures. You observe the full clinical pathway — clinic, theatre, ward and case discussions — alongside the department's team.
Who can apply for the observership, and who for the fellowship?
The observership is open to medical students in their clinical years and to graduate physicians from outside Turkey. The fellowship is open only to recognised specialists and family physicians who hold a specialist qualification and can prove their English proficiency.
How long are the placements?
Observerships run for one, two or four weeks; an extension can be requested where the department agrees. Fellowships run for twelve to twenty-four months, agreed with the host department before you start.
Do I need to prove my English?
Yes. The programme is delivered exclusively in English and every applicant must evidence their level with an official document — a recognised certificate such as IELTS, TOEFL or OET, or official proof of an English-medium degree. A placement can be ended early if language ability proves insufficient.
When should I apply?
Three to six months before the start date you want. Departments take only one or two observers at a time, files are reviewed in order, and rotations usually begin on a Monday. Applications are accepted all year.
What certificate will I receive?
Observers receive a certificate of attendance issued by the host hospital and signed by its Medical Director. Fellows receive a certificate on completion under the accreditation of the affiliated university school of medicine. A faculty reference letter can be requested only for placements of two weeks or longer and is never guaranteed. Certificates document attendance; they do not confer a qualification or a licence to practise.
What does the fee cover, and when do I pay?
The fee typically covers the rotation itself, scrubs, a locker, a visitor access card, meals at the staff canteen and the certificate, including VAT. Travel, visa, accommodation and insurance are separate. The fee is confirmed in writing after the eligibility review and is paid once the placement is confirmed; the letter of acceptance is issued after payment.
Who arranges the visa and accommodation?
You do. The letter of acceptance supports your visa application and host staff can advise on the documentation, but obtaining the visa remains your responsibility. Accommodation is booked and paid by you; the host can suggest options near the campus.
Why is the hospital not named on this page?
ATDERA coordinates the programme for the host hospital and shares the hospital's identity, its department pages and the supervising faculty with each applicant as soon as the eligibility screen is complete. This keeps the public page factual and the host's name out of advertising.
Can ATDERA guarantee my acceptance?
No. ATDERA screens your file and prepares it for the department; the admission decision and the dates rest with the host hospital. A complete file, early submission and clear objectives make acceptance more likely, but nothing is guaranteed.

Apply for a placement in Paediatrics

One online application for both routes: your details, programme choice and documents in five short steps, with a personal link to return at any time. ATDERA reviews the file and replies with next steps, typically within two working days.

  • Five short steps: your details, education, programme choice, documents and declaration.
  • A personal link by email, so you can leave and return where you stopped — for 60 days.
  • Documents are uploaded in step 4; you need nothing to hand to begin.
Start your applicationAsk a question on WhatsApp

Already started? The application page picks up where you left off.

Further reading

Other specialties

ATDERA Global Limited (Companies House No. 17173428, registered in England and Wales) coordinates this programme for a university teaching hospital in Istanbul. ATDERA is not a hospital and does not provide clinical care; admission decisions and certificates are the host hospital's.

Ready to apply?

One online application covers both routes and all twenty-one specialties — details, programme choice and documents in five short steps. ATDERA reviews the file and replies with next steps, typically within two working days.

Apply nowAsk a question on WhatsApp