Where the placement takes place
- Thoracic operating theatre — minimally invasive and open lists
- Bronchoscopy suite
- Thoracic oncology multidisciplinary board
- Thoracic intensive care and ward rounds
Rolling admission · Istanbul · Delivered in English
Thoracic Surgery Observership & Fellowship video-assisted and robotic lung surgery, mediastinal and airway surgery
Observe a thoracic surgery service — lung resection by minimally invasive and open approaches, mediastinal and chest-wall surgery, and the thoracic oncology board — at a university teaching hospital in Istanbul.
- 12 specialties
- Observership 1–4 weeks
- Fellowship 6–12 months
- English-medium · proof required
- Routes
- Observership 1–4 weeks · Fellowship 6–12 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 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.
- Anatomical lung resection by video-assisted and, where scheduled, robotic-assisted approaches
- Open thoracotomy for complex resections and chest-wall reconstruction
- Mediastinal surgery, including thymectomy
- Tracheal and airway procedures, and pleural interventions
- Bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound sessions with the pulmonology team
- The thoracic oncology multidisciplinary board
- Thoracic intensive care rounds and chest-drain management on the ward
Who applies
Clinical Observership
Students and graduate physicians preparing for cardiothoracic or general surgical training who want structured exposure to minimally invasive lung surgery and its perioperative care.
Clinical Fellowship
Thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons with a specialist qualification seeking extended exposure to minimally invasive resection, airway surgery or thoracic oncology over a full clinical cycle.
Two routes, one application
Choose the route that matches your stage. Both are delivered in English at the same host hospital and both are applied for through the single form on this page.
Clinical Observership
- Duration
- 1, 2 or 4 weeks (extension possible on request)
- Who it is for
- Medical students in clinical years and graduate physicians from outside Turkey
- Format
- Full-time, strictly observational — outpatient clinics, operating theatre, ward rounds, case discussions
- Certificate
- Certificate of attendance issued by the host hospital and signed by its Medical Director
- Start
- Rotations typically begin on a Monday; dates are agreed individually
- 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
- Duration
- 6 to 12 months, agreed with the host department
- Who it is for
- Recognised specialists and family physicians seeking advanced exposure beyond standard specialty training
- Format
- Extended observational attachment to one department: daily practice, service structure and specific techniques
- Certificate
- Certificate on completion issued under the accreditation of the affiliated university school of medicine
- Start
- Start date planned around the date you request and the department's capacity
- 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 the application works
01
Submit the form on this page
Tell us the route, the specialty, your preferred duration and start window, and your English level. No documents are needed at this stage.
02
Eligibility screen by ATDERA
Our coordination team reviews your details against the route criteria and replies, typically within two working days, with the document checklist and the host-hospital application form.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Questions specific to this specialty
Apply for a placement in Thoracic Surgery
One form for both routes. ATDERA's coordination team screens eligibility and responds with the document checklist and next steps, typically within two working days.
Further reading
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 form covers both routes and all twelve specialties. ATDERA replies with the document checklist and next steps, typically within two working days.