Helping doctors who are refugees and want to work in medicine in Scotland.
The Refugee Doctors Programme is a comprehensive support package for doctors who are refugees and who want to practise medicine in Scotland.
If you are a doctor and a refugee, and you want to practice medicine in Scotland, you will need to register with the General Medical Council (GMC).
Before you register with the GMC, you will need to pass language tests to confirm that your English language skills are strong enough for you to work safely and effectively with patients.
You will also need to pass exams to demonstrate your medical knowledge. These exams are know as PLAB tests.
The Refugee Doctors Programme is here to help you every step of the way, as you prepare to work in NHS Scotland.
A comprehensive support package for doctors who are refugees.
The Refugee Doctors Project supports qualified refugee and asylum seeker doctors arriving in Scotland to achieve GMC registration and to be ‘job ready’ for the NHS. The project is unique in Scotland and provides a supportive environment to keep doctors fully engaged throughout their journey to GMC registration. Our clients already have qualifications and experience of practicing as doctors. We support them through the milestones of passing the OET language test, followed by PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 medical exams, so they can practice in the UK.
Bridges Programmes provides comprehensive support to the Refugee Doctors at every stage of their journey.
We have consultant doctors and a dedicated caseworker who provide an introductory meeting, ascertain a person’s skills and experience to date, discuss aspirations and opportunities, provide guidance and expectations around the individuals’ most likely route to success.   
We provide study, learning, networking and training opportunities, along with clinical attachments in an NHS setting. There is also employability support available to help doctors get into jobs. 
We provide career guidance and support for those who are unlikely to achieve GMC registration, with other options for further study or alternative roles within health and/or social care.
The length of time required to get to GMC registration varies depending on an individual’s English language level, the length of time since they last practiced medicine, and how much time they can commit to studying for and passing exams. The average timeframe is 2-3 years, but this varies from person to person. 
We are set up to support Refugee Doctors living in Glasgow, however, you’re still welcome to register if you live outside of Greater Glasgow. We will make as many learning and training opportunities as possible available to you, including online preparation for your OET exam and opportunities to attend information sessions remotely.
We facilitate attendance at a face-to-face OET preparation course at the City of Glasgow College or an online OET course, mainly meant for doctors outwith Glasgow. 
We also host an online OET preparation course using our Canvas portal. Once doctors are registered with Bridges, they will receive a link to access Canvas. We also have other information and videos to boost learning and understanding of the NHS, which are available once a doctor has registered with Bridges. Our quarterly hybrid Information & Networking sessions provide opportunities to hear speakers, learn top tips, hear from other Refugee Doctors, and build personal and professional networks.
Via the Bridges website, by completing and submitting a self-referral form in the Doctors Section of the website to be offered either an online or in-person meeting. 
