european psychiatric association

Gaining Experience Programme

Objectives

  1. Offer Early Career Psychiatrists short observership placements (2-8 weeks) in various renowned psychiatric institutions across Europe that will allow them to broaden their clinical, research, teaching skills and knowledge, and become familiar with different mental health systems in Europe.
  2. Improve mentoring and professional networks among experts and Early Career Psychiatrists.
  3. Gather more Early Careers Psychiatrists under the EPA Early Career Psychiatrists Committee (ECPC) umbrella.

Observership Placements

This is a unique experience for Early Career Psychiatrists! The 2025 winners will have the opportunity to fulfill their observerships all around Europe:

Want a sneak peek? Then check out what participants have to say about previous editions!

Eligibility

  1. Applicants must be Early Career Psychiatrists (psychiatrists under 40 years of age and/or within 5 years after passing the specialist exam). Residents and trainees are not eligible for this programme.
  2. Applicants must reside in a country included in the World Health Organisation – European Region (Select “European Region” from the drop-down list) and cannot apply for a placement in the country he/she is currently living in.
  3. The applicant should be fluent in English and should have notions of the host country language for clinical purposes.
  4. The applicant must be familiar with the proposed speciality of the department/institution.

Programme Requirements

  • According to their profile and activities, institutions can offer clinicalacademic, research-focused observerships, or a combination of these areas (see each placement descriptions above). Applicants must be familiar with the proposed specialty of the department/ institution they have chosen. For clinical purposes, applicants should be fluent in English and have notions of the host country language.
  • Participants are encouraged to prepare a presentation about their work, institution and interests to be performed at the hosting institution as a way of sharing knowledge.
  • As different countries have different regulations for patient confidentiality and right to clinical work, the exact level of patient contact or clinical participation during the placement should be discussed in advance with the host institutions.
  • Participants will be asked to write an observership report (example of reports).
  • Participants are strongly encouraged to present the experience gained during the programme at their home institution upon their return.

Application

Visit our dedicated webpage to know more about the application process.