european psychiatric association

2023-2024 Application process

Eligibility and requirements

  1. The applicants must be Early Career Psychiatrists (psychiatrists under 40 years of age and/or within 5 years after passing the specialist exam) and reside in a country included in the World Health Organisation Europe region (NB: residents and trainees are not eligible for this programme).
  2. The applicant should be fluent in English, and possibly have notions of the host country language for clinical purposes (see list of placements).
  3. The applicant cannot apply for a placement in the country he/she is currently living in.
  4. The applicant must be familiar with the proposed specialty of the department/ institution.
  5. The selected applicant will have to negotiate the terms with his/her own institution to go on leave.

>> Find all detailed information here: Guidelines for GEP applicants

For your online application, you will be asked to provide:

  • Contact information
  • A Professional CV in English
  • Proof of ID – including birthdate (passport or identity card, please black out the national identification numbers)
  • A motivation letter explaining how previous or current work and interests fit with the selected placement(s) and how this observership will help in terms of professional development
  • A proof of fluency in the English language: an official certificate or a statement by the candidate’s supervisor confirming their English level.
  • A copy of the candidate’s certificate of completion of psychiatric training – in English
  • A recommendation letter from the candidate’s supervisor

There is no application fee for the programme. For successful applicants, the EPA is pleased to offer scholarships of €850 to help with travel, accommodation and other expenses. The EPA Office will proceed with the payment of this scholarship once the observership is complete. GEP participants will receive the scholarship via wire transfer shortly after the end date of their placement.

Administrative procedure for GEP participants

  • GEP participants will have to negotiate dates and details of their observership directly with their host institution supervisor before making any arrangements.
  • GEP participants should initiate any necessary visa procedures sufficiently in advance of their visit to the host institution.
  • Once the observership is completed and GEP participants have provided their observership reports, the EPA Office will proceed with the payment of the scholarship.

Application

Candidates may apply for one, two or three placements. If they select more than one, they will be asked to indicate their choice in order of priority when they fill in the online application form. Interest in each placement should be explicitly explained in the motivation letter, as well as relevant experiences and aspirations. Applications are reviewed by the EPA Early Career Psychiatrists Committee to verify eligibility criteria and approve placement requests based on candidates profiles / proposed specialties of the host institution.

The list of placements is available here: List of GEP Placement proposals

Applications for the 2023-2024 Gaining Experience Programme
are now closed!

Contact

For any questions, please contact epa.gep@europsy.net