Cardiff University hosts first ‘UK Clinical Internship’ with clinicians from China
9 April 2026
The School of Medicine at Cardiff University has welcomed clinicians from China for a two-week UK Clinical Internship, strengthening international collaboration in medical education and clinical training.
The programme marked the first UK Clinical Internship for delegates from the The Third Bethune Clinical College of Jilin University, based in north-eastern China, and reflects Cardiff’s commitment to global engagement and professional development in healthcare. The visit began with a formal signing ceremony at the Senedd, recognising the partnership between the two institutions, before clinicians took part in a structured programme of continuing professional development (CPD), clinical placements and academic exchange.
During the internship, visiting clinicians participated in a range of Cardiff University CPD courses aligned to their medical and surgical specialties. Alongside gaining CPD certification, the programme created opportunities for shared learning with clinicians from NHS Wales and England. This collaborative approach enabled discussion around postgraduate medical education, clinical training pathways and professional development across different healthcare systems.
Working in partnership with five NHS University Health Boards and NHS trusts, the School of Medicine organised tailored clinical placements across multiple hospital sites in Wales. Each visiting clinician was matched with an NHS consultant in their specialist field. Placements covered emergency medicine, trauma and resuscitation, intensive care, general medicine and a range of surgical subspecialties.
Delegates were also introduced to pre-hospital and rescue medicine through emergency retrieval and ambulance services and observed multidisciplinary team meetings to understand collaborative approaches to patient care. In addition, the School delivered a series of seminars led by NHS consultants and academic staff, focusing on clinical systems, training structures, medical treatments and surgical techniques, selected to reflect the interests of the visiting clinicians.
Facilitating this new ‘UK Clinical Internship’ demonstrates Cardiff University’s commitment to international collaboration in medical education and improving patient care globally.
Developing a joint CPD Programme
The internship also supported the development of a new joint CPD course, with workshops led by Cardiff’s Learning and Teaching Academy. Sessions compared postgraduate training models in the UK and China before focusing on course design and pre-course e-learning development. The course will now progress through Cardiff Medical School’s scrutiny and approval processes before being awarded CPD points and delivered in both countries.
Senior representatives from the The Third Bethune Clinical College of Jilin University also joined wider discussions with Cardiff University, NHS Wales and UK government stakeholders, exploring future educational initiatives and the continuation of existing research collaborations.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr Haotian Yuan, Attending Physician and Maxillofacial Surgeon at The Third Bethune Clinical College of Jilin University, said: “These two weeks have been extremely valuable and will help us deliver higher-quality teaching for our students.” Associate Professor and Colorectal Surgeon Mr Xiao Huijie added: “This experience will directly inform how I teach when I return to China.”
Further UK Clinical Internships with clinicians from The Third Bethune Clinical College of Jilin University are planned in the coming year, reinforcing Cardiff University’s role as a global medical school working to improve healthcare outcomes in Wales and internationally.
Mr Tie Wang, Thyroid Surgeon, The Third Bethune Clinical College of Jilin University, commented: “Going into surgical theatre, to see [the NHS’s] advanced techniques and how they treat their patients, is a very great experience for us. The most impressive part was the CPD courses. [Cardiff University] use a set of very realistic simulation manikins and advanced educational techniques to teach doctors.”
Mr Jiayang Sun, Orthopaedic Surgeon, The Third Bethune Clinical College of Jilin University, reflected: “We experienced NHS healthcare system, and it has significant difference for Chinese healthcare system. What we have been observed will be helpful to us to improve our health care in the future.”
The School of Medicine has partnered with NHS Wales for decades to provide undergraduate clinical placements – we are extremely proud to be doing this again to offer clinical placements for overseas postgraduate doctors as part of the ‘UK Clinical Internship’ programme. It recommits the medical school’s purpose to strive to be one of the world’s leaders in medical CPD and improved patient care.
If you are interested in developing a bespoke professional development programme with the University, please get in touch with the Continuing Professional Development Unit for an initial chat: