NHS posts attract many international applicants, and shortlisting is usually done against a person specification. Your cover letter (and the “supporting information” box on NHS Jobs) is where you prove — point by point — that you meet it. Generic letters lose; specific, evidence-based letters get interviews.
The structure that works
- Opening (2–3 lines). The post, the trust, and who you are: grade, specialty, years of experience, and GMC status.
- Clinical experience. Case-mix, settings, procedures and responsibilities that match the job description. Use numbers you can defend.
- Quality improvement and audit. NHS employers value completed audit cycles and QI projects. State the question, what you changed and the result.
- Teaching and teamwork. Teaching juniors or students, MDT work, leadership on shifts.
- Why this trust, why the UK. One honest, specific paragraph.
- Close. Availability, notice period, visa needs stated plainly, and thanks.
GMC registration — say exactly where you are
Recruiters filter on registration. Write it precisely: “Full GMC registration with a licence to practise (GMC no. …)”, “PLAB 2 passed, GMC application submitted”, or “PLAB 1 passed, PLAB 2 booked for …”. Never imply registration you do not hold. The General Medical Council sets the routes (PLAB, accepted postgraduate qualifications or sponsorship) and the English requirement (IELTS Academic or OET).
Example opening
I am applying for the Clinical Fellow in Acute Medicine post at your trust. I am an internal medicine doctor with five years of post-graduation experience, including three years in a busy acute medical unit, and I hold full GMC registration with a licence to practise. I have led two completed audit cycles on sepsis bundle compliance and regularly teach final-year medical students.
Example only — use your own verified details.
Tips from the person specification
- Mirror its headings: clinical skills, communication, governance, teaching, personal attributes.
- Give one piece of evidence per criterion.
- Use UK spelling and NHS terms: “trust”, “rota”, “MDT”, “on-call”.
- Keep it to one page for a cover letter; supporting information can be longer but stays focused.
Want a first draft in your own words? Open the free Bioixa Studio — pick your role and destination and get a recruiter-ready draft in under a minute. No signup.
Requirements change. Always confirm current rules with the official regulator linked on this page before you apply. Bioixa helps you write and present your experience; it does not grant licences, visas or jobs.