Applicant guide
How to evaluate hands-on exposure
Ask about participation, supervision and assessed progression rather than relying on a hands-on label.
Define the activities
Ask what you would actually do during a normal week. Will you observe, assist, perform selected steps or act as the primary operator under supervision? Which clinics, inpatient decisions and follow-up activities are included? The answer should distinguish the programme's educational ambition from the duties you can perform under your particular appointment.
Understand progression and supervision
Request an explanation of how responsibility increases, who assesses readiness and how feedback is recorded. Ask how a fellow gets help during a complication and how cases are allocated between fellows, residents and other trainees. A large hospital's overall volume does not establish the volume or autonomy available to an individual fellow.
Test the case-mix claim
List the procedures or patient groups essential to your objective and ask which are routinely represented. Ask for a typical rota and an explanation of variation, rather than an unsupported guarantee of a fixed number of cases. Consider whether research time, leave, service demands or rotations reduce time in the activity you most want to develop.
Agree how outcomes are documented
Ask whether there is a case log, supervisor report, competency assessment or project review. Clarify the certificate awarded and whether recognition outside the host institution requires a separate process. Compare the written training plan with the appointment conditions before accepting. Keep unanswered questions visible in your shortlist.
Your action checklist
- Define the level of permitted participation
- Ask who assesses progression
- Check the fellow's case allocation rather than hospital volume
- Confirm assessment and documentation
Examples from the directory
UroFellow currently lists 251 source-linked subspecialty programmes under hands-on programmes across 191 host institutions in 30 countries: 249 clinical, 0 research and 2 observership. Every record links to an official source and displays its recorded review date.
- Urology and Retroperitoneal Oncology Training Programme (Fellow and Senior Fellow courses) — National Cancer Center Hospital (国立がん研究センター中央病院) · Department of Urology and Retroperitoneal Oncology, Tokyo · 🇯🇵 Japan · Urologic Oncology · Clinical
- HBNI Certified Fellowship in Uro-Oncology — Tata Memorial Centre · Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai · 🇮🇳 India · Urologic Oncology · Clinical
- Fellowship in Renal Transplant Surgery — All India Institute of Medical Sciences · Department of Urology, New Delhi · 🇮🇳 India · Transplant Urology · Clinical
- Fellowship in Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery (Adult) — All India Institute of Medical Sciences · Department of Urology, New Delhi · 🇮🇳 India · Reconstructive Urology · Clinical
- Fellowship in Minimal Invasive Urology (Laparoscopic and Robotics) — All India Institute of Medical Sciences · Department of Urology, New Delhi · 🇮🇳 India · Robotic Urology · Clinical
- Fellowship in Uro-Oncology — All India Institute of Medical Sciences · Department of Urology, New Delhi · 🇮🇳 India · Urologic Oncology · Clinical
Official references
Primary sources checked for this editorial update on 14 October 2026. Use the host’s current instructions for your intake; the linked sources do not endorse UroFellow.
This guide is general educational information. Confirm licensing, visa, employment, funding and programme requirements with the relevant institution and authority.