This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Cleland, J., Cilliers, F. and van Schalkwyk, S. (2018), The learning environment in remediation: a review. Clin Teach, 15: 13–18., which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1111/tct.12739. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.