Medical elective placements
Medical elective placements are arranged through Imperial College. These placements last 2–6 weeks (6 weeks maximum), and applicants must be in their penultimate or final year of medical school to be eligible.
Occupational health requirements
All elective students must complete the Occupational Health (OH) and risk assessment form before starting their placement.
Overseas students must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination before the start of their placement..
It is imperative that all elective placement students have documentary evidence of having received two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). You will not be placed in clinical areas if you are unable to provide this evidence or a blood test indicating immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. Immunity to chickenpox is also important; this can be demonstrated through a history of the disease or a blood test indicating immunity. Please note that your elective placement will not be approved without this documentation, and no refund will be given.
FAQs
What year of my university studies should I have reached when I take up a place on the medical elective programme?
Undergraduate medical students should be in their final or penultimate year.
How much are the elective fees?
Elective fees are £600, with an additional £35 for the occupational health fee.
What supporting documents do I need to submit?
- Electives application form
- Passport
- Letter from your university, including the year of study, signed by the Dean or your elective coordinator
- Occupational health questionnaire, including copies of all vaccines
- Evidence of competency in English—some countries, please see a list of acceptable English qualification tests
- An enhanced CRB disclosure no older than 12 months (for UK applicants only)
My school requires certification of satisfactory completion. Where can I get this?
Certificates of satisfactory completion are provided in English only and include:
- Date of placement
- Name of supervisor
- Specialty
What are the minimum/maximum number of weeks for an elective placement?
A minimum of four weeks and a maximum of six weeks.
What are the available specialties?
- Surgery:
- General surgery
- Plastics and burns
- Orthopaedics
- Anaesthetics
- Medicine:
- A&E
- Respiratory medicine
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Endoscopy
- HIV/GUM
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Haematology
- Care of the elderly
- Palliative care
- Paediatrics:
- Neurological development
- Paediatric surgery
- NICU
- General paediatric medicine
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
- Radiology
Once we have the initial information, we will send you contact details of your consultant by specialty choice within 48 hours.