Med Electives for International Students

Have the following information and items prepared prior to filling out the application form.

Please note:

All documents must be in English. If an original document is not available in English, you must provide a notarized translation.
Applications should be received no later than 6 months before your preferred start date.
The university aims to provide an initial response within one month of the application deadline; the full acceptance process may take up to 4 months.
Elective placement (matching) is a separate process and will proceed after acceptance.
Blackout dates: (Academic year '26-'27 blackout period dates: September 11- October 5, 2026 & April 20-30, 2027)

Partner institutions

If you are applying through a partnering institution (currently: University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, McMaster University, the Medical University of Graz, and Northwestern University), follow your home institution’s application procedures first.
Once successfully nominated, you will receive additional information from your program coordinator.
You must submit all required documents for application to be accepted after successful nomination.

Step-by-Step

Prepare documents
- CV in English
- Letter of good standing
- Statement of interest (essay format, max. 1,000 words)
- Academic transcript
- Proof of required clerkships
- Request and have recommender submit ther letter of recommendation via this form

Please consider the following prompts in your statement of interest:

Motivation and goals: Why are you interested in completing a medical elective abroad, and what do you hope to achieve personally and professionally?
Career alignment: How does this elective fit into your broader career goals in medicine?
Relevant experience: Have you participated in any volunteer or extracurricular activities related to healthcare? Please describe what you did and what you learned.
Teamwork: Describe a time you worked effectively in a team in a clinical or academic setting. What role did you play, and what was the outcome?
Receiving feedback: How do you respond to constructive criticism from peers and supervisors? Share a brief example.
Resilience and problem-solving: Describe a challenging situation you faced in your studies or clinical experiences. What actions did you take, and what did you learn?
Adaptability: How do you approach new environments and unfamiliar cultures? What steps do you take to prepare yourself to succeed?
Fit with our institution: What specific aspects of our program or institution attracted you to apply?
Contribution and responsibility: How do you intend to contribute to the team and support a patient-centered environment during your elective (e.g., reliability, initiative, communication, and professionalism)?
Strengths and growth: What is your greatest clinical strength, and what is one area for growth? How are you actively working on it?
Reflection: How do you reflect on your experiences to ensure continuous learning and personal development?
Professionalism and conduct: Electives require strong professionalism. Describe how you consistently demonstrate it (e.g., punctuality, respectful communication, confidentiality, and adherence to institutional expectations).
Respectful handling of sensitive situations: Tell us about a time you navigated disagreement or a sensitive issue respectfully while remaining patient-centered. What did you learn from the experience?