Visiting Student Electives Program

Applicants from Canadian Medical Schools

Please note that effective immediately all applications will be completed online. Before applying, you should read the information included below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Health Requirements for Students in Clinical Placements

Policy on Infectious Diseases

Pre-Entry Requirements in Clinical Experience Areas

In-Placement Notification to Occupational Healh Services

Guidelines for Eligibility:

• Students must be enrolled in the final two years of a Doctor of Medicine program.
• Applicants cannot complete core rotations in the Visiting Student Electives Program at the Schulich School of Medicine.  
• For students enrolled in non-Ontario medical schools, electives are available for up to a total of 12 weeks. No exceptions can be made.
• Proof of (Canadian) medical liability (malpractice) insurance MUST be provided.
• Electives offer no remuneration, nor is financial aid available from this faculty.
• Health insurance is compulsory for all visiting elective students, and is the responsibility of the student.
• Electives are non-refundable.

Please note:  all placements are to be made through the Visiting Electives Office.  Students are not permitted to make prior arrangements with any department or physician at any of the hospitals or clinics.

Application Process:

• A completed on-line application form, plus the elective fee must be received four (4) months before the start date of the elective.
• Immunization form to be completed once an elective has been approved and confirmed by the VSE office.
• Students from Canadian Universities are required to pay a fee of $100.00 per elective, payable online.
• Receipt of application and fee does not guarantee confirmation of placement.
• For more information, see FAQs or email electives@schulich.uwo.ca.

Two Types of Electives Offered:

1) Clinical Electives offered to students who have completed a core rotation in the discipline applied for:

 ¹ Department of Family Medicine will give priority to Canadian medical schools from September to December.  Electives are offered only to Canadian citizens studying in International medical schools, up to a maximum of 4 weeks.

 ² Department of Medicine - minimum of 2 weeks and maximum of 4 weeks in: Cardiology, Clinical Immunology & Allergy, Clinical Pharmacology, Critical Care, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Haematology/ Oncology, Nephrology, and Respiratory Medicine.  Note: Emergency Medicine can only offer a 2-week elective, while Rheumatology will only offer a 4-week elective. 

³ Subdepartments in the Department of Paediatrics include: Neonatology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Pharmacology, Endocrinology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Cardiology, Haematology/Oncology, Developmental, and Genetics.

⁴ Department of Psychiatry - minimum of 2 weeks and maximum of 4 weeks in: Child & Adolescent, General Adult, Geriatric, Psychosis, Mood & Anxiety Disorders, Consultation-Liaison, Addictions, and Forensics.

⁵ Rural electives: offered depending on preceptor availability in Psychiatry, Family Medicine, ER, Pathology, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Ob/Gyn and Internal Medicine.

⁶ Surgery:  the maximum elective period in the Department of Surgery is 4 weeks.  Electives are available in the subspecialties of General, Cardiac, Orthopaedic, Plastic & Reconstructive, Thoracic, Vascular, and Urology. 

⁷ Windsor electives: Anaesthesia, Family Medicine, Medicine (including Allergy/ Immunology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergency, Endocrinology/Metabolism, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Nephrology, Respirology, Rheumatology), Obstetrics & Gynaecology (General), Oncology, Paediatrics (General), Surgery (including General, Orthopaedics, Plastics, Urology, Vascular), Psychiatry (General), Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Neurosurgery, and Rehabilitation.

2) Pre-clinical Electives - if you have not completed a core rotation in the discipline applied for, the following will be offered (maximum 4 weeks):

¹ Department of Medicine: Emergency Medicine not offered.

² Department of Surgery: maximum of 2 week electives available from January - August.

Cancellation of An Elective:

Six weeks notice must be given if a student wishes to cancel an elective.  If a cancellation notice is received in less than 6 weeks before the start of the elective, a letter noting lack of professional behaviour will be sent to the student's home university.

Travel and Accommodation:

• You should not make any travel arrangements until your elective has been confirmed.
• You are responsible for arranging your own accommodation.  Once you have been accepted, a listing of accommodation will be provided to you.

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Health Requirements for Students in Clinical Placements: 

Please read the health requirements carefully. You MUST be prepared to provide proof of any or all requirements at any given time during your clinical placement at Western.  Click Here for the current Immunization Policy.

Policy on Infectious Diseases: 

When dealing with patients with infections diseases, students are expected to provide care in keeping with the learning objectives for the program and the needs of the patient. It is the obligation of trainees to familiarize themselves with hospital precaution policies and to follow these precautions.

The Undergraduate Education Committee expects all students to govern themselves according to the long standing tradition that the physician has an obligation to treat all patients regardless of affliction and without prejudice.

Pre-Entry Requirements in Clinical Experience Areas: 

The three teaching hospitals are required, under the Public Hospitals Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, to ensure that students receiving clinical experience in the hospital, and the faculty involved, comply with the Act and its regulations. Any problem related to the failure of a student to comply could lead to the student being removed from the clinical experience and liability being placed on the university for the resulting damages to either the patients or staff. 

In-Placement Notification to Occupational Healh Services: 

Students who have any of the following that may affect their duties while at the hospital are to contact Occupational Health Services at the hospital prior to their placement:

1. a major medical condition

2. an infectious condition

3. a significant allergic reaction including a latex sensitivity 

VSE Program:

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
The University of Western Ontario
Medical Sciences Building, Room M100
London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1
tel: (519) 661-2111 ext. 87855
fax: (519) 661-4043
e-mail: electives@schulich.uwo.ca

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