Apply Here - 4th Year Students

The International Health Equity Learning (IHEL) Program offers Year 4 MD students the opportunity to participate in an international clinical elective at a recognized partner institution (applications are submitted during Clerkship). These clinical placements provide valuable exposure to diverse healthcare systems, global health challenges, and health equity issues while supporting students in achieving their educational and professional goals.

Students are supported throughout the process by the Internationalization Office and the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Office to identify and arrange an elective experience that aligns with their learning objectives.

Application Information:

  • Applications Open: May 2027 (specific date tbc)
  • Applications Close: July 2027 (specific date tbc)
  • Late applications are not accepted
  • Learners may apply for different destinations. To ensure each application is strong, please ensure that it is tailored to the individual destination.
  • All applicants must include a Letter of Academic Good Standing in support of their application. Participants must remain in Academic Good Standing for the duration of the program.
  • Learners with a Professionalism Flag of a Level 2 or higher will not be considered. Learners who receive a Professionalism Flag of a Level 2 or higher will not be permitted to continue with the program.
  • Program duration is four weeks, starting on Monday and ending on Friday. Alternative dates can be arranged, but need to be confirmed directly with the Internationalization Office
  • Learners making travel or other arrangements in advance should consider flexible or refundable options, since changes in their academic standing may affect their eligibility to participate.

 

Application Review & Selection Process:

  1. All applicants will receive a copy of their completed application
  2. When applications close the Internationalization Office will provide confirmation to each applicant that their application is under review.
  3. Applicants who move through the first review stage will be invited for a short virtual panel interview.
  4. All applicants will be notified of the selection decision. Selection and placement offers are typically communicated four weeks after the application deadline.
  5. Successful applicants will be asked to accept or decline their placement around two weeks after the offer.

 

Available Opportunities in Summer 2027:

  1. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Dublin, Ireland)
    1. Travel for four weeks (two elective blocks) between September and December or the clinical elective portion of Transition to MD (typically March/April).
    2. Applicants will need to select at least six different specialties, placement in a specific specialty is not guaranteed.
    3. Current specialties available (subject to change and not guaranteed): anaesthesia, critical care, endocrinology, internal medicine, ENT, general surgery, breast surgery, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, respiratory medicine, cystic fibrosis, stroke medicine, or vascular surgery. Neurosurgery and neurology are also available, but are not guaranteed.
  2. Joint Clinical Research Centre (Kampala, Uganda)
    1. Travel for four weeks (two elective blocks) between September and December or the clinical elective portion of Transition to MD (typically March/April).
    2. Students who travel to the JCRC must travel in a group, flexibility with dates is required.
    3. Rural placements available (via the JCRC network of clinics within Uganda).
  3. VinUniversity (Hanoi, Vietnam)
    1. Travel for four weeks (two elective blocks) between September and December or the clinical elective portion of Transition to MD (typically March/April).
  4. Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen campus (Shenzhen, China)
    1. Travel for four weeks during the clinical elective portion of Transition to MD (typically March/April).
    2. Learners visiting CUHK-SZ will travel as a group participating in a curated elective for Schulich learners. In addition to time in the clinical elective time, Schulich learners will visit medical technology companies that are affiliated with the university and the hospitals.
    3. Additional fees of $1,000 CAD per student are paid directly to CUHK-SZ for learners participating in this elective. 
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For more information on any of the partners listed above, review our Partner Information page contact the Internationalization Office (internationalization@schulich.uwo.ca).