Selecting a Location

The choice of location is mostly a decision between high tech western medicine and medicine in the developing world. This choice will clearly be influenced by the subject choice and where it is reasonable to carry out a project. The section on previous electives provides details on where previous electives have taken place along with some contact details of the host supervisors, and where available, feedback from students on their experience. It may well take some time – weeks or months – to establish contact with a supervisor in a host institution, even with modern IT. This is one reason for the need for advanced organisation for electives.

You are advised to contact supervisors in host institutions and not, at least initially, the institution. Many universities in developed countries have web addresses for electives but will not contemplate applications more than a few months before the start date. Knowing a supervisor will support such an application is useful and most supervisors will be happy to consider applications well in advance. Approaching more than one supervisor is often useful although this brings the need to be sure that when a final choice is made any other contact is informed of the fact that you will not be following up the inquiry.

It is essential that a supervisor in a host institution is aware of the requirements of the Aberdeen Programme. Electives in many other medical schools do not require projects to be carried out and so students are advised to be specific about this so that the host institution is completely aware of this programme. It is your responsibility to ensure this has taken place.

Many students choose to travel abroad to carry out their elective. It should be pointed out, however, that many excellent electives are carried out in Aberdeen and the North of Scotland. Whilst as much as possible is done to widen student choice and opportunity to travel, there is no requirement for you to do so and Aberdeen and North of Scotland electives are equally acceptable.

There are a number of institutions overseas who would be keen to take Aberdeen students.  Please bear in mind that some of these normally only offer electives for shorter periods than the required 8 week elective.  You should discuss this with them to ensure you can meet the requirements of the degree.  We do not specifically recommend any of these institutions

You may also wish to consider using an organised scheme run by organisations such as

The Charities Advisory Trust called Medical Students Electives http://www.medicalstudentelectives.org/ or

Medforce www.medforce.info or

Projects Abroad www.projects-abroad.co.uk  or

Frontier www.frontier.ac.uk

Medic Journey International www.medicjourneyinternational.com

We do not specifically recommend any of these institutions so the decision whether to use them will entirely be at your own discretion.

A number of practical factors are worth thinking about.

• Costs of travel and accommodation. It is your responsibility to finance your elective.  We would strongly recommend you do not consider an overseas elective if you are already having financial difficulties as the university will not fund electives outwith any elective travel bursary you may be awarded (based on elective outline/interview score).  Anyone planning an elective overseas and applying for hardship funding is likely to have their application rejected.
• Institutional fees.
• Costs for medical interventions eg vaccinations.
• Health issues – risks of infective diseases, parasitic infestations, HIV, hepatitis A, B, C, sunburn, frostbite, violence. For electives in high risk areas you may be asked to sign a disclaimer for HIV/ Aids.  We would strongly recommend you check the guidelines at the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) https://nathnac.net/  or NHS http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcareabroad/pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx or http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/
• Students are strongly advised that an elective in war zones or areas of civil unrest should not be undertaken and we would direct you to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for the latest guidance http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/.  We would also advise you register for the FCO Locate service.  Remember any insurance may be voided if you travel outside the advice given by the FCO.
• Language – translators cannot be expected and staff in host locations cannot be expected to speak on students’ behalf.  As a minimum we would recommend you learn how to say hello, goodbye and thank you, and other pleasantries in the local language,
• Culture - have you considered how different to the UK the culture in your host country may be?  You should always observe local customs.
• Resources needed to carry out the project.
• Paperwork - some institutions will require you to produce paperwork and verifications when you apply.  This particularly applies to institutions in the USA, so if you are keen to go there be prepared to put in work before your application is considered. Applications at University of Illinois at Rockford are immediately considered however (contact d.corriveau@abdn.ac.uk) and the cost for application and elective is £500.00; go to University of Aberdeen Student Elective to University of Illinois at Rockford for other information.
• We would also recommend having a "plan B" in case the elective falls apart. Electives at the University of Illinois go ahead (i.e. don’t fall apart)/(contact d.corriveau@abdn.ac.uk).
• Time passes faster than imagined.

It is often possible to get funding towards your elective experience if you know where to look and the Funding Your Medical Elective section provides invaluable guidance and suggestions.

It is worth checking out both the Government guidance on travel https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice  and/or the Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ prior to making a final decision, in particular for unsettled parts of the world.

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