Electives
The elective period for Bristol medics has recently changed to the end of fifth year, running from April to May. It is a time set aside for medics to:
- Continue further study in a speciality you enjoy
- Experience medical practice in any part of the World
- Consider potential career paths
As the elective period now falls at the end of fifth year, students will be free from April until their Foundation jobs start in August. So think big, you’ve got a break of more than 3 months to play with!
NEW Medical Trip Reports
We’re building a new database of reports on Electives, SSCs and other medical trips to help people planning trips abroad. Click here to visit the database, or add your own experiences.
We’re building a new database of reports on Electives, SSCs and other medical trips to help people planning trips abroad. Click here to visit the database, or add your own experiences.
Things to consider
- Home/abroad
- Developing/developed country
- Safety of the country (www.fco.gov.uk)
- Language barriers
- Climate
- Infectious diseases
- Things to do outside work
- Whether you want to go alone or with a friend
NB, elective periods can combine two different parts i.e. a developed country followed by a developing country.
The BMA has produced a guide highlighting ethical considerations of an elective in a developing country – Click here to read more.
Deciding where to go
- Our Medical Trip Reports database.
- The Elective Network from the MDU. This website should be your first port of call, containing lots of official information, including information about safety of placements and bursaries and stacks of electives reports from all over the world. Signing up is free (but requires your MDU membership number).
- Previous students (previous elective reports can be found in the Clinical Office). Furthermore, we have some reports of our own right here.
- Hospital staff e.g. your elective supervisor
- The internet (see below for a starting list)
Key Sites:
Books:
- WHO: Directory of Medical Schools
- Medics Guide to Work and Electives around the World by Mark Wilson (a copy is in the Clinical Office and several copies in the Medical Library)
Funding Your Trip
- Details of bursaries and prizes funding elective study administered by the Faculty of Medicine are available in the Elective Office and at the back of the fourth year handbook
- Writing to people
- Drugs companies
- Equipment suppliers
- Local companies
- Your school
- Rotary clubs
- Grants-books for general grants:
- The Directory of Grant Making Trusts
- The Grant Register
- Educational Grants Directory
- Sponsorship for Students
- The Medics Guide
NB, Research will increase your chance of getting funding (for more details, visit the Medical Research Council
Health and Safety
- Have the appropriate vaccinations and anti-malarials
- Get visas if required
- Get indemnity from MPS or MDU
- Get travel insurance
