SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, MEDICAL SCIENCES AND NUTRITION

MEDICAL ELECTIVES
1. INITIAL APPLICATION

All applications for clinical elective attachments are processed through the Institute of Education for Medical
and Dental Sciences. Students should not therefore apply directly to any departments, but correspond directly
with the Clinical Elective Secretary via nhsg.clinicalelectives@nhs.net. Also if you have any questions before
applying please contact the Clinical Elective Secretary through above email address.

Attachments can be arranged for a MINIMUM of 4 WEEKS and a MAXIMUM of 8 WEEKS ONLY. Please note that
requests for longer or shorter attachments will not be considered. The period for Electives is July to August ONLY as
University of Aberdeen medical students have priority during term times.

Clinical attachments may be available in the following departments/specialties:

Accident & Emergency Mental Health

Anaesthetics Neurology
Cardiology Neurosurgery
Diabetes and Endocrinology Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Forensic Medicine Oncology
Gastroenterology Orthopaedic Surgery
General Surgery Paediatrics
Haematology Plastic Surgery
Infectious Diseases Radiology
Medicine – General Renal Medicine
Medicine for the Elderly Rheumatology

There is no formal teaching programme. Students will join in all the clinical activities and participate in teaching rounds,
case conferences, etc, that are held regularly in the various units/specialties.

University of Aberdeen will be able to stamp/verify the attachment provided this is requested within an appropriate
timescale.

If you wish to proceed with the application, please send the following (all documents to be in English or with English official
translation):

 Completed Application form.

 A declaration from the Dean or Head of Medical School where you are currently registered.
 A clear and legible copy of your passport page with your photo.
 Transcript of grades/exams passed – in English - to date in your medical career.
 Payment of £250.00 (sterling) – will be required if successful in obtaining an elective placement (see note 7)
 Confirmation of Immunisations (See note 5 below).
 Proof that you do not have a criminal record (See note 6 below).
 Evidence of English language competence (See note 8 below).
 Evidence of personal insurance (See note 13 below).
 Check if you require a visa (See note 2 below).

If using a paper copy of the form, please write clearly in BLOCK CAPITALS using black ink.
Applications must be submitted a minimum of 6 months before you hope to commence your elective.

Receipt of an application form does not guarantee an offer of attachment. Places are limited and are offered on a first-
come-first-served basis. If there are vacancies in your desired specialty, the application process will begin. If an offer is
made, acceptance must be sent in writing to the Clinical Elective Secretary within 4 weeks of receiving the offer. If we do
not receive your acceptance within this period the offer will be withdrawn.

Before submitting an application, please ensure you have sufficient funds to take up the offer of an elective attachment,
should we be able to make such an offer to you. Aberdeen University does not charge visiting students for tuition, but you
would be required to pay for your own living expenses. You must be able to cover the cost of your travel to and from
Aberdeen as well as your accommodation and living expenses whilst here.

2. UK VISAS and IMMIGRATION ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

If you are from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland you will be required to check whether
you require a visa. Please go to: https://www.gov.uk/apply-short-term-study-visa

If you require a visa, please complete the online application form and follow the process, you will be supplied with an
acceptance letter to prove you are studying with the University of Aberdeen.

If you do not require a visa, you will be required to bring the following information to the UK:
 A letter of acceptance from the University of Aberdeen (this will be supplied to you).
 Are able to fund your stay in the UK and your return journey.
 Intend to leave the UK at the end of your elective.
 Details of where you intend to stay during your elective.

3. OFFER OF ATTACHMENT

The attachment will be confirmed in writing via email. We will try to offer your first choice of specialty UNLESS:

 There are NO VACANCIES.

 The Consultant is on holiday during these dates.
 The dates correspond with an examination or specialty course for our own students.

Please note that once an offer has been made the £250.00 fee will NOT be refunded.

4. ACCOMMODATION

Arranging accommodation is your own responsibility. Please note that we cannot guarantee availability of University
accommodation. There is no hospital accommodation for students.

During July and August, you may be able to reserve single room accommodation in the University Self-Catering Flats
located at Hillhead of Seaton, Old Aberdeen, approximately three miles from the major teaching hospitals. For more
information and/or reservation enquiries, please contact:

Hillhead Halls of Residence

Don Street
Aberdeen
AB24 1WU
Tel: 01224 274014
E-mail: hillhead.halls@abdn.ac.uk
Website : www.abdn.ac.uk/accommodation/index.php

We also suggest you try Unite, which offers accommodation to local and visiting students. The accommodation they offer
is more central and can work out cheaper than Hillhead. Please check out their website: www.unite-students.com for
more information. Alternatively private rentals can be found at: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/
5. IMMUNISATION

Any student who is accepted for an elective will be sent on-line Pre-Acceptance Health Questionnaire Screening Form
and Immunisation Record for completion by the Student Health Service of the home institution. If this is incomplete, your
application will automatically be rejected. You may also be reviewed by our Occupational Health Service prior to starting
your elective.

6. CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK

Any student who is accepted for an elective attachment must obtain a letter from their Police Force or Government of
their country, stating that they have no criminal convictions and are not undergoing any criminal investigation. Any offer
of a place is conditional on this condition being met.

7. ADMINISTRATION FEE

An administration charge of £250.00 will be required if you are successful in being offered an elective. Payment can be
made by cheque or via bank transfer. If you wish to pay by bank transfer please use the following:

University of Aberdeen
Bank of Scotland
Account Number: 00841800
Sort Code: 80-05-14
Iban Number: GB45 BOFS80051
Swift Code: BOFSGB21353

Please note that once an offer has been made and accepted and the £250.00 fee paid we will NOT be able to
refund this fee.

8. EVIDENCE OF COMMAND OF ENGLISH – IF LIVING IN A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRY

Applicants whose first language is not English need to provide an English language qualification taken in the
last 2 years.
If offered an attachment, students should provide ONE of the following test certificates (copy):
 IELTS minimum score of 7.0 in each section.
 TOEFL-internet based test (iBT) of 100 (21 Writing and Listening, 22 Reading, 23 Speaking).
 Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) Grade B or higher.
 Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) grade A.
 Degree from an English speaking University (both teaching and examinations must be in English). Letter of
confirmation required from University.
 SQA Standard Grade in English, minimum level 2.
 GSCE in English, minimum level B.
 International Baccalaureate, English at higher or standard level. Grade 5.

9. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

We expect applicants to be in their last or penultimate year of study of their Medical degree, as students are expected to
have done some clinical training before they can undertake an elective in Aberdeen. Elective students will ONLY BE
TAKEN DURING JULY AND AUGUST when their training does not conflict with the training of our own students.

10. CANCELLATION OF AN ELECTIVE ATTACHMENT

If at any time an applicant wishes to withdraw an application or cancel an offer of attachment, this should be done
IMMEDIATELY, in writing to the Clinical Elective Secretary. If an offer has already been made the administration fee will
NOT be refunded.
11. CHANGING DATES OR DEPARTMENTS

Once an offer has been made, we will NOT be able to change the specialty that has been offered.

It is also unlikely that dates may be changed, especially at short notice. We reserve the right to change a student’s elective
if the specialty is no longer able to accept a student. (Occasionally, resource issues may mean that attachments have to
be changed, and on some occasions, cancelled.)

12. ACCEPTING AN OFFER

Offers of attachment will be held open for 4 weeks. If no confirmation of acceptance is received from the applicant within
that time, his/her name will be removed from the files and the place will be offered to another student. It is important
therefore that applicants confirm acceptance as soon as possible, either by letter or email.

13. PERSONAL & MALPRACTICE INSURANCE

Elective students must provide evidence that they are covered by personal insurance during their elective period.
Malpractice will be covered by CNORIS provided student is fully supervised.
Please return completed form to: Clinical Elective Secretary, University of Aberdeen, Department of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, MacGillivary Ground Floor, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD.

APPLICATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE

CLINICAL ELECTIVE ATTACHMENT

Applicant Ref No (will be allocated by the University) Date Received (entered by the University)

* delete as appropriate

I declare that *I require / I do not require a VISA to enter the United Kingdom to study. You require a VISA if you do not
hold a passport from the UK, or the EU, or the European Economic Area.

You must provide the following information as the University of Aberdeen will use it to apply for a CAS Number from the UK
Visas and Immigration on your behalf if you require a visa. Failure to provide accurate, legible information may result in
inaccurate data submission to the UKVI and the University reserves the right to charge you an additional administration fee
in order to correct. The UKVI will only issue a CAS number not more than 6 months in advance of the study date.

Please write clearly and complete all fields below in BLOCK CAPITALS.
You must also provide a CLEAR AND LEGIBLE copy of your passport page containing your photo.

Section 1 Personal Details (BLOCK Letters Please)

THESE DETAILS MUST BE AS PER PASSPORT
Surname/Family Name
Forename 1
Forename 2
Forename 3
Title: (Miss/Ms/Mrs/Mr/Dr)
Previous Name (if applicable)
Date of Birth
Passport Number
Passport Date of Issue
Passport Expiry Date
Passport Place of Issue
Nationality
Country of Birth

Have you been a student in this University before?

(please tick the appropriate box) Yes No
If yes, please give your Student Identification number, if known
If yes most recent Aberdeen University programme
 Section 2 Address Details (BLOCK Letters Please))
Permanent Home Address (the one you declare to Visa authorities in order to apply for a Visa to enter the UK)
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
Address Line 4
Postcode
Telephone Number Day Evening
(with country and area code)
Fax Number (if available)
E-mail Address (if available)

Contact address (if different to above)

Address Line 1
Address Line 2
Address Line 3
Address Line 4
Postcode
Telephone Number Day Evening
(with country and area code)
Fax Number (if available)
E-mail Address (if available)

Section 3
Residential Category (Please tick the appropriate box)
UK/EU National, resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) and/or Switzerland for the last three years

UK/EU National, temporarily employed outwith the EEA

Non-EU National, exempt from Immigration Control and resident in UK for last 3 years

Non-EU National, with Refugee Status or Exceptional Leave to Remain

National of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein in the UK as Migrant Worker

None of the above

If not British or European Union National, date of most recent entry to the UK

If you have a criminal conviction, enter x in the box.

English Language Proficiency (please complete only if native language is not English)
IELTS Score: TOEFL Score: Cambridge Certificate of English:
test date: test date: Test date:
Other (please give details of recent English Language Proficiency including formal qualifications)
EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Section 4 Current or Most Recent Educational Institution (BLOCK Letters Please)

Name of Current or Most Recent Institution
Month and Year of Entry

Year of study at time of proposed elective

Length of medical degree

Attachments can be arranged for a MINIMUM OF 4 WEEKS and a MAXIMUM of 8 WEEKS ONLY. Please note that
requests for longer or shorter attachments will NOT be considered.

Section 5 Programme to which Application is being Made (BLOCK Letters Please)

Type of Study
Proposed Programme and Department of study Visiting Clinical Elective Student (12A35499)
Preferred Specialty 1
Preferred Specialty 2
Preferred Specialty 3
Intended start date of elective (Day/Month/Year)

Intended completion of elective (Day/Month/Year)

Proposed Mode of Study Full Time √

DECLARATION

I certify that the information given in this application is correct and complete. If I am admitted to the University I
undertake to observe the University’s Regulations and to ensure payment of financial liabilities to the University.
I agree that the University of Aberdeen may process personal data contained in this form, or other data which the
University may obtain from me or other people whilst I am an applicant and student, for any purposes connected
with my application or for any other legitimate reason.

Signature of Applicant: Date:

 This form must be completed by the Applicant’s Dean
or Head of Medical School/College

Name of Student: ………………………………………………………………………

1. The above named is a student at ………………………………………………..

(please state name of Medical School) and is in his/her …..….. year of studying Medicine.

2. General assessment of student’s character and conduct:

3. Please comment on the student’s academic ability: (please tick)

Below Average Average Above Average

4. Please comment on the student’s clinical ability: (please tick)

Below Average Average Above Average

5. This student is proficient in written English? Yes No

This student is proficient in spoken English? Yes No

Declaration

I support this application: with reservation without reservation

Signature: ………………………………… Date: …………………….

Name: ………………………………….

Position: …………………………………. Official Stamp of Institution

or Medical School:
University: ………………………………….

Address: ………………………………….

…………………………………

………………………………….

Fax No: ………………………………….

Email: …………………………………