Elective (medical)

An elective represents a unique opportunity for medical students to experience healthcare in a setting unfamiliar to that in which they are accustomed to studying,[1] or in a place or field of specific interest.

[3] This is classically in a low resource setting, but may also be to experience a specialist field, a place the student is considering working in the future, or for a variety of other reasons.

[note 2] In addition, students often retrospectively describe how their placements broadened their horizons with regards to the social issues affecting healthcare in developing countries.

In these cases, the sponsor may require that the student undertakes some form of project whilst on their elective to justify the expense.

Some (such as Aberdeen) require students to submit a written project as part of their placement, whereas other institutions utilise few formal assessments.