M4 Electives

International Students

The School of Medicine believes that participation in legitimate fourth year electives at international medical schools/teaching hospitals is a valuable educational opportunity. The School also believes that it would be inappropriate to ask such schools to accommodate our students without a reciprocal arrangement for international medical students. This policy approved by Curriculum Council and the Dean, School of Medicine, will apply to all students from international medical schools requesting clinical experience.

The Associate Dean for Student Affairs, who also functions as the M4 Curriculum Coordinator in the Office of Curriculum, has the administrative responsibility for fourth year international electives. The following guidelines will be used:

1. Students from international medical schools are not allowed to participate in School of Medicine M3 clerkships.
2. Requests for M4 electives will be accepted from fulltime students in international medical schools that offer an on-site full clinical educational experience for all of their own students at the same teaching hospital on their campus.
3. “International” medical schools are defined as any school which is not accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Accredited schools are listed in the Association of American Medical Colleges Curriculum Directory and include all allopathic medical schools in the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
4. The Electives Office has the responsibility for handling all requests for electives. The following will be required from each student:
   1. need our application which is under Visiting Medical Student
   2. a letter from the Dean of Students or other officials from the student’s school indicating that the student is in good standing
   3. proof of taken USMLE Step 1 and passing
   4. two letters of recommendation
   5. immunization record—must complete our VCU Certificate of Immunization Form so that our Student Health Office can approve your immunizations
   6. a copy of Passport with photo
   7. a transcript of the student’s clinical performance to date
   8. a narrative, provided either by the student or by the school, detailing the level of responsibility and breadth of experience during the student’s clinical rotations, and
   9. proof of the student’s malpractice and health insurance coverage (VCU/MCV School of Medicine does not offer malpractice insurance to visiting medical students) and we need the information in English
   10. proof of proficiency in English

The Electives Coordinator will gather the information and forward it to the particular Clinical Preceptor inquiring whether the student can be accepted into the Elective. The Preceptor has the final approval.