Elective Database

Find out what previous students had to say about their clinical elective.

Tell us about your elective experience here.

View the 2025 WAMSS Electives Guide here.

  • Student Name: Alif Sajam
    Host Institution: Jutendo University Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 09/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 20/12/2024
    Specialty: Paediatric General and Urogenital Surgery
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://en.juntendo.ac.jp/academics/clinical-observership/
    Tips for applying: Easy to apply through the above website. There is an excel spreadsheet on the site showing what departments are available to apply for during the time period. I recommend applying early as possible even though the due date for applications is ~120 days prior to placements, due to departments filling out elective students quick so you might find that your desired department is full.
    Don't need to include immunization documentations in your initial application, but it will need to be ready by 1 month out, this was the most time consuming as they have weird requirements in terms of what titre units are required on your pathology papers so i had to shop around different pathology places here so get this sorted asap as soon as you have confirmed your place.
    Languages spoken at placement: Mostly Japanese, the morning meetings are held in Japanese, but the doctors can speak English very well and will often explain to you what's going on with the day/surgeries
    What to bring: Labcoat, good shoes (no requirement for business shoes) can wear sport shoes which i recommend even if you're wearing business casual attire. Bring masks as it is requirement in the hospital

    Rating of experience: 10
    Summary of experience:
    *For context I did 4 weeks in Japan for electives, 2 weeks in December at Juntendo, with 2 weeks Christmas break since medical schools in Japan are closed, and then additional 2 week in Hokkaido University in January, see my other post on my experience in Hokkaido.
    Super well organised from application to the actual placement. The international program is organised by a dedicated team called the Juntendo University International Center(JUIC), and they handle applications centrally through the website above and the entire program is free. Quick replies, and once they have everything, they need from you, you will get an outcome within 2 weeks. They have an excel spreadsheet on the website that is updated regularly showing what departments are available to be placed at.
    Located in the heart of Tokyo 15 min walk to Akihabara, close to a subway station with a very modern campus building with heaps of simulation training machines that are free to use for students, including a Da Vinci robotic surgery trainer. The hospital itself is only 2 minute walk from the campus.
    Please note that to this placement is an observership, and you will not be allowed to assist or do anything that could potentially affect the health of the patient, unsure if this is just a Tokyo thing because this is in contrast to my experience in Hokkaido University where I was able to surgically assist and do procedures.
    The department of Paediatric Surgery is very chill and there's no expectation for you to stay past 11am, only required to come to the morning meetings. Surgeons are very busy, but very friendly and can speak English very well. They will often just tell you to go sightsee if nothing interesting is on which is a good idea because you only see theater anyways with no ward rounds. Japanese med students will also do their best to guide you through what is happening in theatres if you make friends with them. I would recommend this department if you're looking for a chill time. If you're lucky the surgeons will invite you for cheeky drinks on fridays at the local izakaya.
    JUIC will also organise clinical seminars and lunches with other international students on electives. I made a lot of friends through them, mostly other aussies from over east which was fun as we went out pretty much every night.
    From what I have heard from the other international students is that Internal Medicine departments are full on with an 8-4 schedule M-F, unsure if other surgical departments are the same. I heard good reviews from them nonetheless EXCEPT for Cardiology. Please dont apply for Cardiology as the consultant is super anal about where you are, and will not hesitate to report you to JUIC if she doesnt know where you are that very hour. Also well known that a recent student got his electives cancelled and university barred because he asked for a day off. so please dont apply for cardiology!!
    Most enjoyable aspects: The friends I made, practicing and playing around with the Da Vinci trainer
    Least enjoyable aspects: Can be pretty boring as you dont do much, only observe, language barriers
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Bring aussie snacks like timtams and vegemite shapes for the team!
    Just be aware that placements are not available over the christmas break. Accomodation at the university dormitory is available, and cheap but very cramped i heard. I stayed at a nearby hotel for about 1.7k AUD for 15 nights but book this early if you can as prices go up quick
    Please be mindful of Japanese etiquette and culture, JUIC will send you a document with what you need to be aware of. Things like talking in the hospital elevator are a no-no.
    Cheap teishosku meals at 500yen(~$6AUD) at the campus building cafeteria. delicious yet healthy.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?No.
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$5000
    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, PF Sobotka.
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Sapporo (Hokkaido), Osaka, Hirayu-Onsen
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Try torikizoku which is a chain izakaya restaurant where everything is 360 yen including massive drinks. I must've gone there like 10 times during the course of my electives. a-GGT go brrrr
    Get an international driving permit from RAC($50 AUD) before you go if you wanna go on the go kart sight seeing tour.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? Yes

  • Student Name: Kim Ho
    Host Institution: University of Medicine and Pharmacy HCMC
    Hospital or Facility: University Medical Center HCMC
    Elective Start Date: 09/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 03/01/2025
    Specialty: ED and Endocrine
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://admin.ump.edu.vn/uploads/ckeditor/files/Elective%20program(1).pdf
    Tips for applying: I just applied through email with a brief CV, scanned passport, recommendation letter from UWA and an application form (attached in the URL above).
    Languages spoken at placement: Vietnamese and limited English
    What to bring:Stethoscope, masks and lab coat

    Rating of experience: 7
    Summary of experience: I had two weeks in the ED and two weeks in endocrine. UMC is a new hospital with good facilities and aircon! As a developing country, I did see a lot of severe presentations of medical conditions, as well as seeing confronting situations in ED. For both departments, I was allocated to a doctor that had decent English skills, and they were always keen to do some teaching with me. I did not spend anytime with the Vietnamese medical students - just the doctors. I do have some knowledge of the Vietnamese language, so I was able to get more out of the placement but still could not understand the medical jargon well. If you don't know any Vietnamese, it would make it difficult to learn as basically everything is in Vietnamese. I got good at using google translate by the end of it.
    For both departments, I also had to do a presentation on a case I saw at the end. It was super straightforward - lots of the doctors were very interested about the difference between Australia and Vietnam healthcare.
    ED was super chill - I had 4 hour shifts allocated from Monday to Friday, but I ended up leaving before lunch time each time.
    Endocrine had teaching that went into the afternoon ~4pm on Mondays, but the other days I was allowed to leave around 11:30am. The short days left lots of opportunities to explore HCMC!
    Most enjoyable aspects: The hospital staff cafeteria on level 4 offered Vietnamese food for around $2 per meal - including rice, main, a piece of fruit and soup.
    Least enjoyable aspects: The language barrier.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Come keen to learn and the doctors will try teach you when they can!
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. I paid in cash VND the equivalent of $400 USD for four weeks.
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$3000
    Breakdown of costs:

    • Elective fee ~$636

    • Flights $1.3k

    • Accom $1k

    • Insurance $200

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Travelling to different cities in Vietnam is super affordable and worth it!
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Robbie Glyde
    Host Institution: University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK)
    Elective Start Date: 30/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 24/01/2025
    Specialty: ED and Surgery
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://chuk.rw.internship.tnt.rw/internship/
    Tips for applying: Contact Emmanuel Munyaneza
    Languages spoken at placement: Kinyarwanda, English, French
    What to bring: Lab coat, scrubs (or clinical attire, can even wear fairly casual clothes under a lab coat including jeans), face masks (can be limited)
    Take malaria prophylaxis
    Take more pants than shorts, culturally shorts are not worn very often
    Also recommend taking soccer balls if you have room because many kids especially in rural areas don’t have much to play with and love soccer

    Rating of experience: 8
    Summary of experience: Incredible experience so different to anything I’ve seen in Australia. Patients mainly speak Kinyarwanda only and staff speak English for handovers and often Kinyarwanda amongst themselves. Some staff prefer French to English (5-10%) so it is helpful if you speak French although not essential. Meningitis, TBI, malaria are common. Malnutrition, PCP, uraemic encephalopathy are seen frequently. This is not a very hands-on elective but there is good teaching, very friendly students, and the chance to meet great students from other countries (especially Germany).
    The country and city are both absolutely incredible, there are so many great things to see and do.
    NB first day of placement will just be to make the payment, it’s technically in USD but I found it easier to pay in Rwandan Francs. It’s a bit of a complicated bank transfer so may take you some time (take a Passport to the bank)
    Most enjoyable aspects: Seeing presentations we would never see in Australia, understanding how a health system in a developing country works
    Least enjoyable aspects: Less hands on to what you might get in Australia, at times it can be difficult to understand what is going on (or what a patient / staff are talking about) due to the language barrier- learn some Kinyarwanda before you go (Look up the Ahazaza channel on YouTube)
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes. If you have never travelled outside of Australia before (or have only ever travelled with your family / organised tours), I would suggest going somewhere that’s not so off the beaten path. You definitely need a little bit of travel experience under your belt and the ability to go with the flow, but the rewards if you can do that are so so worth it

    Tips for future students: Learn some Kinyarwanda before you go. Read Bradt guidebook (hard to find hard copy in Aus, easy to find there or just get the eBook). Use MTN for phone plan and set up MoMo pay (pay with phone number). Feel free to contact me for recommendations on where to stay / tour guides / can set you up to meet some people when you arrive.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. USD $250 per month (i.e. USD $250)
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$8,500
    Breakdown of costs: $8,500 covered absolutely everything including 3 weekends away (2 of which were in National Parks which tend to be expensive)
    I stayed at an airbnb, you can definitely pay less at a share house. NB Flights alone cost AUD$3000, highly recommend applying to a scholarship.
    Life can be very cheap there, you can get a good meal in some areas for $1.50, a beer for $2, a moto taxi across the city for $2
    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, PF Sobotka
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Nyungwe national park, Akagera national park (safari), Lake Kivu
    All insanely beautiful and highly worthwhile. Be aware that you can pay a lot of money at national parks and that you should organise to go with other people to save money. Prices can vary a lot depending on which tour guide you go with, but many of the prices are set by the parks / government.
    I didn’t go and see the gorillas, you definitely can but the licenses to spend 1 hour with the gorillas cost US$1,500 per person (excluding all of the actual costs of getting there, being taken to them and staying in accomodation)
    In any case read the Bradt guidebook
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Benjamin Salmond
    Host Institution: University of Tasmania
    Hospital or Facility: Royal Hobart Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 09/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 10/01/2025
    Specialty: Anaesthetics and ED
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://www.utas.edu.au/health/about-us/tasmanian-school-of-medicine/inbound-medical-elective-program
    Tips for applying: Just use the information in the URL. Easy to contact.
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: Bring a couple of pairs of scrubs + pack for the variety of weather in Tasmania. Summer Tasmania is closer to WA winter but you do still have some hot days.

    Rating of experience: 9
    Summary of experience: I spent 2 weeks in anaesthetics and 2 weeks in ED. RHH is a similar size to Perth hospitals and offers good exposure. All staff were very friendly, particularly in anaesthetics and it was a good opportunity to do anaesthetics for the first time and learn. We also had a 10 day break between our 2 rotations and hired a campervan and drove around Tasmania, doing lots of hiking along the way which was the highlight.
    Most enjoyable aspects: Travelling around Tasmania
    Least enjoyable aspects: Having to go to new theatres and meet new people every day.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Travel around Tassie!
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay? Yes, $750.
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$4000
    Breakdown of costs:

    • $750 elective cost

    • $1200 accommodation

    • $500 flights

    • $1000 living costs

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, Mary Horsfall
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Hiring a campervan and travelling around Tasmania is a very common option for tourists. There are plenty of powered sites and also lots of free campgrounds available which you can see through various apps. Great way to explore the beautiful area and it doesn't involve much driving. Would encourage getting out and hiking/walking to see the nature/wildlife.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Amelia Theodore
    Host Institution: Broome Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 09/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 20/12/2025
    Specialty: ED and O/G
    How did you apply? I applied through Rural Clinical School.
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: Scrubs + stethoscope

    Rating of experience: 9
    Summary of experience: Awesome experience! Highly recommend if you've never done rural terms and also if you've done rural south WA as it is very very different medicine and culture!!
    Most enjoyable aspects: Lovely teams at the hospital - I loved both my O/G week + theatre time (really good scrubbing and assisting in procedures and caesars), and ED super interactive and great teamwork with lots of interesting doctors with amazing skills to learn from
    Least enjoyable aspects: Little bit isolated in Broome during the off season + lots of tourist things not running/open
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Hire car recommended!
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay? No
    What was the total cost of your elective? $2500
    Breakdown of costs: 500 food/activities, 1.7k accom (apartment w pool), 450 return flights

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, Rural Health West RCSWA Scholarship
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? Yes

  • Student Name: Kate (Chae Yun) Kang
    Host Institution: Great Ormond Street Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 23/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 23/01/2025
    Specialty: Anesthesia
    How did you apply? I arranged my elective with a clinician that I contacted or knew.
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: GOSH is very similar to PCH anything you would bring to PCH placement will generally cover you pretty well. I found bringing my own scrubs quite useful.

    Rating of experience: 8
    Summary of experience: I took my international elective at GOSH. The reason I chose children’s hospital is because I enjoyed my paeds term in MD3. I did my whole 4 weeks of placement at GOSH. During new year I also traveled around Europe with my friend. It was a good mix of clinical placement and relaxation.
    Most enjoyable aspects: (Extra Travel)
    London is a great city to travel. If you like musicals / soccer / art exhibition there are so much you can do during your free time. My advice is consider how you will relax / spend free time during your elective as well because TRUST ME you will be so tired by the end of MD 3 😂 you would want to go to your elective not only to study but also RELAX and have fun. From that aspect London was great for me. It is also close to other European countries so I managed to travel with my friend to Belgium and Netherlands which was also lovely. I would personally recommend going alone to elective as I really enjoyed traveling alone. It was my long time bucket list and I met so many lovely new people which I don’t think it could’ve been possible if I traveled with a big group.
    (Elective)
    To be very honest with you elective in UK for me was very similar to my experience with PCH. It was good because I already had some understanding of the system but if you want to have a new experience this sort of elective is probably not for you. My supervisor was so lovely and all the doctors / allied health staff members were very supportive.
    Least enjoyable aspects: (Finance)
    Trying to live in London for a month as a student in zone 1/2 (likely where your hospital will be) is painful 😣. Easy way to explain is everything is pretty much x2. Average coffee price in London is 4 GBP (8AUD) - at least when I was here. So if you are planning to go to UK (especially London) for your elective you should consider this side. I didn’t know how high the living cost was until I got here.
    (Elective)
    To be completely honest you won’t get lots of hands on experience from hospitals like GOSH where there are lots of very complicated paediatric cases coming in so just think about what you want before applying. I didn’t mind not getting hands on experience during elective as I had a very long year (MD3) of hands on experience and wanted to take some break from it.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Elective is a great opportunity to learn and explore other parts of the world. What I would recommend is really consider both travel (fun) and academic side of elective. Lots of us were very enthusiastic about learning at the start of the year when we were organising this but towards the end after MD3 osce we were all experiencing bit of a burn out. So make sure you have lots of fun during your elective (which is technically your holiday 😂) and organise it early in the year so you don’t stress out towards the end.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. 775 GBP (AUD$1550)
    What was the total cost of your elective? Approx 11,000 AUD (this is excluding out of elective travel fee)
    Breakdown of costs:

    • Transportation (flight etc): Approx 2600 aud

    • Accommodation: Approx 3600 aud

    • Spending: Approx 2800 aud

    • Hospital fee: Approx 2000 aud

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, PF Sobotka
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Belgium, Netherlands
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Viet Nguyen
    Host Institution: Cho Ray Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 09/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 03/01/2025
    Specialty: Tropical Diseases and Emergency
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: http://choray.vn/TTChiDaoTuyen/Default.aspx?tabid=135&ID=4085
    Tips for applying: Apply early as they may be slow to respond.
    Languages spoken at placement: Vietnamese, English depending on the doctor
    What to bring: Stethoscope, notebook, pens

    Rating of experience: 8
    Summary of experience: Saw conditions not common to Australia in tropical diseases including dengue fever. Saw a wide variety of presentations in the emergency department.
    Most enjoyable aspects: Able to interact with the patients, staff and other medical students to understand the differences/similarities between the Australian and Vietnamese healthcare systems.
    Least enjoyable aspects: Sometimes the doctors were too busy to explain what was going on so I had nothing to do.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Apply early, learn some Vietnamese, show enthusiasm and the doctors will be willing to teach!
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. 8 million VND (2 million per week)
    What was the total cost of your elective? $1490
    Breakdown of costs: Direct flight for 1 person round trip between Perth to Ho Chi Minh City on Vietnam Airlines was A$990. 8 million Vietnamese Dong was about A$500. I did not pay for accomodation as I stayed with family.

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, Global Learning Grant
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Can Tho, Japan, Hanoi
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Vietnam has so many amazing places to visit from south to north. Make sure to leave room to visit the different regions as each is unique and offers a great experience.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: James Barton
    Host Institution: Internship Nepal
    Hospital or Facility: Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 15/12/2024
    Elective End Date: 23/01/2025
    Specialty: ED and infectious diseases
    How did you apply? I arranged my elective through an elective agency - Internship Nepal.
    Link to apply: https://www.internshipnepal.com/Medical_Electives.html
    Tips for applying: Follow the form on the website. Very simple application process
    Languages spoken at placement: English and Nepali
    What to bring: White doctors coat and warm clothes

    Rating of experience: 8
    Summary of experience: Incredible country to visit especially if you dream of hiking Himalayas or Nepal. Great experience some English Australia and a real hands-on experience in the Emergency department from resuscitation to procedural skills. The countries and the highlight for me was definitely Himalayas over a 17 day trek.
    Most enjoyable aspects: The hiking opportunities, the other international medical students on elective at the hospital and the exposure to hands on medicine
    Least enjoyable aspects: The accommodation was not the most comfy, the beds were quite thin however the host family were lovely and it was a great hostel atmosphere with the other medical students also on elective
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Try to get involved as much as possible and you will be able to do some incredible procedures such as NGT, ascites tap and intubation
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. 200 to hospital, 1000 to host accommodation
    What was the total cost of your elective? Approx 3500

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, PF Sobotka
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Try and take advantage of the incredible hiking opportunities of the surrounding environment in Nepal
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Kyle Tranter
    Host Institution: Perth Children's Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 04/12/2023
    Elective End Date: 22/12/2023
    Specialty: Infectious Diseases
    How did you apply? I arranged my elective with a clinician that I contacted or knew.
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: Usual stuff (pens, notebook, stethoscope), no need for anything special. Probably handy to have your phone to pull up guidelines, or look stuff up on the go.

    Rating of experience: 10
    Summary of experience: This is a consultation service - you will get referrals to see other team's patients regarding diagnosing infections +/- antimicrobial choice or other management. There are also clinics to see lower acuity infectious topics (e.g. TB, community needlestick injuries, asplenia). The consultants are all super nice and love to teach.
    Most enjoyable aspects: The ID team were very eager to include me - I observed on day 1, and subsequently went to independently assess their new consults before presenting to the team
    Least enjoyable aspects: Once weekly handover meeting - usually a couple hours, a lot went over my head. Good if you can present a few cases there.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Just rock up and be keen, everyone is so lovely, they make it VERY easy to get integrated into the team.
    Usual day goes from 0800-1700. If you need to leave ask, they will be fine with it.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay? No

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Luke Uden
    Host Institution: Nagoya University Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 04/12/2023
    Elective End Date: 15/12/2023
    Specialty: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://www.med.nagoya-u.ac.jp/intlexch/english/abroad/overseas.html
    Languages spoken at placement: Japanese, limited English
    What to bring: UWA lab coat, face masks and clinical clothes (not scrubs). Bring a towel, toiletries and indoor slippers if you are staying at the student accommodation. Also bring some souvenirs for the students and doctors (e.g. Tim Tams)!

    Rating of experience: 10
    Summary of experience: Had a great experience. Highly recommend to all medical students. Very well organised.
    Most enjoyable aspects: Good range of interesting surgeries. Understanding and accommodating team. Very well organised with cheap student accommodation (~$175 for 2 weeks). Japanese medical students were very friendly and held events to welcome international students (e.g. karaoke nights, dinners). Also very affordable.
    Least enjoyable aspects: Understandably, there was limited teaching during this elective due to language barriers.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Reach out early and frequently follow up throughout the application process.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay? No
    What was the total cost of your elective? $2500

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, PF Sobotka
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Henry Pemberton
    Host Institution: Kundiawa General Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 30/11/2023
    Elective End Date: 24/12/2023
    Specialty: Orthopaedics and ED
    How did you apply? I arranged my elective with a clinician that I contacted or knew.
    Languages spoken at placement: English, Pidgin
    What to bring: Bring scrubs, your stethoscope and standard equipment you'd take to prac, hiking clothes but try to pack light. Travel between towns is done on the public bus and you'll have to pay for a second seat if you bring a large suitcase (as I did).

    Rating of experience: 9
    Summary of experience: An unforgettable and incredible life experience. I was based in the hospital and lived on the grounds during the week and would go back to my host doctor's village on the weekends. I spent the first week and a half on orthopaedic surgery and the last two weeks on ED, seeing a broad range of conditions, often very different to what you'd see in Australia.
    Most enjoyable aspects: I loved the autonomy I was given and how friendly the doctors and locals were to me. I was able to do pleural taps, an abdominal tap, bloods, cannulas and assist in any surgery I wanted to. A particular highlight was hiking Mt Wilhelm, Oceania's highest peak, in my final week. Although the flights were expensive, a paid nothing to stay on the hospital grounds and have my meals in the week provided by them and food and fresh produce was very cheap.
    Least enjoyable aspects: I was able to do very little history and examinations as most of the locals spoke poor English. Fortunately, English was the language of medicine so I still felt involved in their care. The village I was in was not safe at night so I was effectively stuck there during the week until I could visit my host doctor on the weekend. I saw an impressive range of conditions in ED but going in December meant the hospital was winding down for the holidays and there weren't as many patients as there normally would be.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Find a connection in Australia who can help organise and ideally be there at the same time as you. Bring a gift for the hospital, such as medical equipment. Be prepared for a huge cultural shock and be open to learning different ways of doing things, even if they might not be best practice in well-resourced healthcare settings.
    Although I loved rural Papua New Guinea, this is not a destination for the faint hearted and can't feasibly be organised by yourself. I was lucky to have a doctor I'd met earlier in the year in Australia with me at the time who helped me navigate the experience. I suspect more touristy locations, such as the capital and the coast would be more accessible to tourists/medical students than where I was.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay? No
    What was the total cost of your elective? Around $2000

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Michaela Marshall
    Host Institution: Seoul National University
    Elective Start Date: 04/12/2023
    Elective End Date: 29/12/2023
    Specialty: Paediatric ICU
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://medicine.snu.ac.kr/en/bbm/bbs/selectBoardArticleView.do?nttId=590
    Tips for applying: Using the elective website is easy, but your application will not be considered until you bank transfer the $125AUD application fee. Note that the admin are slow to respond to emails (expect 2 weeks delay in response).
    Languages spoken at placement: Korean, limited English
    What to bring:
    1. White coat: all students and doctors expected to wear. Bring professional clothes
    2. Warm clothes: Black puffer jacket is the norm, thermals will save your life
    3. Cash: Few places accepted apple pay/wallet, and some only accept cash. Withdrawal fees are high in Seoul, so bring converted cash or aud to the airport for exchange.

    Rating of experience: 7
    Summary of experience: Loved living in Korea, studying was not very educational.
    Most enjoyable aspects:
    1. Great food, shopping, sightseeing
    2. Unique presentations due to the famous oncology department at the hospital (complications presenting to ICU) and rare presentations due to the reputation of the hospital and competition from private hospitals for the more common pathology.
    Least enjoyable aspects:
    1. Fees: est $1000AUD study fees ontop of $125AUD application fee. Flights ontop of this is quite expensive.
    2. Observership: No patient interaction nor opportunity for procedural skill practice.
    3. Commitment expectations: expected to be there 9-5PM minimum, not dismissed until the professor receives a debrief from juniors, therefore often left the hospital after 5PM, and even 7PM. 5 days a week for entirety of placement.
    4. Language barrier: prev entries, SNU info and online info will tell you English is spoken in the clinical/learning environment, it is not. You may not be paired with someone who speaks english fluently. I was paired with a reg who spoke English fluently, but no patient-doctor, nurse-doctor, doctor-doctor interaction was in english, only quick translations after the fact.
    5. Teaching: no formal and minimal bedside teaching.
    6. ICU: uneventful
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? No. High commitment and fees, for few learning opportunities. I would recommend selecting a different specialty, and only going for 2 weeks, if not go to SK for a holiday instead, and do your selective somewhere else!

    Tips for future students:
    1. Hot packs from convenient stores
    2. Best+cheap food is from non-chain, mom+pop shops
    3. Just catch train from the airport
    4. Seongsu is the superior shopping district :)
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes, $1125AUD.
    What was the total cost of your elective? 5000 minimum before spending/extra
    Breakdown of costs:

    • Flights - 1500

    • Accom - 1100

    • Fees - 1250

    • Insurance - 200

    • Transport - 200

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, PF Sobotka
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Tokyo
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Do the group tours! You think you can do it on your own but it's hard!
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Aaron See
    Host Institution: University of Pittsburgh
    Hospital or Facility: UPMC Oakland/Presbyterian
    Elective Start Date: 02/01/2024
    Elective End Date: 28/01/2024
    Specialty: Respiratory
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://www.medstudentaffairs.pitt.edu/visiting-students
    Tips for applying: Apply early and be ready for paperwork! Write a good personal statement as well.
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: White coat + steth

    Rating of experience: 9
    Summary of experience: This elective was amazing! You will feel really involved and responsible- expected to independently review, clerk, present, and write notes on assigned patients. Might also expect to answer patient questions, communicate with other team members, give little teaching presentations. Really felt part of the team and could advocate for your patients. You also get to make connections and attend conferences. The Drs I worked with are incredibly nice, and will go out of their way to help you, get to know you, give you advice, write letters of rec, etc. Would highly recommend for those seeking to apply for US training. Expect quite full on working days, but had weekends where I got time to fly to NYC, etc.
    Most enjoyable aspects: I genuinely felt like I was part of the team- had responsibilities, could advocate for my assigned patients, sometimes would answer pt/relative questions, had to write patient notes. The Drs I worked with are incredibly nice, and will go out of their way to help you, get to know you, give you advice, teach you, write letters of rec, etc.
    Least enjoyable aspects: This elective program is expensive (USD 4500) and accommodation is hard to find. Gets a bit tiring because of the long days. Writing notes is really time consuming b/c of their approach and billing/litigation reasons.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? No. Yes if intending to pursue career in US, probably not worth it otherwise.

    Tips for future students: Choose if intending to pursue career in US, probably not worth it otherwise.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes, USD $4500
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$9000

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Around the US
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Weekend getaway trip to NYC. Honestly Pittsburgh is really cool- lots to do, would recommend watching ice hockey (penguins), mt washington, museums (carnegie, heinz, warhol), although the weather is pretty bad during Dec/Jan, need winter clothing and boots.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Britt Clynick
    Host Institution: Busselton Health Campus WACHS
    Elective Start Date: 02/01/2024
    Elective End Date: 25/02/2024
    Specialty: ED
    How did you apply? I applied through Rural Clinical School.
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: The usual stuff you always bring on placement, and especially scrubs if you have them, or you can wear the surgical scrubs from theatre (no one was in other formal wear)

    Rating of experience: 10
    Summary of experience: This was overall a great clinical experience. As a smaller, rural hospital you get to know all the staff and meet some great locum Drs as well. You get to shadow a range of different Drs with different backgrounds, including many Rural GP - ED trainees, as well as FACEMs. They were really flexible with working hours and working days and highly encouraged us to also take some time to explore all that the SW region has to offer. There was ample opportunity to develop procedural skills, many cannulations, stitching, injections, POC testing, ECGs and general cardiac monitoring as well. If you are interested, there is also the opportunity to spend some time at the Margaret River ED, which I was also grateful to have done, seeing another smaller hospital and getting a different range of patients/hands on experience. Again, if you are interested, there is the opportunity to choose to shadow other specialties, including gen med on the wards, O&G and attend theatres for gen surg cases. Great place, highly recommend.
    Most enjoyable aspects: Loved all the hands on experience I got in an ED setting, and an opportunity to clerk patients and carry through with their care.
    Least enjoyable aspects: None
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: You get out of it what you put in. Be proactive, volunteer to help where you can, go and see patients, attempt cannulas and take bloods, only by practicing these skills will you master them.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?No
    What was the total cost of your elective? Usual amounts for accommodation/food/travel from Perth - be organised because accommodation can be hard to find that time of year.
    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Busselton is super close to Dunsborough, Yallingup and Margaret River, make the most of being in the region and explore it if you haven't already.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Tharani Sivakumaran
    Host Institution: KK Womens' & Childrens' Hospital Singapore
    Elective Start Date: 11/12/2023
    Elective End Date: 22/12/2023
    Specialty: Respiratory
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://www.kkh.com.sg/education-training/undergraduate
    Tips for applying: Prepare a good CV and a compelling essay on why you want to do this elective
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: Usual items

    Rating of experience: 8
    Summary of experience: Was great exposure to how the medical system works overseas. I got to see a good mix of wards and clinics and work with different clinicians specialising in various aspects of paediatrics/ neonatology. Honestly a very chill and laid back elective as well.
    Most enjoyable aspects: I got to observe and work with many allied health individuals beyond just doctors i.e. Physiotherapists, OTs, Social Workers
    Least enjoyable aspects: Nil
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Good opportunity for learning at a relatively leisurely pace
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes, $126 (for Singapore citizens). $1000+ for non-citizens
    What was the total cost of your elective? $1200

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Boon Choon (Evangelyn) Sim
    Host Institution: University of Cape Town
    Hospital or Facility: Groote Schuur Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 26/12/2022
    Elective End Date: 14/01/2023
    Specialty: Trauma
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: http://www.healthelectives.uct.ac.za/groote-schuur-hospital-0
    Tips for applying: Contact the office early. Many international students go for elective and it is a VERY popular hospital and get filled up very quick.
    Languages spoken at placement: English, Afrikaan, Xhosa.
    What to bring: Masks, gloves, tourniquet, safety glasses.

    Rating of experience: 10
    Summary of experience: Great exposure to different trauma cases and can get involved in resuscitation, surgery etc. Perfect place to develop hands-on experiences. It will be helpful to be relatively comfortable with some basic procedural skills e.g. taking blood, cannulation, catheter, local anesthetic and suturing as it is a hectic place and it is hard to get close-up supervised training from scratch. It is a tertiary hospital so fewer chest drain-type procedures were done there as they were done in peripheral hospitals e.g. Mitchells Plain Hospital or New Somerset Hospital (both can be applied through the University of Cape Town).
    Most enjoyable aspects: Hands on opportunity.
    Least enjoyable aspects: Safety.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Keep an open mind and you will learn a lot. It is a more challenging environment as they are relatively under-resourced when compared to Australia. However, the medicine and doctor skills are fabulous.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. AUD$1000.
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$6500
    Breakdown of costs:
    Fees 1000, Flights 3000, Accommodation 2000, Insurance 500. (Our elective opened up mid year so the cost is slightly higher. Do it earlier could be better.)

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? YES

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Safari, road trip.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Mitchell Pratt
    Host Institution: University of Witwatersrand
    Hospital or Facility: Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 12/12/2022
    Elective End Date: 06/01/2023
    Specialty: Trauma medicine/surgery
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://www.wits.ac.za/health/faculty-services/elective/
    Elective agency: https://www.swanage.co.za/student-lifestyle/
    Tips for applying: Email Alan Peter, his email address can be found at "Swanage Medical Elective Accommodation". He is an unreal doctor with the most interesting life story. He'll look after you whilst on placement and will Fastrack your application.
    Languages spoken at placement: English, Zulu, Tsotho etc
    What to bring: An eager and enthusiastic attitude

    Rating of experience: 10
    Summary of experience: Worked at Bara' in Johannesburg. I learnt loads of useful procedural skills and left feeling much more comfortable operating in a hospital environment
    Most enjoyable aspects: If you're interested in improving procedural skills, learning how to be resourceful in a resource poor setting, enjoy operating with a degree of autonomy in ED and are looking for exposure for caring for critically ill patients. This elective is for you.
    Least enjoyable aspects: The size of the hospital. It took me at least a week to comfortably get my bearings. Though after a week you can navigate the place comfortably
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: South Africa, and Johannessburg in particular, has a worldwide reputation for being a dangerous place. This is true, but never once did I find my self in a situation where i felt unsafe. I still went for morning/afternoon jogs without a worry. What I also found surprising were the sheer number of international students that FLOCK to Bara'. There are plenty of friends to be made, so if you're planning on going alone don't let solitude deter you. Not mention, Alan Peter (the host doctor at Swanage) drove me to and from placement, he takes students on safari and will make you feel totally at home.
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. <1000AUD or so for 4 weeks accommodation and 4 weeks tuition.
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~5000AUD. Though my flights were sorted late and acounted for 3000AUD

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, PF Sobotka
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Western Cape in South Africa
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. South Africa is a beautiful country with an amazing landscape. If you enjoy the outdoors there's plenty of places to hike. Happy to be contacted for any travel tips ([email protected])
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Tess
    Host Institution: New Somerset Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 18/12/2017
    Elective End Date: 12/01/2018
    Specialty: Emergency medicine
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: [email protected]
    Susan Rodriques - Foreign Elective Officer for New Somerset Hospital
    Tips for applying: Get in quick for South Africa, it's SUPER popular
    Apply directly through New Somerset Hospital, not through University of Cape Town (there were restrictions on international elective students when we applied, but New Somerset took us with no issues)
    You do NOT need a visa if you're an Australian citizen and you're staying less than 90 days (ignore the High Commission in Canberra)
    Languages spoken at placement: English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu
    What to bring: Your own scrubs! I had to pinch some off the German students who were leaving

    Rating of experience: 9
    Summary of experience: Fantastic hands-on experience, given a lot of scope to do things yourself, clerk patients, order investigations and do some management
    Great team environment with supportive and friendly staff/seniors
    Exposure to unique and 'third-world' medicine i.e. stabbings/gun trauma, TB, HIV
    Accommodation in the nursing quarters is right next to the hospital - pretty basic but very secure, very clean and a good place to meet other students"
    Most enjoyable aspects: Hands-on experience, team work in a really busy ED
    Least enjoyable aspects: Could be really chaotic at times (psychiatry patients sleeping in chairs for days, drunk patients wandering around, blood from chest drains on the floor), sometimes struggled to find a senior for support/to answer questions when it was busy, but once they knew you needed help they would come and help
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Cape Town is an amazing city to stay in, very affordable, relatively safe (just be sensible, don't walk by yourself, basic safety stuff) and beautiful surrounds i.e. Table Mountain, Cape Point National Park, beaches, great food/shopping options right near Somerset Hospital etc. etc.
    Easy to take a day or two off to go explore the Cape (hire a car, visit the Stellenbosch wine region)
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes, AUD$450
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$3500
    Breakdown of costs:

    • Flights were approx $2000 return (always expensive that time of year Perth-SA)

    • Fee for Somerset was $450

    • Accommodation was $15/day for 4 weeks = $420

    • Insurance was free through MIPS

    • Plus food, various touristy things/entertainment/shopping in Cape Town

    • (I also tacked on a 2-week holiday through the rest of the Cape after my elective with a fancy safari package and car hire, which took it way over $3500)

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? More holidaying throughout the Western Cape region
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. GO ON SAFARI (check the best time of year for Krueger if you can afford to fly up that way)
    Visit Stellenbosch (the wine region) it is gorgeous"
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Rachael
    Host Institution: University of Glasgow
    Hospital or Facility: Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
    Elective Start Date: 08/01/2018
    Elective End Date: 02/02/2018
    Specialty: Oncology (+ small amount of palliative care)
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/visitingelectives/
    Tips for applying: Need to apply early (at least 8-10 months in advance) as it is very popular
    Languages spoken at placement: English
    What to bring: Usual clothes you’d wear to hospital (NHS has very strict bare below elbows policy), stethoscope

    Rating of experience: 10
    Summary of experience: I had an amazing time. Spent time with all of the different tumour teams in clinics/on wards/treatment areas. Also spent a day in a hospice with palliative care team. Everyone was very friendly and very keen to teach and involve you
    Most enjoyable aspects: Clinics (particularly lung cancer, lymphoma, and urological cancers). Being at hospice with palliative care team
    Least enjoyable aspects: None!
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Nobody expects you to be an oncology expert, so don’t worry if you know nothing. They’re just happy if you’re interested. They’re happy to let you leave early/take Fridays off to go exploring
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. £100
    What was the total cost of your elective? ~$4000
    Breakdown of costs:

    • Return flights ~$2500

    • Accomodation in Glasgow ~$900

    • Living costs/enjoying myself ~$1000

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Explored Scotland, Amsterdam, London
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Really easy to explore rest of Scotland/UK and Europe
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Madison
    Host Institution: University of Stellenbosch
    Hospital or Facility: Tygerberg Academic Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 08/01/2018
    Elective End Date: 26/01/2018
    Specialty: Emergency
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/Pages/International-undergraduate-elective-students0416-5756.aspx
    Tips for applying: Just email the international office
    Languages spoken at placement: English, Afrikaans
    What to bring: Stethoscope, tourniquet, notebook, scrubs

    Rating of experience: 5
    Summary of experience: Good exposure to infectious disease. Not much guidance but if you don't mind waiting around, you can practice clerking and doing procedural skills. Can leave pretty early so there is lots of time to explore Cape Town
    Most enjoyable aspects: Interesting rounds, simulation training
    Least enjoyable aspects: Poor guidance and support
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? No, would recommend a place that is closer to the city if going to Cape Town. It's about a 25 min drive from the hospital to the city

    Tips for future students: Get as involved as you can!
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes., $1000 for four weeks
    What was the total cost of your elective? $4000
    Breakdown of costs: $2000 flights, $1000 elective, $1000 accommodation
    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes, Study Abroad Scholarship
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? Yes

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Tanzania, Zanzibar, Johannesburg
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. If going to Africa, GO ON SAFARI
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Ryan
    Host Institution: Cho Ray Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 25/12/2017
    Elective End Date: 19/01/2018
    Specialty: Tropical Disease & Emergency
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: http://choray.vn/TTChiDaoTuyen/Default.aspx?tabid=135&ID=4085
    Tips for applying: Send them an email - they take applications up to 3 months before (would recommend sending it about 4-5 months before to make sure all the paperwork gets completed)
    Languages spoken at placement: Vietnamese, English (limited)
    What to bring: Stethoscope, lab coat (hospital does provide for loan), clinical dress, laptop, enthusiasm :)

    Rating of experience: 9
    Summary of experience: 2 weeks in Tropical Diseases (TD) followed by 2 weeks in Emergency Department (ED). The Tropical Diseases Department is a really friendly place, and they have a lot of younger doctors who can speak relatively good English which means that they can teach and explain a bit. You will see a lot of conditions which you will almost never see in Australia like malaria and dengue. Days start at 8am and you are only expected to be there in the morning, which finishes at 11am (most of the time you will be done by 10am). Most patients only speak Vietnamese, but more often than not there are other Australian elective students who can speak Vietnamese.
    ED is very different to Australia with a much higher flow of patients. ED doctors are more shy about speaking English, but there are one or two who are very enthusiastic about teaching and practising their English. Morning shifts are from 8am-2pm, but you can leave at any time you want. Cho Ray Hospital is the biggest trauma centre, so you will see a lot of motor vehicle and construction accidents. Good chance to practice sutures. There will be a few confronting issues like the minimal use of pain relief and sedation, but patients tough it out pretty well. Overall, a good experience with a lot of time to explore Vietnam and enjoy the culture.
    Most enjoyable aspects: Interesting cases and conditions, short days, really nice and approachable doctors (especially in Tropical Diseases Department), decent teaching. Good chance to practice suturing in ED and see lots of common cases as well. Different approaches to diagnosing diseases.
    Least enjoyable aspects: Wearing the white coat - not nice when it gets more humid, but air con helps. Sometimes doctors in ED are very busy, but in general, mornings are a good time to learn.
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students: Tropical Diseases Department asks everyone to do a case presentation (in English). They are pretty chill about it, but bring your laptop (internet is generally faster in Vietnam than Australia - personal experience).
    ED is a different but very good experience. Other medical students said that they enjoyed their surgical and anaesthesiology terms as well (I think they got pretty hands on with it).
    Did your host institution charge a fee? If yes, how much did you pay?Yes. AUD$450-500 (costs 2,000,000 VND / week)
    What was the total cost of your elective? Approx. AUD$4500
    Breakdown of costs:
    All approx values

    • Application fee - AUD$500

    • Flight - AUD$1000

    • Accomodation - AUD$1500

    • Food, travel, spending - $1500

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? Yes
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? Yes
    Where did you visit? Central Vietnam - Da Lat, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue,
    South Vietnam & Mekong Delta
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Would recommend Da Nang - nice beaches, temples, amusement parks. You can fly there from Ho Chi Minh City and explore the surrounding area as well (easily can go to Hue for a day trip).
    Da Lat is also nice, but can only get there by driving / bus. Nice mountainous area with a really beautiful climate, but there isn't a tonne of things to do.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No

  • Student Name: Elaine
    Host Institution: Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital
    Elective Start Date: 08/01/2018
    Elective End Date: 02/02/2018
    Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology
    How did you apply? I applied directly through the host institution/university.
    Link to apply: http://www.srrsh-english.com/International-Electives/elective-application.html
    Tips for applying: Can apply in English or Chinese - the admin workers speak both languages.
    Languages spoken at placement: Mandarin, some English
    What to prepare: Visa (very important for China)

    Rating of experience: 7
    Summary of experience: Was a good experience. Most patients do not speak English, so it's best if you know some Mandarin if you want to take a history/examine the patient. Limited procedural opportunities.
    Best to know some medical terms in Mandarin - they do translate for you, but not in great detail.
    Most enjoyable aspects: Very nice staff, wide variety of patients, exposure to the culture
    Least enjoyable aspects: Limited English spoken at the hospital
    Would you recommend this elective to future students? Yes

    Tips for future students:

    • If you want to access Facebook, Gmail etc. make sure you download a VPN and set it up before going to China.

    • Baidu, Alipay, and Wechat are essential apps for China.

    • Baidu maps is useful for figuring out how to transport around China

    • Best to set up a bank account if you're there for more than a couple of weeks - Bank of China is the one I used, they just need your passport and your Chinese phone number (you can get this at a China Mobile or any other mobile store)

    • At Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, they will lend you a white doctor coat and swipe card. These need to be returned at the end of your placement. The swipe card is also a meal card - cafeteria food is very cheap, usually less than $2 AUD per tray.

    Did your host institution charge a fee? No
    What was the total cost of your elective? $3000
    Breakdown of costs:

    • Flights ~$1200

    • Accommodation ~$1500 (for 4.5 weeks)

    • Insurance ~$300

    Did you receive a scholarship or bursary for your elective? No
    Did you receive an OS-HELP loan for your elective? No

    Did you travel to another destination before or after your elective? No
    Please place any tips on vacations opportunities whilst on elective. Went travelling on the weekends of my elective.
    Shanghai is ~1hr away from Hangzhou by high speed rail, tickets are not too expensive (approx $16 AUD one way). Trains come very often too, once per hour.
    Other cities are also very close to Hangzhou and can be reached by train, e.g. Suzhou.
    Did you complete your elective at another placement? No