Medical students
International Global Health Elective Opportunities
Completing an international global health elective as part of your training can be a rewarding experience. As you consider whether you may want to complete an international elective, it is important to think about your motivations and learning objectives.
The following policies can help you determine how an international elective may fit with your program, and what the requirements are:
Students considering an international elective are encouraged to book a meeting with the Manager of Global Health to discuss their learning goals and the elective planning and approval process.
It is possible for students to undertake an international learning opportunity, such as an observership, in the summer after Med 1 or Med 2. Students may also complete an international elective in Med 4 during their elective blocks. All international electives need to be reviewed and approved by the Office of Community Partnerships and Global Health and by the Undergraduate Medical Education Office. All students who are completing an international elective or learning experience as part of their training are required to complete the university’s predeparture requirements.
Information Session on International Electives
Interested in an international global health elective as part of your medical school experience? Attend the information session to learn about what’s involved and the opportunities available. This session is for Med 1 and Med 2 students.
September 9, 2025 at 4:00 pm
- DMNS: Tupper Theatre A
- DMNB: DMNB 102
Please note that a session will be held for Cape Breton Medical Campus students at a later date.
Partner Schools
Currently, the Office of Community Engagement offers international electives at the following partner schools:
IFMSA-CFMS International Exchange Program
Independent Electives
Pre-Departure Process
Once an elective has been approved, all students must complete a number of predeparture requirements before their elective. All students must meet with the program manager as part of the pre-departure process.