Electives
Electives for King’s Students
The elective period is for many students the highlight of their undergraduate course. With four years of training under their belts, the elective period gives students the opportunity to put their skills and knowledge to the test in different health care systems in almost any location in the world.
Eight weeks at the beginning of phase five are spent on the elective attachment. Most students choose clinical attachments while some choose research or media related placements. Students can choose an elective in any part of the world (providing it is deemed a safe place to travel by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and approved by the medical school – see below), and in any aspect of medicine that could be a potential career. Some students opt to stay in the UK.
King’s global links
While students have the option to choose their own location, King’s College London School of Medicine also offers a range of opportunities to study abroad at partner institutions. King’s has formal twinning arrangements with 12 institutions including Johns Hopkins, The University of Hong Kong, The University of the West Indies and Monash.
Support and guidance
A successful elective requires careful planning. It is of the utmost importance to ensure that students are safe on their elective, particularly as many students choose to travel to remote locations in the developing world. The elective handbook is produced each year with useful information, guidelines, vaccination and general safety advice. All elective attachments must be approved by the medical school through students’ Clinical Advisers.
Assessment
The elective period counts as two Special Study Modules and involves assessment of the students’ Elective Portfolio plus assessment of the subsequent report and poster, which is displayed at the annual Elective Poster Day. Colleagues from both the School of Medicine and Partner NHS Trusts are encouraged to be involved in this assessment.
Incoming Electives
The School of Medicine also has a successful incoming Elective Programme which welcomes many students each year. The Programme provides a wide range of clinical attachments in our London teaching hospitals for a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 8 weeks. More information about the programme and details of how to apply can be found via the following link:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/medicine/study/electives/index.aspx