Clinical Elective Exchange Programs

For International Visiting Students (Not currently open)

The HMS clerkship program for international visiting students is open to students from specific schools listed under eligibility requirements for the Visiting Students Program. International medical students from these sites are selected by their university to apply for clerkships at HMS. Candidates are selected through a rigorous vetting process conducted by their school.

For HMS Students

The HMS Office of Scholarly Engagement (OSE) organizes clinical elective exchange programs with several foreign medical schools with whom HMS has historical faculty and student ties. HMS students may travel to these sites to carry out one- to two-month clinical electives in primary care, medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, or in specialized fields, depending on the site.

At most of the sites, students must speak the language of the host country to derive benefit from the elective.Many of the exchange sites are ideal for HMS students who have taken one of the medical language courses offered by HMS. Some travel funding is available from OSE.

Current students can find detailed information on the HMS-Sponsored Clinical Electives Abroad page (HarvardKey required).

HMS has established clinical elective exchanges with the following schools abroad:

• Chile—Catholic University of Chile School of Medicine in Santiago
• Colombia—University of Antioquia School of Medicine in Medellin
• Costa Rica—Electives organized by IHCAI with Costa Rican medical schools
• Guatemala—University of Francisco Marroquin Medical School clinics in San Juan Sacatapequez
• Brazil—University of Santa Casa Medical School in Sao Paolo
• Taiwan— Kaohsiung Medical University and National Taiwan University
• Spain—Complutense University of Madrid