Thank you for your interest in the Visiting Student Program at UCSD School of Medicine. Due to limited course availability, we can only accommodate a very small number of students. 

**Note: If your school is participating in the pilot phase of Global Health Learning Opportunities (GHLO), an American Association of Medical Colleges application service, you must apply using GHLO. To check if your school is a participating institution, click here.

General Information:

• Clinical elective experiences must be coordinated through the Visiting Student Program. Please do not contact faculty or administrative staff directly to attempt to arrange clinical or research experiences.
  
• The Visiting Student Program does not offer observerships or research electives.
  
• Admission into the Visiting Student Program does not constitute admission or matriculation into UCSD School of Medicine.
  

Requirements:

• Applicant must be a final-year student in good standing at his/her medical school.
• Applicant must be currently enrolled in the last twelve (12) months of medical school prior to receiving M.D. degree.
• Applicant must submit all information listed in "Application" section below or application will not be reviewed.
  
• All documents must be submitted in English or with English translation.
  
• Students applying to electives at the Veteran's Administration (VA) Medical Center must plan to arrive at least one week in advance of the elective start date. This allows for students to complete the steps required for VA access and ensures students are prepared for full participation in the elective on the first scheduled day.
  

Calendar:

Fall, Winter and Spring quarters; program for 2012/13 begins 9/24/12. Students must adhere to UCSD's calendar.  Summer quarter dates are for UCSD medical students only.

Maximum Term:

Deadline:

Students should submit their applications no later than two months in advance of the earliest date for which they are applying.

Application Period Begins:

Application Process:

Instructions

1. Please submit the documentation listed below in ONE envelope addressed to:
   

Visiting Student Program

UC San Diego School of Medicine

9500 Gilman Drive, 0606

La Jolla CA 92093-0606

United States

2. Applications missing any of Items 1-8 will not be reviewed.
   
3. All documentation must be in English or with English translation.
   
4. Applications submitted before July 2, 2012 will not be reviewed.

Documentation (Items 1-8 are required. No exceptions.)

1. Application form with school seal/stamp and original signature (please use form provided).
   
2. List of clinical experiences which includes: dates/duration of clinical experience, location, department/specialty, and name of faculty/physician supervisor of each clinical experience. (Surgery applicants must also include a description of a surgery clerkship, minimum four weeks, taken where English is the language of instruction.)
   
3. Evaluation or letter of recommendation from faculty/physician in the department/specialty of student's elective choice (for Radiology, an Internal Medicine evaluation or letter of recommendation is acceptable). The evaluation/letter of recommendation must describe in detail student's clinical performance and must be written and signed by the faculty/physician who worked directly with student.
   
4. Health record/current immunizations, including TB test within one year of electives dates (please use form provided).
5. Proof of personal health and accident insurance. (This must be submitted at time of application. If covered by home school, verification of coverage by school is acceptable. Otherwise, a copy of the policy or health card is required.)
   
6. Proof of medical malpractice insurance: $1,000,000 per incident; $3,000,000 aggregate. (This must be submitted at time of application. If covered by home school, verification of coverage by school is acceptable. Otherwise, a copy of the policy is required.)
   
7. Dean's letter. This letter must confirm the applicant is a current medical student in good standing in the final year of medical school. The letter must be on official school letterhead and must also include the name of the medical school and the applicant's anticipated date of graduation/receipt of M.D. degree.
   
8. Medical school transcript

Application Review

After an application is reviewed, the Visiting Student Program office will send an email to each applicant as soon as possible regarding the decision.

**Eligible students who receive an elective offer have one week from date of offer to accept. If the offer is not accepted within one week, the offer is cancelled. Confirmed students participating in the program will receive an Orientation Email approximately two weeks prior to the start of the elective. While there is no formal orientation meeting, this email will contain important information regarding where and when to report on the first day, instructions for setting up computer access, obtaining ID badges, etc.

Housing:

Transportation:

Fees:

For More Information:

Please see the "Frequenty Asked Questions." If your question is not addressed there, please contact us via e-mail.

Contact Information:

Program Coordinator
Visiting Student Program

UC San Diego School of Medicine

9500 Gilman Drive, 0606
La Jolla, CA 92093-0606
email: visitingstudents@ucsd.edu

Due to the volume of inquiries, it is not possible to respond to each applicant. You will be contacted based on the Program's discretion and elective availability.