Overseas Medical Student Electives at the University of Otago, Christchurch
Final Year Medical Student Electives in Christchurch
A limited number of elective positions are available in the teaching hospitals of the University of Otago, Christchurch . Only bona fide final year students of recognised medical schools are eligible for such electives. It is not possible for overseas students to be enrolled in our Faculty of Medicine.
These electives are an educational exercise and no remuneration is offered. Successful applicants will have to pay an administration fee of $NZ850.00 within six weeks of accepting an arranged elective.
Most electives offered are clinical, in the sub-specialties. Electives are not offered in General Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, O & G or Emergency. Electives offered are listed on the application form. The student must undertake to observe the by-laws of the institution in which the elective is undertaken.
Students who have been accepted for electives must provide evidence (microbiology reports) demonstrating that Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) have not been cultured from their perineum, groin and nose in the three weeks before the elective. MRSA swabs must be repeated on arrival in Christchurch before undertaking ward work. This is a Canterbury District Health Board ruling.
Electives will be supervised by a senior clinician who will determine the substance of the elective in collaboration with the student, after their arrival. Supervision may be delegated to others in the department. As these are clinical electives, the elective student is expected to become a member of the team in which the elective is taking place and participate in all of that team's activities, as would our own students if so allocated. We cannot offer individual or specific tuition, arrange projects, assess specific competencies, nor sign contracts or agreements.
Medical liability protection and indemnity insurance is compulsory and evidence of this must be provided when an elective is confirmed. Students must have personal health insurance whilst in New Zealand, and appropriate travel insurance is recommended.
An elective cannot be arranged more than one year in advance and only one placement per discipline is available. Electives are not available mid-November - end-January as this is our main vacation period.
If you are/will be a final year medical student interested in a 4 - 6 week elective at Christchurch please contact Rowena Fisher (rowena.fisher@otago.ac.nz) for application form/further information. Please provide your full name and address, name of medical school, exact dates of your proposed elective and preferred specialty.
PLEASE NOTE: These electives (at CHRISTCHURCH) are for final year medical students only, are not available for periods longer than 6 weeks, nor in the specialties list above.
Rowena Fisher
Department of Medicine
University of Otago, Christchurch
PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
Email rowena.fisher@otago.ac.nz
Phone 64 3 364 1847
Fax 64 3 364 0935