News

June 18, 2018 - Help Desk Support on June 19

The AFMC Student Portal Help Desk will be replying to tickets on a reduced schedule on June 19.

The AFMC Student Portal Team

June 11, 2018 - Information for International Students Applying through Limited Enrollment at Hosts Schools

Limited Enrollment (LE) is a two-step randomized application process used by the host institutions to give students an equal opportunity to access the application process for visiting electives when the demand is high but the number of spaces available is limited.

AFMC has a help document and FAQs to help guide you through the limited enrollment process.

Help Document: Limited Enrollment (LE) for Students, FAQs: Limited Enrollment

Upcoming LE Registration Periods

The University of Toronto

June 12, 2018 - June 26, 2018 for January-March, 2019 electives

McMaster University

July 2, 2018 – July 30, 2018 for January-June, 2019 electives

The University of Ottawa

August 13, 2018 – August 24, 2018 for January-April, 2019 electives

*Dates are subject to change, always consult the institution profile ahead of time

June 1, 2018 - A Message from McGill University

Modification to the eligibility criteria for international medical students applying for electives at McGill University

Effective June 1, 2018, McGill University will only be accepting applications from international students who are eligible for residency training in Canada. Please refer to the McGill institution profile for more information.

Any applications submitted before May 31, 2018, at 11:59 pm local time will be honored under previous eligibility criteria.

The Electives Office, McGill University

May 18, 2018 - Canadian Conference on Medication Education (CCME) 2018 in Halifax

Thank you to the student and faculty leaders who met with the AFMC Student Portal team at the Canadian Conference on Medication Education (CCME) 2018 in Halifax.

A special shout-out to the Canadian Federation of Medical Student board of directors and membership for inviting Dr. Whyte, Chair of the Portal Steering Committee to participate as a panelist at the CFMS Spring General Meeting. It was a great session to share information about Portal services and hear from students.

Priorities for visiting electives in 2018

The conversations at CCME reinforced the importance of: formalizing a visiting elective application process for the MD Extension Program to accommodate the unmatched Canadian medical graduates; adopting recommendations by the AFMC Application Fees and Refunds Working Group to reduce overall application costs for students; providing students with more information about the impact of concurrent applications on fees, processing times and access to specialties; and offering students data to optimize their application process.

May 15, 2018 - Help Desk Support During Victoria Day

The AFMC offices will be closed on May 21 for Victoria Day. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk will be addressed on Tuesday May 22.

May 10, 2018 - Notice of policy changes at the University of Ottawa*

Due to the extremely high number of applications we are currently receiving, we have made a few changes to our policies to improve our process to better serve you. Please take note of the following information:

Only one set of dates per application are accepted (locked start date).
No changes are permitted once you have received an elective offer. Should you need to make changes, you must decline the current offer and submit a new application. Our cancellation policy will apply.
The Change Request option should only be used to submit a Change Request. Any questions pertaining to your application should be sent separately by email to uoportal@uottawa.ca.
Please enter up to 6 choices of specialties at the time of submission in order to maximize your application. You will only be prompted once to supply the remaining number of choices if your initial choices are declined. Your application will be cancelled if you do not respond to the flag with the appropriate information or in 7 days.
When providing additional choices of specialties or clarification, you must use the exact elective opportunity title. If we are uncertain of the elective opportunity you are referring to, we will move on to your next choice.

Thank you,

Electives Team, University of Ottawa*

April 24, 2018 - CCME Meeting Schedule

Each year, the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) is the venue for the Portal team to directly engage with stakeholders on issues and priorities for visiting electives in Canada. The Portal team will meet with the Undergraduate Deans, Electives, Clerkship, Student Affairs, and the IT Networks. We are hosting three meetings: the Portal Data Analysis Working Group, AFMC Student Portal Steering Committee, and the AFMC Working Group on Application Fees and Refunds.

We are pleased to be invited to provide an update to the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) at their annual spring meeting. At the meeting we will workshop with students to receive direct feedback on the Portal. We look forward to meeting all stakeholders at the conference.

For more information, please contact Francine Joanisse, fjoanisse@afmc.ca

About the Conference

The Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME), April 28 to May 1, 2018, is the premier medical education conference in Canada. It hosts the largest annual gathering of medical educators in the country and this year Dalhousie University is hosting the conference.

April 17, 2018 - AFMC Student Portal Data on Visiting Electives: National Report

The AFMC Student Portal Data on Visiting Electives: National Report is now available on AFMC website. This report, released annually by AFMC, offers a view of visiting elective application and placement activities across all medical schools in Canada and includes "Priorities for Visiting Electives", data to advance the policy dialogue and support program evaluation and quality improvement measures. An infographic with a summary of the key findings is available on the About page of the AFMC Student Portal.

April 12, 2018 - BEFORE YOU CAN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION - 4 CRITICAL STEPS

Step 1 MY PROFILE - Complete the following tabs: Personal information, Contacts, Home School and Academic. Failing to complete required fields will cause delays when you start creating your application. Do not forget to list all of your core rotations (completed and scheduled).

Step 2 DOCUMENT - Upload all documents required by the host faculty. To find required documents a faculty is requesting, visit the university’s Institution Profile. These documents must be added to your student profile before you start an application. Arranging appointments for immunization and other requirements should be done weeks in advance.

Step 3 WISHLIST – Search the Visiting Electives Guide and add your elective opportunities to the Wishlist by clicking the star on the elective details page. Note the availability of the electives, application periods, prerequisites and blackout dates. Before adding electives to your Wishlist, list your preferred electives and dates to carefully plan your visiting elective schedule. A well thought out plan will make it easier to visualize options and make decisions about elective choices in the Portal.

Step 4 START A NEW APPLICATION - Help documents/Application process/Applying for elective opportunities

The AFMC Student Portal Team

March 26, 2018 - Help Desk Support Closed during Easter Weekend

The AFMC office will be closed on March 30 for Good Friday and on April 2 for Easter Monday. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk will be addressed on Tuesday April 3, 2018.

March 14, 2018 - Device and Browser for Best Portal Experience

AFMC recommends Google Chrome as a web browser on a PC or Mac. Given the complexity and seriousness of the process, users should avoid using mobile devices or tablets.

February 27, 2018 - University of Alberta Response Times for Specific Electives

All requested start dates from July 2018 and onward for the following specialties only have been temporarily blacked out. These departments cannot consider these dates until they have their schedules released for the next academic year. The blackout will be removed April 3, 2018, at 8:30AM (MST) which will allow you to request start dates beginning June 11, 2018 and beyond. Please note this only applies to the following electives:

Adult Neurology
Clinical Hematology
Coronary Care Unit (CCU)
Dermatology - General
Geriatrics
General Internal Medicine - UAH
General Internal Medicine - RAH
Infectious Diseases
Introduction to Clinical Oncology
Neonatology
Palliative Care
Physiatry
ALL PEDIATRIC SPECIALTIES
**Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry) will be temporarily disabled between Jan 19 - April 2, 2018. As of April 3 they will again be able to verify availability for summer/fall 2018 dates.

Thank you,

The University of Alberta

February 12, 2018 - AFMC Office Closed February 19

The AFMC office will be closed on February 19 for Family Day. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed the following day.

February 8, 2018 - Tentative CCME Meeting Schedule

Each year, the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) is the venue for the Portal team to directly engage with stakeholders on issues and priorities for visiting electives in Canada. The AFMC Student Portal team is scheduling three meetings at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) 2018 in Halifax.

AFMC Working Group on Application Fees and Refunds
(April 28, 2018 - 8 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.)

Portal Data Analysis Working Group
(April 28, 2018 - 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)

AFMC Student Portal Steering Committee
(April 29, 2018 - 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

Additionally, we will also be providing a Portal update to the AFMC Elective’s Network, Canadian Federation of Medical Students, AFMC Student Affairs Group, AFMC Clerkship Group, Undergraduate Medical Education Committee and we hope to also provide an update to the AFMC Informatics Group and Senior Deans. We look forward to meeting all stakeholders at the conference. For more information, please contact Catherine Peirce at cpeirce@afmc.ca

About the Conference
The Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME), April 28 to May 1, 2018, is the premier medical education conference in Canada. It hosts the largest annual gathering of medical educators in the country and this year Dalhousie University is hosting the conference.

February 2, 2018 - BEFORE YOU CAN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION - 4 CRITICAL STEPS

Step 4 START A NEW APPLICATION - Help documents/Application process/Applying for elective opportunities

The AFMC Student Portal Team

December 18, 2017 - Help Desk Support During the Holidays

The AFMC offices will be closed December 25 and will reopen January 2. The Help Desk will be responding to tickets daily on a reduced schedule. To reach the help desk email: service@afmcstudentportal.ca

Happy holidays

December 5, 2017 - Extended deadline for The MCAT Fee Assistance Program for Canadians

Deadline for the MCAT Fee Assistance Program for Canadians has been extended to January 3, 2018, 9:00 a.m. ET.

November 28, 2017 - Application window opens three hours earlier

AFMC is happy to announce that we are eliminating the need to apply at midnight by opening the application window three hours earlier. The application window, for all schools, will open at 9 p.m. Eastern Time (i.e. three hours before midnight based on the earliest day you can apply). Once the application window is open, students can apply at any time of the day. This notice is also posted for students on the Visiting Electives Guide. This change will come into effect as of Friday, December 1, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact the help desk: service@afmcstudentportal.ca

E.g. If you are applying for an elective that starts Monday June 18, 2018 and the application period starts no earlier than 28 weeks before the elective start date, the earliest you can apply is Sunday December 3, 2017 at 9 p.m. ET.To calculate: (start date) minus (28 weeks at midnight) minus (3 hours).

November 21, 2017 - AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form 2018 Now Available

OTTAWA – The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) is pleased to announce the release of the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form (2018). The Form 2018 (available in French and English) is intended for use by Canadian and international medical students applying for visiting electives in Canada. All documents are available on the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing page of the Portal.

As of November 21^st, all medical students applying for visiting electives through the Portal must use the Form 2018. To ensure a smooth transition, the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form (2017) will be accepted until January 10, 2018. This transition date may vary by school, before applying students should consult the schools’ Institution Profile on the Portal to confirm. For students who have submitted applications using the Form 2017 and will be submitting another application after November 21^st, an addendum with the new testing or immunization requirements will be available. Students in this situation will be required to submit their application using the Form 2017 and the transition addendum 2017/2018.

November 13, 2017 - Release of the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form 2018

The AFMC Immunization Working Group plans to release the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form 2018 in English and French on November 21, 2017.

Transitioning to the 2018 form:

All students preparing to apply for electives in January will be required to apply using the new form
AFMC is recommending schools accept the old forms until January 10th to help students applying in November and December. On a school by school basis, the transition period may be shorter or longer.

For students who have submitted an application with the 2017 form and will be submitting another application after November 21st

An addendum with new testing or immunization requirements will be available.
Students in this situation will send the 2017 form and the 2018 addendum.

On November 21st, look for the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form 2018, the addendum and help documents for students on the Portal at: https://www.afmcstudentportal.ca/Immunization

November 9, 2017 - Planned outage of the AFMC Student Portal's payment processor 00:00-2:00 (ET), November 18

To : All Portal users

Due to a scheduled outage, the payment processor of the AFMC Student Portal will temporarily be down from 00:00-2:00am (ET) on November 18. During that time, the Portal will still be accessible but no transactions will be possible.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

NOTE: This outage will have no impact on any previously submitted applications.

November 1, 2017 - MCAT® FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CANADIANS

Students in financial need can apply for the MCAT Fee Assistance Program for Canadians until December 1, 2017: https://www.afmcstudentportal.ca/Home/McatFap

Find out all the details here: http://www.afmc.ca/en/mcat-fee-assistance-program

October 27, 2017 - AFMC Student Portal Registration Fee | Notice of Increase

Effective Dec. 11, 2017 10:00 AM ET: As approved by the AFMC Board of Directors, the one-time non-refundable Portal registration fee will be $200 for Canadian Students and $575 for International Students.* For more information about fees, please refer to the Registrant Declaration.

*Registrant type is defined by the home school i.e. Canadian student refers to a student whose home school is at a faculty of medicine in Canada and an international student refers to a student whose home school is at a faculty of medicine outside of Canada.

October 18, 2017 - Receiving an error message when trying to access the Portal using Firefox?

It has come to our attention that some users may not have been able to access the Portal using Firefox. This is a browser related issue and can be resolved by updating the web browser. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-firefox-latest-version

Although the AFMC Student Portal will work with most web browsers and operating systems, the AFMC recommends registrants to use the Portal with Google Chrome. The Portal is not designed for mobile devices, for this reason, we highly recommend registrants to use a PC or Mac when submitting applications.

AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form 2018 to be released Nov. 21st

The AFMC Immunization Working Group plans to release the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form 2018 in English and French on November 21, 2017.

Transitioning to the 2018 form:

All students preparing to apply for electives in January will be required to apply using the new form
AFMC is recommending schools accept the old forms until January 10th to help students applying in November and December. On a school by school basis, the transition period may be shorter or longer.

On November 21st, look for the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form 2018 and help documents for students on the Portal at: https://www.afmcstudentportal.ca/Immunization

August 30, 2017 - Help Desk Support on September 4

The AFMC offices will be closed on September 4 for Labour Day. Any messages (or emails or requests for support) sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed on Tuesday September 5th.

August 25, 2017 - A Message from the University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa has changed its application timeline. Students are now able to apply for an elective 16-28 weeks before the elective start date. This application timeline will commence on Sept. 4, 2017.

August 25, 2017 - Scheduled Maintenance: Registration & Application Service Offline August 29, 3-7am (ET)

To : All Portal users

Registration and application service will be offline from 3-7am (ET) August 29 due to a scheduled upgrade by the payment processor. Please do not try to submit an application or register for a Portal account during this time.

This outage will not impact any previously submitted applications. All other features of the Portal will be accessible during this period. If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

August 21, 2017 - AFMC Student Portal Improved for Medical Students: 8 week alerts feature added and more...

The dashboard for students will be updated today to offer a quick snapshot of application statuses, so students can:

Check the status of all applications without having to click through additional screens.
Monitor the number of weeks before the start of an elective.
Identify action items that need attention—all on one page.
View all confirmed electives on the dashboard.

To learn more: AFMC Student Portal Dashboard. This update is part of AFMC’s ongoing commitment to medical students and our faculties to enhance the visiting electives experience.

August 2, 2017 - A Message from The University of Alberta

Students have raised the issue of the long wait times they experience to find out if they will get the elective they have requested. To be sure of a position, they have submitted multiple applications. As such, we have made some changes to our application process to address the response times and to make the system more equitable for all students. As of Aug 1, 2017 the following changes will take effect with regard to applications to the University of Alberta.

Each elective application can have three electives choices. The option of including alternative dates for each department will no longer be accepted.
In the past, departments would offer alternative dates if available. In order to be fair to all students this practice will no longer be processed.
A new fee of $150 will now be charged for all applications. $50 will be a non-refundable administrative fee. If a student cannot be placed, $100 will be refunded.
For Canadian and LCME students, we have increased each of the following: the maximum number of applications accepted per student is now 15 applications; the total number of confirmed electives allowed is now 6 electives, and the confirmed number of weeks approved is now 12 weeks.
Our application window has been extended an additional six weeks to allow more time for students to apply for electives. We will now allow applications to be submitted 10-28 weeks prior to the elective start date being requested.

Please read the rest of the policies and procedures posted to ensure you are aware of the process.

August 1, 2017 - AFMC Office Closed August 7

The AFMC offices will be closed on August 7 for the Civic holiday. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed on Tuesday August 8.

July 27, 2017 - Message to all students from the AFMC Immunization Working Group – a MUST read

The AFMC Immunization Working Group (IWG) would like to communicate an important message to all students. This message was drafted by immunization experts on the IWG based on multiple issues observed by colleagues at each faculty of medicine in Canada. Message to all students from the AFMC Immunization Working Group – a MUST read

July 19, 2017 - Scheduled Maintenance: Registration & Application Service Offline July 25, 3-7am (ET)

To: All Portal Users

Registration and application service will be offline from 3-7am (ET) July 25 due to a schedules upgrade by the payment processor. Please do not try to submit an application or register for a Portal account during this time. This outage will not impact any previously submitted applications. All other features of the Portal will be accessible during this period. If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

July 13, 2017 - 10 Steps to Help You Prepare for Visiting Electives

July 11, 2017 - Planned outage of the AFMC Student Portal 4pm-4:30 (ET), July 13

Due to a scheduled outage, the AFMC Student Portal will be temporarily down from 4pm-4:30 (ET) on July 13.

We apologize for any inconvenience this schedules outage may cause and thank you for yout understanding.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Help Desk at service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

NOTE: This outage will have no impact on any previously submitted applications.

June 29, 2017 - Help desk Support on July 3

The AFMC offices will be closed on July 3 for the statutory holiday of Canada Day. Any Tickets sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed on Tuesday July 4.

June 26, 2017 - Message from the University of Toronto regarding maximum number of elective weeks

Effective immediately - “In order to provide more students with an elective opportunity at the University of Toronto, we will be limiting the maximum number of electives weeks allowed in an academic year to 6.”

May 10, 2017 - 10 Steps to Help You Prepare for Visiting Electives

May 3, 2017 - University of Toronto: Temporary interruption of EMAIL Service

The University of Toronto is currently experiencing an interruption of EMAIL service. We have advised students to check their dashboard on the Portal for application status, notifications, and alerts. All responses can be managed through the Portal. This situation only impacts students from the University of Toronto and any updates on the outage will be posted on the news page of the Information Technology Services of the faculty.

March 24, 2017 - Invitation to the Q&A Session on Immunization for Visiting Electives

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) would like to invite you to learn more about the common immunization form and discuss immunization requirements for visiting electives.

This session will provide answers to all your questions:

What are the benefits of one immunization form for visiting electives
How do I complete the form?
How will AFMC meet the needs of each faculty to keep the form up-to-date
If my faculty or hospital has new requirements, who do I contact?
How long can students use the old forms?
Where can students find information about the immunization form?
As an elective coordinator, how do I respond to technical immunization questions?
Who will help me with my immunization questions? E.g. how can I submit my influenza documentation?

Who should attend?

Undergraduate Deans
Students
Elective Coordinators, Faculty Leads and Program Managers
Any stakeholder interested in learning more about immunization requirements for visiting electives

Attend one of the two information sessions at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) 2017. To RSVP, please contact Fatou Thioune, Project Assistant at fthioune@afmc.ca.

Information Sessions

Date	Time (CST)	Location
Saturday, April 29, 2017	8: 00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	RBC Convention Centre – Meeting Room 17
Sunday, April 30, 2017	1: 00 p.m. – 2: 00 p.m.	Delta Hotel Winnipeg – Room St Vital

March 1, 2017 - Invitation to the AFMC Student Portal Data Workshop on Visiting Electives

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) would like to invite stakeholders to the AFMC Student Portal Data Workshop on Visiting Electives at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) 2017. The Workshop will be held on Monday, May 1^st from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (CST). This session is organized by AFMC and the Portal Data Analysis Working Group. With the recent release of the AFMC Student Portal Data on Visiting Electives, Academic Year 2015-2016, we invite participants to explore and identify ways to make the most of the Portal data. The session will focus on reviewing policy priorities and generating a dialogue on visiting electives.

The Portal Data Analysis Working Group is seeking representatives from stakeholder Groups - Undergraduate Deans, Students, the Electives Network, Portal committee members, and other AFMC Committees and Networks who are engaged with visiting electives. Please RSVP by email to: Fatou Thioune, Portal Project Assistant at fthioune@afmc.ca.

About the conference

The Canadian Conference on Medical Education, April 29 to May 2, 2017, is the premier medical education conference in Canada. It hosts the largest annual gathering of medical educators in the country and this year the University of Manitoba is hosting the conference.

February 21, 2017 - AFMC Student Portal - ALL Canadian medical schools now fully launched!

The AFMC Student Portal is now a National Centralized Application Service for Visiting Electives. At CCME 2010 in Newfoundland and Labrador, students together with the AFMC undergraduate medical education committee advocated for a centralized application service for visiting electives. With the recent launch of the University of British Columbia, Université Laval, Université de Montréal and Université de Sherbrooke, their wish is now a reality. The Portal is the one-stop shop for undergraduate Canadian and international medical students who apply for visiting electives at the 17 Canadian medical schools.

Read all about the fully launched AFMC Student Portal here

February 13, 2017 - Université Laval, Université de Montréal and Université de Sherbrooke Preparing to Launch on the AFMC Student Portal

OTTAWA – The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) is pleased to announce that the French-language schools in Québec - Université de Montréal, Université Laval and Université de Sherbrooke - will be joining McGill University and the Canadian Medical schools outside of Québec on the AFMC Student Portal. Students completing interprovincial visiting electives will benefit from the new application service that has been developed in partnership with the medical schools and the Bureau de la coopération interuniversitaire (BCI).

With the new application process, students will apply for visiting electives through the Portal and seamlessly connect with BCI to receive simultaneous authorization from their host and home school registrars. This eliminates the need for students and administrators to complete a two-step application process for visiting electives.

With the implementation of the Portal, Québec medical students can now consult the searchable database of visiting electives in Québec. Students should review the policies and application periods for each of the medical schools before applying.

AFMC is pleased to be able to work closely with the vice-deans, registrars, and BCI to develop this streamlined service for students.

In preparation of the launch, FAQs, videos, and help documents are available to students. Students are also encouraged to visit the Portal Help Desk at: https://service.afmcstudentportal.ca or contact a Help Desk Representative by email at: service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

February 3, 2017 - University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine now accepting Applications for Visiting Electives on the AFMC Student Portal

OTTAWA –The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine are pleased to announce that UBC is now accepting applications for visiting electives through the AFMC Student Portal, an online service that allows medical students to search and apply for medical electives across Canada.

“The AFMC is thrilled that UBC will join the other 13 Canadian faculties and that students will have access to UBC electives through the AFMC Student Portal,” says Dr. Geneviève Moineau, President and CEO, AFMC.

“We are pleased to partner with the AFMC to help streamline the application process for UBC visiting medical electives,” says Dr. Roger Wong, Executive Associate Dean, Education, UBC Faculty of Medicine. “By moving to the centralized, national portal, we are helping medical students to easily explore and apply to the wide range of rich UBC medical elective opportunities based in communities across British Columbia.”

“The expansion of the AFMC Student Portal to include UBC is a step towards the modernization of Canadian medical education,” says Tavis Apramian, VP Education, CFMS. “The CFMS is pleased that the largest medical school in Western Canada is now accepting applications through the centralized Portal. We thank the AFMC and UBC for making a Canada-wide electives Portal an approaching reality.”

UBC Visiting Electives information, including details on how to apply, student eligibility, application fees, deadlines and required documentation, are available at: https://www.afmcstudentportal.ca/institution/UBC#/. For more information, please visit the AFMC Student Portal at: https://www.afmcstudentportal.ca.

The AFMC Student Portal, a bilingual information hub and centralized application service, provides a one-stop-shop for medical students looking for electives in Canada. Visiting Canadian and International undergraduate medical students will now be able to visit the AFMC Student Portal to learn more about UBC visiting elective offerings. Students can search the Visiting Elective Guide at no charge and at any time without having to register or submit an application.

Quick Facts about the AFMC Student Portal

The Portal was launched in 2014
More than 10000 students are registered with the Portal
Over 23000 applications have been submitted through the Portal
The University of British Columbia will be the 14^th of Canada’s 17 medical schools to accept applications for visiting electives on the Portal

January 17, 2017 - Launch of the Common Immunization Form for Visiting Electives in Canada

OTTAWA – The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), in collaboration with the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) and the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) are pleased to announce the launch of the common immunization form for visiting electives. The AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form (2017) (available in French and English) and its companion guide titled Guidelines to the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form are intended for use by Canadian and international medical students who wish to participate in visiting electives in Canada. Students will now complete ONE immunization form that will be accepted by all Canadian faculties of medicine for all visiting electives applications. All documents are available on the Immunization Requirements page of the Portal. Use of this common form by all medical schools in Canada will save time and resources.

“I am very pleased that the AFMC has been able to deliver on this request from our students. The AFMC Student Portal will now be even more useful for students: a one stop shop with a one stop immunization form,” said Dr. Geneviève Moineau, President and CEO of the AFMC.

“The Canadian Federation of Medical Students applauds the hard work of the AFMC in developing a common immunization form. We especially thank Dr. William Libich, Dr. Joan Robinson, and Dr. Donald McKay for their efforts,” said Tavis Apramian, Vice President Education, CFMS.” The common immunization form is the first step towards a common immunization process, and both of these innovations will dramatically improve medical students’ experiences of the electives process.”

Help resources including a Student Guide to the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form, the document Transitioning into the new AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form for Elective Coordinators and support from the Portal Help Desk are available for students and administrators. To ensure a smooth transition, existing immunization forms will be accepted from students who are currently applying or have submitted applications. Students who have not started the application process before January 17^th must use the new common immunization form. Transition time will be provided following the launch for students who have started the application process using old immunization forms.

AFMC is the academic partnership of Canada's faculties of medicine. Through our collective leadership, expertise and advocacy, we will achieve excellence in education, research and care for the health of all Canadians.

January 11, 2017 - Launch of the Common Immunization Form for Visiting Electives in Canada

OTTAWA – The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), in collaboration with the Canadian Federation of Medical Students( CFMS) and the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) are pleased to announce the launch of the common immunization form for visiting electives, as of January 17, 2017. The AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form and its companion guide entitled AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Requirements (available in French and English) is intended for use by Canadian and international medical students who wish to participate in visiting electives in Canada. Following the launch, students will be required to complete ONE immunization form that will be accepted by our 17 Canadian faculties of medicine for all visiting electives applications.

This common form was created in response to the need identified by students, faculty administrators and national immunization experts to develop one common form for immunization requirements. The AFMC Immunization Working Group facilitated stakeholder consultations to support the development of the common form which was drafted by Dr. William Libich, Director of Immunization, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Immunization Program at the University of Manitoba with input from Dr. Joan Robinson, Divisional Director Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alberta.

By using this common form, the burden faced by medical students in completing multiple immunization forms and sometimes necessitating multiple clinic visits will be eased. Medical schools will also benefit as the form will enable streamlined administrative processes.

Help resources such as a Student Guide to the AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form, the document Transitioning into the new AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form for Elective Coordinators and support from the Portal Help Desk are available for students and administrators.
To ensure a smooth transition, existing immunization forms will be accepted from students who are currently applying or have submitted applications. Students who have not started the application process before January 17^th must use the new common immunization form. Transition time will be provided following the launch for students who have started the application process using old immunization forms.

AFMC is the academic partnership of Canada's faculties of medicine. Through our collective leadership, expertise and advocacy, we will achieve excellence in education, research and care for the health of all Canadians.

January 9, 2017 - University of Saskatchewan Now Accepting Applications for Visiting Electives on the AFMC Student Portal

“The AFMC is thrilled that the University of Saskatchewan will join the other 12 Canadian faculties and that students will have access to electives in Saskatchewan through the AFMC Student Portal, “said Dr. Geneviève Moineau, President and CEO, AFMC.

“We are pleased to be making it easier for Canadian and international medical students to take electives through our college with the AFMC Student Portal,” said Dr. Preston Smith, Dean of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. “Through these electives, we are proud to share our knowledge, experience, welcoming communities and friendly people with students who may choose to return when they complete their studies. Saskatchewan offers an exceptional environment for medical learning and discovery and, as advanced by the Saskatchewan Medical Association, a vision to be the best place in the world to practice medicine.”

“The expansion of the AFMC Student Portal to include the University of Saskatchewan is a step towards the modernization of Canadian medical education,” said Tavis Apramian, VP Education, CFMS. “The CFMS is pleased that more students from across the country will have a chance to experience practice in this unique area of Canada. We thank the AFMC and the University Of Saskatchewan College Of Medicine for making a Canada-wide electives portal an approaching reality.”

The Portal is a bilingual information hub and centralized application service. Visiting Canadian and International undergraduate medical students will now be able to visit the AFMC Student Portal to learn more about the University of Saskatchewan’s elective offerings. Students can search the Visiting Electives Guide at any time without having to register or submit an application and at no charge.

Quick Facts about the AFMC Student Portal

The Portal was launched in 2014
More than 10000 students are registered with the Portal
Over 23000 applications have been submitted through the Portal
The University of Saskatchewan will be the 13^th of Canada’s 17 medical schools to accept applications for visiting electives on the Portal

For more information, please visit The AFMC Student Portal at: http://www.afmcstudentportal.ca.

January 9, 2017 - University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine - Update regarding the AFMC Student Portal

OTTAWA –The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) and the University of British Columbia (UBC)Faculty of Medicine are pleased to announce that UBC will soon be accepting applications for visiting electives on the AFMC Student Portal. The UBC application service through the Portal will open February 3, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. (PST).

Please note that applications can be submitted through the existing UBC application system until February 1^st at 4:00 p.m. (PST). Applications cannot be submitted on February 2 as the UBC Visiting Electives Office prepares to transition to the Portal. On February 3 students can resume applying to UBC through the AFMC Student Portal. Detailed information for students regarding this transition phase will be available on the UBC Visiting Electives website.

Portal FAQs, videos, and help documents are available to students through the Portal Help Desk at: https://service.afmcstudentportal.ca. Students may also contact a Help Desk Representative by email at: service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

December 21, 2016 - University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine preparing to launch on the AFMC Student Portal

In January, further details regarding the launch date and application instructions for students will be circulated. Students who are interested in applying to UBC electives prior to the Portal’s launch may continue to apply to UBC using the university’s existing online application system. Students are encouraged to visit the UBC Visiting Electives website for further updates.

Portal FAQs, videos, and support documents are available to students through the Portal Help Desk at: service.afmcstudentportal.ca. Students may also contact a Help Desk Representative by email at: service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

December 16, 2016 - Joint Communiqué: University of Sastchewan preparing to launch on the AFMC Student Portal

OTTAWA –The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) are pleased to announce that the University will join 12 other faculties of Medicine in accepting applications for visiting electives on the AFMC Student Portal. The University of Saskatchewan’s application service will open January 10, 2017 at 11 a.m. (ET).

For students applying to the University of Saskatchewan, applications submitted prior to January 10, 2017 will be processed through the old application service. After the Portal is available for the U of S, all applications for visiting electives must be submitted via the Portal. Applications from Canadian and students studying abroad for electives must be received no less than 4 months prior to the elective. The earliest elective start date based on the day of launch will be for electives in early May.

In preparation of the launch, FAQs, videos, and help documents are available to students. Students are also encouraged to visit the Portal Help Desk at: service.afmcstudentportal.ca or contact a Help Desk Representative by email at: service@afmcstudentportal.ca.

November 3, 2016 - Portal Usage Infographic

AFMC is pleased to share the Portal Usage Infographic. The data is a snapshot on visiting electives in 2015/16 based on 11 schools offering an application service for visiting electives through the AFMC Student Portal. The framework for national reporting was initiated by the AFMC Student Portal Data Analysis Working Group. Data updates are anticipated in March each year. The infographic is available on the About page of the Portal.

October 7, 2016 – Help Desk Support on October 10

The AFMC offices will be closed on October 10 for Thanksgiving Day. Any messages (or emails or requests for support) sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed on Tuesday, October 11th.

July 22, 2016 – Ten Steps to Help You Prepare for Visiting Electives

Application periods for fall and winter electives are fast approaching. Some schools may already be open for applications while others will be opening for applications soon.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

Review the Institution Profile and Elective Offerings at each host medical school and complete the following checklist:

Identify the dates visiting electives are offered
Checked the application period (e.g. applications may be required 4-7 months in advance of the elective)
Double check for possible blackout dates (e.g. Elective not offered during a holiday)
Review eligibility and prerequisites for each elective
Arrange appointments for immunization testing and mask fitting, as required. Note: requirements may differ between host medical schools
Complete your personal profile on the portal
Add your record of completed and scheduled clinical rotations under the academic tab in the Profile
Upload immunization, testing and mask fitting requirements
Upload a passport-like photo
Upload other documents (e.g. Police Record Check) as required.

Quick Links

How to Use the Portal to Apply for a Visiting Elective - Video Tutorial

FAQs

Limited Enrollment - Help Document

July 14, 2016 - Joint Communiqué: Northern Ontario Medical School Now Accepting Applications for Visiting Electives on the AFMC Student Portal

OTTAWA –The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec (FMEQ) and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) are pleased to announce that NOSM is now accepting applications for visiting electives through the AFMC Student Portal. Visiting Elective Details for NOSM --how to apply, student eligibility, application fees, deadlines and required documentation – are available at: https://www.afmcstudentportal.ca/institution/NOSM#/.

June 30, 2016 - Help Desk Support on July 1

The AFMC offices will be closed on July 1 for Canada Day. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed on Monday July 4.

June 21, 2016 - Help Desk Support on June 23

The AFMC Student Portal Help Desk will be replying to tickets on a reduced schedule on June 23. For urgent matters, please an email to both service@afmcstudentportal.ca and cpeirce@afmc.ca.

June 1, 2016 - Alert - Email Issues at the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is currently experiencing email issues. All previously sent emails from Saturday, May 28 including today were not delivered and will need to be re-sent starting Thursday, June 2.

May 25, 2016 - New video: How to Use the Portal to Apply for a Visiting Elective

Below is a new video created by AFMC to provide students with an overall view of how to use the Portal to apply for a visiting elective.

May 18, 2016 - Help Desk Support during Victoria Day

The AFMC offices will be closed on May 23 for Victoria Day. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk will be addressed on Tuesday, May 24.

April 11, 2016 - Portal Presentation at CCME 2016

If you are preparing for visiting electives or would like to know more about the Portal, join us at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME2016) in Montreal for one of two information sessions on how to use the AFMC Student Portal.

Session times

April 16, 2016, 11 - 11:30 a.m. at Bonaventure Hotel, Banquets Level, room St-Pierre

April 17, 2016, 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Bonaventure Hotel, Banquets Level, room Longueuil

March 23, 2016 - Notice: AFMC Offices Closed on March 25 and 28, 2016

The AFMC offices will be closed on March 25 for Good Friday and on March 28 for Easter Monday. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed on Tuesday, March 29.

March 14, 2016 - Update to the Portal Privacy Policy, Registrant's Declaration and Terms of Use

Dear Portal User:

For the past few months, we have been implementing some changes to our Privacy Policy, Registrant’s Declaration and Terms of Use in an effort to better serve you. While we encourage you to read these documents in their entirety (Privacy Policy, Registrant’s Declaration and Terms of Use), the major differences are summarized for you below.

Registrant’s Declaration
Notification to student’s home medical school. In the event students provide false or misleading information on the Portal, AFMC has now the right to contact the student’s home medical school.

Portal registration fee deferrals or exemptions. Registration fee deferrals or exemptions are outlined in the Registrant’s Declaration. When students register, they will receive a notice to that effect.

Use of information submitted by students to the Medical School or AFMC. Documentation and information submitted on Portal may now be shared between host and home medical schools in connection to visiting electives.

Data Retention. Students now authorize AFMC and the host medical school to collect, use, keep store, data, share and release de-identified data about the student’s activities in the Portal for research, reporting, analysis or any other internal purposes. AFMC will keep student’s information for a period of three years from the day the information was entered in the Portal.

Privacy Policy
Update of the Privacy Officer’s Contact Information. The privacy officer’s contact information has been updated.

Terms of Use
Amendments to the Terms of Use. AFMC reserves the right to change the terms of use but will provide notification of such material change to all users.

Have more questions about these changes? Contact our Help Desk Service for answers.

February 17, 2016 - Launch of Major Business Process Upgrades on the Portal

Upgrades have been implemented on the Portal to support medical students applying for visiting electives. Now, students can:

•   View blackout periods by electives at each institution on their Institution Profile,
•   Use the new calendar in the Visiting Electives Guide to determine elective availability,
•   Identify the start day of an elective by viewing the new calendar in the Application Form.
(This will ensure that your application dates will match the clinical schedule),
•   Log in to their AFMC Student Portal account with a simplified process,
•   Access support with Quick Links to Help Desk support staff, FAQs and Help documents.
•   Review the Five Application Steps prior to starting your application.

February 12, 2016 - Notice: AFMC Offices Closed on February 15, 2016

The AFMC offices will be closed on February 15 for Family Day. Any tickets sent to the Help Desk on that day will be addressed the following day.

January 26, 2016 - Important Notice: Service Interruption on February 12

Service Upgrades Scheduled for Friday, February 12, 2016, 5-9 pm (ET) - The AFMC Portal Service will not be available during these hours.

January 5, 2016 - New Extended Help Desk Hours

AFMC is pleased to announce extended help desk hours, effective immediately. The hours have been changed to provide users across Canada and internationally with Help Desk support from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (ET).

November 4, 2015 - Support Documents Available on the Help Desk Website

In order to help you with the registration, application process, and completion of your profile on the student portal, the AFMC has put together support documents in the Help Desk that are readily available to you. These resources clarify various steps in the application process. In the portal’s Help Desk you will find this valuable information under the Help Documents tab.

Below is also a video clarifying the step by step process on how to apply through the AFMC Student Portal.