Failure to comply with any policies may result in cancellation of your elective and/or application, and/or a Letter of Professionalism.

All policies apply to all students all the time.

Requests for information that can be found on our profile will not be responded to.

1. ELIGIBILITY 

Students must be a student enrolled in a Canadian medical school who did not match with CaRMS

• We do not accept applications:
  • If the student already has an application processing for the same time period
  • If the elective is not for credit;
  • If the elective is only for 1 week;
  • If the student is not in good standing at their institution;
  • If you are not a medical student.
• If you do not qualify but submit an application, it will be cancelled and there will be no refund.

English Language Proficiency

English is the primary language of instruction and communication. By applying for an elective with Dalhousie, you are confirming that you are competent in English. No proof is required

2. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 

Please ensure that you apply at the subspecialty level when submitting an application

Contacting Departments Directly

The departments listed below, and only these departments, should be contacted directly to arrange an elective. You will only have to submit an application if the department tells you they have a spot for you. For all departments not listed below, please apply directly via the AFMC portal.

Use only the contact information listed below – do not phone.

PRIOR to contacting the department:

• Review the elective opportunity description in case there is important information.

If you do contact the department directly and receive an elective offer, it will not be confirmed until:

• ​An application is submitted via the portal and the student is confirmed by UGME as being eligible; AND,
• The elective is accepted by the department and the student; AND,
• The student receives a confirmation letter from UGME.

Note: If you receive an offer from a department, please submit your application immediately to ensure there is enough time for it to be fully processed before your offer expires or ends up outside the 16-week window. Some home schools take several days to verify applications. Also, it may take several days for Dal to process your application

Do not contact one department while you have another application request or communication with another department processing for the same time period or your application and/or elective(s) may be cancelled.

Do not contact one department for an elective in another department. Only contact the department listed for an elective in that department. Please choose carefully.

Do not contact UGME regarding elective availability

• Anaesthesia/Chronic Pain (Halifax, NS)
  Jessie Purvis — Jessie.Purvis@nshealth.ca
• Diagnostic Radiology (Halifax, NS)
  Melissa MacLeod — Melissa.MacLeod@dal.ca
• Emergency Medicine – Emergency Medical Services (Halifax, NS)
  Jennifer Day — JenniferE.Day@nshealth.ca
• Emergency Medicine (Halifax, NS)
  Jennifer Day — JenniferE.Day@nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics – Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NICU) (Halifax, NS)
  Wendy Mitchell — Wendy.Mitchell@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics – General Pediatrics (PMU) (Halifax, NS)
  Dr. Joanna Holland – joanna.holland@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics- Hematology & Oncology
  Jennifer Curran- Jennifer.curran@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Psychiatry – All Subspecialties (Halifax and Dartmouth, NS)
  undergrad@dalpsychiatry.ca
• Radiation Oncology (Halifax, NS)
  Karen Watts — KarenA.Watts@nshealth.ca
• Sports Medicine (Halifax, NS)
  Felicia Licht — Felicia@stanishortho.com
• Surgery (Halifax, NS)
  Sheila Reid — Sheila.Reid@Dal.Ca
  Note: only includes the following: Cardiac, General, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic, Pediatric General, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Orthopedic, Plastic, Thoracic, Vascular.
• Surgery – Otolaryngology (Halifax, NS)
  Brenda Oake — Brenda.Oake@Dal.Ca

Submitting Multiple Applications

• Submit only 1 application at a time for the same time period. Submitting more than 1 application for the same time period will result in the cancellation of both applications, with no refund.

Application Maximums

• The maximum number of choices per elective is 5.
• The maximum combined elective duration is 4 weeks. The maximum elective time permitted for students is 4 weeks per calendar year, and 8 weeks per academic year. Our academic year is Sep-Aug.

Capacity

• We do not keep a database of available positions so cannot provide you with elective availability, nor can we advise which electives are more likely to receive an offer.
• We do not have waitlists.
• Submitting an elective application does not guarantee a placement.
• We cannot offer status updates. You will be notified when there is a change to your application.​

Processing Times

• Some departments take longer than others to organize electives.
• Requests may take longer than noted for a variety of reasons; for example, if staff are on vacation.

3. DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS 

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT DEPARTMENTS WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT AFMC REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

With Application Submission:

• A recent and clear photo of yourself (Registrant Account) 
• AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form
• Police Record Check (PRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)
  • Most Canadian schools will verify your Police Record Check (PRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS). If your home school does not verify this, it is your responsibility to provide one. You will be notified by Dalhousie prior to your application being processed if this is the case.
  • PRC’s/VSS’s must be less than one year old, and must be in effect during your elective.
  • If you have ordered the PRC but haven’t received it, email CdnElectives@dal.ca. We can process your application as long as you have uploaded the receipt under “Other required documents”.
• Anticipated Graduation Date
• Completed or Scheduled Core

After Elective Cofirmation

• Pledge of Confidentiality

• • As requested in your confirmation letter.

• Influenza Vaccination
  • Students should ensure that they’ve had an influenza vaccination prior to arrival at Dalhousie (please bring proof of vaccination). If you haven’t been vaccinated, or do not have proof of vaccination, you may not be entitled to participate in some, or any, activities.

• COVID Vaccination
  • Students are required to provide proof of vaccination . Approved vaccines includes Moderna, Pfizer, and Janssen.
  • Nova Scotia: Requires 2 doses (1 dose for Janssen) to be considered fully vaccinated. (Guidelines may be subject to change)
  • New Brunswick: Requires 2 doses (1 dose for Janssen) (Guidelines may be subject to change)
  • PEI: Requires 2 doses (1 dose for Janssen) to be considered fully vaccinated. (Guidelines may be subject to change)

• Proof of N95 Mask Fitting
• Proof of CPR-HCP or BLS

IMPORTANT:

• Do not enter any false information in your application for any reason.
  Elective requests must be within the 16 week timeline from your application submission date.
• Electives start on Monday and end on Friday (except holidays). Emergency Medicine – Halifax electives end on Sunday. Your confirmation letter will have the correct dates.
• Your middle name is mandatory for security purposes. Only if you do not have a middle name are you to enter “X”.
• Please ensure that you apply at the subspecialty level when submitting an application
• Add any additional available dates in the comments section. These are not considered official elective requests – they are just comments that departments may consider. Official requests are only those entered as an elective request in the application.
• Choices are processed in the order in which they are entered in your application.
• PRIOR to submitting your application – In the comment section, add any additional information that you want departments to see, i.e. preceptor and/or language preferences, etc.).
• Please indicate in the comment section of your application if you prefer a French-speaking preceptor. Note: We can’t promise that you will be placed with one, but we’ll try. Your best chance is to choose a New Brunswick site.

1. ELIGIBILITY 

• “Internationals” student type = Students abroad, including Canadian citizens/permanent residents registered in a full-time undergraduate MD program at a FAIMER/WHO or LCME accredited medical school outside Canada.
• Students must be in their final year of study and have completed 5 core rotations (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry or Surgery) prior to the start of the desired elective date. Your application will not be processed if all 5 core rotations, whether completed and/or scheduled, are not entered.

2. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please ensure that you apply at the subspecialty level when submitting an application 

• Please read everything on this page, as well as the information pertaining to your student type prior to submitting your application. Requirements are non-negotiable.
• Submission of an application indicates an understanding and acceptance of all information on this page and on the tabs. Please direct any visiting student elective enquiries to the Visiting Electives Office at intl.electives@dal.ca  and NOT to any other departments or individuals, unless specified below.
• All clinical electives must be done for academic credit. We do not offer core clinical training, pre-clinical electives or observerships through the AFMC Student Portal.

• We do not accept applications:
  • If the student already has an application processing for the same time period
  • If the elective is not for credit.
  • If the elective is only for 1 week.
  • If the student is not in good standing at their institution.
  • If you are not a medical student.
• If you do not qualify but submit an application, it will be cancelled and there will be no refund.

Contacting Departments Directly

The departments listed below, and only these departments, should be contacted directly to arrange an elective. You will only have to submit an application if the department tells you they have a spot for you. For all departments not listed below, please apply directly via the AFMC portal.

Use only the contact information listed below – do not phone.

PRIOR to contacting the department:

• Review the elective opportunity description in case there is important information.

If you do contact the department directly and receive an elective offer, it will not be confirmed until:

• ​An application is submitted via the portal and the student is confirmed by UGME as being eligible; AND,
• The elective is accepted by the department and the student; AND,
• The student receives a confirmation letter from UGME.

Note: If you receive an offer from a department, please submit your application immediately to ensure there is enough time for it to be fully processed before your offer expires or ends up outside the 16-week window. Some home schools take several days to verify applications. Also, it may take several days for Dal to process your application

Do not contact one department while you have another application request or communication with another department processing for the same time period or your application and/or elective(s) may be cancelled.

Do not contact one department for an elective in another department. Only contact the department listed for an elective in that department. Please choose carefully.

Do not contact UGME regarding elective availability

• Anaesthesia/Chronic Pain (Halifax, NS)
  Allister Barton — Allister.Barton@dal.ca
• Diagnostic Radiology (Halifax, NS)
  Melissa MacLeod — Melissa.MacLeod@dal.ca
• Emergency Medicine – Emergency Medical Services (Halifax, NS)
  Jennifer Day — JenniferE.Day@nshealth.ca
• Emergency Medicine (Halifax, NS)
  Jennifer Day — JenniferE.Day@nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics – Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NICU) (Halifax, NS)
  Wendy Mitchell — Wendy.Mitchell@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics- Endocrinology
  Cheryl-Ann Langley- Cherylann.langley@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics – General Pediatrics (PMU) (Halifax, NS)
  Dr. Joanna Holland – joanna.holland@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics- Hematology & Oncology
  Jennifer Curran- Jennifer.curran@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Pediatrics- Immunology
  Beata Derfalvi- Beata.Derfalvi@iwk.nshealth.ca
• Psychiatry – All Subspecialties (Halifax and Dartmouth, NS)
  undergrad@dalpsychiatry.ca
• Radiation Oncology (Halifax, NS)
  Karen Watts — KarenA.Watts@nshealth.ca
• Sports Medicine (Halifax, NS)
  Felicia Licht — Felicia@stanishortho.com
• Surgery (Halifax, NS)
  Sheila Reid — Sheila.Reid@Dal.Ca
  Note: only includes the following: Cardiac, General, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic, Pediatric General, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Orthopedic, Plastic, Thoracic, Vascular.
• Surgery – Otolaryngology (Halifax, NS)
  Brenda Oake — Brenda.Oake@Dal.Ca

Completion and uploading of required forms and information

• Dalhousie will not process an application with incomplete, missing, or outdated information.
• Dalhousie reserves the right to withdraw an elective offer if any *outdated documentation is outstanding prior to the elective start date. All *outdated / N95 mask fitting results MUST be uploaded no later than 72 hours prior to the elective start date.
• Students are not permitted to contact preceptors prior or during the placement process. This may be considered a breach of professionalism.
• Only once confirmed for an elective, is it okay to contact the placement contact to clarify scheduling or program specific details.
• Under no circumstances can new dates be requested or re-negotiated once an elective offer is accepted by the applicant.

3. DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

Acceptable file formats (unless otherwise specified): PDF, PNG, JPEG

With Application Submission:

• A recent and clear photo of yourself (Registrant Account) (PNG, JPEG)
• Letter of Good Standing and Proof of Language Ability
  • A scanned copy of the official letter from your home school on the official letter head with the following details:
    • Your full name(s) and last name and student number.
    • The program you are registered in as well as the program length in years and the language of education to be in English – our electives are only offered in English.
    • That you are in academic good standing, your current year of the program and that you are approved to do a clinical elective as part of your curriculum requirements.
    • Expected graduation date (day, month and year).
• Immunization Forms and Uploading
  • Dalhousie will only accept the 2020 AFMC Student Portal Immunization and Testing Form.

• • Students should ensure that they’ve had an influenza vaccination prior to arrival at Dalhousie (please bring proof of vaccination). If you haven’t been vaccinated, or do not have proof of vaccination, you may not be entitled to participate in some, or any, activities.
  • Please have a physician or public health office complete and sign the AFMC Immunization Form. Where applicable, copies of official documentation (i.e., titres, serology reports, etc.) must be attached. Tuberculin skin test (TST) must be done within the past year. QuantiFERON testing is not an acceptable alternative unless you are from a region experiencing a TST shortage, in which case a waiver must also be signed by your health care professional.

• • Should we require more immunization clarification, then we will open another tab “Additional Immunization Documents” for you to upload the requested information. Do not use this tab for other random and supplemental uploads.
• Police Record Check and Vulnerability Sector

• • Canadian Hospitals require two types of criminal record checks for visiting elective students: a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).
  • Both your CBC and VSC (or the country’s equivalent to the Canadian VSC) must be dated within the previous 12 months so they will remain valid throughout your elective. Both should be conducted in the country of your primary residence for the past 12 months.
  • The CBC and VSC may be completed by your home school each year. In this case, no documents are required. Please confirm this with your home school. If they have any questions about what a VSC in Canada entails, they can consult the RCMP’s website.
  • If your home school does not verify your CBC and/or VSC, it is your responsibility to have this done in the country of your primary residence for the past 12 months. You must upload them to the AFMC portal at the time of your application.
  • These record checks can take 6-8 weeks to obtain, and we do not process the application until these are provided. Requests to do so will not be considered.
  • Dalhousie does not provide VSC request forms. Your home school must obtain this from your local police department and request the search be performed for Dalhousie, as your school will be able to verify your identity.
  • Please remember to place the Dalhousie Undergraduate Medical Education Office as the hiring agency on the vulnerable sector request application. Our address for this purpose is:

• • • Dalhousie University
      Faculty of Medicine
      Clinical Research Centre
      Room C-125
      5849 University Avenue
      PO Box 15000
      Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 Canada

• Proof of language competence (PDF, DOC)
  • Canadian students must upload a driver’s licence or passport
  • Can be provided in the letter of good standing

• N95 Mask Fitting
  • All students are required to have a current and valid N95 Mask Fitting. Should you not have a current fitting and if you are unable to obtain it at the time of the application submission, then please upload a note indicating that it will be uploaded prior to the start of the elective. Private arrangements must be made to have the mask fitting results available for upload to the Portal prior to the elective start date. Most Canadian cities offer these – google “N95 mask fitting” and you will probably find a facility in your preferred area to do this for you. The cost is around $30 for such.
  • Do note that a N95 Mask Fitting is only valid for TWO years from the date of issue. Ensure that you have a VALID mask fitting at the time of the elective! 
  • PAPR masks are not supported or carried by our training hospitals, and can thus not be accommodated
• Federal Proof of Covid 19 Vaccine
• Proof of CPR-HCP or BLS

Submitting Multiple Applications

Submit only 1 application at a time for the same time period. Submitting more than 1 application for the same time period will result in the cancellation of both applications, with no refund. 

Application Maximums

• The maximum number of choices per elective is 5.
• The maximum combined elective duration is 4 weeks.
• The maximum elective time permitted for students is 4 weeks per calendar year, and 8 weeks per academic year. Our academic year is Sep-Aug.

Capacity

• We do not keep a database of available positions so cannot provide you with elective availability, nor can we advise which electives are more likely to receive an offer.
• We do not have waitlists.
• Submitting an elective application does not guarantee a placement.
• We cannot offer status updates. You will be notified when there is a change to your application.​

IMPORTANT

• Do not enter any false information in your application for any reason.
  Elective requests must be within the 16-week timeline from your application submission date.
• Electives start on Monday and end on Friday (except holidays). Emergency Medicine – Halifax electives end on Sunday. Your confirmation letter will have the correct dates.
• Your middle name is mandatory for security purposes. Only if you do not have a middle name are you to enter “X”.
• Please ensure that you apply at the subspecialty level when submitting an application
• Add any additional available dates in the comments section. These are not considered official elective requests – they are just comments that departments may consider. Official requests are only those entered as an elective request in the application.
• Choices are processed in the order in which they are entered in your application.
• PRIOR to submitting your application – In the comment section, add any additional information that you want departments to see, i.e., preceptor and/or language preferences, etc.).
• Please indicate in the comment section of your application if you prefer a French-speaking preceptor. Note: We can’t promise that you will be placed with one, but we’ll try. Your best chance is to choose a New Brunswick site.

Failure to comply with any policies may result in cancellation of your elective and/or application, and/or a Letter of Professionalism.

All policies apply to all students all the time.

Requests for information that can be found on our profile will not be responded to.

1. Eligibility 

Students must be in their final year of study and have completed 6 core rotations (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Surgery) prior to the start of the desired elective date. Your application will not be processed if all 6 core rotations, whether completed and/or scheduled, are not entered.

• We do not accept applications:

  • If the student already has an application processing;

  • If the elective is not for credit;

  • If the elective is only for 1 week;

  • If the student is not in good standing at their institution;

  • If you are not a medical student.

• If you do not qualify but submit an application, it will be cancelled and there will be no refund.

English Language Proficiency

When proof of English language proficiency is necessary, students must achieve the following minimum score or above on a recognized English language proficiency test:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  • Minimum Score for Admission: 
    
    • 237 (computer-based)
    • 90 (iBT) and no lower than 20 in each band
    • 4.0 or better on essay or TOEFL Writing Test

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

  • Minimum Score for Admission: 6.5 overall and no lower than 6.0 in each band

• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)

  • Minimum Score for Admission: 81

• Canadian Academic English Assessment (CAEL)

  • Minimum Score for Admission: 70

• Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTEST)

  • Minimum Score for Admission: 4.5

Applicants should arrange for their English language proficiency test score(s) to be sent directly from the testing agency to:

• Dalhousie University TOEFL Code: 0915
  Office of the Registrar
  Dalhousie University
  PO Box 15000
  Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
  B3H 4R2

2. Application Instructions

IFMSA student elective applications are done through individual contracts organized by IFMSA. Please have your school contact them at exchanges.incoming@gmail.com and have them verify your school’s status with them in an email to us.

Application window

The application deadline is 5 months before the elective date. Please do not apply via the AFMC Portal as of yet, your membership with IFMSA needs to be confirmed first and then we will let you know when you can apply via the Portal, to avoid you getting charged the application fee.

3. Document Requirements 

WITH APPLICATION SUBMISSION

• A recent and clear photo of yourself (Registrant Account) (PNG, JPEG, PDF, DOC)
• Immunization Records & Serology Reports (PDF)
  • Please ensure that all reports are uploaded as one document.
    
  • Students should ensure that they’ve had an influenza vaccination prior to arrival at Dalhousie (please bring proof of vaccination). If you haven’t been vaccinated, or do not have proof of vaccination, you may not be entitled to participate in some, or any, activities .
    
  • Please have a physician or public health office complete and sign the AFMC Immunization Form. Where applicable, copies of official documentation (i.e. titres, serology reports, etc.) must be attached. Tuberculin skin test (TST) must be done within the past year. Quantiferon testing is not an acceptable alternative unless you are from a region experiencing a TST shortage, in which case a waiver must also be signed by your health care professional.
• Police Record Check for Service with Vulnerable Sector (PDF, DOC)
  • Canadian Hospitals require two types of criminal record checks for visiting elective students: a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).
  • Both your CBC and VSC (or the country’s equivalent to the Canadian VSC) must be dated within the previous 12 months so they will remain valid throughout your elective. Both should be conducted in the country of your primary residence for the past 12 months.
  • The CBC and VSC may be completed by your home school each year. In this case, no documents are required. Please confirm this with your home school.. If they have any questions about what a VSC in Canada entails, they can consult the RCMP’s website.
  • If your home school does not verify your CBC and/or VSC, it is your responsibility to have this done in the country of your primary residence for the past 12 months. You must upload them to the AFMC portal at the time of your application.
  • These record checks can take 6-8 weeks to obtain, and we do not process the application until these are provided. Requests to do so will not be considered.
  • Dalhousie does not provide VSC request forms. Your home school must obtain this from your local police department and request the search be performed for Dalhousie, as your school will be able to verify your identity.
  • Please remember to place the Dalhousie Undergraduate Medical Education Office as the hiring agency on the vulnerable sector request application. Our address for this purpose is:
    • Dalhousie University
      Faculty of Medicine
      Clinical Research Centre
      Room C-125G
      5849 University Avenue
      PO Box 15000
      Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 Canada
• Proof of language competence (PDF, DOC)
  • Canadian students must upload a drivers licence or passport
• Letter of Good standing (PDF)
  • Must be up to date and on institutional letterhead.