Jessica Stromberg
Senior Program Assistant – Visiting Electives
Afia Darko
Senior Program Assistant – Visiting Electives
UBC MD UG Dean’s Office
Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
2775 Laurel St. Vancouver BC V5Z 1M9
The UBC MD program is distributed into four geographically distinct sites across British Columbia. These include the Island Medical Program (IMP) in Victoria, the Northern Medical Program (NMP) in Prince George, the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP) in Vancouver, and the Southern Medical Program (SMP) in Kelowna. Electives are offered throughout the province, providing students with opportunities in a wide range of clinical settings. Electives arranged through the Visiting Student Elective Program (VSEP) at UBC are intended for senior clinical clerks as they are final-year rotations subscribed by UBC fourth year students. Only electives identified in the UBC Visiting Student Elective Guide/Catalogue are considered official University approved electives.
A note to prospective Visiting Students:
UBC has little to no capacity available for electives in the following disciplines: Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, and Family Medicine.
Canadian students: utilize the listed current capacity on InPlace to apply for your upcoming block lottery
International Students: utilize the Capacity Report and instructions found here
Our office is unable to field email queries regarding elective capacity outside of these sources. Thank you for your understanding.
UBC domestic visiting electives program is participating in the AFMC Capacity Based Model. For more information on this process, please review the AFMC Student User Guide.
Please note that students must not contact preceptors or departments directly. Any attempt to do so may result in the application being declined. Students are expected to follow all rules and policies outlined on the AFMC Portal, and applications that do not comply with these requirements may be rejected.
ELIGIBILITY
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
AFTER ELECTIVE CONFIRMATION
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
As of May 11, 2025, the University of British Columbia domestic electives program will be participating in the AFMC’s AFMC’s Capacity-Based Model. For more information on this process, please review the AFMC’s Student Training for Student Training for Capacity Based Model.
ELIGIBILITY
ELECTIVE SCHEDULE
APPLICATION TIMELINE and PROCESS:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION:
AFTER ELECTIVE CONFIRMATION:
**IMPORTANT: EDUCATIONAL LICENSING – CPSBC (MANDATORY)
A temporary educational license through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC is mandatory for each elective completed in B.C. Once your elective is confirmed;
*Please review the instructions in the email from CPSBC carefully and action in a timely manner. There are a few steps involved to formally complete the application in full, eg. follow up email to the CPSBC to confirm fees are paid. Delays to licensing could result in cancellation.
*Students can not start an elective without a confirmed license from CPSBC.
ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
CANCELLATION PROCESS:
Students at international medical schools are eligible for UBC electives if their school has a ‘Canada’ designation on the World Directory of Medical Schools site and if they are in their final year of curricular time in their medical studies at the time the elective(s) take place.
By the time of the Elective, an applicant must have successfully completed a clinical elective or core rotation in the discipline(s) for which they are applying for (see more detail below). Note that pre-clerkship electives do not meet the eligibility criteria for a clinical elective.
Elective Requirements
The following UBC departments require visiting students to have completed a prior clinical elective/core rotation in the specialty or discipline prior to their visiting elective:
Only electives in the following disciplines are exempt from the prior completion of a core rotation in their specialty:
Language Requirements
To be eligible for a UBC elective, students must comply with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) English Language Proficiency (ELP) Policy. The CPSBC Registration Committee may determine that an applicant has demonstrated English language proficiency if the following conditions are met:
https://www.cpsbc.ca/files/pdf/LIC-P-ELP-Exemption-Considerations-Exceptional-Circumstances.pdf
Malpractice Insurance – Mandatory for International Medical Students
Personal Health Insurance
Students undertaking electives are strongly encouraged to obtain personal health insurance prior to arrival. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he/she has adequate health insurance coverage.
Placement Priority & Process
Confirmation Timeline: 8 week rule
Elective Duration and Schedules
Confirmation Process
With Application Submission
After Elective Confirmation
Instructions to enroll in the curriculum:
School | Canadian Student Application Fee | Canadian Student Acceptance Fee | International Student Application Fee | International Student Acceptance Fee | Additional Fees Outside Portal |
University of British Columbia | $0 | $200 | $300 | $500 | CPSBC Licensing fees:
|
All Visiting Students are required to read and complete UBC’s Health and Safety Orientation Form.
Please also read and adhere to all additional Provincial Health & Safety Procedures listed below:
Visiting Students (VS) from Canadian and International Universities undertake clinical electives throughout the province and within all health authorities. To ensure that students receive the necessary care, it is imperative that all Visiting Students know how to manage a Blood and Body Fluid (BBF) exposure, such as a needle-stick, scratch or splash. Please refer to this link for helpful information.
Upon confirmation of their elective, each Visiting Student receives an instruction sheet which summarizes the steps for receiving care in BC in the event of a BBF exposure. Students will also receive a laminated card, which should be worn on a break-away lanyard with their ID. All Health Authorities within BC have detailed protocols for managing critical exposures and visiting students are expected to follow these protocols and the instructions enclosed in the following pages.
Within the Emergency Room and whilst in BC, Visiting Students will receive the same care as any other resident of BC. However, as an out of province patient, it is important visiting students refer to their personal and travel health coverage and the services provided by their Home University in terms of covering out of province/out of country health costs.
Below is the first aid students should perform in the event of a BBF in any location within BC, followed by the individual protocols for each Health Authority.
*Process for Obtaining the Lab Results in each Health Authority:
N95 Mask Requirements
Standards, Policies and Reporting Mechanisms for Student Mistreatment
A very high priority for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine is establishing and maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all medical students.
Only in such a learning environment can learning opportunities be optimized.
The Professional Standards for Learners and Faculty Members the Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry at UBC guide appropriate professional behaviour for learners and faculty members. This
includes treating one another with respect. This also includes the avoidance of activities which could be seen as harassment, intimidation, discrimination or bullying. Should a medical student
think they have experienced or witnessed mistreatment, the UBC Mistreatment Help webpage provides useful information:
Please visit the Mistreatment Help webpage and review the above materials.
Once you have read the materials on the Mistreatment Help webpage, you will need to sign and date the Professional Standards Acknowledgment Form in the required documents portion of your AFMC application package.
If you have any questions, please contact the MED REDI Learning Environment Advisor learningenvironment.advisor@ubc.ca.
All students who wish to apply for an undergraduate visiting medical elective in British Columbia (BC) must do so through UBC and the AFMC Portal if they meet the eligibility criteria. Independent arrangements for clinical placements in BC may be supported for licensure by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) only when UBC has first confirmed ineligibility to apply through the Portal.
Non-UBC Electives
Observership / Shadowing
*For all above cases, please review the “Policies & Requirements” section to see if you can apply for an official UBC placement, or whether you have to set up an observership outside of the UBC application process. If you have questions after reviewing those policies, please feel free to contact the VSE Office at visiting.electives@ubc.ca.
UBC does not provide visiting students with public transit discounts or accommodations. Please inquire about acquiring your Compass Card here.
The UBC Visiting Electives Program does not arrange housing, however the following websites are provided as a resource. Please note that the Faculty of Medicine does not screen the accommodations listed at the links below nor is responsible for any accommodation agreement negotiated between the student and a private homeowner or other commercial establishment and therefore is not responsible for any damages or injury that may occur during the time of accommodation. Prior to making a commitment, contact the landlord to ask questions and make sure you are satisfied with the information you receive and the manner in which you receive it.
These sites/groups are provided as a resource to students. UBC does not endorse these sites or their rental listings.
UBC does not require proof of your work permit or visa. This is the students’ direct responsibility, and the information provided here is intended only to offer guidance on where to find out your individual entry requirements. Thank you for your understanding.
CANADIAN STUDENTS
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
ATTENDANCE AND PROFESSIONALISM
The Minimum Professional Standards-Attendance Policy applies to visiting students and outlines expectations for attendance including call, weekend work and guidelines if a student is unable to attend all shifts during their elective
No, students must not contact preceptors or departments directly. Any attempt to do so may result in the application being declined. Students are expected to follow all rules and policies outlined on the AFMC Portal, and applications that do not comply with these requirements may be rejected. All requests must be submitted through the AFMC portal with inquiries directed to the UBC Visiting Electives Office.
Domestic students
International Students
Domestic students
International students
Changes/cancellations are not permitted once an elective has been accepted.
Domestic Students: Maximum of 12 weeks per academic year.
International Students: Maximum of 8 weeks per academic year, including independent elective time.
No. UBC malpractice insurance is mandatory for all international students completing a visiting elective.
Domestic Students
International Students
Domestic Students
International students
Domestic Students
International Students
Due to high demand and limited capacity, elective placements are not guaranteed. All decisions are final. Students are encouraged to reapply in a different elective block.
No. Students cannot be matched to a specific preceptor or site. Placement details will be provided once your elective is confirmed.
If your question is not addressed the immunization guidelines, please contact:
UBC Health & Safety Advisor: nick.steel@ubc.ca
No. The AFMC portal is for undergraduate medical students only.
Contact Information:
Please contact the Visiting Electives Office: visiting.electives@ubc.ca.
Due to UBC’s distributed program structure, signatures from specific preceptors or Deans cannot be provided. The Visiting Electives Office has signing authority and will complete documentation to the best of its ability.
For evaluations, ensure you present your preceptor with your evaluation form on the first day of your elective.
Please view the language requirements here. There are no exceptions.
The application fee of $140 is charged per elective. The annual licensure fee of $100 is charged once per academic year. Application documents on file with the CPSBC remain valid for one year.
Yes. Please review the Travel and Accommodation tab for housing resources and guidance.
Students are responsible for providing their preceptor with an elective assessment form from their home university. If students do not receive the completed form within 2 weeks of the elective’s end, they must inform the UBC Elective Owner/Site Coordinator (if known) along with the UBC Visiting Electives Office (visiting.electives@ubc.ca) who will follow up with the preceptor and department to ensure completion of assessment.
The AFMC Student Portal for visiting electives is currently closed. Visiting Electives for the Class of 2022 were suspended during the AFMC Board meeting on April 18, 2021. That includes electives for both Canadian and International students. The Undergraduate Deans of Canada’s medical schools are meeting on a regular basis and the decision to re-open the Portal will be made collaboratively and consistently across the country taking into account learning opportunities, provincial covid restrictions and other public health concerns.
We are working with our new Service Provider to build out the new visiting elective service portal. It will be ready when electives are offered again.
The AFMC Student Portal will be offline starting December 23, 2021. The refreshed portal will being rolling out in late February 2022.
For MCAT® Fee Assistance Program Applicants please verify eligibility and submit application through our AFMC website.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.
If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at service@afmcstudentportal.ca
