University Of Saskatchewan

Contact Information

Shari Smith

Visiting Elective Coordinator

med.electives@usask.ca

medicine.usask.ca

Box 17, 3A20 Health Sciences Building, University of Saskatchewan

107 Wiggins Road
Saskatoon SK, S7N 5E5

About the Faculty of Medicine

The College of Medicine is the only medical school in Saskatchewan and as such is a very significant resource and institution for our province and its people. We take seriously our responsibility to train the next generation of physicians to serve the current and future healthcare needs of the people of the province, while producing outstanding research that contributes to improved patient outcomes.

Our well-established provincial presence includes campuses in both Saskatoon and Regina, and distributed education sites in Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current, Estevan, Melfort, Lloydminster and North Battleford. Our growing student body benefits from opportunities to learn and train in urban, rural and remote locations across Saskatchewan.

Electives are tailored to the individual student and will take place at the University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon or Regina campuses, unless otherwise specified.

To learn more about the faculty of medicine, visit our website.

Policies &
Requirements

1- Eligibility

Applicants must be registered for their clerkship year(s) in a Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at an accredited Canadian medical school and be in good academic standing.

2-Application Instructions

Each application can secure only one elective.
USask offers only 2-week electives, which begin on Mondays and end on Sundays.
Please do not inquire about availability. It fluctuates regularly, and capacity will be posted on the AFMC Portal 12 weeks in advance.
Preceptors are not to be contacted directly for elective opportunities.
The USask Electives Office does not accept applications for non-credit electives and observerships.

3- Document Requirements

With Application Submission:

AFMC Immunization Form and Testing Form
Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
- A complete COVID-19 vaccination series is required, and boosters are strongly recommended, with the exception of students with approved accommodations exempting them from this vaccination.
Proof of Influenza Vaccination
- An up-to-date seasonal influenza immunization is required for electives occurring from November to June, unless a formal accommodation is in place for exemption.
Proof of N95 Mask Fitting
- Please submit a copy of your N95 mask fitting card with the date of the fit testing and size of mask. The testing date must be within 24 months of the elective start date. If a student has a formal accommodation exempting them from this requirement, there may be limitations to the clinical experiences in which they can participate. In the event of an outbreak, students not fitted for an N95 mask may be excluded from the outbreak area and not be allowed to return until the Saskatchewan Health Authority has determined it is safe to do so.

With Elective Confirmation:

HIV and Hepatitis C
- Testing and reporting for HIV and hepatitis C are required only after an elective is confirmed. The official laboratory report must be uploaded via the AFMC Student Portal. Testing is mandatory for confirmed electives in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Emergency Medicine, and Surgery. Results are valid for up to four years prior to the start date of the elective.

4- Additional Information

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS)

Approved applicants must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS). This is a legal requirement for clinical training. Applicants cannot participate in any clinical training without this registration. The registration fee is $100. Students accepted for electives will receive an email outlining the registration requirements.

Workers’ Compensation

Although your home institution covers you for general liability, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) does not provide coverage for visiting students from out-of-province or out-of-country. The College of Medicine encourages you to maintain insurance that is sufficient to meet your needs.

1- Eligibility

International applicants must be registered for their clerkship year(s) in a Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at an accredited medical school and be in good academic standing.

The University of Saskatchewan only considers elective requests from international students who fall under the following categories:

Saskatchewan students studying abroad:
- - Students must provide a copy of their valid Saskatchewan Health Card.
Nominated students from RCSI and LMU:
- - The University of Saskatchewan has reciprocal agreements with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Ludwig-Maximilian University (LMU) of Munich. RCSI and LMU students are required to contact their Electives Office prior to applying on the AFMC Portal. RCSI and LMU vet all applicants, and the list of nominated students is provided to the University of Saskatchewan.

* The RCSI nomination process is complete for 2025*

Nominated IFMSA exchange students:
- - Nominated IFMSA exchange students are required to complete the “AFMC Homeschool Verification Form” and contact the USask Electives Office (med.electives@usask.ca) before applying for electives.

2- Application Instructions

Eligible international students can apply for electives 12 weeks in advance.
Each application can secure only one elective.
USask offers only 2-week electives, which begin on Mondays and end on Sundays.
International students can complete up to 6 weeks of electives at USask. Students are limited to 2 weeks per specialty/subspecialty at a specific site.
Please do not inquire about availability. It fluctuates regularly, and capacity will be posted on the AFMC Portal 12 weeks in advance.
Preceptors are not to be contacted directly for elective opportunities.
The USask Electives Office does not accept applications for non-credit electives and observerships.

3- Document Requirements

With Application Submission:

Saskatchewan Health Card (only for SK students studying abroad)
- Copy of a valid Saskatchewan Health Card

AFMC Immunization Form and Testing Form

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
- A complete COVID-19 vaccination series is required, and boosters are strongly recommended, with the exception of students with approved accommodations exempting them from this vaccination.
Proof of Influenza Vaccination
- An up-to-date seasonal influenza immunization is required for electives occurring from November to June, unless a formal accommodation is in place for exemption.

Proof of N95 Mask Fitting
- Please submit a copy of your N95 mask fitting card with the date of the fit testing and size of mask. The testing date must be within 24 months of the elective start date. If a student has a formal accommodation exempting them from this requirement, there may be limitations to the clinical experiences in which they can participate. In the event of an outbreak, students not fitted for an N95 mask may be excluded from the outbreak area and not be allowed to return until the Saskatchewan Health Authority has determined it is safe to do so.

Criminal Record Check
- The Criminal Record Check must be conducted by the jurisdiction where the student is attending medical school.

With Elective Confirmation:

Proof of Malpractice Insurance
- A $5 million aggregate limit with a $2 million per occurrence is required.
- The University of Saskatchewan (105 Administration Place, Saskatoon, S7N 5A2) should be listed as an Additional Insured.
HIV and Hepatitis C
- Testing and reporting for HIV and hepatitis C are required only after an elective is confirmed. The official laboratory report must be uploaded via the AFMC Student Portal. Testing is mandatory for confirmed electives in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Emergency Medicine, and Surgery. Results are valid for up to four years prior to the start date of the elective.

4- Elective Fees

International students will be charged a $600 per week fee. An invoice will be provided to the student after elective confirmation and payment is due prior to the beginning of the elective.

5- Additional Information

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS)

Approved applicants must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS). This is a legal requirement for clinical training. Applicants cannot participate in any clinical training without this registration. The registration fee is $100. Students accepted for electives will receive an email outlining the registration requirements.

Workers’ Compensation

Although your home institution covers you for general liability, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) does not provide coverage for visiting students from out-of-province or out-of-country. The College of Medicine encourages you to maintain insurance that is sufficient to meet your need.

Health & Safety

Reporting a health-related incident:

If you are currently undertaking an elective at the University of Saskatchewan and have encountered a health-related issue, please complete an incident form and submit it to ugme.exposure@usask.ca. Please report the incident within 48 hours.

Important Links:

USask Incident Report Form: https://servicecatalogue.usask.ca/hr/incident-management-form-incident-report-form-public.pdf

USask Medical Student Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy: https://medicine.usask.ca/policies/blood-or-body-fluid-exposure-procedure.php

USask Blood or Body Fluid Exposure Procedure: https://medicine.usask.ca/documents/policies/ugme/flowchartbloodbodyfluid.pdf

USask Clerkship COVID-19 Protocol: https://medicine.usask.ca/documents/ugme/policies/covid-19-clerkship-procedure.pdf

BLOOD AND BODY FLUID (BBF) EXPOSURE

What is a Blood or Body Fluid (BBF) Exposure?

When a person is exposed to potentially infectious blood or body fluids through:

needle prick or sharp instrument injury
splash to the eyes, nose, mouth, and/or non-intact skin
human bite

Step 1. Determine if a BBF exposure has occurred. Determine if the fluid contacted the exposed person in such a way that would allow for transmission of a Blood Borne Pathogen (BBP), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). This would occur through:

an object with the body fluid punctured or broke the skin of the exposed person (e.g. needle stick or cut with a sharp object), OR
the fluid came into contact with the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and/or mouth of the exposed person; OR
the fluid came into contact with non-intact skin (e.g. chapped, abraded or afflicted with dermatitis, etc.) of the exposed person.

YES, BBF exposure has (Proceed to Step 2)

NO, BBF exposure has not occurred. Contact the Incident Reporting Line (IRL) of the health region to report your incident as a NON-BBF EXPOSURE (See Step 5. for health region specific contact information).

Step 2. Determine if the fluid is capable of transmitting a BBP (e.g. HIV, HBV, HCV). The fluids/tissues that ARE capable of transmitting a BBP:

lab specimens containing concentrated HIV, HBV, or HCV
blood, serum, plasma, or other biological fluids visibly contaminated with blood
pleural, amniotic, pericardial, peritoneal, synovial, and cerebrospinal fluid
semen or vaginal secretions
breast milk
organ and tissues transplants
saliva (HBV only)
screened and donated blood and manufactured products (minimal risk in Canada)

The fluids that ARE NOT capable of transmitting a BBP (unless they contain visible blood):

tears
vomit
urine and feces

YES, fluid is capable of transmitting a BBP (Proceed to Step 3).

NO, fluid is not capable of transmitting a BBP. Contact the Incident Reporting Line (IRL) of the health region to report your incident as a NON-BBF EXPOSURE (See Step 5. for health region-specific contact information).

Step 3. Complete first aid action and notify the nursing manager/supervisor/senior resident/attending. First aid actions for a needle poke, sharps puncture, or human bite:

quickly remove gloves and/or clothing to determine any injury to the hand(s) or affected body area
allow injury to bleed
wash the injured area well with soap and water

First aid actions for a splash to the eyes, nose, mouth, and/or non-intact skin:

flush area well with running water
for eye splashes, use the nearest eye wash station for 15 minutes

Step 4. Report IMMEDIATELY to the nearest open emergency department for BBF exposure assessment.

Step 5. Contact the Incident Reporting Line (IRL) to report your incident as a BBF EXPOSURE.

Saskatoon: 306-655-0820

Rural (Toll-Free): 1-866-966-0820

Prince Albert: 306-765-6452 or 306-765-6497

Regina:

Regina General Hospital: 306-766-4689 or 306-766-4431

Wascana Rehabilitation Centre: 306-766-5217

Pasqua Hospital: 306-766-2557 or 306-766-2518

Step 6. Complete a University of Saskatchewan Incident Report and submit to UGME.Exposure@usask.ca.

Step 7. Student is contacted by site-specific UGME Office to provide support, as required.

INCIDENT REPORTING

All injuries and HBBFE incidents that occur while in a learning environment MUST be reported to the MD Program office within 48 hours. Please complete the online University of Saskatchewan Incident Report and submit to UGME.Exposure@usask.ca.

MISTREATMENT PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

If you feel that you are being mistreated or harassed:

SAY NO: Whenever possible, tell the offending party that their behaviour is unwelcome and that you want it to stop.
SEEK HELP: For a confidential consultation, contact the Coordinator or one of the Directors, Student Affairs, College of Medicine; the Associate Dean, Medical Education; the Coordinator of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services, or seek assistance from another University official.
KEEP A RECORD: Write down the details of the incident and how it was handled.

For more information, please seek this page.

The Office of Student Affairs at the University of Saskatchewan provides a safe place for students needing support. We also provide resources for students with concerns regarding mistreatment. Please visit our Student Affairs website if you require assistance or more information.

Travel &
Accommodation

Applicants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. Listed below are some suggested websites to help with your search:

SASKATOON

Park Town Hotel (https://www.parktownhotel.com/)
- 1.2km from RUH
- 750m from City Hospital
- 3.6km from St. Paul’s Hospital
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Saskatoon East (https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/saskatoon/yxees/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-EX-_-CA-_-YXEES)
- 1.1km from RUH
- 2.5km from City Hospital
- 5.3km from St. Paul’s Hospital
Laura’s Lodge (https://lauraslodge.com/)
- 450m from RUH
- 1.5km from City Hospital
- 4.3km from St. Paul’s Hospital
The Inn on College (https://innoncollege.com/)
- 400m from RUH
- 1.3km from City Hospital
- 4.1km from St. Paul’s Hospital

REGINA

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham (https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/en-ca/ramada/regina-saskatchewan/ramada-hotel-and-convention-centre-regina/overview?CID=LC:RA::GGL:RIO:National:11851%26iata=00093796)
- 650m from Regina General Hospital
- 3.1km from Pasqua Hospital
Residence Inn by Marriott (https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/yqrri-residence-inn-regina/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0)
- 400m from Pasqua Hospital
- 3.9km from Regina General Hospital

Cancellation &
Change Requests

Cancellation Policy

Visiting students are not allowed to cancel an accepted elective placement. In case of mitigating circumstances, students must seek permission from their home schools to cancel an elective placement with a visiting school. The home school’s Elective Office must then notify the University of Saskatchewan Electives Office (med.electives@usask.ca) that the cancellation has been approved.

Cancelled Elective by the Department

While extremely rare, if a confirmed/accepted elective is cancelled by the University of Saskatchewan (via site or preceptor) due to unforeseen/mitigating circumstances, students must follow these steps:

Immediately notify the University of Saskatchewan Electives Office (med.electives@usask.ca) and copy/notify their home school’s Elective Office.
If students wish for the University of Saskatchewan to find an alternative elective, all efforts will be made to find a reasonable placement. However, since this depends on capacity, students must be flexible. Students can decline the alternative elective offered, but no refund will be issued in these cases.

A refund will only be issued if a student does not request/consent for the University of Saskatchewan to search for a reasonable alternative, or if an alternative elective placement is not available/offered.

Elective Application Periods

Please note: Domestic students and eligible international students can apply 12 weeks in advance. Applications must be submitted for the specified 2-week periods as outlined, with no exceptions. USask does not offer 4-week electives.

Elective Period (2025)	Application Window Opens on AFMC Portal
August 4* – August 17	Sunday, May 11
August 18 – August 31	Sunday, May 25
September 1* – September 14	Sunday, June 8
September 15 – September 28	Sunday, June 22
September 29 – October 12	Sunday, July 6
October 13* – October 26	Sunday, July 20
October 27 – November 9	Sunday, August 3
November 10 – November 23	Sunday, August 17
November 24 – December 7	Sunday, August 31
December 8 – December 21	Sunday, September 14

*University is closed – elective will start on Tuesday.

Evaluations & Assessment

Students are required to provide their preceptor with an elective assessment form from their home university. If, for some reason, the student does not receive the completed form within two weeks of the elective’s end, they must inform the University of Saskatchewan Electives Office (med.electives@usask.ca). The Electives Office will then follow up with the preceptor and department to ensure completion of assessment.

School	Canadian Student Application Fee	Canadian Student Acceptance Fee	International Student Application Fee	International Student Acceptance Fee	Additional Fees Outside Portal
University of Saskatchewan	$0	$150	$50	$150

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