The University of Western Australia (UWA) Medical Electives enable visiting medical students the opportunity to enhance their clinical skills in a new environment and experience life as a medical student in WA.

As a visiting medical student, you can:

• experience UWA’s medical specialties at our partner urban Teaching Hospitals, affiliated Medical Practices or through our Rural Clinical School
• develop your clinical skills and patient care, learning with our expert Medical educators
• gain insights into how medicine is practiced and experience the unique work: life balance Western Australia has to offer 

At the UWA Medical School we assist visiting medical students with elective placements at our affiliated teaching hospitals and our Rural Clinical School in Western Australia.

Application Eligibility Criteria

Your application for a Medical Elective with UWA will only be considered if you:

• have successfully completed all preceding years of a medical degree and are undertaking the final two years of study at another institution (whether in Western Australia, elsewhere in Australia, or overseas) at the time of the elective placement;
• are seeking to complete a medical elective placement at a hospital or medical practice affiliated with UWA;
• are in academic ‘good standing’ and have the support of your current Medical Dean (Course Director or equivalent);
• have completed at least 12-months of clinical training at your home institution prior to commencing elective;
• meet all vaccination, police check, visa and insurance requirements;
• are enrolled at a university ranked within the top 600 institutions in the QS World University Ranking;
• have submitted a complete application, including payment of the non-refundable application fee.

For rural elective placements, you will need to apply via the Rural Clinical School of WA

Medical Elective Availability and Fees

• The Inbound Medical Elective Program offers elective placements for a maximum duration of four (4) weeks.
• Medical Elective capacity varies throughout the year and is influenced by a range of factors, including the number of Western Australian medical students requiring clinical placements, clinical service demands and capacity, the availability of clinical educators and supervisors, and external circumstances such as hospital department refurbishment or construction projects, annual leave periods, and conferences.
• A list of available elective specialties is provided within the application form. All elective placements are subject to availability and are coordinated by UWA in consultation with the relevant Clinical Provider.
• While every effort is made to accommodate applicants' preferred specialties and placement dates, we cannot guarantee placement in a particular specialty, health service, or time period. Availability is dependent on operational, clinical, and educational capacity at the time of placement, and preferred options may not always be available.
• The selection process considers a range of factors, including eligibility, placement availability, supervisor capacity, and program requirements. As each application is assessed on its individual merits and within the context of available opportunities, final selection decisions remain at the discretion of the Medical School

Fees

Application Fee: AUD $200

Placement Fee: AUD $1,000 (for electives commencing 2027)

• Application Fee must be paid at the time of application submission.
• Placement Fee must be paid within four (4) weeks of accepting a Letter of Offer.
• The Placement Fee covers the administrative and operational costs associated with arranging and supporting a 4-week elective placement (or part thereof).
• Elective Application and Placement fees are non-refundable; however, refund requests may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
• UWA Medical School maintains partnerships with a range of leading international medical schools. Depending on the University Partner Agreement in place, these partnerships may offer alternative fee arrangements and flexibility regarding elective placement duration.

UWA Elective Application Link and Timeframes

2027 Elective Placements

* Elective placements are offered in four (4) week rotations. Available rotation dates can be viewed and selected within the application form when applying.

Key information and conditions for the Medical Elective Student:

• Please do not contact hospitals or medical professionals directly to make elective placement arrangements. By going through the Inbound Medical Elective program, you will be captured in a recognised placement program and have access to a greater range of teaching hospitals and disciplines.
• Offer and acceptance to a medical elective is at the discretion of the Associate Dean (Global) and the Clinical Director (or equivalent) at the Clinical teaching site.
• Applications for Medical Electives are only considered if made through this application site. UWA will not accept applications made directly to a potential supervisor or Clinical Director.
• UWA does not offer formal assessments to Medical Elective students unless there is a University Partner agreement in place.
• Medical elective students are responsible for arranging and funding their own travel, accommodation, living expenses, and appropriate insurance coverage, including travel, health, and medical indemnity malpractice insurance.
• International students – Visa information: If you are travelling from overseas, you may be required to obtain a visa to enter Australia. All visa applications are assessed and approved at the discretion of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Clinical elective placements are considered observational placements; not formal training or research activities. In many cases, a visitor visa may be appropriate; however, visa requirements and conditions can vary depending on your individual circumstances. As visa requirements are subject to change, we recommend seeking advice directly from the Australian Government embassy, consulate, or visa representative in your country, or consulting the Department of Home Affairs for the most up-to-date information.
• The UWA Medical Electives Team cannot provide visa advice. Applicants should refer to the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for any visa related enquiries.
• The Medical School reserves the right to withdraw, cancel, or terminate an elective placement at any time if concerns arise regarding the accuracy of information provided in an application, or if a student demonstrates conduct that is unsafe, unprofessional, or inconsistent with the expectations of the medical profession, or deemed to have breached the Professional Behaviour Guidelines [PDF, 145 KB] by their clinical supervisor, or host facility clinical director.

For enquiries please contact: [email protected]