What I learned from my elective

Final year medical student at Leeds University, Italia-Rosa Leech, shares her experience of completing her six-week elective in Sri Lanka in 2024. Here she offers her tips on when to start planning, what to prepare for, and what she learned along the way…

When to start planning your elective

I started planning my elective in October 2023. This was for many reasons – to save up, to complete all of the paperwork required by my medical school and elective organisation, and to give myself enough time to organise vaccines and visa applications.

At first, I had no idea where I wanted to travel to. I knew I wanted somewhere outside of the UK so that I could gain first-hand experience of a different healthcare setting. I also wanted the opportunity to do some travelling!

The more time you give yourself to organise, the better. There are many issues that can crop up that are out of your control, so the longer you give yourself, the more likely it will go to plan.

It can be a good idea to start thinking about your elective in the summer period between third and fourth year. Fourth year can be quite hectic, so at least you will have a rough plan in mind before this.

Top tips for planning your elective

There are lots of different things I realised I needed to consider as I was planning my elective. For example, consider whether this is a trip you want to do alone or with peers. For me, this decision had a huge impact on deciding which countries I could visit as a young woman travelling alone.

I soon realised that trying to organise an elective abroad directly with a hospital, in the thick of revising, was no easy feat. It made sense for me to look at the many different elective companies and what sorts of programmes they offered. A lot of these companies have hidden costs, so make sure you read plenty of reviews and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

For me, it was important that certain things were included in my package, such as airport transfers and 24/7 support. I ended up travelling with Mighty Roar for this reason.

Things I wish I’d known

Planning a medical elective certainly isn’t cheap. Having a good idea of where you want to go quite far in advance may seem excessive, however it is helpful when it comes to the financial side of things.

It’s a good idea to be aware of what funding you are entitled to. This can relieve a lot of pressure. Be sure to check out Turing funding, NHS bursaries and other pots that are available from the different Royal Colleges. It’s worth applying to as many as possible to give yourself the experience of a lifetime and to reduce the financial burden!

What I learned from my elective

By choosing to do an elective in Sri Lanka, I knew I would mainly be based in community hospitals. This meant I would be experiencing a whole new side to healthcare.

In Sri Lanka, there is a huge emphasis on Ayurvedic and Hela medicine. During the elective, there was an opportunity to witness this at herbal clinics too. Most hospitals do follow a more ‘western’ approach, so there was also chance to shadow doctors and surgeons in a community hospital setting.

Overall, travelling abroad for your elective is a fantastic way to experience healthcare elsewhere, while also being able to see the world. My best advice is to plan in plenty of time, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and have fun!