Electives Programme - The Royal Women's Hospital

*PLEASE NOTE: Because of the relocation of the Royal Women's Hospital to a new site, the elective student programme has been suspended.

The Royal Women's Hospital Clinical School is only able to provide electives in Obstetrics, Gynaecology, or Neonatal Paediatrics.

Clinical electives for visiting medical students are offered for a minimum period of 4 weeks up to a maximum period of 8 weeks, subject to availability. Students who are provisionally accepted for a clinical placement will be charged a non-refundable fee of AUD$100 per week (i.e. a total of AUD$400-$800 depending upon the duration of the elective).

It is necessary for any student undertaking an elective to be able to speak fluent English.

Given these elective placement are in a hospital, we have a duty of care to protect and not place at unreasonable risk its patients. Therefore, we must ensure the suitability of each prospective student application prior to offering an elective placement. Applicants must therefore contact the relevant local police force to obtain a current, authorised police record report (a "police check") on themselves for forwarding in confidence to us.

A reference of your current bona fide status from the University of which you are a registered student must be attached to your application. Applicants should usually be in their final year of clinical studies at the time of their proposed elective attachment, and must have completed all components of their Obstetrics and Gynaecology training both theoretical and practical if the application is for an Obstetrics and Gynaecology elective term, and have completed their theoretical and clinical training in Neonatal Paediatrics if the application is for an elective term in this discipline. It is unlikely you will be able to undertake normal deliveries, as our own undergraduate medical students and trainee midwives must have first priority for these. However, elective students can usually experience a broad range of clinical situations and their feedback is that the vast majority find their elective with us worthwhile.

There is no fee payable to make an enquiry about the availability of an elective term. Where a term is available, and you are notified of this, a formal reply must be received from you within 4 weeks of the date of the dispatch of the letter from Melbourne, or the offer will lapse. Confirmation of your acceptance of the offer MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A BANK DRAFT FOR AUD$100 for each week of the proposed elective (i.e. a total of AUD$400-AUD$800 depending upon the length of the elective). This administrative fee which must be paid at this time or the offer will be forfeit. This bank draft should be made payable to the "Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne".

Except in extenuating circumstances, none of this fee will be refunded if you cancel your elective term, having previously confirmed your intention to accept the offer.

Please note that if you are accepted for an elective, you will not be an enrolled student of the University and you will therefore not be covered by the University's insurance. You must therefore arrange your own personal accident insurance, health insurance, professional indemnity insurance, and public liability insurance.

International students should contact the nearest Australian Diplomatic Post to confirm details of visa requirements, permissable length of stay, etc. Any elective is subject to a visa being granted. For most students, a visitor's visa has been sufficient for the purposes of the elective.

Please note that we are not able to offer you any remuneration or employment.

• Further information on electives in Neonatal Paediatrics or Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Application to Royal Women's Hospital [pdf 39kb]