Study Abroad
The University of Illinois is a world leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. Many hands – at home and abroad — make it so, and many benefit. Study abroad is one of the ways in which our students and others build and benefit from Illinois’ international engagement.
Our mission is to provide and facilitate a range of study and education opportunities abroad consonant in breadth and quality with on-campus Illinois curricula, offered for short or long duration according to curricular objectives and in consideration of students’ obligations, at a range of costs and with opportunities for scholarship or subvention such that study abroad opportunity is available to all students in good standing. Attention to students’ health, safety, and well-being abroad underlies all other considerations.
Our intention is that through study abroad we and our partners prepare students for global citizenship, guiding them to a greater understanding of world and domestic cultures and encouraging them to share that understanding with the hosts abroad and communities at home; that students gain or enhance area linguistic, subject, and cultural knowledge and competence; that students contribute to their host communities; and that students emerge wiser and more engaged citizens.
Prospective Students Heading link
As you begin researching study abroad programs, you will find that there are literally hundreds of enriching opportunities around the world. One of the most difficult decisions you have is determining which program is right for you. This is a decision you must make for yourself, no one can make it for you. As you begin the selection process, it is helpful to make preliminary decisions regarding the type of experience you want to have. The study abroad section of the University of Illinois Study Abroad website is designed to help guide you through the process of selecting and applying for a study abroad program.
UI International Externships Heading link
The University of Illinois College of Medicine is the nation’s largest medical school. Its diverse student body of 2,600 students hails from a wide variety of cultural and economic backgrounds. The college’s three campuses — in Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford — take advantage of the state’s urban and rural environments and offer numerous opportunities for clinical training and research. UIC offers many opportunities of international externships for current medical students. Students can apply for international externships through the University of Illinois or through the IFMSA International Externships Program.
Procedure for Scheduling Electives at Non-LCME Accredited Medical Schools
Electives at non-LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education) accredited medical schools are usually electives offered by foreign medical schools, i.e., “international electives.” However, this category can also include scholarship experiences at hospices, hospitals, clinics, public health facilities, etc. In general, the procedures for scheduling these electives are similar to those for scheduling electives from LCME medical schools as described above. The major difference is that more extensive documentation of the elective is usually required to justify the experience as substantially contributing to the student’s medical education.
Students should provide a complete description of the experience including activities, objectives to be met, time spent, location, supervising faculty member, and mechanism for evaluation. In addition, a description of the institution itself should be included in the documentation. This can sometimes be photocopied from the school’s catalog and typically includes information about number of faculty, patients, facilities, etc. These electives also require additional review and authorizations by UIC COM.
It is strongly recommended that students who wish to take these elective experiences contact their Academic Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs at the earliest possible time. Information on international health electives is available on the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) website and the AMA Office of International Medicine website.
About IFMSA Heading link
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About IFMSA
The International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) is an established federation of medical student associations from across the world. IFMSA is recognized as an important non-governmental organization and collaborative partner by WHO, UNESCO, other UN agencies and several NGOs, such as the Global Health Forum. Through IFMSA over 7,000 students participate in clinical clerkships (available to all levels of medical students) every year. IFMSA exchanges are well-established and offer medical students the opportunity to further their training by studying medicine in a different cultural context, in a clinical elective across the world.
Annually, thousands of future physicians attempt to complete a course of international study; thousands more profess an interest in learning more about the issues that shape our global health dynamic. Yet medical school curricula are full, and typically offer limited opportunities and services for students with international interests.
Scholarships and Opportunities Heading link
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UI COM Scholarship
The College of Medicine can contribute $500.00 towards the expenses of UIC students approved for international electives. Please contact visitcom@uic.edu for details.
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Scholarship
The “Joly-O’Morchoe Exchange Fellowship Fund” was created by the former Regional Dean, Dr. Charles C.C. O’Morchoe of Poulsbo, Washington.. Dr. O’Morchoe made this gift in honor of his late wife, Dr. Patricia Jean O’Morchoe, his grandfather, Charles Jasper Joly, and his grandfather’s cousin, John Joly (see further details below). The Joly-O’Morchoe Exchange Fellowship is for students enrolled at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and from the School of Medicine at the University of Dublin, Trinity College.
The Joly O’Morchoe Scholarship allows a student from each of these institutions to study abroad at the other institution for at least a four-week period. Each year, a student from the UI-COM will receive a stipend to spend 4+ weeks at Trinity College (http://www.tcd.ie/ ) in Dublin.
Criteria
- M4 student in good academic standing
- Ability to accept the terms of the program
- Ability to travel abroad
Applications should include:
- A curriculum vitae
- Official transcript
- Brief proposal on how the experience is expected to enhance your career in medicine
- Specific plans for what you will accomplish while at Trinity (Ex. elective clerkships, research )
Fellowships will be awarded to students based on their academic merit and on their potential for career advancement through study abroad. Students selected for a Fellowship award shall have an excellent academic record and shall have demonstrated a level of commitment and responsibility commensurate with that deemed appropriate for study at another institution.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2023
Submit application materials to:
Dr. Ara Tekian
Associate Dean for the Office of International Education
Tekian@uic.edu
(312) 996-8438.About the Scholarship
Drs. Patricia Jean and Charles C.C. O’Morchoe are graduates of Trinity and have served on the faculty of both Trinity and the University of Illinois. Charles C.C. O’Morchoe was elected a fellow of Trinity in 1966. Both were Professors at the University of Illinois from 1984-1998. They have devoted their professional careers to administration, research, teaching and service within the higher education setting. They have consistently demonstrated concern for and interest in the academic success and career development of students and have served as role models to countless students at Trinity, the University of Illinois and other institutions in which they served.
Charles Jasper Joly graduated from Trinity and subsequently joined its faculty where he became The Andrews Professor of Astronomy.and The Royal Astronomer of lreland from 1897 to 1906 when he died at an early age from typhoid fever. He is best known for his many publications on the subject of quaternions. He was elected a Fellow of Trinity and a Fellow of the Royal Society. John Joly also graduated from Trinity and joined its faculty where he became Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, a post he held from 1897 to 1933. He is considered to be one of Trinity’s most distinguished scientists in its 400 year history having published some 300 articles on topics as wide ranging as geology, physics, color photography, botany and cosmic radiation. He too was elected a fellow of Trinity and of the Royal Society.
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Additional Scholarship Opportunities
While you are in medical school, there are opportunities to carry out summer research, receive funding for your medical studies and to apply for a funded year abroad during or after medical school. The best approach to finding funding is to think creatively about yourself and your goals. As you search for funding sources remember that diverse aspects of you may connect with awards such as the nature of your research, your ethnic background, the country your research is taking place in, your career goals, etc. Be persistent and patient and you will likely find awards to help you.
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MICEFA – Clinical Electives in Paris, France
MICEFA is currently accepting applications to their medical exchange program, which aims to bring 3rd and 4th-year medical students to Paris to experience a comparative approach to medicine and public health practices. This is applicable to any student who may be interested in carrying out a clinical elective in Paris.
Electives Available
MICEFA can place you in the clinical elective of your choice. Some of the most popular electives chosen are Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Dermatology. This list is not exhaustive so do not hesitate to reach out to Heather Mortimer-Charoy, if you are looking for a specific elective or a sub-specialization.
Electives must be a minimum of 4 weeks. Students may request one elective for 4 or 8 weeks or two 4-week electives in different specialties.
Partnering French Universities
- Paris VI – Faculté de Médecine – Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC)
- Paris VII – UFR de Médecine – Paris Diderot
- Paris XI – Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud
- Paris XIII – Paris-Nord – UFR Santé, Médecine, Biologie Humaine
- Université Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines – UFR Sciences de la Santé
Eligibility
- Approval by home institution (UI COM)
- 3rd- or 4th-year medical student at partnering North American university.
- Students must have at least an A2 (lower intermediate level of French) to be able to participate in the program. Some universities (UPMC and Université Paris Diderot) as well as certain fields of study (Emergency Medicine) will require a higher proficiency of French (B2). MICEFA is able administer a French Language Placement test.
Application & Deadline
Download the application from the MICEFA website. The completed application with supporting documents should be returned to your UI COM international coordinator. UI COM will submit the completed application to MICEFA. Electronic submissions are accepted.
Application must be submitted at least 3 months before elective request date.
For more information, contact:
Heather Mortimer-Charoy
Program Coordinator
6 rue du Douanier Rousseau
75014 PARIS, FRANCE
+33 1 40 51 76 96
hmortimer@micefa.org
programcoordinator@micefa.org
http://micefa.org