Frequently Asked Questions about Student Electives

  1. What are partner schools?
  2. What is the difference between an MOU school and a partner school?
  3. I am interested in participating on an international elective but I haven't decided where I want to go? Where can I find information about elective locations and feedback from previous students?
  4. How many students are accepted per year, per institution?
  5. How do I access the M4 Resource Binder?
  6. How do I apply for a grant?
  7. Who is eligible for the Global REACH grant?
  8. When does the application for the Global REACH grant open?
  9. When is the deadline to apply for the Global REACH grant?
  10. How much of my out of pocket expenses will the Global REACH grant cover?
  11. What do I have to submit to apply for Global REACH funding?
  12. What do I have to do before I depart for my elective?
  13. How do I receive my money?
  14. Additional Considerations

 

1. What are partner schools?
Beginning in 2011, students are encouraged to complete their elective at schools where the University of Michigan Medical School has established relationships, with schools that provide quality experiences and where there is faculty involvement that goes beyond student exchanges. Students who complete their elective at a partner school are eligible for $1,200.

Partner Schools
    Brazil
  • University of Sao Paulo*
    China
  • Peking Union Medical College*
  • Peking University Health Science Center*
  • Shanghai Jiao Tong Univesity*
    Ecuador
  • Pontifica Universidad del Ecuador (PUCE)
  • Quito Project Affiliates
    Ghana
  • University of Ghana*
  • Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
    India
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences*
    Panama
  • University of Chiriqui Medical School, Panama City

2. What is the difference between an MOU school and a partner school?
An MOU school is one where UMMS has a signed agreement with the collaborating institution. A partner school is one that has collaboration relations in areas such as research and special projects besides an exchange of students. A partner school may or may not have a signed agreement (MOU). Students who complete their elective at a partner school are eligible for $1,200 whereas students who complete their elective at a non-partner school are eligible for $800

MOU Schools

    China
  • Fudan University
    Croatia
  • Zagreb University
    Ireland
  • Trinity College
    Israel
  • Technion Institute of Technology
    Korea
  • Catholic University of Korea
    Macedonia
  • Ss. Cyril and Methodius University
    Qatar
  • Weill Cornell Medical College
    Slovakia
  • Comenius University
    Spain
  • University of Barcelona
  • Catalan Institute of ONC
    Sweden
  • Goteborg University

3. I am interested in participating on an international elective but I haven't decided where I want to go? Where can I find information about elective locations and feedback from previous students?
The M4 International Clinical Elective 2009-2011 binder is available on Google Docs. Please contact Heather Eardley (heardley@umich.edu)

4. How many students are accepted per year, per institution?
Two students per year, per institution, December through April.

5. How do I access the M4 Resource Binder?
The M4 Resource Binder provides information on applying, travel tips and funding for an international elective. Additionally, this resource provides feedback about the electives from past student surveys. The M4 Resource Binder is available on Google Docs. Please contact Heather Eardley (heardley@umich.edu) for access to the M4 Resource Binder.

6. How do I apply for a grant?
Students requesting funding from Global REACH for their international elective should complete the Global REACH application for funding which is available in M-Compass. Additionally, students should submit

  1. Flight receipt or Flight estimation (If the flight costs less than $1,200 then students should submit additional documentation like a housing receipt or program fee)
  2. Correspondence from the host institution acknowledging that the student has been accepted for an elective.

7. Who is eligible for the Global REACH grant?
Registered M4 students whose rotations have been approved by Office of Medical Student Education are eligible to apply for the M4 grant.

8. When does the application for the Global REACH grant open?
The application for the Global REACH grant typically opens in the Fall semester.

9. When is the deadline to apply for the Global REACH grant?
The deadline to apply for the Global REACH grant is December 31st, 2011 for academic year 2011 - 2012.

10. How much of my out of pocket expenses will the Global REACH grant cover?
If students complete their elective at a partner school, they will be reimbursed up to $1,200. If students complete their elective at a non-partner school, they will be reimbursed up to $800.

11. What do I have to submit to apply for Global REACH funding?
Prior to departing for their elective, students should complete the following:

  1. Log into M-Compass and complete the following pre-decisions documents:
    1. Upload an electronic photo of yourself
    2. Upload a copy of the picture page from your passport
    3. Complete the Previous International Experience Questionnaire and the M4 International Elective Grant Application form

12. What do I have to do before I depart for my elective?

  1. Complete the Health and Safety Form
  2. Fill out the Photo Release Form (Optional)
  3. Read and sign the Information & Conditions for Independent Student International Travel Form
  4. Read and sign the Independent International Travel Release Form
  5. Read and sign the Registration and Withdrawal Policy

13. How do I receive my money?
Before the grant money can be dispersed to the student's account, students must complete and have their Global REACH survey approved. Access the survey either by clicking on the link in M-Compass or through the Global REACH website. Additionally, if students submitted a flight estimation with their grant application then they will need to submit their actual flight receipt.

14. Additional Considerations
The Quito trip charges a $2,400 program fee to participants. Students cannot use airline miles to pay for their plane ticket and expect to be reimbursed for their program fee because the University of Michigan is a non-profit and the University cannot reimburse another non-profit entity

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