Twin Links Exchange Programme

Students can go abroad to one of the School's partner institutions for their Obstetrics and
Gynaecology or Paediatrics peripheral attachment in Phase 4 or their final year elective. We have a
number of partners in North America, Australia, SE Asia, Europe, Caribbean and Central America.
The application process for the peripheral attachments and electives is the same.




Deadline for 2014/15

All applications to our partner institutions MUST be submitted via the Electives & Exchanges
Coordinator. Applications submitted directly to the partner institutions will NOT be accepted.
The deadline for applications to the programme for 2015/16 is Thursday 31
st
July 2014 at 4pm.
Please submit your forms to The Academic Centre at Guys (1st Floor, Henriette Raphael Building,
Guys Campus, London, SE1 1UL).
To apply for the programme, you must submit 1 copy of the internal application form, to the Academic
Centre. You can also submit this by email to sscphase4@kcl.ac.uk but the document should be
signed, and in PDF format.
If your application is successful, you will then have to submit paperwork for that institution in
accordance with their procedures. The Electives & Exchanges Coordinator will organise any
necessary transcripts and Deans Letters needed.
The key part of the application form is the Aims & Objectives section. Academic results for each
applicant will also be taken into account. All applications will be scored. Some students may be
automatically selected onto the programme, whereas others may be called for interview. This is the
only time we will be interviewing so if you are called for interview you will need to ensure that you are
able to attend. Interviews will take place in September (week of September 8
th
2014 but date TBC).


Application Procedure
Who can apply?
Phase 4 students may apply to do their elective at one of the School's twin universities.
Phase 3 students may apply to do a three-week Obstetrics and Gynaecology or Paediatrics
attachment in phase 4 at either UWI or Lille. In opting to do this attachment abroad students will miss
weekly presentations of core curriculum symposia and daily seminar teaching. Students selected to
study abroad will need to make up the core teaching that they miss, as the final examination will be
based on the core teaching.
Phase 3 students may also apply for their elective placement at University of Auckland (who deal with
placements one year in advance).
What is the application procedure?
You will need to complete and submit the internal application form. This includes the Aims &
Objectives section (350 words max), where you should indicate your aims and objectives for the
exchange programme and what you hope to achieve from it.
If your application is successful, you will then have to submit paperwork for the institution you have
been selected.. The Electives & Exchanges Coordinator will organise any necessary transcripts and
Deans Letters.
Can I apply for more than one institution? Yes you can put two preferences on the form
Will I be placed at both of these if successful? No, you will only be placed at one Institution.
Can I apply to these Twin Links independently? No. These are limited places and you may affect
our agreements with the Institution if you do not follow the rules. The only exception is NUS
Singapore where you can apply outside of the link but you will be subject to fees. ALL applications to
a twin link MUST be submitted via the Electives and Exchanges Coordinator.
How quickly do we hear about our places? We will be aiming to let you know if you have won a
place by the end of September.
Is our placement guaranteed at the Host Institution? No. The places are reserved but you may not
necessarily be placed in one of your preferred specialties. We will do all we can to help you on this.
Most will try to accommodate you but sometimes we do find demand is high and more choices will be
requested.
Do we have to fill out application forms for the Host Institution? Yes you will need to follow their
application processes and provide any information they require (transcript/deans recommendation
letter/immunisation records)
Do I have to pay application fees? At the moment Johns Hopkins are the only Twin Link that
charges fees for our students.
When do the Host Institutions confirm our placements? The US institutions do this very late, so
you can expect confirmations coming out as late as May or June. Johns Hopkins will not prioritise our
students so expect this to be a slightly longer process. Each Institution has a slightly different way of
processing but we will be leading the application process.
Do I have to pay for accommodation? You may need to organise accommodation separately and
this may be your responsibility. For example UWI will provide accommodation and Lille have a very
good accommodation team. We can help you with further queries. Johns Hopkins has no student
accommodation at present.
Can I book my flights as soon as Ive been told I have won a place on the Twin Links? You
should wait until formal confirmation has come through from the Host institution in order to avoid
unnecessary costs.
What are the language requirements? For the CUHK, HKU, Jikei and Singapore you should have
some local language ability, and Lille offers an optional week long French class. For Guatamala you
should be able to speak Spanish. Please see below for further information.
What are the Elective Dates for 2015? Provisionally these are July 14th September 27th 2015
Where can I find more information on the Twin Links? The VC has this here
https://virtualcampus.kcl.ac.uk/vc/medicine/year4/twinlinks.aspx
Can I make independent arrangements in the UK and abroad?
Students can also independently organise their Obstetrics and Gynaecology or Paediatrics peripheral
attachments. More information about independent peripheral attachments can be found here.
Application forms and interview
All forms must be submitted to The Academic Centre at Guys, 1st Floor, Henriette Raphael Building,
Guys Campus, London, SE1 1UL.
Deadline for applications is Thursday 31st July 2014 at 4pm.
Most of the places will be allocated after we have reviewed the applications and looked at your
academic results, however, a number of students will also be invited to attend an interview. This will
enable us to make final decisions on the most sought after places.
Once the Electives Officer receives confirmation of your placement, you will be notified and sent
further details.
N.B. Flight tickets should not be bought until you have received written confirmation regarding your
placement.
Exchange Programme Awards
Students who have been accepted onto the programme will not be automatically awarded a bursary.
However, a list of the bursaries and prizes available to you is listed on the virtual campus.
The Twin Linked Universities
We have agreements with 13 different institutions. A list of the institutions can be seen below:



The Chinese University of Hong Kong
8 places for elective only










The Chinese University of Hong Kong accepts 8 KCL students each year for the final year elective.

For information on what electives are available visit the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of
Hong Kong.

It is difficult to get accommodation in one of the halls of residence and the University suggests that students
make their own accommodation arrangements. Please note that it is expensive to stay in Hong Kong.
Students who do not have accommodation in Hong Kong will not be eligible for a placement at the Chinese
University of Hong Kong.

It is the responsibility of the student to make appropriate visa arrangement before they go to Hong Kong.
Students may apply to the Office of Student Affairs for sponsorship of a student visa.

The University of Hong Kong
8 places for elective only


The University of Hong Kong accepts 8 KCL students each year for the final year elective.

Students will be expected to apply for their own accommodation. There is limited accommodation available
in the halls of residence. Students who cannot find accommodation will not be allowed to do their
placement in Hong Kong. Please note that accommodation in Hong Kong can be very expensive. There
are some hostels near Hong Kong University.

Students must arrange and be covered by medical malpractice insurance, personal life insurance, disability
insurance and medical insurance for the period of attachment in Hong Kong. Students are also
recommended to have health and luggage insurance prior to departure. Approved applicants for clinical
attachments will join a group of students performing clinical clerkships in one of the following departments:

Anaesthesiology
Medicine
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Ophthalmology
Orthopaedic & Traumatology
Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Psychiatry
Surgery
Accident & Emergency

Applicants may apply for an elective attachment in one of the above departments for a period of no more
than 8 weeks. An elective attachment is approved for periods of 4 to 8 weeks, depending on places
available in any particular department. Under no circumstances will an elective be arranged for a longer
period. Some departments will NOT accept elective students during the following periods:
Anaesthesiology: June, December
Medicine: March, August, December
Obstetrics & Gynaecology: March
Ophthalmology: July, August, September, October, November, December
Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine: January, February, March, August, December
Surgery: February, March, June, November
Accident & Emergency: Late August, Late December

Some departments do not accept elective students. Elective postings are also available in the Family
Medicine Unit of the Department of Medicine, but the applicant must be fluent in Cantonese. It is the
responsibility of the student to make appropriate visa arrangements before they go to Hong Kong. Students
may apply to the Centre of Development and Resources for Students for sponsorship of a student visa



Jikei University School of Medicine

3 places for elective only












The Jikei University School of Medicine accepts 3 KCL students each year for their final year elective
programme.

Accommodation is provided in a hall of residence. There is a single-sex residence and a mixed residence,
which is three minutes from the campus.

It is important that all students take out health insurance prior to going to Japan.

To get to Jikei from the international airport - Take the JR Narita Express train at Narita Airport Station and
go to Tokyo Station. The journey takes one hour.. At Tokyo Station transfer to the Yamanote Line bound for
Shinjuku or to the Keihintohoku Line bound for Shinagawa and get off at Shinbashi station, which is two
stops from Tokyo Station. It is a 15 minute walk from Shinbashi Station to Jikei University.










Weill Cornell Medical College

1 place for elective












Weill Cornell Medical College will accept 1 KCL student per academic year.

The purpose of this elective is to enable the visiting student to gain a better appreciation and understanding
of the US health care system.

The student will be enrolled in a two-week course on the US health care system then will spend two weeks
on a clinical service following a patient with a specific disease. By following the patient, the student will gain
insight into the workings of the health care system.

Please also bear in mind that students should spend the 4 weeks in September, so the latter part of the
elective period.

It is important when completing the application form that you state you are applying for the US-EU MEE
Program.

The successful student will have to pay a New York State fee of $30USD.


Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

10 places for elective only












Johns Hopkins will only accept 10 KCL students per academic year, so students are selected on their
personal statement and if necessary, interview.

A list of electives can be found on the Johns Hopkins' web site. You are advised to be as specific as
possible in your choices of speciality, eg if you wish to apply for an elective in paediatrics or medicine
specify the sub-specialities in which you are interested. Emergency Medicine is no longer available to
visiting students.

Students may only apply for electives based at the Hopkins and not at other hospitals or the other centres.

Students may not apply for lottery electives.

Johns Hopkins will notify students of their applications as soon as possible but sometimes students do not
have a response until mid June. We have asked them to aim to let all students know by the end of May.

Johns Hopkins will also charge a tuition fee of $1300 and there will be an accommodation fee. Please note,
that they may not be able to provide accommodation on site and you may need to make private
arrangements which are your responsibility.

Please note that Johns Hopkins will also prioritise their own studentsfirst, followed by other US students,
and then external students (including Twin Link students). This does mean that you may need to provide
further choices of specialty and it may take a little longer to sort out placements.


Emory University School of Medicine

6 places for elective only











Emory will accept 6 KCL students per academic year.

Students are selected on their personal statement and if necessary, interview.

The registration fee is waived for KCL students. Students are expected to have their own health and
malpractice insurance. Students will also be expected to make their own arrangements regarding
accommodation although details regarding accommodation will be included with the formal offer letter from
Emory.

Emory will notify students of their applications as soon as possible but sometimes students do not have a
response until mid to late June.


University of Pennsylvania

2 places for elective only











Students can apply to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine through the office of Global Health
Programmes for a maximum of two clinical electives.

Please do not send anything directly to the University of Pennsylvania other than the HIPAA form (which
can be completed online once the successful students have been selected).

Elective places will not be guaranteed but the University of Pennsylvania will do their best to accommodate
you. Students may not be informed until June if they have been placed.

The successful students are obliged to select exact rotation dates as specified on the University of
Pennsylvania website. These dates change from year to year so be sure to check the website.

Successful applicants should rank electives on the list found on the online application form. Only rank
electives which you would be happy to accept. The more electives you rank, the greater your chances of
being placed.

You should not expect to hear from the University of Pennsylvania before the dates specified on the
website and should not contact them before the specified dates, except to respond to communication
initiated by the University of Pennsylvania.

Monash University

5 places for elective only












Monash University offers places at two of its teaching hospitals, The Alfred and The Monash Medical
Centre. Students should indicate which hospital they wish to be placed in when completing the application
form.

Elective placements between 4 and 6 weeks are available and are confined to when teaching resources
are available. Elective attachments are generally in parallel to the undergraduate teaching programme.
Attachments outside the University terms may be arranged dependent on the teaching resources of the
department/unit.

Please note that once an offer has been made, the Elective Co-ordinator at Monash will NOT be able to
change the department for the student. It is also unlikely that dates will be changed.

It should also be noted that students will have to arrange their own accommodation.


Lille II University

9 places for O&G or Paediatrics attachment/elective













KCL exchanges 9students each year with the Facult de Mdecine - Henri Warembourg, Lille II University
for either the 3-week peripheral attachment in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, the paediatrics attachment or the
final year elective. Students must have a minimum of GCSE French as all the lectures, seminars and
wardrounds will be in French.

Accommodation is normally provided in one of the halls of residence. The price varies depending on
residence but the price is cheaper than a room at King's. The accommodation is self-catering but kitchen
facilities are basic as most students eat in the hall restaurant. Students will take any cooking utensils and
crockery with them. Bed linen is provided.

French students tend to disappear home for the weekend. However, there is plenty to do and visit locally -
Brussels is a short train journey away, and Paris is just one hour from Lille. Depending on the time of year,
it is also possible to go skiing in resort such as Tignes, Val d'Isre, Chamrousse and Meribel, which are not
far on the TGV.

The easiest way to get to Lille is by Eurostar and to either take the Metro or a taxi to the hall of residence.

Further information about studying at Lille can be found here. You will need to provide a CV so please
submit this to the Electives & Exchanges Co-ordinator by email too.


Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Guatemala

5 places for elective










Students may do their elective in either one of the departments at UFM or for a place on the Rural Practice
Programme.

The Rural Practice Programme is a consultation referral clinic for low-income patient situated 40 kms
outside of Guatemala City. The aim of the placement is to develop dexterity and self-confidence in
understanding and solving the most frequest health problems in the country's rural area. Each student will
be accompanied by a Guatemalan student for support and companionship.

It is strongly recommended that students speak Spanish as all communication with patients and most staff
will be in Spanish. Patients at the rural clinic speak Cakchiquel (the local dialect) and dictionaries are
provided.


UFM is a relatively young medical school (25 years), with excellent facilities. Students will be well looked
after during their placement.

The cost of living in Guatemala is cheap. Students will need to apply for accommodation. There is limited
accommodation available in halls of residence.



The University of the West Indies

16 places for O&G or Paediatrics attachment/elective - 4 to Jamaica, 4 to The Bahamas, 4 to
Barbados and 4 to Trinidad









The University of the West Indies is split over four campuses, Mona in Jamaica, Cave Hill in Barbados, St
Augustine in Trinidad and Nassau in Bahamas.

Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad all accept 4 students for the 3-week peripheral attachment in
Obstetrics & Gynaecology, the paediatrics attachment or the final year elective.


The University of Auckland



5 Places for Elective.

Auckland require applications one year in advance, so this Elective is only available to Phase 3 students
wishing to arrange their Elective in advance.

http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/

The University of Singapore



3 Places for Elective

This is a new link, for 3 students undertaking their elective placement. Fees will not be charged to our
students. Further information to follow.