Visiting Students
The UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences offers a limited number of clinical electives to medical students enrolled in an LCME/Non-LCME accredited institution who meet the elective's requirements.
We accept applicants from domestic and international institutions that are part of the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) system. When assigning students to electives, priority will be given to enrolled UND SMHS medical students.
Eligibility
- Students must be in good academic standing at their home institution.
- Students must present a letter of recommendation from a clinical faculty member who has directly supervised the student within the past 12 months.
- Students must have taken the USMLE Step 1 exam or the COMLEX-USA Level 1 and passed.
- Students must present their medical school transcripts.
- Student’s home institution must attest to the use of only UND elective evaluation forms.
- Students must present a criminal history background check obtained within the past 12 months prior to application submission.*
- Students must present proof of professional liability insurance with minimums of $1 million per occurrence and $5 million aggregate.*
- Students must present required immunizations according to the UND SMHS Immunization policy 4.11.*
- Students must present current healthcare insurance.*
- Students must complete UND’s Environmental Hazards: Exposure Prevention training and Bloodborne Pathogen Training.*
- Students must meet the requirements listed in the VSLO Policy 4.15 and any additional requirements listed for each elective.
- Complete all pre- and post-decision requirements at least 30 days prior to the first day of the scheduled elective.**
* These requirements are not required for virtual electives.
** Applicants from International and/or Non=LCME Accredited Medical Schools must apply at least 6 months prior to the first day of the scheduled elective.
Additional Requirements for applicants from International and/or Non-LCME Accredited Medical Schools
- Students must present a transcript credential report from WES or ECE, along with an official transcript.
- Students must have received a satisfactory score on the TOEFL taken within two years of the VSLO application submission.
- Students must present a verification of their medical school’s accreditation.
- How do I apply for the electives at your institution?
- All applicants must apply through the AAMC’s Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) website.
- We do not accept applications outside of VSLO.
- How far in advance do applications need to be submitted?
- All application requirements, including pre-decision and post-decision must be completed
at least one month prior to the start of the elective.
- For International students, the timeline is at least 6 months prior to the start of the elective.
- Applicants are responsible for meeting the timeline requirements.
- All application requirements, including pre-decision and post-decision must be completed
at least one month prior to the start of the elective.
- I submitted all my requirements, but still have not heard back.
- Ensure that within your VSLO portal tracking section it indicates your elective request is under Host Review. If it is not, you may still need to press "submit" for all requirements to be submitted.
- Applications are reviewed at least two times per week. Please be patient as we review the many applications received for visiting student rotations.
- Can elective dates be adjusted to accommodate the applicant’s/institution’s schedule?
- No, all elective dates are firm and will not be adjusted for any reason.
- Can I switch which elective period I am confirmed for?
- If there is availability, yes. Email medvslo@UND.edu to request the change.
- Does UND require an affiliation agreement for visiting students?
- No, we do not require one, but if the students’ institution does, you can contact medvslo@UND.edu and we will get one started for you.
- Are course preceptors able to fill out another institution’s elective evaluation,
along with the UND elective evaluation form?
- No, policy states that only UND elective evaluation forms will be completed, no exceptions. Institutions attest to accepting this in the application process.
- Are USMLE and COMLEX exam results equivalent?
- Yes, an applicant must have passed one of these to be eligible to apply.
- Where are the trainings that in-person visiting students are required to complete?
- I am confirmed to take a virtual elective. When will I receive more information about
the course and how to complete it?
- Information, logins, and timeline of the course will be sent a week prior to the course. You will have access to the course on the first day of the elective.
- My institution is not part of VSLO, is there any way I can still apply?
- Policy requires all applicants to go through VSLO with applications. There are no exceptions made.
For VSLO related questions please email medvslo@UND.edu or call 701.777.3453.