International Student Clinical Elective Program

Keio University School of Medicine International Student Elective Program gives students enrolled in medical schools abroad an opportunity to study in Japan at Keio University School of Medicine.
In this program, medical students can experience working in up to one to two departments for a maximum of four weeks.

Updated January 18, 2024: Application information is available for the June 2024-June 2025 program. Please see "How & When to Apply" below.

*Updated February 7 , 2023: The International Student Elective Program resumed in July 2022, limited to students from partner universities of the Keio University School of Medicine. Additionally, students from universities that have a university-level agreement with Keio University have been becoming also objective.

Eligibility Requirements

All the following conditions must be met.

  • Students must be in their final year of study at a medical school outside of Japan at the start of the elective program.

  • Students must be an exchange student from a partner university that has an exchange agreement with Keio University School of Medicine or Keio University. Exchange students should be nominated by their home Institution.

  • Students must have completed basic bedside training in all core clinical subjects before the start of the elective program.

  • Students must be in good academic standing at their home medical school.

  • Students must be sufficiently proficient in English or Japanese to benefit from the program.

Please note:

Due to the ongoing circumstances related to the pandemic, the acceptance is limited to the exchange students from a partner university that has an exchange agreement with Keio University School of Medicine or Keio University until further notice. The following students are NOT eligible.

-Students from a medical school that has a Faculty/ Department-level agreement with other Faculty/ Departments of Keio University.
- Students from a medical school that does not have an agreement with Keio University.

Calendar

The clinical electives are offered throughout the year (January-December) in accordance with the “Clinical Department List & Schedule” below.

Clinical Department List & Schedule

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are waved under the exchange agreement with Keio University School of Medicine or Keio University.

Insurance

Students must have liability insurance AND personal health insurance. Please ensure that you are covered before coming to Japan. If you are not covered by insurance, you are responsible for covering any medical or liability costs.

How & When to Apply

Applicants from partner institutions of Keio University School of Medicine or Keio University need to contact the exchange coordinator of your institution, first. When you are selected as an exchange student, your coordinator will nominate you to the International Office of Keio University School of Medicine by sending an e-mail. You will be informed by your coordinator of the necessities for your application.

Application Deadline: 6 months before the first day of the period in which the applicant wishes to participate. Please refer to the “Application Timelines.”
*Please refer to the “Clinical Department List & Schedule” and check the availability of the clinical department and the elective period.

Instructions

Application Documents:

1. Application Form
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Letter of Recommendation from Dean or Department Chair with signature
4. Curriculum Vitae
5. Official Academic Transcript of Records with grade in English
6. Copy of your valid passport
7. TOEFL or IELTS scores (test taken within two years)
 *Except for applicants from English-speaking universities or those taking all classes in English.

Visa

Please check the latest information on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html

Students whose nationality is not on the visa exemption list but belong to one of the partner universities of Keio University School of Medicine or Keio University are still eligible to apply. However, they must enter Japan after acquiring a visa that must remain valid throughout the period of the elective program at Keio University.
Application for and acquisition of the visa is the responsibility of the student, to be carried out through consultation with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in their country or region of residence. We will not be able to discuss student visa status or eligibility requirements.

Accommodation

Students can request for a room of Daikyocho Residence; the residence operated by Keio University when applying for the program. However, please note that it may not always be what you request since there are only six private rooms available in the residence. In that case, students may need to book accommodation by themselves.

Contact

elective@info.keio.ac.jp
International Office, Keio University School of Medicine