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.


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.

Updated December 23, 2024: Application information is available for the June 2025-June 2026 program. Please read carefully below. Application information after June 2026 will be available around January 2026. Please do not send application form that is applicable to June 2026 after, until this website is updated in January 2026.

Eligibility Requirements

All the following conditions must be met. 　
1. 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 are considered nominated when we receive an email of nomination from the university coordinator.
The “university coordinator” means the person in charge of student exchange within your university.

The email of nomination should include:
1)The student(s), with names, are nominated from the institution.
2)The desired block period of the student(s).
3)Date (YYYY/MM/DD) of the student(s) are/will be in the final year of study.
4)The email address of the nominated student(s).
　
2. Students must be in good standing at their home medical school.
　
3. Students must be in their final year of study at a medical school outside of Japan at the start of the elective program.
　
4. Students must have completed basic bedside training in all core clinical subjects before the start of the elective program.
　
5. 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 does not have an agreement with Keio University.
- Students from a medical school that has a Faculty/ Department-level agreement other than "School of Medicine".

Calendar

The clinical electives are offered in accordance with the “List & Schedule” below.
Please check the schedule of the departments of your choice and select acceptable blocks.

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.

(※) The insurance protects you when you bear legal liability for damages arising from inflicting injuries to third parties or damaging any property belonging to third parties during your medical-related practicum and educational practicum.

Process of Application

Please read the following steps carefully and prepare your application documents.

STEP 1
Please check by yourself from the following URL if you are from partner institutions of Keio University School of Medicine or Keio University.
https://www.ic.keio.ac.jp/aboutic/_partner_institutions.html


STEP 2
If you are from partner institutions of Keio University School of Medicine or Keio University, you first need to contact the exchange coordinator of your institution about your nomination.
・“Exchange coordinator”, or university coordinator, means the person in charge of student exchange within your university.

　　　　　　　　

STEP 3
When you are selected, please ask your coordinator to send a nomination email to the International Office of Keio University School of Medicine (elective@info.keio.ac.jp) .
For the details of nomination email, please see the above “Eligibility Requirements”.


STEP 4
After the nomination email has been sent and received, either you (student) or university coordinator can submit the application documents to the International Office of Keio University School of Medicine.
An email address will be provided in the reply to the nomination email.
Please fill out the Form and send the required PDF documents by email 6 months prior to the first day of your preferred block period.
For details, please refer to “Application Timelines”.


STEP 5
You will be able to know your result approximately 2 or 3 months before the first day of the period in which you wish to participate. We will send you an acceptance letter and an acceptance details when they are ready.


Application Documents

Before Acceptance:

＜Fill out the Form＞ 　
1. Application Form
- Please fill out the Form: https://forms.gle/x7rtCMWhbiepCYrw7
- You will not be able to edit your answer after submitting the form, so it is better to prepare all answers before filling out the form. You can see the full questions from the "Application Form”.
- If you are unable to view or fill out the Form due to technical difficulties or for any other reason, please contact us.

＜By Email, all in one PDF file＞
2. Student Profile (with photo) & Dean or Department Chair's Endorsement(*)
3. Statement of Purpose (*)
4. Letter of Recommendation from Dean or Department Chair with signature
5. Curriculum Vitae
6. Official Academic Transcript of Records with grade in English
7. Copy of your valid passport
8. TOEFL or IELTS scores (test taken within two years) (**)

After Acceptance:

9. Assumption of Risk and Medical Information Protection Agreement (*)
10. Immunization Record (Program start date: April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026)(*)
11. Liability insurance (***)
12. Written Oath to Prevent COVID-19 Infection(*)

*Formats are available on the website.
**Except for applicants from English-speaking universities or those taking all classes in English.
***Please see“Insurance”.

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 School of Medicine 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.Some recommended apartment / hotel near Shinanomachi campus are informed upon your request after application.

Contact

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