The Visiting Medical Students Program at Johns Hopkins University provides opportunities for medical students from other institutions to participate in away rotations at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and its affiliated institutions. These rotations allow visiting students to gain exposure to various medical specialties and learn from renowned faculty members at one of the leading medical institutions in the world. The program typically offers rotations in a wide range of specialties and accepts applications from undergraduate medical students who are in good academic standing at their home institutions.

Our administrative offices will be closed for Winter Break, therefore any elective request for dates starting December 21st, 2026 through January 3rd 2027 will be denied. Applications, onboarding requirements, ID badge processing, and other pre-arrival items will not be reviewed during the university closure.

1. Application Process Information

• All applications must be submitted through our Slate portal for consideration.
• Acceptance by a faculty member outside the standard application process does not guarantee program admission.
• Application processing is managed by the Visiting Student Coordinator in the Registrar’s Office, and only the Registrar’s Office, in conjunction with the course director, issues official offers of acceptance.
• Approval from your home institution is required for participation in any elective.

2. Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a medical school and in good academic standing. Graduates of medical schools are not eligible for this program.

3. Elective Policies

• Students may complete one elective per term, with a lifetime maximum of two electives total, regardless of elective type (clinical or research).
• You may submit up to three applications in the portal. These may include different dates, departments, or preceptors. Electives cannot be split between departments or preceptors.
• The portal does not rank your applications by priority. Please apply only for electives and dates you are willing to attend.
• If you submit multiple applications and more than one is reviewed, we will accept the first approved placement received from a department. All other applications will be marked as denied.
• You may decline an acceptance. However, denied applications will not be reopened.
• Applications must be submitted no less than six weeks and no more than six months before the elective start date.
• Visiting student placements are scheduled after JHUSOM students. We recommend submitting multiple elective options, especially for the summer term.

4. Department and Preceptor Availability

• Department and preceptor availability are managed by individual departments, and the Visiting Medical Student Program does not maintain a centralized list of open spots.
• After submission, applications are sent to the relevant department or preceptor for review, which can take up to three weeks. Notifications will be sent via email; please allow 30-60 days for the review process.

Research Electives

A research elective involves medical students engaging in structured research experiences within the university's research laboratories, centers, or departments. During these electives, students work closely with faculty mentors and research teams to conduct scientific investigations, contribute to ongoing research projects, and develop their research skills. This may include designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, participating in lab meetings, and presenting findings. Research electives provide students with valuable exposure to the scientific research process and foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

1. Duration and Fees

• Research electives range from 4 to 9 weeks, with a fee of $750 for one elective.

2. Eligibility

• To apply, students must have completed at least their first year of medical school.

3. Preceptor Selection

• Applications require selecting a preceptor from the list provided in our Electives Book under "Research Electives."
• While preceptor contact prior to application is encouraged, it is not mandatory.

4. Patient Contact and EPIC Access

• Research elective students do not have patient contact.
• Research elective students are not issued EPIC access.

Clinical Electives

A clinical involves medical students actively participating in supervised clinical experiences within the hospital and its affiliated healthcare facilities. During these electives, students have the opportunity to work alongside physicians, residents, and other healthcare professionals, gaining hands-on experience in various medical specialties. They observe patient care, participate in rounds, attend lectures and conferences, and may also have the chance to engage in procedures and patient interactions under supervision. These electives are designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of clinical medicine and prepare them for their future careers as physicians.

1. Duration and Fees

• Clinical electives are 4 weeks in duration.
• The elective fee is $500 for students from LCME/COCA-accredited schools.
• For students from non-LCME/COCA-accredited schools with an active affiliation agreement with JHU, the fee is $5,500.
• Eligibility requires that students be in their final year of medical school.

2. Nomination Requirement for Affiliated Schools

• Many affiliation agreements limit the number of applicants, requiring a nomination from the student’s home school.
• Students from affiliated non-LCME/COCA-accredited schools must have a home school nomination to be eligible. Applications without a nomination will be denied.

3. System Access and Malpractice

• Clinical elective students are submitted for EPIC access.
• Proof of malpractice insurance is required for all clinical electives.

Questions about the Process?

Questions that are not answered on this website can be directed to our Visiting Medical Student Program Coordinator at [email protected]. For in-person assistance, the Registrar’s Office counter hours are Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am to 4pm.