Medical electives

16 April 2010

Until recently, students who come to the UK in order to undertake medical electives as part of
their studies in other countries have entered as student visitors. However, the UK Border Agency
(UKBA) has become aware that these students do more than observe and that they can undertake
supervised treatment of patients. The UKBA has confirmed that it will waive the requirement that
students must spend no more than half of their time in the UK undertaking work placements
because it has accepted that the placements are closely supervised. This means that the students
can enter the UK under Tier 4.

Unfortunately, there is nothing yet in the public domain about this as it has arisen from
correspondence between medical schools and the UK Border Agency. The UKBA has stated that
it has instructed entry clearance posts that applications from this group of students should be
granted if the students meet all other requirements of Tier 4. However, the UK Border Agency
will refuse applications from such students if they apply as student visitors because the student
visitor route does not allow students to undertake work placements in the UK.