Researching and planning your elective

The Electives Network (TEN) website

TEN is the best place to start your research and planning. It's a one-stop-shop for contacts, hospital and country profiles and student feedback reports.

An interactive planner lets you search on your preferred date range and specialty. Using TEN will save you time and hassle.

MDU members have exclusive access to TEN at themdu.com/TEN

Other sources of information

Your school may have elective links with other organisations. Check these with lecturers and electives advisers. Many schools require students to complete a risk assessment of their chosen elective placement to ensure that any possible risks have been identified and considered.

Elective reports from previous years are usually held by the faculty library and are often a good source of inspiration and recent first-hand information. TEN also compiles student feedback and case studies which you can use to support your research and contribute to on your return.

Elective evenings organised by your school are an ideal opportunity to hear from your lecturers and guest speakers, and share ideas with your fellow students. MDU liaison managers attend most school electives evenings and will be able to tell you more about TEN and the other electives support resources we offer.

• The British Medical Association (BMA) has a useful library and funding database (open to BMA members).
• The student BMJ website features elective reports and much more.
• MediLexicon has an extensive database of hospitals with links to their websites and contact information.
• The Christian Medical Fellowship provides information on healthcare and openings in the developing world.
• Lonely Planet Guides are a great resource to take on your elective.
• The Clegg Scholarship is a work experience placement with BMJ and Student BMJ aimed at students who want to gain insight into medical journalism and medical education. For information on how to apply go to the student BMJ website

Tips from TEN

Find up-to-the-minute information on elective opportunities, receive regular updates from TEN and find out about new site developments and hospital additions. If you need to ask us a question, we're always happy to help.

Our Facebook page is also a great place to meet other students, find out more about their experiences and what you can expect from your elective.

Follow us for quick alerts on Twitter and must-know information, so you can be proactive in your planning.